The Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) was established by an Act of Parliament called the “Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) Act, 2013” (No. 26 of 2013), having its headquarters at Fursatganj, District Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, India. RGNAU serves as a premier institution of higher learning in the aviation sector and promotes quality education, research, and innovation in aviation and allied disciplines. The University offers Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Ph.D. programmes under the provisions of its Act. The University collaborates with leading national and international institutions to promote academic excellence, research, and global knowledge exchange. With a student-friendly campus and a strong research environment, RGNAU prepares scholars to contribute to the growth and development of the aviation sector. RGNAU invites applications from eligible candidates for admission to the Full-Time and Part-Time Ph.D. Programme in the following disciplines for the Academic Year 2026–27:
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Opening of Online Application | April 30, 2026 |
| Closing of Online Application | May 31, 2026 |
| Publication of list of Shortlisted Candidates | June 05, 2026 |
| Written Test / Personal Interview | June 18-19, 2026 |
| Publication of list of Selected Candidates | June 25, 2026 |
| Deposition of Fee | July 10, 2026 |
Available Disciplines
- Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Sciences
- Electronics & Communication Engineering (Avionics)
- Management Studies
- Aviation Management
- Aviation Finance
Categories
- Regular Assistantship
- Individual Fellowship (CSIR/UGC/DBT/INSPIRE/ICMR, etc.)
- Sponsored
- Project
- University Employee
- Foreign National
- Part - Time
Eligibility Criteria
| SN. | Disciplines | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerospace Engineering |
|
| 2 | Electronics & Communication Engineering |
|
| 3 | Management Studies/ Aviation Management |
|
Note
- All the degrees should be recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), or any Institution of National Importance.
- A relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade is allowed for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), Differently Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and other categories as per UGC norms from time to time.
Sponsored/Non-Sponsored/Part-Time Candidate
Candidates possessing the minimum prescribed educational qualifications (without GATE/NET) and currently in service in any of the following establishments shall be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. programme under the Sponsored / Non-Sponsored / Part-Time category, subject to the following experience requirements: a minimum of two years’ professional experience for Master’s degree holders and five years’ experience for B.Tech./B.E. degree holders.
Eligible establishments include:
(a) Defence or other Ministries of the Government of India, or any other Government organizations;
(b) Established industrial research and development organizations;
(c) Autonomous bodies and public sector undertakings;
(d) Universities and colleges;
(e) Reputed Institutions/industries, as recognized by the University.
Students are advised to refer to the RGNAU Ph.D. Regulations for detailed information.
Sanctioned Seats for Ph.D. Programmes
The Sanction seats for Regular Assistantship based Ph.D. Programmes at Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) for the AY 2026-27:
| Department | Total | GEN | EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Sciences | 25 | 11 | 02 | 07 | 04 | 01 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering – Avionics | ||||||
| Management Studies/Aviation Management/Aviation Finance |
Department-wise Research Areas for Ph.D. Programmes
Aerospace Engineering & Aviation Sciences
Structures & Materials (Aerospace Structures)
- Experimental Solid Mechanics, Fracture and Fatigue
- Structural Behaviour of Natural and Bio-inspired Composites
- Composite Materials and Smart Structures
- Material Characterization
- Finite Element Modelling of Stiffened Composite Structures
- Digital Image Correlation (DIC) integrated with Artificial Intelligence
- Uncertainty Quantification of Composite Structures
- Structural Dynamics
- Aeroelasticity
Aerodynamics & Fluid Mechanics
- Experimental Aerodynamics
- Microfluidics
- Multiphase Flows
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
Propulsion & Thermal Systems
- Electrohydrodynamic Thrusters
- Combustion
- Liquid Atomization and Spray Combustion
- Multiphase Flows
- Heat Transfer
Control, Data & Systems Engineering (UAV/UAM Focus)
- Multi-dimensional Signal Processing
- Data-driven Control
- Optimal Control of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Vehicles
- Opinion Dynamics-based Coordination of UAV Swarms
Flight Mechanics & Control
- Control & Automation
Electronics & Communication Engineering - Avionics
- 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, Hyper Parameter-Free and Nature-Inspired Learning for next generation wireless communication.
- Microelectronics/VLSI Engineering: Semiconductor device and Circuit Design modelling 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.
- Sensor Modelling, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, Instrumentation Design, Artificial Neural Networks, Smart Sensing and Biomedical Instruments and its application in Aviation System.
- AI, Machine Learning, IoT and Signal Processing, Health Care Analytic, Design of systems with Application in Biomedical Engineering, Communication and Avionics.
- RF & Microwave Engineering: Tuneable 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/ Aviation Management
- Operations and Decision Sciences
- Supply Chain Management
- Pricing and Strategic Negotiations
- Marketing Management
- Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior
- Accounting and Finance
- Aviation Finance
- Sustainable Finance
- Other relevant topics related to Aviation Industry
Selection Criteria
- Admission to the Ph.D. Programs will be based on Personal Interview, Overall Academic Performance, and/or Written/Computer Test of shortlisted candidates.
- Candidates qualifying for NET/SET with Fellowship will be exempted from the admission test as per RGNAU Ordinance 2020.
| SN. | Particulars | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Overall Academic Performance | 20% |
| 2. | Written/Computer Test | 50% |
| 3. | Personal Interview | 30% |
Reservation Policy
| SC | ST | OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | EWS | PwD (Horizontal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | 7.5% | 27% | 10% | 5% (min 40% disability) |
Application Fee
SC/ST/PwD/Women: NIL
GEN/OBC/EWS: ₹500
Important Documents
Financial Assistance
Institute Assistantship is available for GATE-qualified full-time candidates as per DST norms:
- First 2 years: ₹37,000/month
- 3rd–5th year: ₹42,000/month
How to Apply
- Register with a valid email ID on the RGNAU admissions portal.
- Fill the online application form carefully and upload all required documents.
- Pay the application fee through the online gateway.
- Download and retain the confirmation copy for reference.
- Reservation for various categories shall be as per Government of India norms
Documents to be Uploaded at the Time of Application Submission
- Class 10th Certificate (Proof of Date of Birth)
- Class 12th Mark sheet & Certificate
- Graduation Mark sheet and Certificate
- Post-Graduation Mark sheet and Certificate
- NET/GATE Passing Certificate
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
- Passport size photograph
- Signature (scanned)
- Photo ID proof
- Migration Certificate (if applicable)
- Experience Certificate (if required)
Medical Facilities at RGNAU
- On-campus Health Centre/First Aid Facility available
- Access to nearby hospitals/medical institutions
- Basic medical consultation and emergency support provided
- Students are advised to:
- a. Carry personal medications
- b. Disclose existing medical conditions (if any)
- Health insurance (if applicable) shall be governed by University policy
Deposition of Fee
Selected candidates shall deposit the fee online to RGNAU in the bank account given below before reporting at the University:
| 1 | Beneficiary Name | Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University |
| 2 | Bank Name | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| 3 | Branch | Fursatganj, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | Account No | 38643109904 |
| 5 | IFSC Code | SBIN0011487 |
| 6 | Type of Account | Savings |
Break-up of Fee Structure for PhD for AY 2026-27
| Sl. No. | Fee Sub-Heads | GEN/OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enrolment/Admission Fee (One Time) | 1,000 |
| 2 | Tuition Fee (Per Semester) | 5,000 |
| 3 | Other Academic Fee (Per Semester) | 12,500 |
| 4 | Alumni Subscription (One Time) | 1,000 |
| 5 | Convocation/Degree Fee (One Time) | 1,000 |
| 6 | Library Fee (Per Semester) | 1,000 |
| 7 | Library Caution Money (Refundable) | 5,000 |
| 8 | Laboratory Fee (Per Semester) | 1,000 |
| 9 | Laboratory Caution Money (Refundable) | 5,000 |
| 10 | Examination Fee (Per Semester) | 2,500 |
| 11 | Thesis Evaluation Fee (One Time) | 5,000 |
| 12 | University Caution Money (Refundable) | 2,000 |
| 13 | Medical Insurance (Annual) | 2,500 |
| Total Academic Fee | 44,500 | |
| Hostel and Mess Fees | ||
| 1 | Hostel Admission Fee (One Time) | 1,000 |
| 2 | Hostel Caution Money (Refundable) | 5,000 |
| 3 | Hostel Seat Fees (Per Semester) | 26,000 |
| 4 | Mess Charges (Per Semester) | 36,000 |
| 5 | Transport Charges (Per Semester) | 10,000 |
| Total Hostel Fee | 78,000 | |
| NOTE: Waiver of 10% Tuition Fee to Female Students and RGNAU reserves the right to revise the fee upwardly with the approval of the Academic and Executive Council. | ||
Anti-Ragging (Mandatory)
- Affidavit by Student & Parent
- Affidavit Submit via www.antiragging.in or Prescribed format at the time of reporting
- Ragging in any form is a punishable offence, including: Suspension, Expulsion, FIR/Legal Action
- RGNAU maintains zero tolerance towards ragging
Items to Bring
Academic:- Laptop
- Calculator
- Stationery
- Bedding
- Clothes & toiletries
- Lock & key
- Utensils
Counselling Services at RGNAU
a. The University has engaged a qualified Counsellor (including dedicated support for female students) to provide counselling services aimed at supporting students’ mental well-being, emotional resilience, stress management, and personal development. Students may seek guidance on academic stress, adjustment concerns, interpersonal issues, and other personal challenges in a confidential and supportive environment.
b. Counselling support is also available to assist students in settling into a new academic and social environment, particularly during the transition to university life. This includes support for adaptation to campus life, hostel adjustment, peer interaction, time management, and coping with the demands of a new learning environment.
c. The University facilitates psychological and aptitude mapping, where appropriate, to help students better understand their strengths, interests, and potential, and to provide informed guidance for career planning, academic progression, and personal growth. Such support is intended to help students make well-informed choices aligned with their capabilities and aspirations.
d. Through its counselling services, the University seeks to promote a supportive, inclusive, and student-centric environment that contributes to students’ overall well-being, academic success, and holistic development.
🚍 How to Reach RGNAU
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU)
Fursatganj, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh
- Nearest Airport: Lucknow (Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport) (~100 km)
- Fursatganj Railway Station
- Jais (~15 km)
- Rae Bareli (~15 km)
- Connected via Lucknow–Prayagraj Highway
- Regular bus & taxi services available