The Pre-Ph.D course requirements shall be as follows :- 

(i) In order to overcome any deficiency in the breadth of fundamental training for advanced work, several courses are offered across disciplines taught at the Deemed University. Such courses would include those at Masters level or could be special ones created only for the doctoral student/s. 

(ii) The courses will be offered by TERI SAS. 

(iii) The credit assigned to the Ph.D course work shall be a minimum of 8 credits and a maximum of 16 credits. 

(iv) Four credits shall be assigned to one or more courses on Research Methodology which could cover areas such as quantitative methods, computer applications, research ethics and review of published research in the relevant field, training, field work, etc. One course on Technical Writing (2 credits) will be a mandatory course for all Ph.D students. Other courses shall be advanced level courses preparing the students for Ph.D degree. 

(v) The course requirement will be determined by the DRC (Department Research Committee) on the recommendations of the SRC (Student Research Committee) after considering the student?s background in relation to the proposed topic of research. 

(vi) Grades in the course work, including research methodology courses shall be finalized after a combined assessment by the SRC and the Department and the final grades shall be communicated to Registrar.

(vii) The minimum CGPA requirement will be 7.0. 

(viii) The pre-Ph.D course work must be completed within the first two semesters and the first three semesters of joining the programme by full-time and part-time students, respectively.

(a) Candidates having a B.Tech./M.A./M.Sc. or equivalent degree are required to be registered for a period of not less than three years from the commencement of course work (date of registration). In exceptional cases the minimum period of registration may be reduced to two years with the approval of the Academic Council. The minimum period of registration for candidates having an M.Tech. or M.Phil equivalent degree is two years. The minimum period of registration for part-time students will be five years

(b)* A candidate is normally expected to submit his/her thesis within five years from the date of registration. This period may be extended by the Academic Council as a special case to a maximum of seven years after which the registration will stand cancelled.

(c) A full-time candidate may be allowed by the Chairman, Academic Council, to convert his/her registration into part-time registration only after completion of three years from initial registration or after submission of a synopsis, whichever is earlier.

(d) Full-time Ph.D. scholars with M.Tech. qualification can be permitted to convert their registration from full-time to part-time after one year or after completion of course work and comprehensive examination whichever is later, if they get employed in the University's/ TERI's sponsored projects.

(e) Full-time Ph.D. scholars in the Faculty of Applied Sciences with M.Sc. qualifications can be permitted to convert their registration from full-time to part-time after two years or after completion of course work and comprehensive examination, whichever is later, if they get employed in the University's/TERI's sponsored projects. Such conversion will be permissible only if the work is in the projects of the University/TERI and not for employment outside. This provision will also be applicable to Ph.D. scholars with a B.Tech. degree.

* This maximum time period for submission of thesis is under review and is likely to be revised downward, subject to approvals