NIT Surathkal Ph.D Engineering and Technology: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - May 22, 2026

The Ph.D. (Engineering and Technology) programme at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal is a full-time doctoral research programme offered across 14 departments covering all major engineering and technology disciplines. NITK is declared an Institute of National Importance under the NIT Act 2007 and is consistently ranked among the top NITs in India. The programme is designed for candidates seeking to contribute original research in engineering, technology, and interdisciplinary areas. The minimum duration is 3 years for candidates with an M.Tech/M.E. degree and the programme can extend up to 6 years. Total fees for the first year (2 semesters) amount to approximately Rs. 90,840 for day scholars, with a monthly fellowship of Rs. 37,000 (rising to Rs. 42,000 after two years) for scholarship-category students. With 188 full-time scholarship seats available for 2026-27, the programme is highly competitive and attracts top engineering graduates from across India.

Admissions for the 2026-27 (July session) are currently open. The application portal opened on March 9, 2026, and the last date for online submission is April 27, 2026. Hard copies must reach NITK by May 1, 2026. Selection tests and interviews are scheduled for May 27-29, 2026, with the provisional merit list to be published on June 8, 2026.

Key Points

NITK Surathkal offers Ph.D. programmes across 14 departments: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, CSE, EEE, ECE, IT, MACS, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Mining Engineering, Water Resources and Ocean Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, and School of Management.
The programme is available in full-time (scholarship and non-scholarship) and part-time (sponsored/external registrant) modes.
Full-time scholarship students (categories A.1, A.2, A.3) receive a fellowship of Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month for the remaining period, subject to satisfactory progress.
Direct admission to Ph.D. is available for B.Tech./B.E. graduates (within 5 years of graduation) with a GATE score and CGPA of 8.0 or above (7.5 for SC/ST/PwD).
Selection for all categories (scholarship and non-scholarship) involves a national-level written test (40% weightage) and technical interview (60% weightage) conducted in offline mode at NITK.
Candidates from centrally funded institutes (IITs, NITs, IISc, etc.) are exempted from the mandatory GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR requirement for scholarship seats.
The programme covers a wide range of research areas including AI/ML, renewable energy, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, structural engineering, computational sciences, and more.
NITK provides world-class research infrastructure: Central Research Facility, Central Library with 12,045 e-journals, campus-wide high-speed internet, and access to major research databases (IEEE, Springer, Elsevier, Nature, etc.).

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04 May, 2026 NIT Surathkal Fee Structure 2026-27 is out for the Ph.D Engineering and Technology programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 4.1 Lakhs.

NITK Ph.D. Fees

The Ph.D. programme at NITK Surathkal is very affordable, especially for scholarship-category students whose monthly fellowship significantly exceeds the semester fees. The tuition fee is Rs. 7,500 per semester, and the total day scholar fee for the first semester is Rs. 76,290, which includes one-time admission charges, thesis processing fee, and thesis evaluation fees. From the second semester onwards, the fee reduces to Rs. 14,550 per semester. Hostellers pay an additional Rs. 9,260 per semester as hostel rent. SC/ST/PwD candidates are exempt from tuition fees.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester 1 (Rs.)	Semester 2 onwards (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	7,500	7,500
Institute Admission Fee (one-time)	2,820	-
Development Fee	2,820	2,820
Security Deposit (refundable, one-time)	7,040	-
NITK Alma Mater Endowment Contribution (one-time)	2,820	-
Convocation Fee (one-time)	3,480	-
Library Resource Fee	4,230	4,230
Thesis Processing Fee (one-time)	6,000	-
Thesis Evaluation Fees (one-time)	19,000	-
Career Development Fee (one-time)	2,110	-
Health Care Facility (one-time)	1,740	-
Student Activities Fee (one-time)	6,950	-
Campus Amenities (one-time)	1,740	-
Group Insurance Coverage (one-time)	1,000	-
Computing Resource Fee (one-time)	7,040	-
Day Scholar Total Fee	76,290	14,550
Hostel Rent (shared accommodation)	9,260	9,260
Hosteller Total Fee	85,550	23,810

Total Fees - Day Scholar (First Year, 2 Semesters) | Rs. 90,840 |

Total Fees - Hosteller (First Year, 2 Semesters, excl. mess) | Rs. 1,09,360 |

Security Deposit of Rs. 7,040 is refundable at the time of leaving the institute.
Thesis Processing Fee (Rs. 6,000) and Thesis Evaluation Fees (Rs. 19,000) are one-time charges paid in the first semester.
Mess charges are separate and provisional: approximately Rs. 35,310 for the first semester.
Mess fees are subject to revision.
SC/ST/PwD candidates are exempted from tuition fee payment (exemption not applicable to QIP, DASA, ICCR, MEA, External Registrants, and Internal Registrants).
Part A fees (one-time charges) increase at 5% per year for each new batch.
Part B fees increase at 5% per year for all students from 2024-25 batch onwards.
Refund policy: Full refund (minus Rs. 1,000 processing fee) if withdrawal is before the closing date of admission.
Only security deposit is refunded if withdrawal is after the closing date.
No refund after joining.
Application fee: Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS candidates; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
For internal regular faculty/staff of NITK: Tuition fee is Rs. 5,000 per year; Institute Development Contribution Rs. 6,000 (first year); Alumni Fee Rs. 1,000 (one-time); Convocation Fee Rs. 2,000; Thesis Evaluation Fees Rs. 5,000 (one-time).

NITK Ph.D. Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. programme at NITK Surathkal for 2026-27 (July session) are currently open. The application process involves online submission through the IRIS portal followed by a national-level written test and technical interview conducted in offline mode at NITK campus. All categories of candidates (scholarship and non-scholarship) must qualify the written test and interview. The selection is based on written test (40% weightage) and technical interview (60% weightage), with research publications and experience each carrying 5% within the interview component.

NITK Ph.D. Admission Calendar 2026-27 (July Session)

Event	Date
Opening of Application Portal	March 9, 2026 (Monday)
Last Date for Online Submission of Applications	April 27, 2026 (Monday), 23:59 hours
Last Date for Hard Copy of Applications to Reach NITK	May 1, 2026 (Friday), 17:00 hours
Dispatch of Call Letters to Shortlisted Candidates	May 11, 2026 (Monday)
Selection Test and/or Interview (Offline at NITK)	May 27-29, 2026 (Wednesday to Friday)
Last Date for Sending Merit List by Departments	June 1, 2026 (Monday)
Publication of Provisional Selection/Merit List	June 8, 2026 (Monday)
Online Fee Payment for Selected Candidates	June 9-19, 2026
Last Date for Admission Offer to Waitlisted Candidates	To be announced
Physical Reporting and Document Verification	To be announced
Class Start Date	To be announced

GATE 2026 Exam Dates (Primary Qualifying Exam for Ph.D. Scholarship Seats)

Event	Date
GATE 2026 Registration	August 28 - October 13, 2025
GATE 2026 Admit Card Release	January 13, 2026
GATE 2026 Exam	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026
GATE 2026 Answer Key Release	February 19, 2026
GATE 2026 Result	March 19, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

For scholarship seats (A.1): M.E./M.Tech. or equivalent degree with CGPA of 6.0 (10-point scale) or 60% marks. GATE score is not mandatory for this category. For SC/ST/PwD: CGPA 5.5 or 55% marks.
For direct Ph.D. scholarship seats (A.2): B.Tech./B.E. or equivalent 4-year degree in relevant discipline within 5 years of graduation, with CGPA of 8.0 or 80% marks and a valid GATE score. Candidates from centrally funded institutes are exempt from GATE requirement. For SC/ST/PwD: CGPA 7.5 or 75% marks.
For scholarship seats (A.3): M.Sc./M.A./M.B.A./M.C.A. or equivalent master's degree with CGPA 6.0 or 60% marks and a valid GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR/NBHM/DAE-JEST score. Candidates from centrally funded institutes are exempt. For SC/ST/PwD: CGPA 5.5 or 55% marks.
For non-scholarship sponsored seats (B.2): Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience in the sponsoring organisation is required.

Admission Process:

Register and submit the online application through the IRIS portal at iris.nitk.ac.in by April 27, 2026, and pay the application fee (Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwD).
Send the hard copy of the completed application form along with payment receipts and supporting documents to the Assistant Registrar (Academic), NITK Surathkal, to reach by May 1, 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will receive call letters by email by May 11, 2026.
Appear for the offline written test and technical interview at NITK Surathkal campus between May 27-29, 2026 (at candidate's own cost).
Selection is based on: Written test (40% weightage) and Technical interview (60% weightage). Within the interview, research publications and experience each carry 5%, technical presentation carries 10%, and technical interview on subject knowledge carries 40%.
Provisional merit list will be published on June 8, 2026. Selected candidates must complete online fee payment between June 9-19, 2026.
Submit original documents and report physically for admission as per the schedule announced later.
Sponsored candidates must submit a sponsorship-cum-clearance certificate in the format provided by NITK.
Note: Candidates applying to more than one department must submit separate applications with separate application fees for each.

NITK Ph.D. Scholarships 2026

NITK Surathkal provides a generous fellowship for Ph.D. scholarship-category students, making the programme financially very attractive. The monthly fellowship is significantly higher than the semester fees, effectively making the programme self-sustaining for scholarship holders. In addition to the institute fellowship, students can avail several external scholarships and fellowships from government bodies, PSUs, and private organisations.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship/Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
NITK Ph.D. Fellowship (MoE) - First 2 Years	Rs. 37,000 per month	Scholarship category (A.1, A.2, A.3); qualifying written test and interview	First 2 years
NITK Ph.D. Fellowship (MoE) - Remaining Period	Rs. 42,000 per month	Scholarship category; satisfactory progress	After 2 years
TCS Research Scholar Programme	Rs. 91,000 per month	PhD first-year students; merit-based	As per scheme
IndiaAI Fellowship	As per scheme	UG/PG/PhD students in AI-related fields	As per scheme
C-DOT Scholarship	As per scheme	PhD students in relevant fields	As per scheme
National Fellowship for ST Ph.D. Students	As per government norms	ST students	Annual
SC/ST Financial Assistance (NITK)	As per scheme	SC/ST students	Annual
NSP Scholarship (National Scholarship Portal)	As per government norms	SC/ST students	Annual
Humboldt Fellowship (Post-Doc)	As per scheme	Post-doctoral researchers	As per scheme
IGSTC Industrial Fellowship	As per scheme	PhD and Post-Doc researchers	As per scheme

The NITK Ph.D. fellowship is the primary financial support for scholarship-category students.
It is subject to satisfactory progress as evaluated by the Departmental Research Progress Committee (DRPC).
Research scholars must assist in teaching and laboratory work assigned by the department and are eligible for 30 days of vacation leave per year.
Students receiving the NITK fellowship cannot receive any other salary or stipend from any other source simultaneously.
Sponsored candidates (B.2) may receive complete financial support including stipend, contingency grants, and project expenses from their sponsoring organisations.
External scholarships have their own application deadlines and eligibility criteria.
Students are advised to check the NITK Scholarships page (nitk.ac.in/Scholarships) for updated listings each academic year.
SC/ST/PwD students are additionally exempt from tuition fee payment.

NITK Ph.D. FAQs

Ques. What is the duration of the Ph.D. programme at NITK Surathkal, and can it be extended?

Ans. The minimum duration for a full-time Ph.D. at NITK is 3 years for candidates with an M.Tech/M.E. degree, and the programme can extend up to 6 years. For part-time candidates, the duration is 4 to 7 years. Extensions beyond the standard duration may be granted subject to the institute's regulations and the DRPC's approval.

Ques. Is GATE/NET mandatory for Ph.D. admission at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. For scholarship seats under category A.1 (M.Tech/M.E. holders), GATE is not mandatory. For category A.2 (direct B.Tech. admission), a valid GATE score is required unless the candidate is from a centrally funded institute (IIT, NIT, IISc, etc.) with CGPA 8.0 or above. For category A.3 (M.Sc./MBA/MCA holders), GATE/UGC-NET/CSIR/NBHM/DAE-JEST is required unless from a centrally funded institute. For non-scholarship seats, GATE is not mandatory but work experience requirements apply.

Ques. Can working professionals apply for Ph.D. at NITK Surathkal?

Ans. Yes. NITK offers part-time Ph.D. options for working professionals under two categories: Internal Registrants (B.3) for NITK faculty/staff, and External Registrants (B.5) for candidates sponsored by industry or educational institutions. External registrants must have a minimum of 2 continuous years of full-time work experience in the sponsoring organisation. They can carry out research in their parent organisation after fulfilling certain prerequisites at NITK, and residential requirements may be waived.

Ques. What is the monthly fellowship for Ph.D. students at NITK, and what are the conditions?

Ans. Full-time scholarship students (categories A.1, A.2, A.3) receive Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month for the remaining period. The fellowship is subject to satisfactory progress as evaluated by the DRPC. Research scholars must assist in teaching and laboratory work (as assigned by the department) and are eligible for 30 days of vacation leave per year. The fellowship cannot be combined with any other salary or stipend.

Ques. What research areas are available for Ph.D. in Engineering and Technology at NITK?

Ans. NITK offers Ph.D. in a wide range of research areas across 14 departments. Key areas include: AI/ML and Data Science, Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, VLSI Design, Signal Processing, Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Robotics and Control, Materials Science, Rock Mechanics, Water Resources, Ocean Engineering, and many more. Interdisciplinary research is also encouraged across departments.

Ques. How does the selection process for Ph.D. at NITK work, and what is the role of the written test?

Ans. All Ph.D. applicants (scholarship and non-scholarship) must qualify a national-level written test and technical interview conducted in offline mode at NITK. The written test carries 40% weightage and the technical interview carries 60% weightage in the overall evaluation. The written test comprises 50% questions on research aptitude and 50% on the respective subject. Within the interview, research publications and experience each carry 5%, technical presentation carries 10%, and technical interview on subject knowledge carries 40%. Shortlisted candidates are called for the test/interview at their own cost.

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NIT Surathkal: 3 Answered Questions

What is the cutoff at NIT Surathkal for an MBA course?

Arindam ChakrabortyStudied at National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal

NIT Surathkal offers candidates a full-time 2-year MBA program the total fee of which is INR 2.5 lakhs. To be eligible for this program, you must have completed your bachelor's with at least 50% marks or 5.5 CGPA from any recognized university. Additionally, you will have to appear for CAT, MAT, and XAT. The institute does not release the exact MBA cutoff but here is a vague idea for you

The minimum CAT percentile required to get admission in the MBA program of NIT Surathkal is 80 percentile.

General Category: 80-85 percentile
OBC category: 70+ percentile
SC and ST category: 65 percentile

However, I am strongly against you joining this institute as its MBA program has no value. Go to a full time-dedicated MBA B-school, and not a department of any Government college. It will help you save money and time.

How good is the MCA course at NIT, Surathkal?

Shikha GhosalStudied BTech in Computer Science, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal (2019)

The MCA program at NIT Surathkal is decent but I feel NIT Allahabad will offer a better course and opportunity. This is because, at MNIT Allahabad, most companies allow MCA students to sit for placements with CSE and IT students. One of my distant cousins pursuing an MCA from MNNIT Allahabad cleared Google Mt.View. Moreover, CSE, IT, and MCA share a common department here and the computer Club classes are also held for all CSE, IT, and MCA combined.

Whereas In NIT Surathkal, the MCA program is inclined more toward Application Development and thereby focuses more on the latest programming language and tools to develop better and faster applications. Its primary aim is to provide a modern, industry-oriented education in applied computer science.

In my opinion, you should choose MNNIT Allahabad for MCA as it has better placement opportunities.

What are the total fees to be submitted per semester at NIT Surathkal, along with hostel and mess costs?

Rita Sarkar SethStudied at National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal (2019)

The total fees for NIT Surathkal vary based on several factors, such as the program of study, category of the student, etc. Here are some approximate figures for the fees and costs for a general-category student in the B.Tech program:

Tuition fees: around Rs. 62,500 per semester
Hostel fees: around Rs. 10,000 per semester
Mess fees: around Rs. 15,000 per semester

The total fees per semester for a general category student at NIT Surathkal would be approximately Rs. 87,500.

These are approximate figures and may vary depending on the specific program and category of the student. It is recommended to check the official website of NIT Surathkal for the exact fee structure.

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NIT Surathkal Ph.D Engineering and Technology: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

NIT Surathkal Latest Updates and News

NITK Ph.D. Fees

Fee Structure

NITK Ph.D. Admission 2026

NITK Ph.D. Admission Calendar 2026-27 (July Session)

GATE 2026 Exam Dates (Primary Qualifying Exam for Ph.D. Scholarship Seats)

Eligibility Criteria:

Admission Process:

NITK Ph.D. Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Details

NITK Ph.D. FAQs

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NIT Surathkal: 3 Answered Questions

What is the cutoff at NIT Surathkal for an MBA course?

How good is the MCA course at NIT, Surathkal?

What are the total fees to be submitted per semester at NIT Surathkal, along with hostel and mess costs?

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