NIT Patna opens PhD admissions under Visvesvaraya scheme for July-December 2026

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna has invited applications for PhD admission under the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for the July-December 2026 session. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the institute's website until Oct 25.

The admission process will include eligibility screening followed by a screening test and/or selection interview conducted by the concerned department or centre.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates holding an MTech, ME or equivalent degree must have secured at least 6.5 CGPA on a 10-point scale or 60 per cent marks in aggregate from a recognised technical institute or university.

Candidates with a BTech, BE, MCA or equivalent qualification must have first-class marks. Where an institution does not specify a class, candidates must have at least 60 per cent marks or 6.5 CGPA along with a valid GATE, UGC-NET or CSIR-NET score. This criterion applies to candidates from the Computer Science and Engineering branch.

The minimum marks or CGPA requirement is relaxed by 0.5 CGPA or five percentage points for SC, ST and PwD candidates.

Candidates must submit proof of a valid GATE, UGC-NET or CSIR-NET score with their application. Sponsored candidates are exempt from the GATE or NET requirement.

Screening test and interview

The screening test will carry 100 marks. Candidates belonging to the General, EWS and OBC categories must secure at least 40 per cent, while SC, ST and PwD candidates must secure at least 35 per cent to qualify.

The syllabus for the screening test will be based on the GATE or NET syllabus applicable to the respective discipline.

Candidates shortlisted through the screening test will be called for a 100-mark selection interview. Part-time candidates may be called directly for the interview.

The interview will assess subject knowledge, research aptitude and the candidate's understanding of the proposed research area. The institute will also verify original documents, academic records and other credentials.

The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of interview marks and seat availability. The admission cut-off cannot be below 50 per cent of the total interview marks.

Two seats offered under Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme

NIT Patna is offering two seats under Phase-II of the Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme for Electronics and IT.

One is a full-time PhD seat with fellowship, while the other is a part-time seat without the full-time fellowship.

The eligible departments are:

-Electronics and Communication Engineering
-Computer Science and Engineering
-Electrical Engineering

The research areas covered under the scheme are Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/ITES.

Part-time PhD for sponsored candidates

NIT Patna has also provided for part-time admission for sponsored employees from public sector undertakings, government departments, research and development organisations, reputed industries, educational institutions, organisations covered under a memorandum of understanding and sponsored defence personnel, among other eligible organisations.

Sponsored candidates must meet the prescribed entry qualifications. They are exempt from the GATE or NET requirement and may also be exempt from the screening test, but they must appear for the selection interview.

Such candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. An additional NOC will be required from a new employer if the candidate changes jobs during the PhD programme.

Application fee and first-semester fee

The application fee is ₹1,500 for General, OBC and EWS candidates and ₹750 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. The fee is non-refundable and has to be paid online.

The first-semester fee at the time of admission is ₹59,750, excluding hostel and mess charges. Scholarships, fellowships and assistantships will be provided according to the rules of the respective funding agencies.

Candidates applying for the programme should submit their forms and fees by Oct 25 and retain a copy of the completed application for future reference.