NIFTEM PhD admissions are ongoing for the academic year 2023-24. NIFTEM offers PhD program in 5 major fields. These are Agriculture & Environmental Sciences (AES), Basic & Applied Sciences (BAS), Food Engineering (FE), Food Business Management & Entrepreneurship Development (FBM & ED), and Food Science & Technology (FST). Candidates with 60% in MTech/ ME/ equivalent Master’s degree are eligible to apply. Admission to the program is based on Research Entrance Test (RET) both for full-time and part-time PhD. The examination will be conducted on July 11. Admit cards for the same will be made available from July 5 to 6.

NIFTEM PhD Admission Dates 2023

Event Dates
Application process begins May 01, 2023
Last date to apply June 30, 2023
Announcement of List of eligible/shortlisted candidates for written test July 3, 2023
RET (Offline) July 11-12, 2023
Declaration of RET result July 12- 13, 2023
Interview for PhD candidates (online mode) – Department wise July 13-14, 2023
Announcement of Final Merit list for PhD candidates July 19, 2023
Closing of PhD admission August 12, 2023
Reporting for PhD August 14, 2023
Commencement of semester August 16, 2023

NIFTEM PhD Eligibility Criteria 

  • M.Tech/M.E/ Masters Degree in a relevant discipline with at least 60% marks. Preference will be given to NET/ GATE qualified candidates. Candidates can apply only in one department.
  • Only two candidates will be selected for PhD by each department.
  • For foreign students admission is directly based upon the merit and the applicants in the entrance test and interview.
  • The eligibility for foreign national students shall be 55% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination.
  • A relaxation of 5% of marks in RET entrance exam(from 55% t0 50%) shall be allowed for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC(Non creamy Layers) Differently-abled category in the entrance examination.

Each department has different eligibility criteria in the following table

Departments Essential Qualification
Food Business Management and Entrepreneurship Development (FBM &ED) MBA, PGDBM(all areas)(two year program), M.Com , CA, ICWA , M.Tech or its equivalent from a recognized university or institute.
Basic and Applied Sciences (BAS) M.Tech in Food Science/ Food TechnologyFood Management etc from a recognized university. Masters Degree in Food Science and Technology/ Biochemistry/ Microbiology/Food and Nutrition etc from a recognized university.
Agriculture and Environment Sciences (AES) M.Tech in Food Science/Supply Chain Management / Food Safety and Quality Management/Agriculture Science etc Or M.Sc degree in Post harvest management/Cold chain management/Environmental Science etc from a recognized university.
Food Engineering(FE) Applicants must have a four year BE/B.Tech followed by two years of M.E/MS/M.Tech degree in any of the following disciplines such as Food Technology/Food Engineering/Dairy Engineering/Agricultural Engineering etc from a recognized university.
Food Science and Technology(FST) M.Tech in Food Process Engineering/Chemical Engineering etc from a recognized university M.Sc in Food Technology/Meat Science/ Meat Technology/Livestock Products Technology etc.

NIFTEM PhD Admission 2023

Admission to the NIFTEM PhD program is entrance-based. The institute conducts Research Entrance Test (RET) and interview round for final selection. The entrance test will include 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific. There will be no negative marking for the wrong answer. 70% of the total scores is given to the written test round and 30% to the PI/ Viva-voce. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (including JRF)UGC-CSIR NET(including JRF) ICAR-NET(including JRF/SRF) shall be exempted from Research Entrance Test in line with clause 5.1 of UGC Regulations 2016. Check complete guidelines on NIFTEM PhD Admissions 2023

How to Apply? 

  • Application forms for admission in P.hD should be filled online only.
  • Applicants should not send the printed copy of the application form to NIFTEM.
  • Final merit list , counseling schedule and counseling will be uploaded on the institute website only.
  • Separate department wise merit list will be prepared for part time and full time candidates.
  • The PWD should have a minimum 40% of disability .
  • Each candidate has to deposit an application fee(non refundable). The application fee for SC/ST is 500/- and for General Category -1000/-

Important points for part time applicants:

  1. The candidates will have to undergo stipulated course work along with regular students. No weekend classes will be conducted for such students.
  2. The students will have to submit synopsis immediately after the course and get it approved.
  3. The student has to follow all other rules and regulations of NIFTEM as other students.

Documents Required: 

  1. Class X certificate(as a proof of DoB)
  2. Class XII certificate.
  3. Undergraduate marksheet and certificate.
  4. JRF certificate
  5. Caste certificate(if applicable)
  6. Character certificate from school/college/university last attended.
  7. EWS certificate.

Read More: NIFTEM Sonepat Admissions

NIFTEM Part-time PhD

NIFTEM also offers part-time PhD courses to working professionals of a Public sector Undertaking, a Government Department, a Research/ Development Organization or a private Industry or an Educational Institution with a minimum relevant working experience of 3 years. Check NIFTEM Part-time PhD Guidelines 

NIFTEM Part-time PhD Eligibility

The eligibility criteria is same of the full-time PhD program at NIFTEM.

NIFTEM Part-Time PhD Admission

NIFTEM selects candidates for the part-time PhD program through Research Entrance Test (RET). Candidates qualifying the written test round are called for Personal Interaction (PI) for final selection. For final selection, 70% weightage is given to written test and 30% to PI/Viva-voce. DST (INSPIRE) candidates after confirming their fellowship are exempted from RET. JRF/SRF candidates already working in the externally funded projects of the NIFTEM can be enrolled as PhD students provided they qualify RET and interview. 

NIFTEM PhD Course Details

Courses offered by different department are as follows:

Course Code Course Title Credits
BAS 751 Research Methodology 3
FBM 751 Society , Science and Technology 2
BAS 752 Advanced Statistical Methods 3
Total  8

Syllabus

Semester 1

Course Code Course Title Course Credits
BAS 751 Research Methodology 3
FBM 751 Science Technology and Science-Post Modern Impact 2
Major* Department Course 1 3
Department Course 2 3
Minor# Other Department Course -1 3
Research 2
Seminar 1
Total 17

Semester 2

Course Code Course Title Course Credits
BAS 752 Advanced 3
Major* Department Course -3 3
Minor# Other department Course -2 3
Research 8
Seminar 1
Total 18

Semester 3 to 6th Semester

Course Title Course Credits
Research 14
Seminar 1
Total 15

*Each department will propose courses of two/ three credits as major courses for the respective department,which will also be offered to their students of other departments as minor courses. Total credit of major courses from the department should be at least 6 in the first semester and 3 in second semester.

#Students will select a minor course from both the list of major courses offered by another department.

NIFTEM PhD Fee Structure

NIFTEM PhD fees for the entire program is INR 2.94 Lacs. The tuition charges per semester is INR 12,200. Other charges in the PhD fee structure is same as of other courses. In addition to these charges, PhD scholars submit Comprehensive Viva-Voce and Thesis Evaluation charges of INR 15,000. The amount is deposited at the time of thesis submission. The fee structure was last revised in 2018 for the PhD program.

NIFTEM PhD Fees
Particulars Gen/ OBC SC/ ST
One time charges (at the time of admission)
Security Deposit - Refundable (Institution/ Library/ Mess) INR 15,000 INR 15,000
Other Charges (Alumni Membership/ Laptop Bank Charges/ Identity Card ) INR 11,650 INR 11,650
Per Semester Fee
Tuition fee INR 12,200 -
Enrollment and Registration charges INR 5000 INR 5000
Laboratory Charges INR 11,500 INR 11,500
Library Charges INR 3,000 INR 3,000
Institute Development Fund INR 8,000 INR 8,000
Examination Charges - -
Outreach Activities - -
Student Activity Charges INR 2,800 INR 2,800
Medical Charges (including Medical Insurance) INR 2,000 INR 2,000
Hostel Room Rent
Double Seater - -
Double Seater (AC) - -
Single Seater  INR 9,000 (2019 onwards) INR 9,000 (2019 onwards)

Read More: NIFTEM Sonepat Courses & Fee

NIFTEM PhD Fellowship

NIFTEM PhD fellowship is provided to students who qualify NET/ GATE. The institute provides INR 16,000 in the first year, INR 18,000 in the second year, and INR 20,000 in the third year of the program. Students with no GATE or NET scores are given INR 12,000 per month for three years.

Read More: NIFTEM Sonepat Scholarships

NIFTEM PhD Start Ups

NTIBIF (NIFTEM Technology Innovation and Business Incubation Foundation) offers Food-Agri based start-ups which include NIFTEM-faculty ,State of the art research and office infrastructure and focused industrial training by professionals. Through its affiliations by NIFTEM , MOFPI ,NTIBI partners start ups with technical/research teams and creates a successful path in the market.

It includes the following highlighting points :

  • Funding up to 5 lacs.
  • 2 weeks workshop.
  • Focused mentorship.
  • High-tech lab research support.
  • Direct market connections.
  • Office infrastructure support.

NIFTEM PhD FAQs

Ques. How many seats are available in NIFTEM PhD ?

Ans. P.Hd seats under full time and part time mode for the academic session 2020-21 are given below. Only two candidates per department will get NIFTEM PhD fellowship based on merit list. Part time candidates will not get NIFTEM fellowship.

Department UR SC ST OBC EWS Total
FST 2+1(PT) 1 - 1 1 6
AES 2+1(PT) 1 1 1 - 6
BAS 2+1(PT) 1 - 2 1 7
FAB 2 1 - 2+1(PT) - 6
FE 1(PT) 1 1 1 1 5
Total 30

Ques. What is the syllabus and interview criteria of the NIFTEM RET?

Ans. As per entrance paper choice the syllabus shall consist 50% of research methodology and 50 % shall be subject specific.. There will be no negative marking for the wrong answer.

Each department will carry out an interview. The pattern of the interview will be as follows:

  • UG Marks – 2 (100% proportionate)
  • PG Marks- 3 (100% proportionate)
  • Fellowship- 8 ( to be given to the student if he or she possesses any kind of fellowship .
  • Publications- 2( Each SCI journal paper to have 1 mark subject to maximum of 2 marks
  • Interview- 15( Based on student’s scientific and research ability in particular area of research).

Ques. How to check if we are selected ?

Ans. The merit list has been published on the official site. To check kindly

  • Visit the official site of NIFTEM
  • Go to the Admission webpage and click on the banner .
  • Check on the P.Hd (Important Notice )Go through the notice on merit list point. Click on the appropriate link.

Ques. What are the programmes offered by NIFTEM in PHD?

Ans. The various courses offered by NIFTEM in P.Hd are :

  • Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
  • Basic and applied sciences.
  • Food engineering.
  • Food science and technology.
  • Food business management and entrepreneurship development .

Ques. Is there any different eligibility criteria for the reservation students ?

Ans. The eligibility criteria is the same M.Tech / Master Degree in a relevant discipline with at least 55% marks in masters.

A relaxation of 5% of marks(from 55% to 50%) shall be allowed for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC(non-creamy layers)/Differently abled category in the entrance exam conducted by the universities.

Ques. Is it true that the entrance exam is compulsory for all the students ? Can you tell me about the marking scheme ?

Ans. Yes, RET(Research Entrance Test ) is compulsory for all the students to be organized by NIFTEM . RET(70% weightage ) and Interview(30% weightage).

  • The RET test shall contain (70) objective type questions which will be for one hour.
  • PART-A shall contain (20) questions to test the Mental ability , English and General Knowledge of the candidate.
  • PART-B shall contain (50) questions to test a candidate's technical background in their eligibility area.
  • Note: The eligibility for foreign nationals shall be 60% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination.