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The Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) programme at Vishwakarma University (VU), Pune is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology. Established in 2017, the department has built strong research capabilities in areas such as vibration analysis, thermal systems, non-conventional machining, refrigeration, cryogenics, and waste water treatment. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years as per UGC norms, with an annual tuition fee of Rs. 1,25,000. Admission is through the university's VUPET (Vishwakarma University Ph.D. Entrance Test) followed by a personal interview. The programme has a seat intake of 10 (3 Open, 7 Reserved) for AY 2026-27, and is popular among M.E./M.Tech. graduates seeking to advance their research careers in core mechanical engineering domains. The department has international collaborations with Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Binghamton University (New York), Asian Institute of Technology, and Hof University, enriching the research environment.

Admissions for AY 2026-27 are currently ongoing. The VUPET application window opened on 1 February 2026, and the last date for form submission was 22 March 2026. The VUPET entrance test was scheduled for 12 April 2026, with results and interviews to follow in April-May 2026. The final admission deadline for selected candidates is 30 May 2026.

Key Points

The Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) programme is offered under the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Technology at VU, Pune.
Research supervisors for Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) are Prof. (Dr.) Kedar Sant (Registrar, VU) and Prof. (Dr.) Nitin Satpute (Dean, Science and Technology, VU).
Key research areas include Vibration Analysis, Thermal Systems, Non-Conventional Machining, Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Waste Water Treatment, Product Design and Development, and Industry 4.0 applications.
The department has active industry collaborations with companies such as Philips, Hodek, Maximator India, and Carraro India, providing research project opportunities.
International academic collaborations with Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Binghamton University (New York), Asian Institute of Technology, and Hof University enhance research exposure.
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET (Category 1, 2, or 3), GATE, or CEED with a valid score may be exempted from the VUPET written test; however, form submission and interview remain mandatory for all.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) programme at Vishwakarma University carries an annual fee of Rs. 1,25,000, payable every year for the duration of the programme (minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years). This is higher than the humanities Ph.D. programmes at VU, reflecting the engineering research infrastructure costs. A one-time thesis submission fee of Rs. 25,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission. The VUPET application form fee is Rs. 1,200 for Open category and Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates. Hostel facility is available on campus separately and is not mandatory for Ph.D. students.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Annual Tuition Fee	1,25,000 per year
VUPET Application Form Fee (Open)	1,200 (one-time)
VUPET Application Form Fee (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)	1,000 (one-time)
Thesis Submission Fee	25,000 (one-time, at thesis submission)
Total Fees (3 years, excluding thesis fee)	3,75,000
Total Fees (3 years, including thesis fee)	4,00,000

Hostel charges (optional, not mandatory): Rs. 1,25,000 to Rs. 1,45,000 per year depending on seat type; includes mess (breakfast and dinner) and a refundable deposit of Rs. 5,000.
Laundry charges are separate.
If admission is cancelled before 31 August 2026, a deduction will be made and the balance will be refunded.
No refund is applicable for cancellations after 31 August 2026.
Refunds (if applicable) are processed within 15 working days via RTGS/NEFT.
Fees are payable annually; no EMI option is explicitly mentioned for Ph.D. fees.

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Admission 2026-27

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) programme at Vishwakarma University for AY 2026-27 are currently in progress. The VUPET entrance test was scheduled on 12 April 2026, and the final admission deadline for selected candidates is 30 May 2026. With 10 seats available (3 Open, 7 Reserved for AY 2026-27), competition is moderate. Candidates are advised to check supervisor availability and research interests before applying, and to monitor the official website for any schedule updates.

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Admission Schedule

Event	Date
VUPET Application Form Opens	1 February 2026
Last Date for Form Submission	22 March 2026
VUPET Entrance Test	12 April 2026
Result of VUPET Paper II	21 April 2026
Interview Schedule Declared	27 April 2026
Result of Interview	15 May 2026
Final Deadline for Ph.D. Admission (Selected Candidates)	30 May 2026

Relevant Entrance Exam Dates

Event	GATE 2026	UGC-NET Phase 2 (Tentative)
Registration Start	August 2025	1 April 2026
Exam Date	February 2026	1 June 2026
Result	March 2026	1 July 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have completed M.E./M.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS candidates).
Candidates who have completed M.Phil. with at least 55% marks in aggregate are also eligible.
Candidates qualifying their Master's degree in 2026 may also apply; they must submit their final result on or before 30 July 2026.

Admission Process:

Check eligibility and available research supervisors (Dr. Kedar Sant and Dr. Nitin Satpute) on the official VU website before applying.
Fill the VUPET application form online at vupet.edupluscampus.com and pay the application fee (Rs. 1,200 for Open; Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS).
Appear for VUPET Paper I (Research Methodology and Aptitude) - minimum 50% required to qualify for Paper II.
Appear for VUPET Paper II (Mechanical Engineering subject-specific, subjective) - minimum 50% required to qualify for interview.
Candidates qualifying both papers appear for a personal interview at the university.
Selected candidates must complete admission formalities and pay fees by the final deadline (30 May 2026 for AY 2026-27).
GATE/UGC-NET qualified candidates with valid scores are exempted from the written test but must submit the form and appear for the interview.

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Scholarships 2026-27

Vishwakarma University does not offer a broad institutional merit scholarship programme for Ph.D. students. Ph.D. scholars in Mechanical Engineering may avail of government-funded fellowships and scholarships based on eligibility. The university facilitates student loan assistance through banking partners such as SBI, HDFC, and Oriental Bank of Commerce. Students from EWS, SC, ST, and OBC categories may be eligible for government scholarships and fee concessions under state and central government schemes.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
GATE-based Fellowship (MHRD/AICTE)	Ministry of Education / AICTE	Rs. 12,400/month (for M.Tech.; Ph.D. rates vary by institution)	Valid GATE score; enrolled in full-time Ph.D.
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	University Grants Commission (UGC)	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (subsequent years)	Qualify UGC-NET with JRF; valid for Ph.D. enrolment
UGC Non-NET Fellowship	UGC / University	As per UGC norms	Ph.D. scholars not holding JRF but enrolled full-time
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	Government of Maharashtra / Central Govt.	Varies	SC/ST students; income-based
EWS Fee Concession	Vishwakarma University	Up to 50% fee reduction	EWS certificate holders
Education Loan	SBI, HDFC, Oriental Bank of Commerce	As per bank norms	All eligible students

GATE/UGC-NET qualified candidates are exempted from the VUPET written test.
Students must apply separately for government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
EWS concession is subject to submission of a valid EWS certificate at the time of admission.
Scholarship deadlines vary; students are advised to check the National Scholarship Portal and UGC website for current deadlines.

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) FAQs

Ques. What are the research areas available under Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) at Vishwakarma University?

Ans. The Department of Mechanical Engineering at VU has faculty expertise in Vibration Analysis, Thermal Systems, Non-Conventional Machining, Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Waste Water Treatment, and Industry 4.0 applications. Research supervisors Dr. Kedar Sant and Dr. Nitin Satpute have specific research interests that candidates should verify on the official VU website before applying.

Ques. Is GATE score required for Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) admission at VU?

Ans. GATE is not mandatory, but candidates with a valid GATE score are exempted from the VUPET written test. All candidates, including those with GATE, must fill the VUPET application form and appear for the personal interview. Candidates without GATE must appear for both VUPET Paper I and Paper II.

Ques. What is the annual fee for Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) at VU, and how does it compare to other Ph.D. programmes?

Ans. The annual fee for Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) is Rs. 1,25,000 per year, which is higher than the humanities and social sciences Ph.D. programmes at VU (which are Rs. 75,000 per year). This reflects the engineering research infrastructure and laboratory costs. The total fee for 3 years (minimum duration) including the thesis submission fee is Rs. 4,00,000.

Ques. Does the Mechanical Engineering department at VU have industry-funded research projects for Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. Yes, the department has active industry collaborations with companies such as Philips (research project on oil vessel design), Hodek (semi-active torsional vibration damper), Maximator India (tube coning machine), and Carraro India. Ph.D. scholars may get opportunities to work on live industry-funded research projects, which strengthens both their research output and industry exposure.

Ques. What international collaborations does the Mechanical Engineering department at VU have?

Ans. The department has international academic collaborations with Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Binghamton University (New York, USA), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), and Hof University (Germany). These collaborations may provide Ph.D. scholars with opportunities for joint research, international conferences, and academic exchange.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) at VU, and what is the category-wise split?

Ans. For AY 2026-27, the total intake for Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) was 10 seats - 3 Open category and 7 Reserved category. The seat matrix for AY 2026-27 should be checked on the official VUPET notification. Candidates are advised to apply early given the limited Open category seats.

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Vishwakarma University Pune Ph.D Mechanical Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Fees

Fee Components

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Admission 2026-27

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Admission Schedule

Relevant Entrance Exam Dates

Eligibility Criteria:

Admission Process:

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) Scholarships 2026-27

Scholarships and Fellowships

VU Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) FAQs

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