BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2021: Dates, Eligibility, Selection Criteria, Application Process

At the doctoral level, BITS Pilani offers a PhD programme in both full-time and part-time modes across the streams of Engineering, Science, Economics & Finance and Humanities & Social Sciences, Management. While the part-time PhD programme is designed for working professionals, students pursuing a full-time PhD programme from BITS Pilani need to attend the programme in on-campus mode. The semester fee for PhD programme is Rs 19,900 (Rs 39,800 in case of a part-time PhD programme). Apart from this programme, the Department of Management, functioning under BITS Pilani also offers several PhD specialisations in both full-time and part-time modes. 

BITS Pilani PhD Admission Dates 2021

All important dates regarding BITS Pilani PhD admissions are enlisted below:

IMPORTANT DATES
16 Oct '21 - 30 Nov '21	Application window ONGOING
10 Dec '21	Declaration of shortlisted candidates
5 Jan '22	Commencement of test/ interview
10 Jan '22	Announcement of admission offers to PhD programme
17 Jan '22	Reporting of selected students to respective campuses
18 Jan '22	Registration

BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2021

The list of PhD specialisations offered at BITS Pilani are as follows:

PhD Specialisations
Biological Sciences	Chemical Engineering	Chemistry
Computer Science and Information Systems	Economics & Finance	Management
Mathematics	Civil Engineering	Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Humanities & Social Science	Mechanical Engineering	Physics
Pharmacy	--	--

PhD aspirants, fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria, need to appear for a stream-specific one-hour entrance exam and interview rounds, both conducted by the Deemed University. Upon selection, students need to pay a fee of Rs 43,800 to confirm admission. The eligibility criteria for BITS PIlani PhD Admission 2021  is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria:

• Passed ME/ MTech/ MPharm/ MBA/ MPhil or an equivalent degree from a recognised institute/ university with a minimum of 60% aggregate, or
• Passed MSc/ BE/ BPharm or an equivalent degree from a recognised institute/ university with a minimum of 60% aggregate. However, such candidates if admitted, will be required to do coursework on admission to the programme
• For admission to PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences, candidates with an MA degree and a minimum of 55% aggregate can apply
• For candidates seeking part-time PhD admission at BITS Pilani, one year of relevant work experience is mandatory along with the fulfilment of the above-mentioned eligibility requirements

In addition to this, Industries and R&D organisations collaborating with BITS Pilani can sponsor candidates to work for PhD under the 'PhD Aspirants Scheme'. Under this scheme, employed professionals working in industries and R&D organisations, having long experience and proven competence aspiring for PhD programme, are considered and allowed to pursue their research at their own locations of work. They are required to choose one BITS faculty as supervisor and or as co-supervisor.

Apart from the above-mentioned PhD programme, the Department of Management, functioning under BITS Pilani also offers several PhD specialisations in both full-time and part-time modes. The selection procedure is the same, which is through an entrance test and PI rounds, conducted by the Deemed University, however, the eligibility requirements and specialisations offered are slightly different as listed below:

Department of Management: PhD
Specialisation	Eligibility Criteria
- Finance & Accounting (only full-time) - Marketing - Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management (only full-time) - Operations Management & Decision Sciences - Information Technology & Technology Management (only full-time) - Strategy & Entrepreneurship	For full-time PhD aspirants: Passed MBA or equivalent two-year Management programme with a minimum of 60% aggregate or 6.0 CGPA, or Passed MPhil in (Social and Behavioral Sciences) along with ME/ MTech degree in Industrial Engineering, or Any higher degree of BITS Pilani For part-time PhD aspirants: Fulfilment of eligibility criteria required for full-time PhD admission, and Should be a working professional along with one year of full-time work experience

BITS Pilani also offers PhD (Management) admission to the second year of the course. The eligibility criteria for the same are slightly different which is enlisted below:

PhD (Management) lateral entry in full-time mode:

• Passed MBA or equivalent two-year Management programme with a minimum of 65% aggregate or 6.5 CGPA, or
• Passed a one-year Residential Executive Program in Management, or
• Passed MPhil in (Social and Behavioral Sciences) along with ME/ MTech degree in Industrial Engineering, or
• Any higher degree of BITS Pilani

PhD (Management) lateral entry in part-time mode: Same as the eligibility criteria for PhD (Management) lateral entry in full-time mode along with five years of full-time work experience.

BITS Pilani PhD Application Process 2021

For PhD admission at BITS Pilani, candidates can register themselves through the official website of BITS Pilani (when registrations are open). For filling the registration form, candidates will have to click on 'Online PhD Application Form' link available on the homepage of the website. After successful registration, candidates need to fill the remaining application form and upload all the required sets of documents. In addition to this, candidates also need to pay an application fee* in online mode using a debit card/ credit card/ net banking/ UPI to conclude the application process.

List of required documents:

Candidates need to submit a scanned copy below-given documents at the time of filling online application form for BITS Pilani PhD admission:

• Passport-size photograph and signature
• Government-issued photo identity proof
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
• UG certificate and mark sheets
• PG certificate and mark sheets
• Professional degree marks sheets and certificates (if any)
• Copy of entrance exam scorecard
• Work experience certificate (if applicable)

*Application fee for respective courses offered at BITS Pilani is as follows:

Course	Application Fee
PhD	Rs 2,600

BITS Pilani PhD Scholarships 2021

Full-time PhD students of BITS Pilani are eligible to be considered for a fellowship in the first year based on their qualifications at the time of admission. The details regarding the same are as follows:

• Students admitted with ME/ MTech/ MPharm/ MBA/ MPhil or an equivalent degree are eligible to receive a fellowship of Rs 31,000
• Students admitted with MSc/ BE/ BPharm or an equivalent degree are eligible to receive a fellowship of Rs 28,000. These students on successful completion of coursework will receive Rs 31,000 from the semester following the one in which the course work was completed