PhD Degree in Power Systems - About Minimum Qualification, Universities, And Admission 2025-26

About This Course

The Power Systems and Energy (PSE) Group is a vibrant hub of research, innovation, and advanced education, dedicated to strengthening and modernizing the nation’s electric power infrastructure. With a strong focus on both theory and real-world application, the group works across a wide spectrum of critical domains including power system planning, electricity markets, system protection, renewable energy integration, AC/DC microgrids, HVDC and FACTS technologies, and High Voltage Engineering. These focus areas directly address the evolving challenges of reliable, sustainable, and smart power systems.

At the core of the PSE Group is a team of ten dynamic and experienced faculty members who collaborate closely with highly motivated undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students. Together, they contribute consistently to high-impact international journals, conferences, and patented innovations, ensuring that the group remains at the forefront of global research in power systems and power electronics. Faculty research interests span power system dynamics and stability, state estimation, wide-area monitoring, optimal power dispatch, security analysis and control, energy management systems, distribution automation, power system restructuring, and renewable energy–based DC microgrids, including advanced power electronic converters for solar PV applications.

Beyond academic research, the PSE Group plays an active role in supporting industry and government through consultancy services, sponsored research projects, and continuing education programs. Strong collaborations with national and international universities, research organizations, and industrial partners further enhance the group’s research ecosystem and global visibility.

The group is supported by three fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratories that provide hands-on exposure to cutting-edge software and hardware tools. Facilities such as PV and wind emulators, energy storage systems, EV chargers, programmable loads, real-time digital simulators, OPAL-RT platforms, smart meters, and advanced measurement equipment enable students to translate theory into impactful research. Backed by a robust Ph.D. program, the PSE Group is an integral part of a nationally recognized research culture spanning power systems, power electronics, communications, controls, robotics, signal processing, machine learning, and beyond—while retaining a strong human-centered approach to learning and innovation.

Eligibility

Candidates applying for the program must meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Applicants should have secured a minimum of 55% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade in a relevant Master’s degree and must qualify LPUNEST followed by an Interview*.

Candidates who have completed a 2-year (4-semester) Master’s degree after a 3-year Bachelor’s degree are eligible. In addition, applicants who have completed a 1-year/2-semester Master’s degree after a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% aggregate marks or equivalent UGC-approved grades are also eligible to apply.

The qualifying Master’s degree may be M.Tech., M.E., or M.S., or an equivalent qualification in relevant disciplines such as Power Systems, Solar Energy, Energy Systems, Power Electronics, Electrical Engineering (EE), Instrumentation & Control Engineering (I&CE), Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering (EI & CE), or Robotics & Automation.

Candidates who have completed a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 75% aggregate marks or equivalent grades prescribed by UGC are also eligible, subject to qualifying LPUNEST and the Interview*.

A relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks or equivalent grade is applicable for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer), Differently-Abled Persons, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and other categories as notified by the Commission from time to time.

PhD Degree in Power Systems Admission Process

All applicants applying to the PhD program in Electrical and Computer Engineering whose Bachelor’s degree is not from an ABET-accredited institution are required to submit valid scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE – General Test).

Applicants must complete and submit the online application on or before February 28 to be considered for admission and funding opportunities for the Fall semester. Applications submitted after this deadline may not be eligible for financial support.

Admission to the PhD program is conditional upon acceptance by the Graduate School, in accordance with institutional policies and academic requirements.

In addition, all applicants who have completed their prior degrees in countries where English is not the native language must demonstrate English language proficiency. This requirement is fulfilled by submitting valid TOEFL examination scores as part of the application process.

Future Scope

A Ph.D. in Power Systems opens up diverse and rewarding career opportunities across academia, industry, government, and entrepreneurship. Graduates with this advanced qualification are highly valued for their deep technical expertise, analytical skills, and research capabilities.

Academic careers are a natural pathway for Ph.D. holders. They can pursue roles as professors, lecturers, or academic researchers at universities and higher education institutions. These roles involve teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses, guiding student research, supervising doctoral scholars, and contributing to the academic community through high-quality publications, conferences, and collaborative research projects.

In the field of research and development (R&D), Ph.D. graduates are employed by universities, national laboratories, research institutes, and government agencies. They work on cutting-edge research problems, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and contribute to technological advancements in power systems, smart grids, and renewable energy integration.

Ph.D. graduates can also build strong careers as power system engineers in the energy and utility sector. Their work may include planning, designing, analyzing, and optimizing power generation, transmission, and distribution networks. They play a critical role in integrating renewable energy sources, implementing smart grid technologies, and developing efficient energy management systems.

Another prominent career path lies in consulting and advisory roles, where Ph.D. graduates provide expert guidance on power system planning, grid reliability, optimization, energy efficiency, and policy-driven projects. Consulting firms, engineering organizations, and government agencies frequently seek professionals with advanced technical knowledge.

Opportunities also exist within government and regulatory bodies, where Ph.D. holders contribute to energy policy formulation, regulatory compliance, standard development, and sustainability initiatives. Additionally, careers in energy management allow graduates to work on demand-side management, energy conservation, and long-term sustainability planning.

For those with an entrepreneurial mindset, a Ph.D. provides a strong foundation to launch start-ups or innovative ventures focused on advanced power technologies, renewable energy solutions, and smart energy systems.