IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2025-26 (Autumn Semester)

IIT Kharagpur invited for admission to the Ph.D Programme [Regular with Institute Assistantship, Individual Fellowship (i.e. CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICMR/INSPIRE etc.), Sponsored, and Working Professionals] of the Institute in all disciplines of Engineering, Technology, Science, Architecture & Regional Planning, Humanities & Social Sciences, Rural Development, Law, Intersection of Law and Public Policy, Management and Medicine for 2025-26 (Autumn Semester).

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 60% marks or a CGPA of 6.5 in 10 point scale in the qualifying examination (A and/or B given below) in Science /Engineering / Commerce /Management/ Law and/or equivalent OR

Minimum 55% marks or a CGPA of 6.0 in 10 point scale in the qualifying examination (A and/or B given below) in Social Science/Humanities/MBBS degree and/or equivalent.

Note –

Candidates appearing in the final year of qualifying degree programme whose final result is awaited is required to enter the CGPA/Marks of all other preceding semesters expect the final semester for that particular programme e.g., for B.Tech programme of 8 semesters, CGPA/Marks upto the 7th semester or M.Sc./M.Tech. programme of 2 years, CGPA/Marks upto 3rd semester and so on. An application not meeting this requirement will be rejected.

CGPA will not be converted into percentage if the degree awarding Institute provides marks in CGPA system and vice versa.

A) Minimum qualifying degree required for admission into the Ph.D. program

• M.Tech (Master of Technology) / MS / ME (Master of Engineering)/ M.Sc.(Engg.,)
• M. Arch. /MRP (Master of Regional Planning) / MCP (Master of City planning)
• M. Phil. (2 years programme)
• PG Diploma/MBA in Management of 2-year duration (after completion of M.Sc/MA/B.Tech/ M.Com)
• LLM (2 years programme) after either 3 years LLB degree after 10+2+3 examination or at least 5 years of integrated LLB degree after 10+2 examination
• A equivalent degree  to any of the above

OR

B) Minimum qualifying degree required for admission to the Ph.D. program

• BE (Bachelor of Engineering)/ B.Tech. (Bachelor of Technology)/ B.Sc (Engg.)
• B.Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture)
• M.Sc. (Master of Science) / M. Phil. (1 year program) / MA (Master of Arts)
• PG Diploma/MBA in Management of 2-year duration (after completion of B.Sc/B.Com/BA)
• MBBS degree with compulsory one-year internship
• 3 years LLB degree after 10+2+3 examination or 5 years (minimum) of integrated LLB degree after 10+2 examination
• A equivalent  degree to any of the above

Additional Requirements for different Admission category

For Regular with Institute Assistantship

Candidates who are having minimum qualifying degree as (B) above must possess a valid GATE score that is above the cut-off level of students admitted for M.Tech/MCP admission in a particular year or NET qualification with Assistant Professorship for the award of Institute Research Assistantship. For admission in PhD programme, the validity of NET qualification with Assistant Professorship is for three (3) years from the date of declaration of NET results.

• If a person who is in employment and is applying for Institute Assistantship and is selected for admission, he/she must resign and produce the acceptance of resignation by the employer at the time of joining or produce a document that he/she is not receiving any salary from his/her employer along with proper document of sanctioned leave.
• The Institute Research Assistantship shall be awarded for a maximum period of 5 years. At present the amounts are as follows:
  • Rs. 37,000/- pm for the first 2 years
  • Rs. 42,000/- pm for the next 3 years
• No Research Student shall be permitted to receive any emoluments, salary, stipend or any other scholarship/assistantship during the tenure of Institute Research Assistantship.

For Individual Fellowship (CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICAR/INSPIRE etc.)

• Candidates applying for Individual Fellowship category must have valid fellowship award letter issued by the respective fellowship agency (i.e. CSIR/UGC/ICMR/DST/DBT etc.).
• Candidates admitted under Individual Fellowship category shall not be entitled for Institute Research Assistantship.

For Sponsored

• Persons who possess the minimum prescribed qualifications (a) OR (b) (without GATE/NET) mentioned above and are in service in any of the following establishments with Minimum of two-year job experience shall be eligible for admission to the Ph.D program as sponsored candidates:
  • a) Defense or other ministries of the Government of India or any other government
  • organizations;
  • b) Established industrial research and development organizations;
  • c) Autonomous bodies and public undertakings;
  • d) Universities/colleges;
  • e) Reputed industries as may be recognized by the Institute.
• An intending sponsored candidate must submit his/her application in prescribed form along with No objection cum sponsorship certificate (Appendix I) for admission through his/her employer, who will forward the same to the Institute with suitable endorsement.
• A sponsored candidate selected for admission shall be required, at the time of joining the Institute, to produce certificate in the prescribed form from the employers to the effect: (i) that he/she has been officially released from his duties for purpose of joining the program and has been granted leave for the required period; (ii) that his/her services shall be retained with the employer.
• In the case of a sponsored candidate admitted as such to the Ph.D program, the minimum residential requirement is one year at a stretch subject to successful completion of the prescribed course work.
• A candidate sponsored by an industry, an R&D organization, educational institution or a Government organization having adequate research facilities may be allowed to work externally subject to his/her fulfilling all such conditions prescribed in the Regulations. There is no provision of any financial assistance for sponsored candidates.

For PhD through Project

• Persons who possess the minimum prescribed qualifications and are working in a sponsored project of the Institute (i.e. under the auspices of SRIC of the Institute) shall be eligible for admission to the Ph.D program under project category.
• An intending candidate must submit his/her application in the prescribed form for admission through Principal Investigator, Head of the Department/Centre/School and Dean (SRIC) with suitable endorsement.
• The minimum remaining period of the project as well as the tenure of the project employee should be at least 2 years from the date of joining the Ph.D program.

For detailed eligibility read information brochure.

Candidates with undergraduate degrees (B.Tech/B.S or dual degree) from IITs

• B.Tech/B.S degree and Dual Degree (B.Tech & M.Tech or B.S and M.S ) holders having final CGPA >= 8.00 from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will be given direct admission in Ph.D programme with Institute Research Assistantship, subject to the suitability of these candidates to the specific departments/centres/schools to which they apply for Ph.D.

Application Process

Applicants are required to apply online at IIT Kharagpur official website.

Application once submitted successfully cannot be altered/resubmitted under any circumstances.

Read instructions carefully before filling application form.

Steps To Fill Application Form –

• STEP-I : Fill in the ONLINE application form
  • Register with Your Email Id and Login. FILL in the appropriate data. Please note that you have to upload your testimonials wherever it is required to validate your information along with your digital photograph and signature.
• STEP-II : Make PAYMENT and SUBMIT Application
  • Payment of application fee has to be made through online payment gateway only.
• STEP-III : Take PRINT
  • After final submission of your online application, you will be able to generate your online application printed with your specific details/data. This application printout may be retained with you for future requirement.

Selection Process

Departmental Academic Committee (Post-Graduate and Research), abbreviated as DAC (PG&R), of the Department/Centre concerned recommends the admission of a candidate to the Ph.D. program on the basis of:

• Overall Academic Performance
• Online Written Test and
• Interview

The academic units may shortlist the candidates for final interview based only on Overall Academic Performance or based on both Overall Academic Performance and an Online written test. However, final selection will be based on overall academic performance and performance in final interview only.

• Commencement of Online application form submission: 5 February, 2025
• Website closure for submission of online application form: 31 March, 2025
• Last date for receipt of hard copy of completed application (for PhD through Project category only) at the Academic Section: 02 April, 2025
• Written Test and Interview to be conducted in the respective Departments/Centres/Schools (for shortlisted candidates only): 12 May, 2025 to 20 May, 2025
• Date of admission: 14 July, 2025 (Tentative)

• Information Brochure
• Application Form
• IIT Kharagpur Website