UPES Dehradun offers the Doctor of Philosophy programme across 30+ disciplines through 10 schools including engineering, computer science, management, law, design, and liberal arts. Full-time scholars receive a monthly stipend of INR 25,000 rising to INR 30,000 post-coursework, funded by UPES. Programme fees are INR 6,00,000 for most disciplines before the 75% tuition waiver applicable to full-time scholars. Admissions run twice a year, in January and July.
📋 Admission Status: Applications closed. January 2027 intake registration expected to open October 2026 (Tentative).
Key Points
Full-time scholars receive a 75% waiver on the semester course fee, reducing the effective cost to INR 25,000 per semester. The gross programme fee before waiver varies by discipline.
| Discipline Group | Total Fees (before waiver) |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Law, Renewable Energy | INR 12,00,000 |
| All other PhD disciplines (Engineering, Sciences, Management, Design, Liberal Arts, Humanities) | INR 6,00,000 |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| July 2026 Intake RET | Conducted on 10 to 11 June 2026 |
| July 2026 Interviews | Conducted on 28 to 30 July 2026 |
| July 2026 Selection List | Released on 12 August 2026 |
| July 2026 Admission Deadline | 17 August 2026 |
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Here is how UPES PhD compares with similar private universities on fees, stipend, and research support.
| College | Fees | Exams | Stipend | Duration | CD Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPES Dehradun | 6L to 12L (before waiver) | UPES RET GATE/NET exempt | INR 25,000 to 30,000/month | 3 to 6 years | Not Rated |
| Thapar Institute, Patiala | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Rated |
| Amity University, Noida | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Rated |
| Chandigarh University | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Rated |
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UPES funds full-time scholars through monthly stipends and contingency grants. High-output researchers receive enhanced support.
| Benefit | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Stipend (Coursework Phase) | INR 25,000 per month | All full-time scholars enrolled at UPES |
| Monthly Stipend (Post-Coursework) | INR 30,000 per month | Full-time scholars after coursework completion |
| Publication Enhancement Stipend | Up to INR 34,000 per month | 2 first-author Q1 or Q2 journal publications |
| Contingency Grant (External Fellows) | INR 2,00,000 per year | UGC-NET JRF, INSPIRE, or GATE fellowship holders |
| 75% Tuition Fee Waiver | Fee reduced to INR 25,000 per semester | All enrolled full-time scholars |
According to Collegedunia Ranking 2025, UPES ranks #94 out of 370 colleges in India. The college has an overall Collegedunia score of 605/2000, calculated based on NAAC grade, exam cutoff, rankings, placements and student reviews.
UPES is ranked by several ranking agencies such as NIRF, The Week, Outlook. Some of these rankings are as follows-
| Ranking Agency | Latest | Previous |
|---|---|---|
 | #136 out of 500 (2026) #3rd Uttarakhand | #87 out of 762 (2025) #4th Uttarakhand |
 | #72 out of 131 (2023) #2nd Uttarakhand | #44 out of 190 (2022) #2nd Uttarakhand |
 | #43 out of 300 (2025) #2nd Uttarakhand | #42 out of 300 (2024) #2nd Uttarakhand |
 | #34 out of 160 (2023) | #26 out of 160 (2022) |
 | #84 out of 173 (2024) | #82 out of 166 (2023) |
Ques. Do I have to appear for the UPES RET if I have cleared UGC-NET?
Ans. No. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET with JRF or AP, GATE, GPAT, INSPIRE, CLAT, or SLAT are fully exempt from the UPES Research Entrance Test. You apply directly and proceed to the personal interview. The RET is only for candidates without any of these national qualifications. This exemption saves significant preparation time compared with institutions that require their own entrance test regardless of national qualification status.
Ques. How does the UPES monthly stipend compare with UGC-NET JRF?
Ans. The UPES stipend starts at INR 25,000 per month during coursework and rises to INR 30,000 per month post-coursework. UGC-NET JRF currently pays INR 31,000 per month rising to INR 35,000 at the SRF stage. If you hold a JRF, UPES does not reduce your stipend and additionally provides INR 2 lakh per year as a contingency grant. If you do not hold a JRF, the UPES stipend alone is among the better funded private university PhD programmes in India.
Ques. Can I pursue a part-time PhD at UPES while working full-time?
Ans. Yes, UPES offers a part-time PhD track with a duration of 4 to 7 years designed for working professionals. The academic and research requirements are the same as the full-time programme. The tradeoff is that part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly stipend or the 75% fee waiver, so they pay INR 1,00,000 per semester. If your employer reimburses education costs, the part-time PhD at UPES is a practical route to a doctoral degree without leaving your job.
Ques. What research areas does UPES PhD cover outside engineering?
Ans. UPES PhD covers Management, Economics, Law, Design, Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Microbiology alongside its engineering disciplines. UPES is historically strongest in energy-sector engineering research with direct industry connections in oil and gas, renewable energy, and power. Non-engineering disciplines like Management and Law have grown their PhD cohorts but their research output and industry connect are less established compared with the engineering schools.
Ques. How do UPES international research partnerships benefit PhD scholars?
Ans. UPES has formal research partnerships with universities in the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, and USA. For PhD scholars, these partnerships enable joint supervision, short-term research visits, co-authored publications, and access to partner university labs and databases. The specifics depend on the school and the supervisor’s existing network. Before enrolling, confirm with your potential supervisor which international partnerships are active in your research area and whether the contingency grant covers a research visit abroad.
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