The Institute's Ph.D. programme is structured on the basis of a preferred input of those who have completed one of the Institute's higher degrees. It requires each student to finally qualify for formal acceptance in the programme only after passing a qualifying examination. The Institute also offers a unique opportunity for professionals at large to work for Ph.D. in the settings of their work environments through Off-campus Ph.D. scheme about which more is available towards the end of this part.
              Thesis is an integral component in the Ph.D. degree programme. It carries a minimum of 40 units to be registered normally in four semesters. A Ph.D. student can register for the Thesis course only after passing the Qualifying Examination and after ap-proval of his topic of research and a supervisor by the Research Board.
The pursuit of the thesis can be done on campus or at Practice School Centres and in certain circumstances at other specific centres with prior permission.

Other Components and Features of the Ph.D. Programme

(i)Types of Input

While the preferred input is a Higher Degree of BITS or its equivalent, the Institute's Academic Regulations permit an input which is at least a first degree of BITS or its equivalent or any input be-tween these two extremes. Further, in a rare case of a person of high professional standing and proven competence who is deemed to have acquired mas-tery over all or substantial part of the course-work of a higher degree of the Institute through long professional experience exhibited through pub-lished papers, technical reports, etc. would also be an acceptable input.

(ii) Qualifying Examination

Every student admitted to On-Campus Ph.D. must pass the Qualifying Examination which will be based on the courses of a higher degree programme which the candidate had earlier pursued or on the named courses of a BITS higher degree currently in vogue. The Qualifying Examination will test the student's knowledge, grasp of fundamentals and his ability to use them in unknown situations and will be designed to be equivalent to the standard, content and intent of the comprehensive examination of the named courses.
The admission to On-campus Ph.D. programme shall be provisional in the first instance and will be confirmed only after passing the Qualifying Exami-nation within the prescribed time. Whenever a can-didate is unable to pass the Qualifying Examination within the prescribed time, he will automatically be discontinued from the programme.

(iii) Seminar

Normally a Ph.D. student will have to register every semester in the Seminar course or in the In-dependent Study course.

(iv) Course work

The various categories of courses for the whole possible range of input of Ph.D. students are described in the Academic Regulations. In simple terms, in most cases, this course work would consist of courses which are required to be completed for a higher degree programme of the Institute. Further, the Qualifying Examination would also be con-ducted on the basis of these courses. Departure from these normal situations are described in the Aca-demic Regulations.

(v) Teaching Practice

There will be two courses of Teaching Practice required to be done by every Ph.D. student. These courses attempt to train the student in the art, methodology and skill of teaching. Alternatively, Dean R & C may permit a student to register in Practice Lecture Series courses.

(vi) Language Requirement

The foreign language will be prescribed as an eligibility requirement for the Ph.D. only when the supervisor and/or the Dean Research & Consultancy have made recommendations for the same for a particular topic of research and this recommendation is accepted by the Research Board. Otherwise English or an Indian language, as the case may be, would suffice.
A Ph.D. student for whom foreign language is prescribed is expected to demonstrate an ability to translate a piece from current periodicals in the area of major interest of the student in one of the modern European languages into English with the help of a dictionary.

(vii) Fellowships and Scholarships

All students admitted to Ph.D. Programme normally bring one or other fellowship from outside BITS sources like UGC, CSIR, MNES, Nokia etc. However, BITS resources are intended to take care of needs not covered by these sources.

Off-campus Ph.D. under 'Ph.D. Aspirants' Scheme

(i) Introduction

The Institute also offers an unique opportunity for experienced personnel and professionals of high standing and proven competence engaged in various industries, R&D organisations, public and private sector corporations, etc. to work towards Ph.D. degree of the Institute in the settings of their respec-tive work environments and makes it possible for practicing professionals to be offered the same chal-lenge and standard which traditionally have been given to teachers in universities.

(ii) Ph.D. Programme Components

These are (i) Course work, if necessary; (ii) Qualifying Examination; (iii) Foreign Language, when required; (iv)Teaching Practice/Practice Lecture Series; (v) Seminar/Independent Study; (vi) Ph.D. Thesis.
The various categories of Ph.D. candidates are given below:
Ph.D. Aspirant: A person who makes a formal application with required details under the various enabling clauses, for taking the Qualifying Exami-nation directly, without having been formally admitted as a Ph.D. student.
Ph.D. Provisional: A person who has been provisionally admitted to the Ph.D. programme and is yet to take the Qualifying Examination.

(iii) Admission to Ph.D. Programmes

a) Who can enter as a 'Ph.D. Aspirant' ?
- A candidate with a formal higher degree which is the minimum qualification for the Ph.D. pro-gramme; namely M.E./M.E. (Coll.)/ M.Phil./ M.Phil.(Applied)/ M.Pharm./M.S. of BITS or an equivalent degree of another university of standing.
- A person of a long and high professional stand-ing and proven competence not possessing a higher degree but whose experience can meas-ure upto a higher degree.
- A student coming after clearing all courses of a higher degree of the Institute or its equivalent without completing the degree.
A 'Ph.D. Aspirant' can seek permission to appear in Ph.D. Qualifying Examination before the formalities of admission to Ph.D. programme are completed.
All 'Ph.D. Aspirants' after passing the Qualifying Examination shall seek formal admission to the Ph.D. programme at the earliest opportunity available to them and register in the Ph.D. Courses.

b) Who can enter as a 'Ph.D. Provisional'?
* A fresh graduate with only a first degree or a dual degree of BITS or its equivalent.
* A candidate between the first degree and higher degree of BITS or its equivalent.
* A candidate holding a formal higher degree.
Candidates not eligible to become 'Ph.D. Aspirants' may seek direct admission to the Ph.D. programme which shall be provisional in the first instance. The admission will be formalised only after the student passes the ‘Qualifying Examination’. All candidates admitted as 'Ph.D. Provisionals' may have to do courses of a higher degree of BITS before they can appear in the Qualifying Examination. Higher degree courses offered through distance learning programmes of the Institute can also form a valid package.

(iv) Operational Features

a) Place of work:
On-Campus : BITS Campus at Pilani.
Off-campus Centre: Any of the Off-Campus centres of BITS where Practice School, Distance Learning programmes are conducted and organisations having research linkages with BITS.
Outside Centre: In worthy circumstances, an outside centre not covered by the above may be approved.
b) Topic of Thesis:
From areas of focus of the Institute or from problems of intimate concern to the in-house R & D needs of the host organisation.
c) Supervisor:
Subject to final approval by the Research Board, technically any person of standing, authority and competence can become the Supervisor for the Ph.D. thesis. A supervisor at any point of time is any senior faculty member of the Institute or a person with equivalent responsibility in the campus or in an off-campus centre. However, rules provide for any outstanding person outside the Institute and the name can be suggested by the candidate.
d) Places and Dates of Qualifying Examination:
Normally arranged in January, March, August and October each year at Pilani but may also be ar-ranged on other dates or at an off-campus centre with prior approval.

(v) How to Apply?

Application for entry as a 'Ph.D. Aspirant' should be made on the prescribed form for Ph.D. programmes.
There may be occasions where the admissions of Ph.D. Aspirants end up in protracted correspondence. If the admissions are finalised before the starting of the semester the students will be registered in that semester. Otherwise the admission will be deferred to a subsequent semester. For administrative purposes there will be a last date for submission of application in each se-mester. However, an application submitted beyond the last date will be automatically considered for the next semester.
Admission Modality
The admission modalities given in earlier part shall apply to Ph.D. also, wherever applicable. Candidates have to clearly state whether admission is sought to on-campus or off-campus Ph.D. pro-gramme. On-campus students have to be in full-time residence at Pilani. Some of the special fea-tures are mentioned below:
(i) Ph.D. Provisional
These are candidates who wish to enroll for Ph.D. as full time students and who have exceptionally good academic record. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview at Pilani or at any other designated place at their own cost. Admission will be decided on the basis of their performance in the test and /or interview.
(ii) Ph.D. Aspirants
These are candidates with a high professional standing and proven competence engaged in indus-try, R&D organisations and corporations and have published papers, technical reports, books, etc. to their credit. Candidates found suitable, prima facie, may be asked to submit more details and come for personal interaction at their own cost for deciding about their Ph.D. Qualifying examination. Such candidates, immediately after passing the Qualifying examina-tion, will be formally admitted to the Ph.D. pro-gramme and the Institute fees applicable at that point of time would apply.