Academics

1. PhD Programme(Ph.D. ADMISSION 2024-2025 (AUTUMN SEMESTER))

The Institute provides facilities for research leading to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The award of the PhD. degree is made on the basis of satisfactory performance of a registered candidate in

i. Prescribed course work, comprehensive examination & seminar
ii. Publication of original research work in reputed journals/conferences or award of patents/technology transfer etc.
iii. The thesis submitted by the candidate and a final viva voce. The thesis shall be the report of research work characterized by either discovery of new facts or a new interpretation of known facts and theory, or an independent design and development, or development of new instrument/technology.

2. Research Areas

Areas of research available in the different fields are listed on website at https://www.iipe.ac.in/research/Research Highlights.php. IIPE is also engaged in interdisciplinary work with research groups.

3. Eligibility Criteria for Admission

3.1 Minimum qualifying degree required for seeking admission to the Ph.D. program

I. An applicant must have a Master’s Degree (M. Tech/ME/MS) in Engineering/ Technology or a degree equivalent with First Class/ division or a minimum 60% marks or a minimum 6.5 CGPA on a 10-point scale (55% or 6.0 CGPA for ST/SC/PwD).

OR
II. An applicant must have a Bachelor Degree (B.Tech /BE/BS) in Engineering/ Technology or a degree equivalent to any of the above in relevant subject with First Class/ division or a minimum 60% marks or a minimum 6.5 CGPA on a 10 point scale (55% or 6.0 CGPA on a 10 point scale for ST/SC/PwD).
OR
III. An applicant must have a Master Degree (M.Sc/ M.Tech/ MS/M. Sc. Tech/ME) in Science/ an allied area or a degree equivalent to any of the above in relevant subject with First Class/ division or a minimum 60% marks or a minimum 6.5 CGPA on a 10 point scale (55% or 6.0 CGPA for ST/SC/PwD). The minimum marks for being eligible for admission are without round-off.

3.2 Additional Requirements for different Admission category

The additional requirements for admission to the PhD program of the Institute are as follows:

3.2.1 Regular with Institute Research Fellowship (Instructions).

a. A valid GATE/UGC/CSIR-NET/NBHM/National Level Exam score is required for the award of Institute Research Fellowship
b. B. Tech Degree, Dual Degree (B. Tech & M. Tech), 5 year Integrated MSc degree, M. Tech and Master’s Degree (admitted through JAM) having final CGPA >= 8.0 on a 10.0 point scale or 75% (7.0 CGPA or 65% for SC/ST) from IITs/IISc/IIPE/RGIPT/NITs may be considered for Direct admission in Ph.D Programme with Institute Fellowships holders provided they meet minimum eligibility criteria mentioned in section 3.1.
c. Candidates with a M. Tech. degree in Engineering or Technology after qualifying GATE is also eligible for Institute Research Fellowship
d. A person who is in employment and is applying for Institute Fellowship and selected for admission, he/she must resign and produce the acceptance of resignation by the employer at the time of joining or produce a document that he/she is not receiving any salary from his/her employer along with proper document of sanctioned leave.
e. Eligibility Criteria for vacancy under Institute Fellowship in the following disciplines
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S.No.	Disciplines	Eligibility Criteria
1.	*Biology*	MSc/ MTech/ BTech in any discipline of Life Sciences.
2.	*Chemistry*	BTech/PG in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, Pharmacy or Related area
3.	Chemical Engineering	i) Master’s degree in Chemical Engg or any other discipline of Engg. or Technology or equivalent. (e.g. Environmental, Energy, Polymer, Electrical, Control systems, Artificial Intelligence etc.) ii) Science/ Mathematics postgraduates with exceptional merit in the appropriate field. iii) BTech/ B.E in Chemical Engg, allied disciplines (eg. petroleum, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, polymer, biochemical, biotechnology, electrochemical, electrical, instrumentation) and other disciplines of engineering & technology with exceptional merit
4.	Computer Science and Engineering	BTech/BE in Computer Science and Engineering with MTech/ME/MS in CSE/Any other specializations under CSE.
5.	Earth Sciences	M.Sc./ M.Tech in Mathematics, Geology and Geophysics; BTech/MTech in Mining, Civil Engineering
6.	Electrical Engineering	B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with M.E/M.Tech/ M.S specialization in Power Electronics, Power Quality, Power Systems and areas relevant to Renewable Energy, Grid Integration
7.	Mechanical Engineering	MTech in mechanical engineering specialization
8.	Petroleum Engineering	i) MTech in Petroleum, Chemical, Petrochemical, CSE, Mechanical, Civil Engineering. ii) MSc/MTech in Chemistry, Mathematics, Geology and Geophysics iii) B. Tech. in Petroleum Engineering

e. The Institute Research Fellowship shall be awarded for a maximum period of 5 years which include the period the fellowship received through project, if any. At present (To be revised shortly as per DST/GoI Norms) the amounts are as follows:

         • Rs. 31,000/- pm for first 2 years
         • Rs. 35,000/- pm for next 3 years
         • Contingencies amount: Rs. 30,000/- Per annum

f. No Research Student shall be permitted to receive any other emoluments, salary, stipend or any other scholarship/fellowship during the tenure of Institute Research Fellowship.

3.2.2. Individual Fellowship (CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICAR/INSPIRE etc.) (Instructions).

a. All candidates applying for the Individual Fellowship category must have a valid award letter with fellowship issued by the respective funding agency (i.e. CSIR/UGC/DST/DBT/ICMR etc.) along with the eligibility criterion as mentioned in Section 3.1.
b. Candidates having provisional Individual Fellowship award letter must give an undertaking that “In case of cancelation/withdrawal of Provisional award of fellowship by the funding agency, the admission at IIPE Visakhapatnam will be cancelled from the date of joining the Ph.D. program and there is no liability on the part of IIPE in this regard”.

3.2.3. Ph.D. through Project (Instructions).

a. Candidates who possess the prescribed qualifications as mentioned in the eligibility criteria as mentioned in Section 3.1 and are working on a sponsored project in the Institute shall be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program under the project category.
b. An intending candidate must submit his/her application in prescribed form for admission through Principal Investigator, Head of the Department and Dean (Research and Development) with suitable endorsement.
c. The minimum remaining period of the project as well as tenure of the project employee should be at least 1 year from the date of joining the Ph.D. program

d. The minimum remaining period should be 3 Years for DST Inspire or project of similar nature.

3.2.4. Sponsored (External) (Instructions).

a. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria mentioned in Section 3.1 are eligible to apply for a Sponsored (External) PhD program. In addition, candidates in service in any of the following establishments with minimum of one (01) years job experience at the time of admission shall be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program as Sponsored candidates (External):
• Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
• Any Ministries of GoI/State Government/Government Organizations
• Reputed industries having R & D facilities recognized as ‘Research Institution’ by the Institute.
• Established industrial R&D organizations.
• Autonomous bodies and National Laboratories.

b. Such a candidate should have been in employment with the sponsoring organization for at least 01 years at the time of admission. In case of mentoring under TEQIP and other such programs under MoUs the experience requirement may be relaxed.
c. These candidates must have a Supervisor (Internal) from the Institute (IIPE) and an External Supervisor (Optional) from their parent organization where employed.
d. The candidate should also provide the biodata of the prospective External Supervisor from his/her organization who would supervise the candidate's work at his/her organization (if applicable).
e. Candidates need to produce a NOC letter (Format available on website) at the time of application.
f. Candidates are required to submit a research proposal as part of their application. The research proposal should clearly state the research problem, the research questions, the research methodology, and the expected outcomes of the study.
g. The competence of these candidates will be assessed along with the regular candidates.
h. After joining, the rules and regulations as specified by IIPE for regular candidates with regard to academic performance will remain applicable for candidates under this category also.
i. The candidate shall have to spend at least one week per semester at IIPE, Visakhapatnam interacting with his supervisor that may include working in the laboratory.
j. External students are not eligible for a stipend or fellowship from the institute

3.2.5. Sponsored (Part Time) (Instructions).

a. A part-time candidate is a professionally employed personnel who can, while employed, attend regular classes as per schedule of the Institute. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria mentioned in Section 3.1 are eligible to apply for a part-time PhD programme. In addition, candidates should have at least 01 year of work experience after obtaining their qualifying degree.
b. Such a candidate should be NOC by his/her employer and should have been in employment with the sponsoring organization for at least 01 year at the time of admission.
c. Candidates working as permanent faculty of a reputed university or academic/research/ professional organization/ institution.
d. Confirmed employees of IIPE fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
e. These candidates must have a Supervisor (Internal) from IIPE and an External Supervisor (Optional) from their parent organization where employed.
f. The candidate should also provide the biodata of the prospective External Supervisor from his/her organization who would supervise the candidate's work at his/her organization (if applicable).
g. Candidates are required to submit a research proposal as part of their application. The research proposal should clearly state the research problem, the research questions, the research methodology, and the expected outcomes of the study.
h. Part-time students are not eligible for a stipend or fellowship from the institute.

3.2.6. QIP (Quality Improvement Program) category

a. Candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria as mentioned in Section 3.1 (Without GATE/ CSIRNET/ UGC/ NBHM) and a minimum of One (01) years teaching experience as full-time regular/permanent teachers of AICTE/UGC-approved Degree level Institutions are eligible to apply.
b. An intending sponsored candidate under QIP category must submit his/her application in the prescribed form along with No objection certificate for admission through his/her employer, who will forward the same to the Institute with suitable endorsement.
c. They are expected to be released for course work, Comprehensive Examination and Research Proposal Seminar and research at the Institute for a minimum period of three (03) years. and a minimum of One (01) years teaching experience as full-time regular/permanent teachers of AICTE/UGC-approved Degree level Institutions are eligible to apply.
d. A candidate under QIP Category selected for admission shall be required, at the time of joining the Institute, to produce certificate in the prescribed form from the employers to the effect: (i) that he/she has been officially released from his duties for purpose of joining the program and has been granted leave for the required period; (ii) that his services shall be retained with the employer
e. There is no provision for any financial assistance for QIP candidates.

3.4. Special Notes

a. Department may fix additional admission criteria without compromising the eligibility criteria mentioned here.
b. Mere fulfilment of eligibility criteria does not give guarantee for admission to the PhD programme.
c. Any document will be considered as valid if that is valid on or after the date of admission.
d. The decision of IIPE regarding determination of equivalent degree is final and binding to all applicants.