PhD Geotechnical Engineering Eligibility, Top Colleges, Syllabus, Duration, Salary 2023

PhD Geotechnical Engineering is a doctorate level full-time course on Geotechnical Engineering degree. It is a research-based course, and takes a minimum 3-5 years to complete. 

The course offers advanced in-depth knowledge on the behavior of soils under the influence of loading forces and the interactions between soil and water. During this course study, the students will learn how to use soil and rock mechanic principles in investigation and study of subsurface materials and conditions. 

In order to be eligible for PhD Geotechnical Engineering course study, the candidates must complete their postgraduation or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering/ Civil Infrastructure Engineering/ Architecture Engineering/ Geo-Informatics Engineering/ Structural Engineering from a recognized university with minimum 60% aggregate marks. Candidates appearing for final year Master’s degree course can also apply for this course study. 

Admission procedure for this course may differ from one college to another. The candidates can either be admitted on the basis of marks obtained in their Master’s degree course or on the basis of their performance in the entrance exam, followed by the personal interview round. The course fee for PhD Geotechnical Engineering is differ for government and private institutions. The average tuition fee charged by the top-most colleges in India ranges between INR 10,000 to 2,00,000. 

After completing this course successfully, the students can get potential job opportunities in various governments as well as private sectors. Some of the most common job profiles available for such graduates are Civil Engineer, Site Civil Engineer, Quality Assurance Officer, Structural Engineer, Technical Officer, Business Analyst etc. 

The average starting salary earned by the PhD Geotechnical Engineering degree holders in India is INR 2,00,000 to 10,00,000 per annum. Depending on students’ skills and expertise in the related field, the salary scale will be increased. 

See more: Top PhD Geotechnical Engineering Colleges in India

PhD Geotechnical Engineering: Highlights

The major highlights of PhD Geotechnical Engineering course are provided in the table given below: 

Course Level  Doctorate 
Full Form  Doctorate of Philosophy in Geotechnical Engineering 
Duration  3 Years 
Eligibility  Master’s degree 
Admission Process  Merit Based/ Entrance Based 
Course Fee  INR 10,000-2,00,000 
Average Annual Salary  INR 2,00,000 to 10,00,000 
Job Profiles  Civil Engineer, Site Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Technical Officer, Business Analyst, Quality Assurance Officer 
Top Recruiting Areas  Road Construction Companies, Railways, R&D Centers, Infrastructure Development Companies, Colleges and Universities 
Top Recruiting Companies  L&T, Unitech, Tata Projects, Sobha Developers Limited, Hindustan Construction Companies etc. 

PhD Geotechnical Engineering: What is it About?

The PhD Geotechnical Engineering course offers advanced study on the behavior of soils under the influence of loading forces and the interactions between soil and water.  

  • Throughout this course study, the students will gather knowledge on foundation designing, geosynthetics and clay liners used for the projects. 
  • The course will learn the students about the use and applications of engineering principles so that they can ensure the stability of a structure against earthquakes, mudslides or any other natural events in future. 
  • The aim of this course study is to develop professionals for working in foundation designing, temporary excavation support, route selection for highways and railways, landfill disposal, groundwater contamination and more. 
  • The course helps the students to learn about the advanced technical principles used in finding the most important details, like physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the subsurface materials and structures. 
  • During this course study, the students can get theoretical as well as hands-on practical training on designing and constructing a structure and its technical know-how. 
  • Students willing to pursue this course must have an innovative approach to solve critical issues, highly developed numeric analysis, computer literacy and more. 

Why Study PhD Geotechnical Engineering?

  • PhD Geotechnical Engineering course is beneficial for those students who have interest in structural construction, soil mechanism etc. 
  • The course is worth it for those students who want to establish their career in the research field or being a subject matter specialization in their chosen specialization. 
  • Students with a PhD degree in Geotechnical Engineering can have prospective career and job opportunities in both government as well as private sectors. 
  • Graduates can get employed in major areas like Railways, Road Construction Companies, R&D Centers, Construction Companies, Infrastructure Development companies etc. 
  • After completing this doctorate level course, the students will be hired for major job roles like Civil Engineer, Site Civil Engineer, Technical Officer, Structural Officer, Quality Assurance officer, Manager, Business Analyst etc. 
  • Besides these, some of them are willing to hold the position of Assistant Professor or Lecturer in reputed colleges or universities. 
  • Depending upon their skills and expertise in the field, the freshers can easily earn an average annual salary of INR 2,00,000 to 10,00,000 per year. 

What is the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Admission Process?

PhD Geotechnical Engineering course admission process may differ from one college to another. Most of the colleges allow admission to this course on the basis of the scores obtained by the candidates in the entrance exam and the performance of the personal interview round conducted by the respective colleges/universities. 

However, few colleges grant admission to this course on the basis of merit obtained in the master’s level. The candidates can apply in both online as well as offline mode. 

Here we have mentioned some of the basic steps of the admission procedure. 

  • If the college/university allows direct admission on the basis of the candidate's merit, then you have to score well in the master’s degree course. 
  • You can get the application form from the college premises. Fill up the application form properly along with all details, documents and application fee. 
  • After evaluating all applications, the college authority will release the merit lists. If the candidates clear the cut-off rank, then he/she will be eligible for admission. 

How to apply for PhD Geotechnical Engineering?

  • Visit the official website of the respective colleges or universities and register there by providing some of your basic personal details, like email id, phone number and password. 
  • Filling up the application form carefully along with all required details. Ensure that your provided details will be accurate and correct. 
  • Scan and upload all requisite documents, like marksheet, certificate, photographs and more in the given format and pay the application fee online and submit. 
  • The college admission committee will release the admit cards for the entrance exam after evaluating all applications. Few institutes may accept the scores obtained in the national-level entrance exams, like GATE, UGC NET etc. 
  • After evaluating the score of the candidates in the entrance exam, candidates who have cleared the cut-off rank will be shortlisted for the personal interview session. 
  • The candidates who have cleared the interview round can get a chance of enrollment through document verification and admission fee payment. 

What is the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Eligibility Criteria?

Being eligible for PhD Geotechnical Engineering course study the aspirants need to fulfill the following minimum eligibility criteria: 

  • The candidates must complete their Master’s degree in Civil Engineering/ Civil Infrastructure Engineering/ Architecture Engineering/ Geo-Informatics Engineering/ Structural Engineering from a recognized university. 
  • The candidates must have a minimum aggregate score of 60% in their post graduation degree course. 
  • Candidates appearing for Master’s degree final examination are also eligible for this course application. 

Which are the Top PhD Geotechnical Engineering Entrance Exams?

For PhD Geotechnical Engineering course admission, some National-level and University-level entrance exams are conducted. Here are some of the most popular entrance tests for PhD Geotechnical Engineering candidates mentioned below: 

Entrance Exam Registration Date  Exam Date 
CSIR UGC NET (June Session)  2nd week of March – 2nd week of April 2023 3rd week of June 2023
UGC NET (July Session)  December 29, 2022 – January 23, 2023 February 21, 2023 – March 10, 2023
ICAR AICE JRF/SRF     To be Announced To be Announced

How to Prepare for the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Entrance Exams?

If you wish to clear the cut-off rank of the PhD Geotechnical Engineering entrance exams, then you must be well-prepared before appearing for the test. Here we provide some important tips which need to be followed: 

  • The candidates need to be well-aware about the latest exam pattern. Go through the official website of the respective colleges and universities and get to know about examination patterns. 
  • Try to gather detailed knowledge of the entrance exam syllabus and prepare for it accordingly. Download the exam syllabus from the official website of the exam conducting body. 
  • Most of the entrance exam consists of MCQ type questions. Sometimes, there are negative markings, so avoid guessing, mark an answer only if you are absolutely sure. 
  • Practice sample question papers and previous years’ question sheets. It will help you to identify your strong and weak points. 
  • To crack any entrance test, regular revision is must. Preparation in every single day will help you to be well-prepared for the examination. 
  • Read regular newspapers and keep yourself updated. It will help you to gather knowledge on current affairs. 
  • Time management is essential. To secure a good rank in the entrance exam, you need to arrange some time for preparation on a regular basis. 

How to Get Admission in a Top PhD Geotechnical Engineering College?

If you wish to get admitted to the top-most PhD Geotechnical Engineering college in India, then you have to follow the below-mentioned guidelines thoroughly: 

  • Colleges offering PhD Geotechnical Engineering course, consider the master’s degree score as an eligibility criterion. So, it is important to have at least a 60% aggregate score at Master’s level. 
  • Most of the colleges allow admission to this course on the basis of the entrance exam performance conducted at national-level or university-level. Be well prepared for the entrance exam. 
  • Start preparing for the entrance exam at least a year before the examination date. This will help you in increasing your performance and confidence level. 
  • Candidates who have qualified the entrance exam have to appear for the personal interview round. So, you have to be prepared for the interview session as well. 
  • Check out the course curriculum offered by the colleges and get a clear idea about the faculty members. 
  • Must have a clear idea about the placement scenario of the respective colleges/universities. Keep yourself updated with the latest news, admission procedure and more. 
  • Most importantly, try to submit the duly-filled application form before the given deadline, otherwise the application will be rejected. 

Which are the Top PhD Geotechnical Engineering Colleges?

PhD Geotechnical Engineering course is taught in various top-most colleges and universities in India. Some of the reputed PhD Geotechnical Engineering colleges in India: 

NIRF Ranking  College Name  Average Annual Fee  Average Annual Salary 
IIT  INR 49,300  INR 12,00,000 
24  Bharath University  INR 2,00,000  INR 6,00,000 
41  SRM University  INR 3,00,000  INR 2,60,000 
53  Jodhpur National University  INR 1,34,000  INR 4,60,000 
57  Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University  INR 60,000  INR 9,50,000 
59  CET  INR 31,225  INR 6,00,000 
62  CUSAT  INR 1,03,000  INR 4,94,000 
99  Lovely Professional University  INR 3,16,000  INR 7,00,000 
151  Jaypee University of Information Technology  INR 46,000  INR 4,50,000 
164  Thejas Engineering College  INR 1,68,000  INR 4,80,000 
151-200  Pacific University  INR 70,000  INR 6,60,000 
151-200  Sharda University  INR 1,80,000  INR 6,28,000 
217  GNDEC  INR 1,95,000  INR 3,50,000 
201-250  MREC INR 56,000  INR 2,50,000 
Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University  INR 1,81,000  INR 4,25,000 

College Comparison: PhD Geotechnical Engineering

The below-mentioned table compares the top three PhD Geotechnical Engineering colleges in India based on several major parameters, like NIRF ranking, admission process, course fee, average placement packages etc. 

College Name  IIT  Lovely Professional University  SRM University 
Overview  It is a top-ranked engineering college in India, recognized by UGC. This institute offers UG, PG and Ph.D programs in Engineering, Science disciplines.  It is an UGC recognized private institute famous for offering 200+ UG, PG, PhD programs in 55 different disciplines.  It is a top-ranking university in India offering a wide range of UG, PG and doctorate degree programs in Management, Engineering, Science, Medicines, Humanities etc. 
Location  Hyderabad  Jalandhar  Kanchipuram 
NIRF Rank 2020  99  41 
Eligibility  Master’s degree in the relevant discipline  Master’s degree/ M.Phil in relevant discipline with 55% aggregate  Master’s or PG Diploma in the relevant discipline 
Admission Process  Entrance Based  LPU NEST + Personal Interview  Entrance Exam + Interview 
Average Annual Fees  INR 49,300  INR 3,16,000  INR 3,00,000 
Average Placement Package  INR 12,00,000  INR 7,00,000  INR 2,60,000
PhD

What is the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Syllabus?

PhD Geotechnical Engineering Students have to study a vast number of subjects in the entire duration of the course. The year-wise course syllabus is given in the following: 

Year I  Year II 
Building Technology  Civil Engineering Drawing 
Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Instrumentation  Open Channel Hydraulic Machinery 
Structural Analysis  Geotechnical Engineering 
Fluid Mechanics  Transportation Engineering 
Engineering Geology  Fluids Laboratory 
Year III  -
Environmental Engineering  -
Irrigation Engineering  -
Engineering Economics and Principles of Management  -
Design of Hydraulic Structures  -
Design and Drawing of RC Structures  -

Which are the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Important Books?

Given below the list of some of the most important books for PhD Geotechnical Engineering Course study: 

Name of the Book  Author 
Geotechnical Engineering (Soil Mechanics)  Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Prof. T.N. Ramamurthy 
Foundations and Applications of Engineering Mechanics  H.D. Ram and A.K. Chauhan 
Structural Analysis  R C Hibbeler 
A Textbook of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines  R.K. Bansal 
Irrigation and Water Power Engineering  Dr. B C Punamia 

Course Comparison: PhD Geotechnical Engineering Vs. PhD Civil Engineering

The table below depicts a comparison study between PhD Geotechnical Engineering and PhD Civil Engineering on various major parameters: 

Check out the top PhD Civil Engineering Colleges in India 

Parameters  PhD Geotechnical Engineering  PhD Civil Engineering 
Qualification  Doctorate Level  Doctorate Level 
Overview  This course imparts advanced in-depth knowledge on the behavior of soils under the influence of loading forces and the soil-water interactions.  The course offers advanced study that deals with the designing, construction, maintenance of structures, like roads, dams, bridges, canals, railways, sewage system etc. 
Duration  3-5 years  4-5 years 
Examination Type  Semester Based  Semester Based 
Eligibility  Master’s degree in Architecture Engineering/ Geo-Informatics Engineering/ Structural Engineering/ Civil Engineering  Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or any branch of engineering from a recognized university 
Admission Process  Merit or Entrance Based  Merit or Entrance Based 
Average Course Fees  INR 10,000-2,00,000  INR 19,000-73,000 
Colleges  IIT Hyderabad, Lovely Professional University, Sharda University, SRM University, Jodhpur National University etc.  IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, NIT Tiruchirappalli, IIT Varanasi etc. 
Average Annual Salary  INR 2,00,000-10,00,000  INR 2,00,000-9,00,000 
Job Roles  Civil Engineer, Site Civil Engineer, Technical Officer, Structural Engineer, Quality Assurance Officer, Technical Officer, Business Analyst, Manager etc.  Site Engineer, Head Quality Controller, Civil Engineer, Project Coordinator, Project Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, Project Procurement Manager etc. 
Course

Which are the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Job Profiles?

After completing PhD Geotechnical Engineering course successfully, the candidates will get prospective job and career opportunities. 

The PhD degree holders in Geotechnical Engineering, can get employed in major recruiting fields, like Construction companies, Road Construction Companies, Railways, R&D Centers, Infrastructure Development Companies etc. 

Given below some of the most popular yet potential job options available for PhD Geotechnical Engineer: 

Job Profile  Job Description  Average Offered Salary 
Civil Engineer  Civil Engineers are responsible for providing an estimation of the materials cost and expected project completion time while the civil project engineers start a new building construction project. Besides this, they have to work on the blueprints drawn and studied by the civil project engineers.  INR 3,25,000 
Site Civil Engineer  Their main responsibility is to direct and assess a project, survey the area carefully where the project will take place. Besides these, they have to provide special attention to the government codes and environmental issues which need to be considered before starting the construction project.  INR 2,40,000 
Technical Officer  They have to review the business structures and ensure proper flow and functionality of the business internet and web systems. They basically work in an office environment, even though they have to work in server and system areas to monitor and troubleshoot the hardware.  INR 6,14,000 
Manager  Their main role is to plan and organize various activities of the government as well as private organizations. They are basically responsible for monitoring the expense reports, have to perform internal programs analysis on cost-benefit approaches and arrange, coordinate different educational assignments for company’s staff.  INR 7,75,000 
Average

What is the PhD Geotechnical Engineering Future Scope?

In India, the demand of the well-skilled and experienced Geotechnical Engineer is very high as they are helping in building infrastructures. 

  • They even get potential job opportunities in both government as well as private sectors. Some of the most popular and common sectors offering jobs to such PhD Geotechnical Engineering degree holders are construction companies, Water resource, storage, electricity distribution, power gas and more. 
  • They can hold the position of assistant professor or lecturer in any reputed college or university. 
  • They can conduct research work on various aspects of Geotechnical Engineering at different research laboratories.  

PhD Geotechnical Engineering FAQs

Ques. How many years does it take to complete a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering? 

Ans. It takes mostly 3-5 years to complete a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering course. 

Ques. What is the eligibility criteria for a PhD Geotechnical Engineering course? 

Ans. The interested candidates need to complete a Master's degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university with a minimum 60% aggregate marks. 

Ques. Are there any entrance exams necessary for this course admission? 

Ans. Most of the universities conduct their own set of entrance exams. Some of the most popular national-level and university level entrance exams are UGC NET, GATE, LPU NEST etc. 

Ques. What are the best colleges in India for pursuing PhD in Geotechnical Engineering? 

Ans. Some of the most reputed colleges or universities in India offering PhD in Geotechnical Engineering are Lovely Professional University, SRM University, IIT Hyderabad, Sharda University, Thejus Engineering College, Bharath University etc. 

Ques. What is the average tuition fee for a PhD Geotechnical Course? 

Ans. The PhD Geotechnical Engineering course fee may vary from one institute to another. However, the average tuition fee charged by the top-notch colleges in India typically ranges between INR 10,000-2,00,000. 

Ques. What will be the job profiles available for the students after completing this course? 

Ans. The most common and popular job profiles for PhD Geotechnical Engineering degree holders are Civil Engineer, Site Civil Engineer, Technical Officer, Structural Engineer, Quality Assurance Officer, Business Analyst etc. 

Ques. What should be the average starting salary of a PhD Geotechnical Engineering degree holder? 

Ans. After completing PhD Geotechnical Engineering course, one can easily expect an average starting salary of INR 2,00,000 to 10,00,000 per annum.

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