Indian Institute of Science (IISc) PhD Admission 2026 (Aug)

Applications invited for admission to the Research Programmes at the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore for Admission for the Academic Year 2026-27 (Session starting from August 2026).

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants possessing a minimum of second class or equivalent in the following degrees, as applicable to the individual departments/areas, are eligible to apply:

Sl. No.	Qualifying degree	Qualifying in national entrance tests (Mode of entry)
1	Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/ Technology/ 4-year Bachelor of Science	Valid GATE score / NET JRF* is mandatory
2	Master’s degree in Science / Master’s degree in Economics, Geography, Psychology, Management, Commerce, Operations Research, Computer Science/ Application	Valid GATE score / NET JRF is mandatory
3	Master’s degree in Engineering / Technology / Architecture/ Agriculture / Pharmacy / Veterinary Sciences	Desirable to have a valid GATE score / NET JRF/GPAT.
4	MS/MBA (post BE/B Tech/M Sc) – (applicable for the Department of Management Studies)	Desirable to have a valid GATE score / NET JRF.
5	Graduates of any course with a minimum duration of FOUR years, from any Centrally Funded Technical Institution (including IIITs in PPP mode) with a minimum CGPA of 8 out of 10 or its equivalent.	Desirable to have a valid GATE score / NET JRF.
6	MBBS/MD/MDS/Pharm D	Desirable to have a valid GATE score/NET JRF.
7	B Pharm	Valid GPAT score/ NET JRF is mandatory
8	BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)	Valid NET JRF is mandatory
9	BE/ B.Tech. equivalent examinations of Professional Societies, recognized by MoE/UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by Institutions of Engineers). Note: Candidates enrolled up to 31.05.2013 with professional societies (e.g. AMIE) recognized by MoE are only eligible to apply.	Valid GATE score/NET JRF is mandatory
10	Master’s degree in Life Sciences/ Chemical Sciences from IISc with a minimum CGPA of 8.5 or equivalent (for PhD only).	Valid GATE score/NET JRF is mandatory (no minimum cutoff)
11	1 Year M.Engg from IISc	Must have been admitted to the M.Engg. program through GATE.

Notes

• The GATE/GPAT/ NET JRF/other National entrance test passing certificate/score card should be valid as on 01 August 2026.
• *NET JRF includes -Joint CSIR-UGC NET for JRF; UGC-NET for JRF; DBT JRF; ICMR JRF; JEST; NBHM Research Award; INSPIRE. Applicants must be qualified for Junior Research fellowship (JRF) to be eligible to apply through NET JRF mode. Candidates who have qualified only for Lectureship (LS)/Assistant Professorship/qualified under Category-2 or Category-3, are not eligible for admission for Research Programme at IISc.
• Applicants applying through INSPIRE mode must have a valid provisional INSPIRE offer for consideration of their application at level II of the selection, issued by DST at the time of interview.
• Applicants who have qualified in the Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences-2026 (JGEEBILS) are also eligible to apply.
• Applicants who have qualified in NEET PG (2025)/INI-CET are eligible to apply for Ph D in Public Health.

External Registration Programme [Ph.D/M.Tech (Research)]

The External Registration Programme (ERP) is meant for:

• Professionals from R&D Organizations / Industries
• Faculty members from Engineering, Agricultural, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary, Medical Colleges/ Universities, recognized by the appropriate government agencies.

Eligibility

• The educational qualifications remain the same as for the regular candidates. Qualifying in one of the national entrance tests like CSIR-UGC NET for JRF, UGC-NET for JRF, DBT JRF, ICMR JRF, GATE, NBHM is desirable but not mandatory.
• Further, the candidate should have completed two years of full-time employment as on 1st August 2026.
• The Candidates must be officially sponsored by their employing organizations and must submit the online application form on or before 31st March 2026.
• For the detailed eligibility criteria, please visit IISc Website.

Selection Procedure

• Candidates will be shortlisted for the in-person interview based on their performance in the National Entrance Test and/or the qualifying degree as detailed in the above table.
• The selection is based on the performance in the interview (in some of the departments, an aptitude test/ preliminary interview will precede the interview/ final Interview).
• For External Registration Programme [Ph.D/M.Tech (Research)] Selection procedure: Based on the performance in the in-person interview.

Scholarships

• All the regular PhD students who join the Institute are eligible for scholarship from MHRD / CSIR / UGC/ ICMR / DBT / DST/ AICTE / DAE (NBHM) depending upon their mode of entry.
• Scholarships from many Indian and multinational agencies, and business houses are also available for meritorious students.
• IISc has many merit-based private/donor fellowships that provide enhanced monthly fellowship (upto two times) for course (M.Tech.) and Research {M.Tech. (Research)/Ph.D.} programs of IISc.

How To Apply

Applications for IISc Bangalore PhD Admission are available online. Visit website www.iisc.ac.in → Admissions and register online and fill the application.

• Reservation/concession /relaxations for SC/ST /OBC/EWS/Person with disability (PwD) and Kashmiri-Migrant (KM), Kashmiri Pandits/ Kashmiri Hindu Families (Non-Migrants) living in the Kashmir valley: As per Government of India regulations.
• The minimum class prescribed in the qualifying examination is relaxed to a “Pass Class” for SC/ST candidates.
• Applicant applying under EWS/OBC (as per central list of OBC available at www.ncbc.nic.in) category must ensure that they have valid EWS/OBC-NCL Certificates at the time of interview and admission.

• Website opens for online submission of applications: 11 February, 2026
• Last date for online submission of applications: 23 March, 2026

• Admission Notice
• Application Link
• IISc Bangalore Website