PhD at School of Arts and Sciences

Eligibility

Interdisciplinary Humanities and Social Sciences

Admission to the PhD programme will be based on a candidate’s past academic record which includes either a Masters degree (Minimum 55%) or equivalent training in any of the social sciences, humanities or related disciplines, a brief statement of research interest, and a writing sample. Applicants with a score of 60% or more in the UGC-NET exam are exempted from the written exam but must go through an interview process if shortlisted. In exceptional cases, a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline who displays remarkable interest and potential for research in the humanities and social sciences may be admitted to the programme, albeit with the requirement of completing additional credits as per the overall PhD policy of Ahmedabad University.

Mathematical and Computational Sciences

  • Candidates having a first class (55% and above) master’s degree or an equivalent grade in a point scale where the grading system is followed, in any of areas given below, are eligible to apply for the PhD programme in Mathematical and Computational Sciences. These areas include Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics.
  • Candidates having a four-year bachelor’s degree in the above subjects may also be admitted to the Programme provided they have secured (60 percent and above) or an equivalent grade in a point scale where the grading system is followed. Such students will be admitted to the PhD programme first as pre-doctoral candidates and will be treated as doctoral candidates only upon completion of the requirements.

Life Sciences

Candidates having a first class (55% and above) master’s degree or an equivalent grade in a point scale where the grading system is followed, in any of areas given below, are eligible to apply for the PhD programme in Biological and Life Sciences. These areas include any area of Biological or Biomedical Sciences broadly defined. They include but are not confined to Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, Physiology, Biophysics, Toxicology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Forensic Sciences (Biology/Chemistry). An equivalent degree in subjects related to biological sciences or other areas of science and engineering may be considered if the candidate can demonstrate strong scholastic ability and an interest in biological sciences.

Physics

The applicants who have secured a minimum of 55% or equivalent in Masters (Physics) are eligible to apply. The candidates who have qualified GATE (with 94 percentile or above)/JEST/CSIR-UGC NET will be exempted from the written test and will be directly called for the interview.


Information

Interdisciplinary Humanities and Social Sciences

All potential candidates must apply through the Graduate Application Portal. The admission requirement for the PhD programme includes a Master’s degree or equivalent training in any of the social sciences, humanities or related disciplines, a brief statement of research interest, and a writing sample. Based on the information submitted through the application portal, candidates will be shortlisted for a written exam. Those successful in the written exam will be selected for an interview.

Shortlisted candidates who have successfully passed the NET exam or have an MPhil will directly appear for the interview.

The written exam will be one hour long and will involve writing a short original reflection (800-1000 words) in response to a prompt on a general theme or issue. There is no specific syllabus or list of topics to be covered. It will be administered via google form. All written responses will be checked for plagiarism and anyone found to have plagiarised will be automatically disqualified from the selection process.

Mathematical and Computational Sciences

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. The final selection of candidates to the PhD programme in Mathematical and Computational Sciences will be based on their performance in the national level/standardised tests (CSIR/UGC/ICMR/DBT/DST INSPIRE/GATE/GRE Subject Test etc) and the interview.

Life Sciences

Shortlisted candidates will be called for a written test and those qualifying will be requested to appear for interview. The dates of the written test and interview will be announced after the last date of application to the PhD programme.

Candidates with national level fellowships/certificates (CSIR/UGC/ICMR/DBT/DST INSPIRE etc) will be exempted from the written test and be required to appear directly for an interview. The final dates will be communicated after the last date of application to the PhD programme in Life Sciences. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for interview. No TA/DA will be provided to candidates for appearing in the interview.

Physics

PhD admissions are now open. Candidates may apply through the Graduate Admissions Portal. The candidates who have qualified the national level PhD entrance tests (GATE/JEST/CSIR-UGC NET etc) will be exempted from the written test and be required to appear directly for an interview. Only shortlisted candidates based on their performance in the national level PhD entrance tests / written test will be called for an interview. No TA/DA will be provided to the candidates for appearing in the interview.

To learn more about the PhD programme in Physics at Ahmedabad University, you may send an email to [email protected].


Important Dates for Winter Semester 2024 (January Admission)

Activity Admission Cycle 
Application Portal Opens Monday, October 2,2023
Application Deadline Friday, November 10, 2023
Tentative Date for Test and Interview Monday-Wednesday; November 27-29, 2023
Announcement of Results Thursday, December 14, 2023


Admission Process

Steps to apply: 

  • Fill out the application form
  • Attach the required documents
  • Confirm your application details
  • Pay Rs. 500/- as application fee via Debit card / Credit card / Net Banking


Fee Structure

The Fee Structure of the Programme to be announced soon.


Financial Support

Ahmedabad University awards full tuition fee waiver and financial support to full-time doctoral students. The financial support could be either as either University Assistantship or University Fellowship, or from sponsored projects. We offer University Assistantships at INR 40,000 per month plus tuition fee waiver, and University Fellowships at INR 50,000 per month plus tuition fee waiver.


Policies regarding Design and Conduct of the Doctoral Programmes

For the Doctoral Programme Policy, Click here.


Admission Helpline Details

Administrative Office
Biological and Life Sciences
School of Arts and Sciences
Ahmedabad University 
Central Campus 
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009 
Gujarat, India. 

Contact Details:
(Monday to Friday, 09.30 HRS to 18.30 HRS IST)
+91.79.61911548
Email: [email protected]

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The School of Arts and Sciences has five divisions, Biological and Life Sciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Humanities and Languages, Social Sciences, and Performing and Visual Arts, spanning the liberal arts and sciences. It practices collaborative, interdisciplinary learning, and helps students to acquire the ability to analyse as well as synthesise ideas and information so they can form cogent arguments and creatively express themselves as they progress in academic life.

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