• that cannot be solved by straight forward application of knowledge, theories and techniques applicable to the engineering discipline as against problems given at the end of chapters in a typical text book that can be solved using simple eengineering theories and techniques;
• that may not have a unique solution. For example, a design problem can be solved in many ways and lead to multiple possible solutions;
• that require consideration of appropriate constraints / requirements not explicitly given in the problem statement such as cost, power requirement,durability, productlife, etc.;
• which need to be defined(modeled) with in appropriate mathematical frame work; and that often require use of modern computational concepts and tools, for example, in the design of an antenna or a DSP filter.

PO5: Modern Tool Usage: Create, select, and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools including prediction and modelling to complex engineering activities with an understanding of the limitations.

PO6: The Engineer and Society: Apply reasoning informed by the contextual knowledge to assess societal, health, safety, legal and cultural issues and the consequent responsibilities relevant to the professional engineering practice.

PO7: Environment and Sustainability: Understand the impact of the professional engineering solutions in societal and environmental contexts, and demonstrate the knowledge of, and need for sustainable development.

PO8: Ethics: Apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics and responsibilities and norms of the engineering practice.

PO9: Individual and Team Work: Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader indiverse teams, and in multi disciplinary settings.

• A1. Candidates with ME / MTech or equivalent degree with / without GATE
• A2. Candidates with BE / BTech or equivalent degree with / without GATE

• B1. QIP seats (Full-time)
• B2. Full-time - Sponsored seats from Industry, Educational Institution or other organizations
• B3. Internal Registrants - sponsored Institute or Project staff of NITK (Part-time)
• B4. Full-time Non-sponsored / Non-scholarship
• B5. External Registrants - Sponsored seats from Industry, Educational Institution or other organizations (Part-time)

• For scholarship seats under A1, candidates with ME /MTech or Equivalent degree as the qualifying degree are eligible with / without GATE score.
• Scholarship seats under A2, are direct admission for candidates with BTech / BE / BArch / BPlan / BDes / BS (Four-year degree program) in relevant discipline within five years of obtaining the qualifying undergraduate degree. Such candidates must possess a qualifying GATE score. However, the candidates who have obtained their undergraduate degree from a centrally funded Institute are exempted from the mandatory requirement of a qualifying GATE score.
• Under non-scholarship seat, students of type B1 are admitted under quality improvement program (QIP), being implemented and monitored by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Under “QIP”, only sponsored teachers who are permanent faculty members of AICTE recognized degree / diploma level colleges are eligible to apply.
• Under non-scholarship seat, students of type B2 are sponsored and financed by the sponsoring organization. The candidate must have minimum of two years of full-time work experience in the sponsoring organization. Candidate should produce a sponsorship-cum-clearance certificate in the format provided by the NITK along with the application.
• Student of the type B3 are internal registrants who are sponsored institute or project staff of NITK and are required to produce a sponsorship-cum-clearance certificate from the Director, NITK.
• Under non-scholarship seats of type B4 are full-time Non-sponsored students. The number of admissions under this shall be restricted to the number of vacant seats in type A, against the sanctioned intake.
• Under non-scholarship seat, students of type B5 are external registrants, sponsored by Industry / Educational Institutions. The candidate must have minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in the sponsoring organization / Institution. Candidate should produce a sponsorship-cum- clearance certificate in the format provided by the NITK, along with the application. Candidates are expected to carry-out their research work in their parent organization after fulfilling certain prerequisites in the Institute and may have an additional Research Guide from the sponsoring organization. Residential requirement may be waived for such candidates and they are expected to complete their course work by opting for (pre-approved by the DRPC) certified courses (DRPC: Doctoral Research Programme Committee).

• Speech technologies for Indian languages, National Language Translation Mission - Bhashini.
• Programmable photonic microwave signal generation using on-chip spectral shaper for satellite communication, ISRO. 
• Nanophotonic porous-silicon based nanostructures for ultra-fast methanol sensing at room temperature, SERB.
• Development of low-phase noise optoelectronic oscillator with phase compensation approach for radar application, DRDO.
• Design and fabrication of on-chip vertical hybrid plasmonic waveguide based nanograting gas sensor, CSIR.
• Engineering novel label free multi-layer plasmonic nano-biosensor for DNA hybridization, DBT. 
• Multi-functional metasurface design for amplitude, polarization and wave-front control for 6G communication systems, SERB.
• Quantitative retrieval and spatiotemporal analysis of soil quality parameters using geospatial datasets and machine learning techniques in Western Plains and Ghat regions of Karnataka, VGST GoK.