Introduction: Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) PhD Admission 2025-26

The Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), a Central University under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has invited online applications for admission to its PhD Programs for the Spring Semester 2025-26. This is a significant opportunity for aspirants looking to pursue research in specialized aviation and engineering disciplines. Admission to the PhD Program is offered under various categories to cater to a diverse group of researchers. The disciplines offered are Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Sciences, Electronics & Communication Engineering- Avionics, Management Studies, and Aviation Management. Interested candidates must review the eligibility criteria and the application process before applying online.

See Ongoing PhD Admission

Table of Contents

• Disciplines Offered & Sanctioned Seats
• Eligibility Criteria for Admission
• Department-wise Research Areas
• Selection Criteria and Weightage
• Financial Assistance and Fellowship
• Important Dates
• Application Fee and How to Apply

Disciplines Offered & Sanctioned Seats (Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) PhD Admission 2025-26)

Disciplines

• Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Sciences
• Electronics & Communication Engineering- Avionics
• Management Studies
• Aviation Management

Admission Categories

Admission to the PhD Program shall be provided under the following categories:

1. Regular Assistantship
2. Individual Fellowship (CSIR/UGC/DBT/INSPIRE/ICMR, etc.)
3. Sponsored
4. Project
5. University Employee
6. Foreign National

Sanctioned Seats for PhD Programs (Total 25)

The Total sanctioned seats across the mentioned departments for the Spring Semester-2026 is 25. The distribution is provided in the table below, representing the combined seat breakdown for all disciplines, as individual departmental breakdowns were not specified beyond this total in the source document.

Eligibility Criteria for Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) PhD Admission 2025-26

I. For Aerospace Engineering

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• M. Tech. or MS (Research) degree in Aerospace/ Aeronautical, Mechanical or allied disciplines with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a 10-point scale grading system with a valid GATE score. OR
• B.E./ B.Tech. degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical, Mechanical, or allied disciplines are eligible to apply with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a 10-point scale grading system with valid GATE Score.

II. For Electronics & Communication Engineering

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• M. Tech./M.E./MS in specified engineering/computing/mathematics areas (e.g., Electronics, E&C, Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning) with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade with a valid GATE Score. OR
• B. Tech / B.E. or equivalent degree in specified engineering/computing/mathematics areas with a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent grade with a valid GATE score. OR
• M. Sc. in specified or allied areas with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade with a valid GATE Score.

III. For Management Studies

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Management or in allied discipline/area with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent grade with NET Fellowship or with a valid GATE score. OR
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering discipline or in allied discipline/area with a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CPI with a valid GATE score.

All degrees must be recognized by UGC/AICTE or any Institution of National Importance.

Department-wise Research Areas

Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Sciences Research Areas

• Structures: Experimental Solid Mechanics, Fracture and Fatigue, Structural behaviour of natural and bio-inspired smart structures, Composite Materials and stiffened composite structures, Material Characterization of composite structures, Finite element modelling of composites, Uncertainty quantification, Structural Dynamics, Aeroelasticity.
• Aerodynamics: Experimental Aerodynamics, Microfluidics, Computational fluid Dynamics, Fluid-Structure interactions.
• Propulsion: Electrohydrodynamic Thrusters, Combustion, Liquid atomization and spray combustion, Multiphase flows.
• Heat Transfer.

Electronics & Communication Engineering- Avionics Research Areas

The research focus in Electronics & Communication Engineering (Avionics) is diverse, covering future communication technologies, intelligent systems, and device design. Key areas include:

• Reconfigurable Metamaterials/Meta surfaces for 6G and THz communication, Smart absorbers for secure IoT and wireless nodes, Stealth Technology in Aerospace, Electromagnetics, AI/ML-assisted electromagnetic device design, Frequency-selective surface, and Radar cross-section reduction.
• Signal Processing, Deep Learning and Machine Learning/AI, and Performance Analysis for Beyond 5G/6G, Wireless Communication: Massive MIMO, Cell-Free Massive MIMO, NOMA, Advanced Channel Modulation (MBM, QCM, OTFS, OTSM etc.), Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS/IRS) for 6G, Quantum Communications, Deep Unfolding, Hyperparameter-Free and Nature-Inspired Learning for next generation wireless communication.
• Semiconductor device and Circuit Design modeling and simulation, compact model development for Process Design Kit (PDK) applications, and DC IV, RF, and noise characterization of on-wafer and packaged devices for advanced technologies development.
• Learning-based Control Systems, Multiagent Systems, Network Control Systems, Time Delay Systems, Control Theory and its Applications.
• AI, Machine Learning, IoT and Signal Processing, Health Care Analytic, Design of systems and their Application in Biomedical Engineering and Communication and Avionics.
• RF & Microwave Engineering: Tunable and Reconfigurable Microstrip Designing, Radio Frequency Matching Network, Energy Harvesting, Reconfigurable Software Defined Radio (SDR), Intelligent Reconfigurable Radio Platforms for UAV and Emergency Communications.

Management Studies Research Areas

• Operations and Decision Sciences
• Supply Chain Management
• Pricing and Strategic Negotiations
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour
• Other relevant topics related to Aviation Industry

Selection Criteria and Weightage

Admission to PhD Program

Admission will be based on Personal Interview/overall Academic Performance/ Written/Computer Test, as the case may be, of the candidates shortlisted by the department concerned.

Exemption from Admission Test

Candidates who have qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship Examination of Net/SET with Fellowship shall be exempted from the Admission Test. The department may also consider exemption for the test for others as per the RGNAU Ordinance, 2020.

Weightage for Deciding Cut-Off for Admission

The selection process for admission to the PhD Programs will be based on the following weightage:

Guidelines for Overall Academic Performance (20%) Weightage

The 20% weightage for Overall Academic Performance is further broken down based on the qualifying degree:

Criteria for Cut-Off Marks for Reserved Categories

The criteria for cut-off marks for reserved categories are:

Financial Assistance and Fellowship

Financial Assistance, in the form of Institute Assistantship, is available to students admitted under the Full Time Regular Registration Category. Such students must have a qualified GATE Score.

The value of the University Research Assistantship is as per DST norms and is currently:

Important Dates (Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) PhD Admission 2025-26)

Application Fee and How to Apply

Application Fee (Non-refundable)

How to Apply

Applicants are required to apply online only through the link provided in the admission notice. The application process involves three main steps:

1. STEP-I: Fill in the ONLINE application form: Register with your Email Id, Login, and fill in the appropriate data. You must upload your testimonials, digital photograph, and signature.
2. STEP-II: Make PAYMENT and SUBMIT Application: Payment must be made through the online payment gateway only.
3. STEP-III: Take PRINT: After final submission, generate and retain the application printout for future requirements.