Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), a research-led university, was established in 2007 by an Act of Gujarat State Legislature. The University is promoted by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) as a unique public-private educational and research initiative. PDPU aims to be a leading global University to develop the knowledge of science, technology, management and environment for the advancement of quality of life of mankind in general, and in relation to the domains of gas and energy in particular. The University has strong support and association with oil & gas and allied energy industry including GSPC Group, Reliance, ONGC, GAIL, HPCL, BPCL, IOCL, Gujarat Gas, Schumberger and Halliburton, to name a few.

Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University has at present three Schools and a Centre. School of Petroleum Management offers MBA, PGDPM-X and Ph.D in Petroleum Management, School of Petroleum Technology offers B.Tech, M.Tech and Ph.D in Petroleum Engineering, School of Solar Energy offers Ph.D in Solar Energy, and Centre for Good Governance & Policy engages in governance and Policy-oriented projects. Faculty at PDPU is involved in teaching and research in diverse areas. In the coming years, PDPU also to have School of Nuclear Energy, School of Liberal Arts, School of Geosciences, School of Petroleum Law and Intellectual property and Centre of Energy Studies & Research.

The Purpose of the Programme is to train prosperactive scholars to become highly skilled and innovative researchers and teachers in various aspects of science, technology, management, humanities, arts and social science related to the energy sector. It primarily aims at preparing and motivating students for careers as academicians, researchers, scholars, entrepreneurs and thinkers. Candidates for the Ph.D degree must demonstrate substantial scholarship, high attainment in a particular field of knowledge, and the ability to carry out independent investigation and present the results in a dissertation.

Selection process for Ph.D students is designed with an aim to have students with a combination of academic excellence, leadership, research potential and individual background and perspective. The Process will evaluate all aspect of what the candidate can add to the future of education and research in areas of sciences, technology, management, humanities, arts and social science.