GANDHINAGAR INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

PhD Admission Guidelines

1. Procedure for Application

Gandhinagar University is now accepting applications for admission to its Doctorate Programmes in various specializations as mentioned in the above advertisement.

2. Admission Process

The university invites applications for PhD admission twice a year, through advertisement on the university’s official website.

Interested candidates may apply online after paying processing fees of Rs 1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand Only) through an online QR code available on university website under PhD tab.

Apply online: https://www.gandhinagaruni.ac.in/ph-d-admissions/

Phase -I: Entrance Test to be conducted by the University.

The University will conduct the Entrance Test for applicants, which shall include multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The said test shall in accordance with UGC guidelines consist of two papers:

Research Methodology (Paper-I) of 35 marks and one hour duration, followed by

Domain Subject Specific (Paper-II) of 35 marks and one hour one hour duration.

Each question will carry 1 mark, and there will be no negative marking. The candidates who have secured 50% marks in the entrance test are eligible to be called for the Phase II – Research Proposal Presentation

3. Syllabus for Research Methodology Paper I

Research Methodology and Communication Skills: Introduction, Research Defining, Research Problem, Research Design, Sampling Design, Measurement and Scaling Techniques, Methods of Data Collection, Processing and Analysis of Data, Sampling Fundamentals, Methods of Analysis, Testing of Hypotheses, Data Interpretation and Report Writing, Communication Skill.

4. Domain (Subject) specific Paper II

For Engineering: The syllabus will be as per GATE / Graduate Degree- level engineering course.

For Management/Commerce / Sciences – Computer Science and Application, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Microbiology, Environmental Science /Humanities- / Law and such other programs will be as per UGC/NET.

5. Exemption from Entrance Test

Candidates qualified in the UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR, NET/SLET/GATE/GPAT/INSPIRE fellowship teacher fellowship holder or other similar national tests and having qualifying percentile scores in their respective validity periods as per the norms of UGC/Statutory body shall be exempted from appearing Doctoral Program Entrance Test. However, the candidate shall attend the interview before the Ph.D. Interview Panel for final selection and admission to Ph.D.

6. Phase II: Research Proposal Presentation-30 marks  

Candidates who have cleared the Entrance Test or are exempted from it shall be required to participate in a Research Proposal Presentation. This presentation will provide an opportunity for these candidates to discuss their research proposal or research interests and areas before an Expert Committee constituted by the Vice Chancellor of Gandhinagar University.

During the admission process, it is mandatory for candidates to submit a printed copy of the application form along with relevant self-attested documents and proof of payment for the processing fee. Failure to submit these documents will result in the immediate cancellation of the candidate’s candidature.

7. The quality Parameters

Candidates will be assessed based on their performance and the following parameters:

i. Research attitude: Evaluation will be conducted to determine if the candidate possesses the necessary skills and aptitude for the proposed research.

ii. Feasibility: The assessment will consider whether the research work can be appropriately carried out at the proposed constituent Institution/College of the university

iii. Contribution to New Knowledge: The proposed area of research will be examined to determine its potential to contribute to new or additional knowledge in the field.

The evaluation process will take these aspects into consideration to determine the suitability and potential of the candidate’s research proposal.

8. Selection Process

Subject to the availability of vacant seats, order of merit, and the consent of a supervisor who has declared seats for accepting students in the specific academic year.

Candidates will be selected for provisional admission based on their performance in both the Entrance Test and the Research Proposal Presentation.

If a candidate fails to attend the scheduled Research Proposal Presentation before the Expert Committee without a valid reason, it will be considered as an indication of the candidate’s lack of interest in pursuing a Ph.D. from the University. As a result, the candidate’s candidature will be immediately cancelled, and they will not be called for subsequent rounds, if any are arranged.

The University does not offer travel allowance (TA) or accommodation for candidates appearing in the Entrance Test or Research Proposal Presentation. In other words, the candidate needs to appear on his own.

It is prohibited for any individual to supervise a “Close Relation.”

The term “Close Relation” encompasses individuals such as the supervisor’s spouse, wife, husband, son, daughter, sister, brother, nephew, niece, grand-nephew, grand-niece, uncle, aunt, first cousin, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, as well as the nephew, niece, grand-nephew, and grand-niece of the supervisor’s spouse.

Please take note that participating in the Research Proposal Presentation does not guarantee admission to the Ph.D. program if the candidate does not meet the necessary eligibility criteria.

The fulfilment of eligibility conditions will be thoroughly verified during the admission process, if granted. If, at any stage of the Ph.D. program, it is discovered that a candidate does not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, their candidature will not be considered for admission. Furthermore, if admission has already been granted, it will be promptly revoked. In the event of any dispute, the final and binding decision shall be made by the Dean and the Vice Chancellor of the University.

9. Enrolment

Candidates who have successfully cleared the admission process, based on merit and subject to the availability of vacant seats, will be admitted. Upon admission, they will be required to submit the prescribed fee along with the enrolment form.

Once the enrolment number is generated, the candidate will be designated as a “Research Scholar (RS).” The date of enrolment will be considered as the starting point for calculating the duration for all practical purposes by the University.