Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2026 (Jan)

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram invites applications for PhD admission for the academic session starting in January 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality
  • Candidate should be an Indian citizen
• Age Limit
  • Below 35 years as on 20th November, 2025.  Age relaxation as per Govt Rules.

Educational Qualifications

For candidates with Master’s Degree in Technology/ Engineering as their highest qualifying degree

• ME/M.Tech with 60% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if grading system is followed. (55% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/ EWS/ SC/ ST/PwD) in the qualifying master’s degree. OR Master of Science in Engineering or equivalent from leading foreign Universities with minimum CGPA 8.00/10 or 3.60 /4 or equivalent.
• Applicants must qualify a National Eligibility Test, such as GATE/CSIR/UGCNET/NBHM/JEST or Screening Test conducted by IIST.

For candidates with Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/ Technology as their highest qualifying degree

• B.E./B.Tech. with 75% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if the grading system is followed. (70% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/ EWS/ SC/ ST/ PwD) in the Qualifying Bachelor’s degree. They should have a valid GATE score.
• Candidates in the following categories are exempted from the requirement of GATE score: –
  • B.E./B.Tech. from Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) / Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) with 7.50 CGPA (CGPA of 7.00 for OBC/ EWS/ SC/ST/ PwD) on a scale of 10 or equivalent in the Qualifying Bachelor’s degree. They need to qualify the screening test conducted by IIST. OR
  • Dual degree (Bachelors in Engineering and Masters in Science from IITs and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology) with minimum score in Bachelor’s degree as mentioned above. They need to qualify the screening test conducted by IIST. OR
  • Applicants who have qualified CSIR/UGC-NET/ NBHM/JEST in the relevant disciplines, the score/certificate should be valid at the time of application. Applicants with valid JEST rank are required.

Applicants with a Master’s/ BS-MS Degree in Science/ Humanities/ Management/ Social Sciences as their highest qualifying degree

• Master’s in the relevant area with a minimum of 60% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if the grading system is followed. (55% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/EWS/ SC/ST/PwD) in the Qualifying Master’s degree. They must have qualified a National Eligibility Test, such as CSIR/UGC-NET/NBHM/ JEST/GATE, in the relevant discipline.
• The score/certificate should be valid at the time of application.
• Applicants with JEST should have valid JEST rank.

Applicants with Bachelor’s Degree with four-year duration in Science/ Humanities/ Management/ Social Sciences as their highest qualifying degree

• Bachelor’s Degree (4 years’ duration) with 75% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if grading system is followed. (70% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD).
• They must have cleared a National Eligibility Test, such as CSIR/UGC-NET/ NBHM/JEST/GATE score in the relevant discipline.
• The score/certificate should be valid at the time of application.
• Applicants with JEST should have valid JEST rank.

Selection Procedure

The selection process is through one of the following

1. Direct Interview
2. Screening Test of one-hour duration (Objective type) + Interview.

Criteria for Direct Interview

• Applicants who satisfy the minimum eligibility criteria and have a valid CSIR/UGC-NET/ NBHM / JEST/GATE score will be shortlisted and invited for an interview.

Screening test + Interview

• Applicants satisfying the minimum eligibility criteria but not having a valid CSIR/ UGCNET/ NBHM /JEST/GATE score can be admitted for Ph.D. through the screening test of one hour duration, followed by an interview, with details as provided below:
  • Based on the performance of the candidates in the screening test, the departments will set the minimum qualifying marks for the UR category in the screening test. There will be a 5% relaxation in qualifying marks for SC/ST/ PwD/OBC/EWS candidates. The candidates who qualify for the screening test will only be called to appear for the interview.
  • The final selection will be based on performance during the interview.
  • Candidates in the UR category must secure 60% or more, while candidates in the SC/ST/ PwD/OBC/EWS categories must secure 55% or more above in the interview to be considered for selection.

Fellowships

• All scholars selected to the PhD programme (Funded by IIST) shall receive a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) of ₹ 37,000/- per month. (Research Scholars selected with CSIR/UGC – NET-JRF / NBHM and State Government Science and Technology Scheme etc., shall draw fellowship from the concerned organizations). For all research scholars with external fellowship, the concerned rules and regulations of the funding agency apply.
• The fellowship will be enhanced to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) of ₹ 42,000/- per month based on a performance review after two years of the programme. SRF will be given to a maximum of another three years.
• The scholars will be required to assist the Departments in tutorials, practical training in labs or similar academic activities normally limited to 6 hours per week.
• The scholars will have to pay applicable fees as well as charges for the services provided by the Institute like boarding/ lodging/ medical facilities etc., as per IIST rules.
• For those who receive fellowship from agencies such as DST, CSIR, NBHM, UGC and candidates who have been provided research fellowship by State Government Science and Technology Scheme through competitive written test etc., the Institute will not bear the fellowship of the student if the same is stopped due to any reasons by the concerned agency.
• Hostel accommodation will be provided to Ph.D. students, subject to availability. Preference will be given to candidates whose fellowships are borne by the Institute. HRA will be provided to those who stay outside the campus.

Application Process

• Applications shall be submitted online at the IIST website http://admission.iist.ac.in.
• Applications received online only will be considered.
• Candidates are permitted to apply up to maximum four broad research areas only, including research areas across different departments, if eligible.

• Opening of IIST website for online submission of applications: 3 November, 2025 (Monday) at 11:00 AM
• Closing of IIST website for online submission of applications: 20 November, 2025 (Thursday) at 11:59 PM
• Display of shortlisted candidates for Screening Test & Direct Interview: 27 November, 2025 (Thursday) at 4:00 PM
• Date of screening test (Venue: IIST Campus, Valiamala) Note: Orientation and lab visit will be arranged in the afternoon: 15 December, 2025 (Monday)
• Interview Dates (Venue: IIST Campus, Valiamala): 16 December, 2025 to 19 December, 2025
• Display of provisionally selected candidates: 26 December, 2025 (Friday) at 5:00 PM
• Payment of Seat Acceptance fee & Rounds: 29 December, 2025 to 16 January, 2026
• Reporting date at the Institution: 2 January, 2026 (Friday)
• Classes begin for Ph.D Programme: 5 January, 2026 (Monday)
• Last date of Admission: 16 January, 2026 (Friday)

• Notification
• Application Form
• IIST Website