Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune (DPU) is a deemed to be university at Sant Tukaram Nagar, Pimpri, established under Section 3 of the UGC Act in January 2003 and accredited by NAAC at A++ with a CGPA of 3.64. Its Ph.D. Regulations 2019, amended up to November 2022, require one research paper in Scopus or Web of Science plus two conference presentations before thesis submission. That second half matters: the UGC dropped the presentation requirement in 2022 and most Maharashtra universities followed, but DPU kept it. This page sets out what the regulations actually say, including one clause where the document contradicts itself, and the full sequence from Pre-Ph.D. examination to viva.
📍 Part of our Maharashtra university requirements guide. See also: Paper Publication in Maharashtra · SPPU · Symbiosis · Scopus
DPU PhD Publication Requirement — What the Regulations Say
| Governing regulations | Ph.D. Regulations, 2019 — amended up to November 2022 (supersedes Ph.D. Regulation 2017) |
| Papers required | At least one research paper in Scopus or Web of Science (clause 16.7) |
| Conference presentations | Two, at conferences or seminars — retained despite UGC 2022 dropping the requirement |
| Evidence required | Presentation certificates and/or reprints, produced before thesis submission |
| Wording conflict | The procedural summary in the same document says 'journals recognized by the UGC / Scopus / Web of Science' — broader than clause 16.7. Confirm in writing |
| Pre-Ph.D. course | One semester (six months), minimum 12 credits including Research and Publication Ethics |
| Pre-Ph.D. examination | Three papers of 50 marks; minimum 50% per paper and 55% aggregate; two attempts only |
| Plagiarism ceiling | 10% via URKUND; continuous matched words not to exceed 10 |
| Pre-submission seminar | Before the Institutional Research Advisory Committee, open to faculty and scholars |
| Thesis window | After 2 months and before 6 months from synopsis submission; fine thereafter, up to 1 year |
| Programme duration | Minimum 3 years including course work, maximum 6; extendable to 8 with re-registration |
| Part-time | Permitted with employer NOC; distance mode not permitted |
| Referencing style | Vancouver; SI units |
| Shodhganga | Mandatory upload before the result is notified |
Sourced from the DPU Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2019, amended up to November 2022. Last verified 17 August 2026. Ph.D. Regulations (PDF) · DPU regulations and policies. The Vidyapeeth reserves the right to modify these regulations with immediate effect — confirm with the PhD section before relying on this.
The Contradiction You Need to Resolve Before Choosing a Journal
DPU's own regulations state the publication requirement twice, and the two statements do not match:
| Where | What it says | What it permits |
|---|---|---|
| Clause 16.7 body of the regulations |
At least one research paper in Scopus / Web of Science | Indexed journals only |
| Step 19 procedural summary, same document |
One indexed research publication in journals recognised by the UGC / Scopus / Web of Science | Would also admit a UGC-recognised journal |
Plan for the stricter reading. Clause 16.7 sits in the operative section on submission of thesis; the step-19 list is a procedural summary appended at the end. Where a regulation and its own summary disagree, the operative clause normally governs — and in any case, a Scopus or Web of Science paper satisfies both readings while a UGC-only paper satisfies just one.
If you are already committed to a UGC-recognised journal, or the timeline makes an indexed journal unrealistic, put the question to the PhD section of the Vidyapeeth office in writing and keep the reply. Do not rely on a verbal assurance from a supervisor here: the document itself is ambiguous, so a written answer is the only thing that protects you at adjudication.
Why DPU Kept the Conference Presentations
Under the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, the national requirement to publish and to present at conferences before thesis submission was removed. Universities were left to set their own standards. SPPU dropped the presentation requirement entirely. DPU did not — its regulations, amended in November 2022 after the UGC change, retain both the paper and the two presentations.
Two practical consequences:
- Budget for conferences, not just publication. Two presentations means two registration fees, two sets of travel, and two acceptances to secure. Scholars who plan only for the journal paper discover this late.
- Keep the certificates. The regulations require evidence in the form of presentation certificates and reprints. A presentation you cannot document did not happen, as far as adjudication is concerned.
Which Journals to Target
The safe target is Scopus or Web of Science, since that satisfies both readings of the regulation. Realistic routes and timelines:
| Route | Realistic timeline | Indicative cost (INR) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scopus | 4–12 weeks | From 15,000 | Satisfies clause 16.7 — the default route |
| SCI / Web of Science | 3–6 months | From 25,000 | Medical and dental faculties, API/CAS scoring |
| Springer | 2–5 months | From 18,000 | Health sciences and interdisciplinary work |
| IEEE | 2–5 months | From 18,000 | Biotechnology, bioinformatics, technology |
| UGC-CARE | 3–6 weeks | From 3,000 | Only if the PhD section confirms the broader reading in writing |
| Fast track | 7 days – 4 weeks | From 5,000 | Synopsis already submitted |
Full breakdown on our paper publication cost page.
The DPU Sequence, Start to Finish
- Entrance test — three papers totalling 150 marks; minimum 50 percent for open category, 45 percent for reserved. Selection weights the test at 70 percent and the interview at 30.
- Provisional registration — after Institutional Research Advisory Committee review, ethics clearance and Research & Recognition Committee approval of your topic. Your term runs from this date.
- Pre-Ph.D. course — one semester, minimum 12 credits, compulsory attendance, 75 percent required to sit the examination.
- Pre-Ph.D. examination — clear it and registration is confirmed. Fail twice and provisional registration is cancelled.
- Six-monthly progress reports — presented to the Institutional Research Advisory Committee, copied to the Vidyapeeth.
- Publication and presentations — one indexed paper, two conference presentations, with certificates and reprints retained.
- Pre-submission seminar — before the IRAC, open to faculty and other scholars; incorporate their feedback into the draft.
- Synopsis — submitted through your college with the six-monthly progress reports.
- Thesis — four hard copies, two CDs with PDFs, ten copies of the summary, plagiarism report and anti-plagiarism certificate. Between two and six months after the synopsis.
- Evaluation — three examiners: your guide plus two external, one from outside the state and one from outside Pune. Reports due within 60 days.
- Open viva voce — internal examiner, one external and a chairperson, open to the IRAC, faculty and researchers.
- Shodhganga — upload the thesis via your institute librarian. The result is not notified until this is done.
The trap: that two-to-six month thesis window starts when the synopsis goes in, and publication evidence is checked at submission. A paper still in review at synopsis stage leaves you roughly six months before the fine starts. Publish before the synopsis, not after.
DPU Thesis Submission Checklist
- Pre-Ph.D. examination cleared at 50% per paper and 55% aggregate
- Minimum 12 course work credits including Research and Publication Ethics
- Six-monthly progress reports signed and submitted throughout
- One research paper in Scopus or Web of Science — reprint retained
- Two conference or seminar presentations — certificates retained
- URKUND plagiarism report at 10% or below, with no continuous match over ten words
- Anti-plagiarism certificate signed by you and your guide
- Pre-submission seminar completed before the IRAC
- Four hard copies, two CDs, ten summary copies, covering letter from the head of institute
- Vancouver referencing, SI units, prescribed margins and fonts
- Registration still valid on the submission date
Forms and current circulars: DPU Research and Development Cell — info@dpu.edu.in, 020-27805000.
Plan Backwards From Your Synopsis
- T−15 months — get the clause 16.7 question answered in writing by the PhD section, so you know whether a UGC-recognised journal is open to you.
- T−12 months — first journal submission to a Scopus or Web of Science title; book your first conference.
- T−9 months — first presentation done, certificate filed; second conference identified.
- T−6 months — revisions handled, or reroute rather than wait; second presentation completed.
- T−3 months — acceptance and reprint in hand; URKUND check run on your own copy before the official one.
- T−0 — pre-submission seminar, then synopsis. Thesis follows in the two-to-six month window.
Frequently Asked Questions — DPU PhD Publication
How many papers are required for a PhD at DPU Pune?
One journal paper plus two conference presentations. Clause 16.7 of the Ph.D. Regulations 2019 (amended up to November 2022) requires scholars to publish at least one research paper in Scopus or Web of Science and make two paper presentations at conferences or seminars before submitting the thesis for adjudication. Evidence must be produced in the form of presentation certificates and reprints.
Does DPU accept UGC-CARE journals, or must it be Scopus?
The regulations are internally inconsistent on exactly this point, and it matters more than anything else on this page. Clause 16.7 in the body of the document says Scopus or Web of Science. The procedural summary at the end of the same document says one indexed research publication in journals recognised by the UGC, Scopus or Web of Science — which is broader and would admit a UGC-recognised journal. Plan for Scopus or Web of Science, because the operative clause is the stricter one, and get written confirmation from the PhD section before you rely on the broader reading. Do not let anyone tell you the answer is settled: the university's own document says two different things.
Does DPU still require conference presentations?
Yes, two of them — and this is where DPU differs from most of Maharashtra. The UGC removed the presentation requirement in its 2022 doctoral regulations, and universities such as SPPU dropped it. DPU retained the pre-2022 structure of one paper plus two presentations. If a senior scholar elsewhere tells you presentations are no longer needed, they are describing a different university.
What is the plagiarism limit for a DPU thesis?
Similarity is capped at 10 percent, checked using URKUND, with total continuous matched words not exceeding ten. The penalty ladder follows UGC 2018: up to 10 percent is Level 0 with no penalty; above 10 and up to 40 percent means a revised script within six months; above 40 and up to 60 percent debars you from resubmitting for a year; above 60 percent cancels your registration for the programme. The thesis carries an anti-plagiarism certificate from your guide plus certification from an approved agency.
What is the DPU Pre-Ph.D. examination?
Your registration stays provisional until you clear it. The Pre-Ph.D. course runs one semester of six months with a minimum of 12 credits, including Research and Publication Ethics and a research methodology course. The examination has three papers of 50 marks each — Research Methodology and Biostatistics, Recent Advances in your specialty, and a Presentation and Discussion on your research topic. You need at least 50 percent in each paper and 55 percent in aggregate. Fail twice and your provisional registration is cancelled outright.
When can I submit my DPU thesis after the synopsis?
After two months and before six months from the date of synopsis submission. Late submission attracts a prescribed fine and is permitted up to one year from the synopsis date or until your registration expires, whichever comes first. Beyond that you must give a fresh pre-submission seminar and submit the synopsis again. Because publication evidence is checked at submission, a paper still under review when the synopsis goes in leaves you a very narrow window.
Can I do a part-time PhD at DPU?
Yes. Part-time mode is permitted provided you supply a No Objection Certificate from your employer confirming that you may study part-time, that your duties allow sufficient time for research, and that you will be relieved from duty to complete the course work if required. This distinguishes DPU from COEP Tech, where part-time is not currently allowed. Distance education mode is not permitted for the PhD under any circumstances.
What referencing style does DPU require?
Vancouver, throughout the thesis — reflecting DPU's health sciences base. References must give all author names, the complete title, journal name, volume, page numbers and year. Use SI units, or supply conversion factors. Print on one side of A4, Arial or Times New Roman, headings 14 bold, subheadings 12 bold, body 12 normal, 1.5 line spacing, margins of one inch except 1.5 inches on the left. Ornamental borders and dedication pages are not permitted.
Not Sure Your Paper Is Ready?
Send your draft and target list for a free readiness check. You will get an honest assessment of whether the manuscript is competitive at the indexing level DPU requires, which journals fit your faculty and scope, and a realistic timeline measured against your synopsis date.
📄 Free Manuscript Evaluation — DPU Scholars