PhD in Arch: Admission Information 2026

Broad areas of research in the PhD program at Faculty of Architecture:

• Architectural education and theory
• Architectural practice
• Built environment physiology and behaviour
• Heritage and cultural landscapes
• History of architecture
• Urban settlements

Minimum Qualifications & Eligibility Criteria

• A Bachelor's degree in Architecture is mandatory. 
  
• A professional Master's (or equivalent) degree in the areas of Architecture, Architectural Design, Conservation, History & Theory, or Landscape Architecture is Preferred. Applicants with a Master’s degree in the areas of Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Arts, History), Art History, or Civil Engineering/M.Tech are also eligible on the condition that the Bachelor’s degree is in Architecture. Applicants who have completed a 1-year/2-semester or 2-year/4-semester Master's degree program after Bachelor's in Architecture are eligible to apply.
  
• Applicants in the general category shall have a minimum of 55 % aggregate marks and those in the reserved categories shall have a minimum of 50 % aggregate marks in Master's degree (or equivalent) from a recognized University/Institution.

CEPT University offers financial assistance in form of full tuition fee waiver for doctoral students. However, a registration/continuation fee of *Rs 30,000/- per semester will be applicable for the entire term of registration in the program.

The applicants seeking admission in the PhD program are also eligible for President's Scholarship, amounting to *Rs 40,000 per month for the one year of coursework residency. The selection for the President’s scholarship will be based on the applicants’ performance during the admission process. For students outside this scholarship scheme, there will be an opportunity to work on campus as teaching or research associates or tutors, as applicable. They shall be paid as per the University norms for each position.

*subject to change as per University’s discretion

Intake: 10 seats in the Faculty of Architecture
Reservations as per CEPT PG policy

Entrance Exam Procedure

Step 1: The admission applications will be reviewed by the admission selection committee, and the shortlisted applicants will be called for a written test and admission interview.

Step 2: Written test: This will comprise one impromptu response essay of 500 words on any relevant debatable issue related to: architectural built environment, history, and theory

There will be a separate section in the written test that will focus on research methodological debates.

The essay will be evaluated on the:

[i] logical flow of the narrative,

[ii] strength of analysis,

[iii] critical thinking, and

[iv] communication/articulation

Step 3: Admission interview with the admission selection committee and announcement of final selected applicants.

Admissions timeline for Monsoon/July 2026 intake.

• Last date for receiving applications- 10 Apr (Extended)
• Announcement of shortlisted for Interview- 17-Apr
• Admission written exam & interviews- 4-6 May*
• Announcement of admitted candidates- 8-May
• Admission secure fee payment by- 20-May
• Monsoon Semester begins- 20-Jul

*these dates are subject to change depending upon the availability of the admission committee members