Indian Statistical Institute PhD Admission 2026-27

Applications are invited from eligible candidates for admission to the Junior Research Fellowships offered by the Indian Statistical Institute.

Research Programmes

Research Programmes I

The Institute awards PhD degrees for research in the fields –

• Statistics: Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore
• Mathematics: Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore
• Quantitative Economics: Kolkata, Delhi, Tezpur
• Computer Science: Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai
• Quality, Reliability & Operations Research (QROR): Bangalore

Research Programmes II

The Institute also offers Junior Research Fellowships in several areas of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences, as mentioned in the table below. However, candidates applying for PhD in any area other than the five subjects mentioned above need to register with other Universities/Institutes for their PhD degree.

• Physics and Applied Mathematics: Kolkata, Tezpur
• Geology: Kolkata
• Biological Science (Agricultural and Ecological Research): Giridih
• Biological Science (Human Genetics): Kolkata
• Library and Information Science: Bangalore

Eligibility Criteria

• Statistics:
  • Eligibility:
    • An M.Stat./M.Math. degree from ISI, or
    • An M.A./M.Sc. or equivalent degree in Statistics.
  • PhD Registration: PhD in ISI is permitted.
• Mathematics:
  • Eligibility:
    • An M.Stat./M.Math. degree from ISI, or
    • An M.A./M.Sc. or equivalent degree in Mathematics, or
    • An M.E./M.Tech. degree or equivalent with Mathematics as a subject.
  • PhD Registration: PhD in ISI is permitted.
• Quantitative Economics:
  • Eligibility:
    • A master’s degree in any discipline with Economics/ Mathematics/Statistics as a subject at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.
  • PhD Registration: PhD in ISI is permitted.
• Computer Science:
  • Eligibility:
    • An M.E./M.Tech. or equivalent degree in Electronics/ Telecommunication/Radio Physics /Computer Science/ Electrical Engineering/ Microwave Communications/ Information Technology/ Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology with Mathematics as a subject at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, or
    • M. Stat./ M.Sc./ M.C.A./ M.A. or equivalent degree in Physics/ Mathematics/ Applied Mathematics/ Statistics/ Electronic Sciences/ Computer Science/ Atmospheric Science/ Information Technology/ Bioinformatics/ Biotechnology with Mathematics as a subject at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.
  • PhD Registration: PhD in ISI is permitted.
• Quality, Reliability & Operations Research:
  • Eligibility:
    • An M.Tech./M.E./M.S. or equivalent degree in Quality/Reliability/ Operations Research/Industrial Engineering/Production Engineering/ Mechanical Engineering, or
    • A Master’s degree in Statistics/Mathematics/ Operations Research/Data Science with Mathematics as a subject at the postgraduate level.
  • PhD Registration: PhD in ISI is permitted.
• Physics and Applied Mathematics:
  • Eligibility:
    • a Master’s or equivalent degree in Physics/ Mathematics/ Applied Mathematics/ Statistics or
    • an M.E./ M. Tech. Degree with mathematics and physics as subjects.
• Geology:
  • Eligibility:
    • An M.Sc. degree in Geology or in an equivalent subject with minimum 55% marks in aggregate.
• Biological Science (Agricultural and Ecological Research):
  • Eligibility:
    • An M.Sc. in Agricultural Entomology/ Plant Pathology/ Agriculture Biotechnology/ Biotechnology/ Botany/ Biochemistry/ Microbiology/ Environmental Sciences/ Life Sciences/ Zoology from a recognized University with good academic record.
• Biological Science (Human Genetics):
  • Eligibility:
    • An M Sc or equivalent degree in Biochemistry/ Biotechnology/ Genetics/ Molecular Biology/ Life Sciences/ Zoology.
• Library and Information Science:
  • Eligibility:
    • An MS (LIS) awarded by ISI or Associateship in Documentation and Information Science (awarded by ISI or NISCAIR/INSDOC) or its equivalent degree (such as Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from any Indian/Foreign University).

Check prospectus for detailed reuirements.

Fellowships

• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): ₹37000/- per month (details are available in the Prospectus).
• Senior Research Fellowship (SRF): ₹42000/- per month (details are available in the Prospectus).

Selection Procedure

Selection of candidates will be based on their performance in written test(s) and/or interviews, as applicable, conducted by the institute subject to satisfying the minimum academic qualification. Refer to the prospectus for more details.

Application Procedure

• All applicants interested in admission to any of the academic programmes listed above must apply ONLINE through the official website https://www.isical.ac.in/~admission/ .
• All Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are eligible to apply.
• Interested applicants must apply online.
• Applicants should read carefully the Prospectus and the instructions given in the website before filling in the application form.

• Online Application Starts: 12 February, 2026
• Online Application Ends: 13 March, 2026
• Issue of Admit Card: 17 April, 2026
• ISI Admission Test: 10 May, 2025

• Notice
• Prospectus
• Application
• ISI Kolkata Website