Ph.D. Admissions September 2026 at Vidyashilp University, Bengaluru (Law Specialisations; Research Fellowship of Rs 32,000-36,000 per Month): Apply by 14 September

Vidyashilp University is a private university in Bengaluru established under the Vidyashilp University Act (Karnataka Act No. 20 of 2021) and recognised under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956. Its founding campus is at #125, Bettenahalli, Kundana Hobli, Chapparkallu Road, Bengaluru 562110. The university runs five schools, including its law school, which offers the five-year integrated B.A. LL.B. (Hons) and B.M.S. LL.B. (Hons) programmes. The doctoral programme is positioned around an interdisciplinary and interconnected approach to research, innovation and problem solving, with an emphasis on industry-based research needs and collaboration across domains.

The advertisement for applications to the Ph.D. Programme was released on 17 August 2026 for the September 2026 intake. Both full-time and part-time tracks are available. Admission is strictly on merit and subject to availability of seats, determined through the Vidyashilp University Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET) followed by an interview or viva voce. Registration and commencement of the programme are set for 5 October 2026.

Law is one of ten broad research areas offered in the Ph.D. Programme, alongside Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Material Science, Economics, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, Literature and Management. The law specialisations advertised are:

• Human Rights Law
• Sanitation Law and Policy
• Environmental Law
• Administrative Law
• Constitutional Law
• Technology Law and AI Ethics
• Law and Gender Justice

Research supervisors listed on the university's Ph.D. page include Prof. Roopa Madhav, Program Chair and Dean, School of Legal Studies and Governance (roopa.madhav@vidyashilp.edu.in), and Dr. Ritika Behl, Associate Professor, School of Law (ritika.behl@vidyashilp.edu.in). Applicants should review the full supervisor list on the programme page before framing a research proposal.

Candidates seeking admission must have completed one of the following:

• A one-year Master's degree programme, taken after a four-year undergraduate degree, with at least 55 per cent marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade 'B' on the UGC 10-point scale, or an equivalent degree from a foreign educational institution accredited by a recognised assessment and accreditation agency.
• A two-year Master's degree programme on the same conditions.
• A four-year Bachelor's degree with Research, with a minimum CGPA of 7.50 on the UGC 10-point scale or an equivalent grade.
• A four-year Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Technology, with a minimum CGPA of 7.50 on the UGC 10-point scale or an equivalent grade.
• M.Phil. coursework with at least 55 per cent marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade 'B' on the UGC 10-point scale, or an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign institution.

A candidate whose M.Phil. dissertation has been evaluated and recommended for the award of the degree may be admitted provisionally, even before the viva voce or final defence. Relaxation of the eligibility criteria for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), Differently-Abled and Economically Weaker Section candidates and other categories applies as per UGC and State Government directives. Part-time scholars must submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer confirming that the duties allotted will allow the time required for the research work and the mandatory coursework. Any full-time employee of Vidyashilp University who is admitted must resign from university employment and convert to full-time or part-time scholar status.

Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria must take the Vidyashilp University Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET), followed by an interview or viva voce. A minimum of 50 per cent marks in the PET is required to qualify for the interview stage. Both the entrance test and the interview are scheduled at the campus on 24 September 2026.

The following candidates are exempted from the PET and proceed directly to the interview or viva voce:

• UGC, CSIR, NET, GATE or CEED qualified research fellows, or project fellows and research fellows sponsored by the UGC, CSIR, ICSSR, NDF, ICMR, DBT, NBHM or other recognised national or international organisations.
• Candidates who hold an M.Phil. degree and satisfy the eligibility criteria.
• Candidates who have submitted an M.Phil. dissertation where the viva voce and award of the degree are pending. Such candidates, if selected, will be admitted only on completion of the M.Phil. degree.

The university has instituted the Vidyashilp University Research Fellowship (VURF) to encourage research scholars to engage in full-time research towards a Ph.D. degree. Scholars admitted as full-time research scholars who do not already hold a fellowship granted by any other body may apply to the Chairperson, Research and Innovation Council, through the Chairperson of the Research Advisory Committee. A committee constituted by the Chairperson of the R&IC evaluates all applications and submits a merit list of scholars recommended for the award.

• Consolidated monthly fellowship of Rs 32,000 to Rs 36,000, subject to the conditions prescribed in the Ph.D. Regulations.
• Contingency grant of Rs 35,000, specifically for research paper and conference registration and stationery expenses related to preparing the Ph.D. thesis, as approved by the supervisor or the Research Advisory Committee.
• The fellowship is paid after approval, from the date of joining, for a maximum of three years or until the end of the month in which the thesis is submitted, whichever is earlier. An extension on the recommendation of the RAC and approval of the R&IC may not exceed six months.
• Renewal is subject to continuously evaluated satisfactory performance and a minimum CGPA of 7.00 in the Ph.D. coursework. A VURF holder may not receive any other fellowship or scholarship from another institution or organisation. Fellows are required to engage in academic work assigned by the research supervisor, of about six to eight hours a week.

The application fee for the Ph.D. Programme is Rs 1,000, payable through the university's online payment page before the form is submitted, since the application form requires the transaction ID. The programme fee structure notified for the 2026 batch is:

• Annual tuition fee: Rs 1,10,000 per annum
• Security deposit: Rs 10,000, refundable subject to university policy
• Thesis examination fee: Rs 5,000, payable at the time of submission of the thesis
• Convocation fee: Rs 1,500, payable at the time of submitting the proforma for the request of the provisional degree certificate
• Alumni association fee: Rs 4,500, payable at the same stage

Applications are made through the online Ph.D. application form on the university website. The form asks for personal details, category and nationality, a complete academic record from Class X through the postgraduate degree, whether the applicant has passed a full-time M.Phil. programme, whether the applicant is applying for the full-time or part-time track, and whether the applicant has qualified UGC or CSIR NET (JRF), SLET, K-SET, GRE or GATE for JRF or a teacher fellowship. Applicants select Law from the list of broad areas of research.

The following must be uploaded or supplied:

• A passport-size photograph in JPG format, 350 x 400 pixels
• A statement of research purpose: a brief note of about 500 words on the proposed research interest area, in PDF format
• The transaction ID for the Rs 1,000 application fee

Applications close on 14 September 2026. The form rejects a repeat submission made with a mobile number and email that have already been used.

Ph.D. admission queries go to phd.admissions@vidyashilp.edu.in or +91 89511 84990. General admission queries go to admission@vidyashilp.edu.in or 080 6963 0500. The campus address is Vidyashilp University Founding Campus, #125, Bettenahalli, Kundana Hobli, Chapparkallu Road, Bengaluru 562110.