NITK Surathkal M.Tech (Research) and PhD Admission with Fellowship 2026-27 (Winter Session)

Summary

The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal has released its admission notification for M.Tech. (Research) and Ph.D. Programmes for the Winter Session of the academic year 2026-27. Eligible candidates can apply online for these prestigious research programmes, which offer financial assistance in the form of GATE scholarships and Institute Ph.D. fellowships.

Designation

• M.Tech. (Research) Scholar
• Ph.D. Research Scholar

Key Information Table

Parameter	Details
Institute	National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal
Programmes	M.Tech. (Research) & Ph.D. (Winter Session)
Location	Surathkal, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Application Fee	₹500 for OC/OBC/EWS | ₹150 for SC/ST/PwD
Last Date to Apply Online	01 November 2026 (23:59 hrs)
Last Date for Hard Copy Receipt	05 November 2026 (17:00 hrs)

Research Area & Specializations

M.Tech. (Research) Specializations

• Chemical Engineering: Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science and Technology, Industrial Biotechnology.
• Civil Engineering: Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Construction Technology and Management.
• Computer Science and Engineering: Computer Science and Engineering, CSE – Information Security.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering: Power & Energy Systems, Power Electronics and Control, Power Electronics and Control for Electric Vehicle.
• Electronics & Communication Engineering: VLSI Design, Communication Engineering and Networks, Signal Processing and Machine Learning.
• Information Technology: Information Technology.
• Mathematical & Computational Sciences: Computational and Data Science.
• Mechanical Engineering: Thermal Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Design.
• Metallurgical & Materials Engineering: Materials Process Technology, Materials Engineering, Nanotechnology.
• Mining Engineering: Rock Excavation Technology and Management.
• Water Resources and Ocean Engineering: Marine Structures, Water Resources Engineering and Management, Geoinformatics.

Ph.D. Specializations

• Chemical Engineering: Process Development, Particulate Systems, Environmental Engineering, Transfer Operations, Energy, Process Modelling and Simulation, CFD, Nanoscience, Polymers, Machine Learning, Biotechnology, and Food Technology.
• Civil Engineering: Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Construction Technology and Management, Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.
• Computer Science and Engineering: Theoretical Computer Science, Systems, Networks, Data Management, Distributed Computing, AI & ML, Security.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering: Power and Energy Systems, Power Electronics, Control Systems, Renewable Energy, High Voltage Engineering, AI/ML in Electrical Engineering.
• Electronics & Communication Engineering: VLSI, Advanced Computer Architectures, Semiconductor Devices, Image Processing, Computer Vision, Deep Learning, RF & Microwave, 5G Networks.
• Information Technology: CSE/IT or interdisciplinary research.
• Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MACS): Computational Sciences (AI, Bioinformatics, Blockchain, Cyber Security, Quantum Computing) and Mathematics (Differential Equations, Fluid Dynamics, Graph Theory, Numerical Analysis).
• Mechanical Engineering: Renewable Energy, Alternative Fuels, Heat Transfer, Fluid Dynamics, Fracture Mechanics, Tribology, Mechatronics, Robotics, 3D Printing, Space Technology.
• Metallurgical & Materials Engineering: Physical/Mechanical/Extractive Metallurgy, Surface Engineering, Corrosion, Polymer Nanocomposites, Thin Films.
• Mining Engineering: Rock Mechanics, Drilling & Blasting, Slope Stability, Waste Management, Drone and IoT Applications in Mining.
• Water Resources and Ocean Engineering: Hydrology, Coastal Engineering, Offshore Renewable Energy, Remote Sensing and GIS, UAV.
• Physics: Statistical Physics, Cosmology, High Energy Physics, Nanomaterials, Supercapacitors, Quantum Materials.
• Chemistry: Inorganic, Materials, Organic, Physical and Computational Chemistry.
• School of Management: Strategic Management, International Business, HR, Marketing, Corporate Finance, Applied Econometrics, English Literature, Psychology.

Location

NITK is located in Surathkal, Mangaluru (Mangalore), Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, India (Pin: 575 025). The campus is situated along the Kanyakumari–Mumbai National Highway 66, approximately 3 km from Surathkal Railway Station and 20 km from Mangaluru International Airport.

Eligibility / Qualification

For M.Tech. (Research)

• General / OBC / EWS: CGPA ≥ 6.5 on a 0–10 scale, or not less than 60% marks in aggregate.
• SC / ST / PwD: CGPA ≥ 6.0 on a 0–10 scale, or not less than 55% marks in aggregate.
• Qualifying Exam: Bachelor’s degree in the relevant engineering discipline (as specified under Qualifying Examinations) with a valid GATE score for scholarship seats.

For Ph.D. Programmes

• Route 1 (With Master’s Degree in Engineering/Technology): CGPA ≥ 6.0 (or 60% marks) for General/OBC/EWS, and CGPA ≥ 5.5 (or 55% marks) for SC/ST/PwD. GATE is not mandatory.
• Route 2 (Direct Admission after B.E./B.Tech.): B.Tech./B.E./B.Arch./B.Plan./B.Des./B.S. (4-year) in a relevant discipline within 5 years of graduation with CGPA ≥ 8.0 (80% marks) for General/OBC/EWS, and CGPA ≥ 7.5 (75% marks) for SC/ST/PwD. A qualifying GATE score is required (exempted for graduates of Centrally Funded Technical Institutes).
• Route 3 (With M.Sc./M.A./M.B.A./M.C.A. or other Master’s): CGPA ≥ 6.0 (60% marks) for General/OBC/EWS, and CGPA ≥ 5.5 (55% marks) for SC/ST/PwD. Candidates must possess a qualifying GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR / NBHM / DAE-JEST score (exempted for graduates from Centrally Funded Technical Institutes with a CGPA ≥ 8.0 or 80% marks).

Scholarship Description

• M.Tech. (Research) Scholarship: Candidates admitted with a valid GATE score receive an Institute scholarship of ₹12,400 per month for a maximum duration of 24 months. Scholars are required to perform 8–10 hours per week of teaching and research assistance.
• Ph.D. Fellowship: Full-time research scholars under the Institute fellowship category receive ₹37,000 per month for the first two years, which is enhanced to ₹42,000 per month for the third and fourth years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

How to Apply

1. Register and apply online through the official portal at www.nitk.ac.in or the IRIS portal.
2. Pay the application fee of ₹500 (for OC/OBC/EWS) or ₹150 (for SC/ST/PwD) online before 01 November 2026.
3. Print the completed application form, attach the payment receipt and self-attested copies of all required documents (marks cards, degree certificates, GATE/NET scorecards, caste/category certificate, etc.).
4. Send the hard copy of the application package to the following address so that it reaches on or before 05 November 2026 (17:00 hrs):
   

   The Assistant Registrar (Academic)
   National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal
   Srinivasnagar, Mangalore – 575 025
   Karnataka, India

5. Super-scribe the envelope clearly with: “Application for M.Tech.(R) or Ph.D. Admission in the Department of [Department Name]”.

Last Date for Apply

• Online Application Submission: 01 November 2026 (Sunday) by 23:59 hrs
• Receipt of Hard Copy Application: 05 November 2026 (Thursday) by 17:00 hrs

Important Dates (Winter Session 2026-27)

Event	Date
Online Portal Opens	05 October 2026
Last Date for Online Submission	01 November 2026
Last Date for Hard Copy to Reach NITK	05 November 2026
Announcement of Shortlisted Candidates	13 November 2026
Selection Test and/or Interview (Offline at NITK)	30 November – 02 December 2026
Publication of Provisional Selection List	11 December 2026
Fee Payment & Physical Reporting for Admission	14 – 17 December 2026

Apply Link

Candidates can access the detailed information brochure, download certificates, and apply online by visiting the official admission page: NITK Surathkal Winter Session Admission Portal.