PhD in Plan: Admission Information 2026

The PhD program at the Faculty of Planning pursues excellence in research in the following areas:

• Spatial planning and urban design
• Urban governance
• Urban housing
• Urban infrastructure
• Urban transport

Minimum Qualifications & Eligibility Criteria

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering/Technology, Environmental Engineering, Construction Technology, Planning, Urban Design, or Architecture is required. 
  
• A professional Master's (or equivalent) degree in fields related to Planning (Urban planning, Infrastructure, Housing, Transport, or any other planning programs) or in Urban Design, Architecture, Civil Engineering/ Technology, Environmental Engineering, Science/ Technology in Geomatics/ Geoinformatics/ Geographical Information System, or Master’s degree in Geography, Economics, Sociology or Social work, Environmental Science, Climate Studies,  Development Studies, Policy Studies, Political Science is also acceptable. Applicants who have completed a 1-year/2-semester Master’s degree with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor's degree are also eligible to apply.
  
• Applicants without a background in Planning degree may be suggested additional courses related to Planning along with the PhD coursework.
  
• 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 the 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 a 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.

Additionally, students admitted to the Doctoral Program at the Faculty of Planning shall be eligible to apply for the Doctoral Fellowship Programme instituted by the CEPT Urban Planning and Design Foundation (CUPDF), a Centre of Excellence under CEPT University. Fellowship support shall be provided in the form of coverage of the doctoral program registration fee and a monthly stipend for the first two years, subject to an annual review of performance. Continuation of the fellowship beyond this period shall be contingent upon the Centre’s review and approval process. The monthly stipend shall range from ₹50,000 to ₹70,000, depending on the candidate’s prior experience. Up to FIVE fellowships shall be awarded in each admission cycle.

Apart from the above scholarships, 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 in Faculty of Planning
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: urban studies, urban planning, infrastructure.

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