Entrance test for UoPs MTech-PhD on July 31

Updated on: Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The University of Pune’s maiden national-level entrance exam for the country’s first of its kind four-year integrated MTech-PhD course for engineering and science graduates will be held on July 31. Candidates clearing this test will be interviewed on August 1 for final selection. The university has released the admission schedule for this unique course, which aims at drawing fresh graduates from engineering and basic sciences, besides working professionals, to pursue industry-relevant and application-oriented research, leading to a dual degree of MTech and PhD.

Pune varsity vice-chancellor Raghunath Shevgaonkar, who is currently on an overseas tour, mooted the integrated course a year back. The course has been positioned as a unique industry-academia partnership model, capable of delivering concrete outcome vis-à-vis industry specific research, patenting of research and generation of intellectual property (IP), which can be jointly owned by the university, the sponsoring industry, the researcher and his/ her guide.

Over the last one year, the UoP initiated several steps, including creation of an independent faculty of technology; appointment of dean for the new faculty; formation of four boards of studies for the specified areas; designing of course curriculum, structure and syllabi, etc. It has committed Rs 10 crore for establishing a technology department building and central R&D facility. Students with minimum 60% in engineering degree or masters degree in science (55% for SC/ ST), will be eligible for the new course. Those desirous of joining the course should submit their application forms on or before July 15 to the office of the UoP deputy registrar for admissions.

The application format can be downloaded from the university’s website: www.unipune.ac.in. It should be submitted along with a demand draft of Rs 500 (for general category candidates) or Rs 250 (for SC/ ST candidates), drawn in favour of ‘Registrar, University of Pune, Pune’ payable at Pune. “We have tentatively marked a student intake of 20 seats for each of these specified areas of research,” director of UoP’s board of college and university development (BCUD) and officiating vice chancellor Wasudev Gade told TOI on Monday. “As such, the overall student intake will be 80 seats,” he said. Gade added, “The university plans to offer a fellowship of Rs 24, 000 per month to each student selected for the course. While some of these fellowships will be given through the varsity’s fund, the remaining will be given through industry sponsorships.”

Student intake for PhD programme

There is no clear picture yet as to what would be the student intake for the PhD programme to be offered under the UoP’s newly created faculty of technology. Admissions to this programme will also be based on the score in the national level entrance exam and interviews for the integrated MTech-PhD course, scheduled for July 31 and August 1. The UoP’s officiating VC and BCUD chief, WN Gade said, “Recognised PhD guides from engineering and biotechnology studies will be engaged for the PhD in technology programme. However, we don’t know yet as to how many vacancies are there with these recognised guides.” Gade said, “We are in the process of compiling data relating to the vacant seats to arrive at a conclusion for the number of seats for the PhD in technology programme. The intake will be announced soon.”

Entrance test for UoPs MTech-PhD on July 31

More Education news