APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Kerala PhD Admission 2025-26

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala invites online application for PhD admission for the academic session 2025-26 in colleges affiliated to APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala.

This program offers an exceptional opportunity for scholars to engage in advanced research across Disciplines of Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Applied Sciences, Basic Sciences & Mathematics, Computer Applications and Management under the guidance of distinguished faculty members.

University Offers PhD program in Full Time as well as Part Time mode. Candidates with strong academic background and a passion for research are encouraged to apply. The selection process comprises an Entrance Examination and personal interview.

Eligibility

Qualification

• Master’s degree in Engineering/Technology, Architecture:
• Master’s degree by research in Engineering/Technology
• Master’s degree in Applied Sciences / Basic Sciences or Mathematics
• Master’s degree in Computer Applications
• Master’s degree in Management

Minimum CGPA

• Minimum CGPA of 5.75. Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Other Backward Community (Non-Creamy Layers) / Differently-abled category candidates (with more than 40% disability) / EWS are eligible for admission with a minimum CGPA of 5.25 in all cases.

For Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Architecture

• For Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Architecture: Minimum CGPA of 7.75. Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Other Backward Community (Non-Creamy Layers) / Differently-abled category candidates (with more than 40% disability) / EWS are eligible for admission with a minimum CGPA of 7.25.

Note –

• Basic Sciences candidates can pursue full-time as well as part-time research subject to the condition that a co-guide is mandatory from a sister institution/ research organization which is willing to extend its research facilities/laboratories for the scholar.
• Master’s degrees in Engineering/Technology in Management-related streams will also be considered for the PhD program in Management.
• If the marks awarded by Higher Education Institutions / Universities are in percentage and no conversion criteria are mentioned by the respective institutions, the percentage will be converted to CGPA using the equation: CGPA = (Percentage marks ÷ 10) + 0.25 for the purpose of assessing eligibility.
• Students in their final semester of PG & UG are permitted to apply with the grades up to their last published results, satisfying the eligibility criteria. Once selected, students are required to submit their final mark list with grades satisfying the minimum eligibility requirement to the place of research before taking admission. Students should produce their certificates at the time of admission at the place of research.
• Candidates holding degrees from foreign universities are eligible to participate in the selection process only if those universities are listed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
• All full-time/part-time/Open University PG programs from Universities enlisted in the Equivalency Handbook published by the Kerala State Higher Education Council are approved for the purpose of admission to PhD, subject to fulfilling all eligibility criteria as mentioned in the Research Regulations.
• Graduates and Post Graduates having the qualifying degree without specified CGPA or Percentage marks shall be eligible for applying for the PhD programme if they have one paper published in SCI/SCIE/SSCI or Scopus (Unpaid) Journals as the first / corresponding author.

Application Process

• Application must be submitted online as specified in web site app.ktu.edu.in.
• All relevant documents to prove the eligibility and relaxation, if any, must be uploaded at the time of application.

Selection Process

The selection process consists of an entrance test for 70 marks and an interview for 30 marks. Candidates who have secured 50% marks in the entrance test will be eligible to attend the interview.

The entrance test comprises 2 parts – Part A (35 marks) and Part B (35 marks).

• Part A: Research Aptitude (35 marks) Reasoning (18 marks) + Basic English (5 marks) + Research Methodology (12 marks).
• Part B: Subject (35 marks)

There will be at least 5 specialization sections (which includes compulsory sections also) depending on the branch, with each section carrying 7 marks.

All candidates will have to attempt 4 sections. Engineering, MCA, and Physics candidates will have to attempt one section on Mathematics mandatorily. They will have to attempt another 3 sections which include their area of interest or nearest available area. The section on their area of interest will carry double weightage (14 marks) while the other three sections will carry 7 marks each. Candidates from Chemistry, Management, and Architecture need not attempt Mathematics mandatorily.

Separate Mathematics question papers will be set for the three categories: (i) Computer Science and MCA, (ii) Mathematics, and (iii) other Engineering streams (including Biotechnology and allied branches) and Physics.

Candidates should score an overall 50% marks (35/70) in the entrance test to appear for the interview, a minimum of 40% in the interview (12/30), and an overall 50% for selection (50/100).

A relaxation of 5% for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (belonging to Non-Creamy Layer) / EWS / Differently-abled category (with more than 40% disability-as per the certificate issued by the District Medical Board) will be granted as per the UGC norms. A further relaxation of 5% will be given to SC/ST candidates if a sufficient number of candidates does not qualify otherwise.

Exemptions

All applicants will be permitted to appear for the PhD Entrance Examination 2025-2026. Candidates are responsible for ensuring their own eligibility and relaxation as per the guidelines.

• Candidates who are selected under the QIP (The Quality Improvement Program for teachers) are exempted from the PhD Entrance test and interview. They will be admitted directly for the research program. AICTE Doctoral Fellowship candidates will be admitted separately with a separate notification.
• Candidates with KSCSTE fellowship and M Phil holders with a minimum CGPA of 5.75 (General Category) and CGPA of 5.25 (for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy layers) / EWS / Differently-abled category candidates (with more than 40% disability – as per the certificate issued by the District Medical Board)) have to appear for only Part A of the entrance test. The marks obtained out of 35 will be scaled up to 70. They will have to attend the interview out of 30 marks. However, they can choose to appear for both Part A and Part B, in which case the marks will not be scaled up.
• As per the public notice issued by the UGC dated 27.03.2024, those students who have qualified for fellowship/scholarship in UGC-NET will be declared eligible in three categories:
  • Category 1: Eligible for admission to PhD with Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and appointment as Assistant Professor.
  • Category 2: Eligible for admission to PhD without JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor.
  • Category 3: Eligible for admission to PhD programs only, without qualification for JRF or appointment as Assistant Professor. The above three categories are exempted from appearing for the PhD entrance examination of the University. Admission to the PhD program will be based on the interview. The marks obtained in the NET by the candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will be valid for a period of one year for admission to PhD.
• Candidates who have qualified for other national-level examinations for fellowship or scholarship—such as GATE/CEED, or equivalent tests—and possess a valid score will be exempted from the entrance examination.
• Teachers of affiliated colleges under A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University with 5 years of teaching experience as Assistant Professor or above in AICTE-approved institutions will have to appear for Part A and the section of questions pertaining to their area of interest or nearest only from Part B. The marks out of 14 will be scaled to 35. They will have to attend the interview out of 30 marks. However, they can choose to appear for Part A and the required 4 sections of Part B, in which case the marks will not be scaled up. Uploading all related documents along with the application is mandatory for such applicants. This exemption is applicable for candidates applying for Part-time registration only. (For relaxation under teaching experience for the teachers of affiliated colleges of the university, the applicant should have a minimum of 3 months continuous teaching experience in a spell as regular/contract/guest/adhoc basis).

Fellowships

University provides fellowship of Rs.25,000/- per month to eligible full-time scholars for 3 years. They are also eligible for a contingent grant of Rs.10,000/- per year. Higher Education scholarships for full time study in government engineering colleges will be provided by the Directorate of Technical education to selected candidates after registration.

• Application window open from: 1 May, 2025
• Last date of submission of applications: 31 May, 2025
• Date of the PhD entrance test: 20 June, 2025

• Notification
• Application
• APJAKTU Kerala Website