Note on Agenda 3-23/19

Admission to Ph.D. program under the Faculty of Architecture

23rd Meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Academic Council held on 16th May 2019 considered
the need for regulations for registering for Ph.D. under Faculty of Architecture. However, the
matter was deferred stating the reasons of conditions provided by Council of Architecture
(COA) in the Guidelines for Degree of Ph.D. in Architecture. But it may be reviewed in purview
of following new found facts.

1. Council of Architecture (COA) has the powers to regulate the qualifying degree
required to practice as an Architect only. The Architectural Education section states that
“Under the provisions of the Architects Act, 1972 the Council of Architecture is
required to prescribe the Minimum Standards of Architectural Education for imparting
5-year undergraduate degree course in Architecture (i.e. Bachelor of Architecture
degree course)”.
2. Premier institutions in Architecture like School of Planning and Architecture (SPA),
Centre for Environment Planning & Technology (CEPT), IIT’s and NIT’s started
offering Ph.D. in Architecture years back and those institutions are not listed in the
Status with Intake of Architectural Institutions in India as on June 06, 2019 provided in
Council of Architecture website.
3. COA Status with Intake of Architectural Institutions in India as on June 06, 2019
document lists only one college for Ph.D. in architecture which is given below.
 MH21 - Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati
College of Architecture for Women BNCA College Campus Karve Nagar
PUNE
4. It is also known that universities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu were also offering Ph.D. in
Architecture even before having any post graduate program running in Architecture.
5. REVA University, Bangalore which is a State Private University have started offering
Ph.D. in Architecture from this Academic year onwards. The School of architecture
commenced their under graduate course B. Arch. in the year 2015 only and the students
are reaching 5 th year in the academic year 2019-2020. They don’t have any masters
program running in architecture, but have got 2 Ph.D. holders in Architecture as full-
time faculty.
 6. University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of
M.PHIL./PH.D Degrees) Regulations, 2016 states
10. Academic, administrative and infrastructure requirement to be fulfilled by Colleges
for getting recognition for offering M.Phil./Ph.D. programmes:
10.1 Colleges may be considered eligible to offer M.Phil./Ph .D programmes only if
they satisfy the availability of eligible Research Supervisors, required
infrastructure and supporting administrative and research promotion facilities as
per these Regulations.
10.2 Post-graduate Departments of Colleges, Research laboratories of Government of
India/State Government with at least two Ph.D. qualified teachers/scientists/other
academic staff in the Department concerned along with required infrastructure,
supporting administrative and research promotion facilities as per these
Regulations, stipulated under sub-clause 10.3, shall be considered eligible to offer
M.Phil./Ph.D. programmes. Colleges should additionally have the necessary
recognition by the Institution under which they operate to offer M.Phil/Ph.D.
programme.
10.3 Colleges with adequate facilities for research as mentioned below alone shall offer
M.Phil./Ph. D. programmes:
10.3.1 In case of science and technology disciplines, exclusive research
laboratories with sophisticated equipment as specified by the Institution
concerned with provision for adequate space per research scholar along
with computer facilities and essential software, and uninterrupted power
and water supply;
10.3.2 Earmarked library resources including latest books, Indian and
International journals, e-journals, extended working hours for all
disciplines, adequate space for research scholars in the Department/
library for reading, writing and storing study and research materials;
10.3.3 Colleges may also access the required facilities of the neighboring
Institutions/Colleges, or of those Institutions/Colleges/R&D
laboratories/Organizations which have the required facilities.

So Nitte Deemed to be University can consider offering Ph.D. in Architecture if adequate

number of guides are made available full time in Faculty of Architecture and there are
provisions included in Ph.D. regulations.
References

1. Council of Architecture - Architectural Education Section

https://www.coa.gov.in/index1.php?&lang=1&level=0&linkid=7&lid=11
Last Updated On: 23/04/2019
2. Status with Intake of Architectural Institutions in India as on June 06, 2019
https://www.coa.gov.in/show_img.php?fid=527
Last Updated On: 06/06/2019
3. University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of
M.PHIL./PH.D Degrees) Regulations, 2016
https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/4952604_UGC-(M.PHIL.-PH.D-DEGREES)-
REGULATIONS,-2016.pdf