SLIET SET-V Ph.D. 2026 eligibility requires a postgraduate degree with at least 60% aggregate marks, and non-GATE/NET candidates must score 50% in the SET-V written test to qualify for the interview stage.

Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET) conducts the Selection Entrance Test Level-V (SET-V) for admission to Ph.D. programmes across 11 disciplines. Candidates holding a valid GATE, UGC-NET, or CSIR-JRF score are exempt from SET-V and proceed directly to the research presentation and interview round. The last date to apply online is August 5, 2026, and the SET-V exam is scheduled for August 6, 2026.

  • Qualifying degree: M.Tech / M.E. / M.Sc. or equivalent in the relevant discipline with 60% aggregate
  • Reserved category students need a minimum of 55% marks in the qualifying degree
  • GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-JRF holders are exempt from SET-V
  • SET-V qualifying marks: 50% for General/EWS and 45% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD
  • Ph.D. offered in 11 departments including CSE, Mechanical Engineering, ECE, Mathematics and more
  • Both full-time and part-time Ph.D. modes are available
Direct Link to SLIET Ph.D. Admissions 2026 — Official Information Brochure (OUT)

Qualifying Degree and Minimum Marks

To be eligible for SLIET Ph.D. 2026 admission, you must hold a postgraduate degree in the relevant discipline. The minimum academic requirement is 60% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in the qualifying degree. For reserved category students, this threshold drops to 55% or equivalent.

Qualifying Degree Minimum Marks — General/EWS Minimum Marks — SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD
M.Tech / M.E. (Engineering departments) 60% 55%
M.Sc. / MCA (Science and CSE departments) 60% 55%
MBA / equivalent (Management) 60% 55%
M.A. in English (Humanities) 60% 55%

You must have completed the qualifying degree in the same or a closely related discipline as the chosen Ph.D. specialisation. Students whose final results are awaited may apply provisionally but must submit proof of meeting the eligibility criteria at the time of joining. Admission will be cancelled if the requirement is not fulfilled.


GATE/NET Exemption and SET-V Requirements

SLIET offers two distinct routes to Ph.D. admission. Candidates with a valid GATE score, UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-JRF, or ASRB-NET (with fellowship) are exempt from the SET-V written test and are shortlisted directly for the research presentation and interview stage. All others must appear in SET-V and clear the minimum qualifying threshold.

Candidate Type SET-V Required? Qualifying Threshold
GATE / UGC-NET (JRF) / CSIR-JRF / ASRB-NET qualified No — Exempt Valid score as per AICTE/UGC/CSIR guidelines
General / OBC-CL / EWS (non-GATE/NET) Yes 50% marks in SET-V
SC / ST / OBC-NCL / PwD / EWS (non-GATE/NET) Yes 45% marks in SET-V

The validity of GATE/NET scores is considered as per AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF) guidelines or as specified by CSIR/UGC. Only candidates who meet the SET-V cut-off are called for the viva-voce/interview. All shortlisted students must be present in person at the SLIET campus for the interview round.


Department-Wise Eligibility Requirements

SLIET offers Ph.D. programmes across 11 departments. You must apply to a department that corresponds to your qualifying degree discipline. The table below lists each department and the relevant eligible qualifying degree streams.

Department / Discipline Eligible Qualifying Degree
Chemical Engineering M.Tech / M.E. in Chemical Engineering or related field
Chemistry M.Sc. in Chemistry or allied subjects
Computer Science and Engineering M.Tech (CSE/IT) / MCA or equivalent
Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering M.Tech / M.E. in Electrical, Instrumentation, or Control Engineering
Electronics and Communication Engineering M.Tech / M.E. in ECE, Electronics, or Telecommunications
Food Engineering and Technology M.Tech / M.Sc. in Food Technology, Food Science, or Biotechnology
Humanities (English) M.A. in English or Linguistics
Management MBA or equivalent postgraduate management degree
Mathematics M.Sc. in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering M.Tech / M.E. in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
Physics M.Sc. in Physics or Applied Physics

Students applying for the part-time Ph.D. route must be employed in a relevant organisation or institution. An employer’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is mandatory at the time of joining. Demonstrated work experience in the research area strengthens your competency assessment during the interview.


Category-Wise Relaxations

SLIET follows Government of India reservation and relaxation guidelines for Ph.D. admissions. A 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks applies to SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), PwD, and EWS students — in both the qualifying degree percentage and the SET-V entrance test score.

Category Min. Marks in Qualifying Degree Min. Marks in SET-V
General 60% 50%
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 55% 45%
SC / ST 55% 45%
PwD (minimum 40% disability) 55% 45%
EWS 55% 45%

For Physically Handicapped (PH) candidates, the minimum degree of disability must be 40% to be eligible for the PwD relaxation. Reservation of seats across categories is distributed as per central government norms applicable to centrally funded technical institutions (CFTIs).


Selection Process and Weightage

SLIET uses a two-stage selection process for Ph.D. admission 2026. The path differs slightly depending on whether you hold a GATE/NET qualification or have cleared the SET-V written test.

Stage GATE/NET Candidates Non-GATE/NET (SET-V) Candidates
Stage 1 Direct shortlisting — SET-V exempted Written SET-V test (qualify with 50% / 45%)
Stage 2 — Interview Weightage Research presentation (35%) + Research competency (35%) = 70% total Research presentation + Research competency interview

For GATE/NET qualified candidates, 70% of the final selection weightage goes to Stage 2 — divided equally between research presentation (35%) and competency for research (35%). Academic performance in the qualifying degree accounts for the remaining 30%. All shortlisted students must appear in person for the interview at SLIET, Longowal.


Important Dates for SLIET Ph.D. Admission 2026

Students planning to apply for SLIET Ph.D. 2026 must note the following schedule. The online application window closes on August 5, 2026, and the SET-V written test for non-GATE/NET candidates is scheduled for August 6, 2026.

Event Date
Online application last date August 5, 2026
SET-V written test (non-GATE/NET candidates) August 6, 2026
Interview / viva-voce To be announced by SLIET

Keep your GATE/NET scorecard, qualifying degree marksheets, category certificates, and employer’s NOC (if applying for part-time Ph.D.) ready for upload when filling the online application form on the official SLIET portal.

SLIET SET-V Ph.D. 2026 Eligibility FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum marks required for SLIET Ph.D. 2026 admission?

Ans. You need a minimum of 60% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in your postgraduate qualifying degree. Students from reserved categories — SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/EWS — need a minimum of 55%.

Ques. Is GATE mandatory for SLIET Ph.D. 2026?

Ans. No, GATE is not mandatory. Candidates with a valid GATE, UGC-NET/JRF, or CSIR-JRF score are exempt from the SET-V written test. Those without GATE/NET must appear in SET-V and score at least 50% (45% for reserved categories) to be called for the interview.

Ques. How many departments offer Ph.D. programmes at SLIET?

Ans. SLIET offers Ph.D. programmes in 11 departments: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Instrumentation Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Food Engineering and Technology, Humanities (English), Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics.

Ques. What is the SET-V qualifying marks for OBC-NCL students?

Ans. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students need to score at least 45% marks in the SET-V written test, compared to 50% for General category students. The minimum qualifying degree marks for OBC-NCL students is also 55% instead of 60%.

Ques. Can working professionals apply for Ph.D. at SLIET?

Ans. Yes, working professionals can apply for the part-time Ph.D. programme. They must be employed in a relevant organisation and must submit an employer’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of joining.

Ques. What is the last date to apply for SLIET Ph.D. 2026?

Ans. The online application deadline for SLIET Ph.D. 2026 is August 5, 2026. The SET-V written test for non-GATE/NET candidates is scheduled for August 6, 2026.