NIT Rourkela offers the Ph.D. program, Executive PhD, and MTech Research programs across 20 specializations. The Ph.D. program offered by the institute is full-time on campus. The duration of the Ph.D. program is a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years. NIT Rourkela calls shortlisted candidates for a personal interview (PI) round as part of the final selection process. Mentioned below are the important dates released to NIT Rourkela Ph.D. application submission and other details such as eligibility criteria, admission criteria, course details, fees, and stipend offered to the students.

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NIT Rourkela PhD Eligibility Criteria 

The minimum qualification required for admission to the Ph.D. program in Engineering, Science, Management, Humanities, or Social Sciences is one of the following:
  • M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm in relevant discipline with at least 6.5 CGPA or 60 percent marks in aggregate in both B.Tech. (or M.Sc./B.Pharm/MCA) and M.Tech. levels from recognized technical Institutes or Universities.
  • B.E./B.Tech./B.Pharm/MCA or equivalent in relevant discipline with CGPA of 7.0 or 65 percent marks in aggregate.
  • M.Sc. in Basic Sciences with a CGPA of 7.0 or 65 percent marks in aggregate in relevant disciplines.
  • M.B.B.S./B.V.Sc. with a CGPA of 6.5 or 60 percent marks in aggregate.
  • M. Sc. /M.A. / MBA / M.Com. in Humanities or Social Sciences or Management with a CGPA of 6.5 or 60 percent marks.
  • Specific departments or sponsored projects may limit requirements to subsets of the qualifications listed above.

​Note: Candidates having valid NET/ GATE scores along with these criteria will get more preference. In a few cases where the candidate has proven research expertise as evidenced by published papers and/or unpublished materials, the Senate, or Chairman Senate on its behalf, can decrease the mark threshold by 5%.

The various categories of students (with or without financial support) mentioned below are eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program provided they satisfy the qualification requirements:

  • Full-time student with Institute Fellowship /Assistantship (Institute Scholar)
  • Full-time student with External Fellowship (UGC/CSIR Net, DST Inspire, etc.)
  • Full-time student without Fellowship (self-financed/self-supported)
  • NIT faculty
  • NIT regular employees (Non-teaching) are specifically permitted to enroll in the Ph.D. program.
  • Project Scholars (JRF/SRF/RA etc.) or project staff members
  • QIP Scholars
  • Sponsored student (Institute/Research Organisation/Industry)
  • Sponsored student from Rourkela and vicinity [part-time]

NIT Rourkela PhD Admission

Selection to the Ph.D. program at NIT Rourkela is done based on academic record, the relevance of qualification, the candidate's research interest, the existing research program, and the performance of the candidate in the written test and personal interview conducted by the institute itself. Candidates have to appear in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) entrance test conducted by Premier IITs. NET Qualified candidates will also be exempted from other entrances. 

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How to Apply?

The application form for admission to PhD courses offered by NIT Rourkela can be filled out online by visiting https://www.nitrkl.ac.in/. Below are the steps to apply for PhD course:

  • Visit the official website and read the admission details carefully.
  • The candidate has to register themselves on the scheduled dates of registration which will be conducted online.
  • After the registration form is filled out, submit it to the DPGC convener.
  • After that the screening committee verifies the candidate's eligibility
  • If he/she is eligible, the candidates need to appear for the Entrance exam, followed by an Interview after clearing the entrance exam.

Documents Required:

  • 4 Passport size photographs (Coloured)
  • Mark sheets and certificates of Class X & XII
  • Entrance Exam Score Card.
  • Provisional Seat Allotment Letter provided by the institute
  • Original Grade/mark sheet of qualifying examination for all semesters
  • Aadhaar Card
  • Character Certificate, Migration Certificate & Transfer Certificate

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NIT Rourkela PhD Course Details

  •  Each specialization will have a different syllabus for each semester/year. 
  • There will be compulsory coursework (Elective subjects chosen by the candidate in their discipline) that carries around 3 to 4 credits.
  • The major part will be practical work submission which might carry credits from 4 to 8 credits.

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NIT Rourkela PhD Stipend

NIT Rourkela provides a Stipend/fellowship to all the PhD scholars enrolled with the institute. Admission to Ph.D. programs does not require a GATE or NET score. However, to be considered for Institute or Government scholarships or fellowships, students must have an M.Tech degree or, if mandated by government rules, a valid NET (Lectureship or JRF) or GATE score. Candidates clearing the Progress Seminar (as conducted by the department) become eligible for the fellowship. Meritorious Ph.D., M.Tech (Res), and PDF students from all fields are eligible for fellowships and assistantships; their percentage of these is presented in the following table:

Course Name Eligibility Rate of Fellowship
PhD Ph.D., M.Tech (Res), and PDF INR 31,000

NIT Rourkela PhD Placement

NIT Rourkela PhD placements 2023 have been concluded. Tabulated below are the NIT Rourkela Ph.D. placements Statistics:

 Particulars PLacement Statistics 2022-23
Total No. of Job Offers 09
Highest Package INR 18 LPA
Lowest Package INR 7.5 LPA
Median Package INR 10.20 LPA
Average Package INR 11.45 LPA

Also check the branchwise placements of NIT Rourkela:

Courses Job Offers Minimum CTC (in LPA) Maximum CTC (in LPA) Average CTC (in LPA) Median CTC (in LPA)
Electrical Engineering 1 INR 9.00 INR 9.00 INR 9.00 INR 9.00
Mathematics 3 INR 10.20 INR 15.00 INR 11.80 INR 10.20
Mechanical Engineering 2 INR 9.00 INR 18.00 INR 13.50 INR 13.50
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering 1 INR 14.74 INR 14.74 INR 14.74 INR 14.74
School of Management 2 INR 7.50 INR 9.45 INR 8.48 INR 8.48

Read more: NIT Rourkela Placement

NIT Rourkela PhD FAQs

Ques. Which one is better, NIT Allahabad or NIT Rourkela for PhD?

Ans. NIT Rourkela is the 2nd best institute according to MHRD. On the other hand, NIT Allahabad has a fine alumni network with superb placement packages. So, choose Ph.D. admission in any of the two institutions based on your requirements.

Ques. Under which condition a PhD student will get a scholarship/fellowship at NIT Rourkela?

Ans. A PhD student having M.Tech/M. Pharm degree and within the age limit are eligible for an Institute research fellowship for four years; first two years at INR 31000. The maximum age limit is 32 years (35 years for SC/ST/Women candidates) to be eligible for the fellowship.

Ques. What is the scholarship/fellowship offered by NIT Rourkela to a PhD student?

Ans. Apart from Institute research fellowship, PhD students are eligible for External fellowships like the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, Inspire Fellowship, Maulana Azad Fellowship, CSIR Fellowship, etc. if they qualify for the said fellowship examinations and satisfy their terms and conditions.

Ques. Is the institution is faculty good enough for taking PhD Admission at NIT Rourkela?

Ans. Yes, it is good to take PhD admission at NIT Rourkela. All the faculty of the institution are highly qualified and mostly PhD holders. Professors and Assistant Professors are well-qualified from highly-ranked institutes in India and Abroad.