Chennai Mathematical Institute PhD Admission 2026-27

Chennai Mathematical Institute, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu invites online application for PhD admission for the academic session 2026-27.

Eligibility

• Ph.D. in Mathematics: Students with an M.Sc. degree in Mathematics or equivalent and students with a bachelors degree in Engineering or Science with a strong aptitude for research.
• Ph.D. in Computer Science: Students with a B.E., B.Tech., M.Sc., or M.C.A. degree and students with a bachelors degree in Science with a strong aptitude for research.
• Ph.D. in Physics: Students with an M.Sc. degree in Physics or equivalent.

Fees and Scholarships

• There are no tuition fees for PhD students.
• Research Scholars get a stipend of Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 42,000 per month for the next three years, along with an annual contingency grant of Rs. 10,000.
• Research Scholars can stay in the hostel during the first year.  Research Scholars who do not stay in the hostel are eligible for a house rent allowance of 30% of stipend per month.
• The scholarship amounts are revised periodically, and are on par with the premier research institutes in India. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, students with a B.Sc. degree and those switching subjects may be admitted as Pre-Ph.D. students. For the first two years, Pre-Ph.D. students will be enrolled as a regular M.Sc. students in the corresponding subject. Till they complete their M.Sc. coursework or pass the Ph.D. qualifying examination, Pre-Ph.D. students will receive a reduced scholarship, but will be eligible for other benefits similar to regular Ph.D. students.

Selection Process

For all Ph.D. programmes, admission is through a written entrance examination to be conducted at centres throughout the country on 2 May, 2026, followed by an interview in Chennai.

Qualify for PhD Computer Science via GATE, JEST

• Candidates applying to the PhD programme in Computer Science at CMI can qualify for the interview on the basis of their performance in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in Computer Science and Information Technology, or the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) in Theoretical Computer Science, without writing the CMI entrance examination.
• If you have a valid JEST or GATE score and wish to apply to the PhD programme in Computer Science at CMI, you should fill out the CMI application form in full detail and pay the application fee. After you fill out the form, send an email to phdcs2026@cmi.ac.in with your CMI application details and your JEST/GATE score.
• If you qualify directly for the interview based on your performance in JEST or GATE, you will receive a notification from the Admissions Committee. If you do not hear from us, you must write the CMI entrance examination in order to qualify.

Qualify for PhD Physics via GATE, JEST, UGC-CSIR NET

Candidates applying to the PhD programme in Physics should satisfy one of the following criteria:

• A valid JEST (Joint Entrance Screening Test in Physics) score with a rank of 400 or below.
• A valid UGC-CSIR NET score, qualified for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) of CSIR with a rank of 200 or less.
• A valid GATE Physics score with a rank of 100 or less.

If you wish to apply to the PhD programme in Physics at CMI, you should fill out the CMI application form in full detail and pay the application fee. After you fill out the form, send an email to phdphy2026@cmi.ac.in with your CMI application details, attaching a scanned copy of the appropriate scorecard(s).

Entrance Exam Syllabus and Past Papers

Entrance Exam Syllabus and Past Papers

Application Process

• Candidates have to apply online on CMI Website.
• Application fees must be paid online. You will find a link after you fill in your details in the application form.

• Applications open (online): 2 March, 2026
• Last date to fill out online applications (including online payments): 4 April, 2026
• Admit Cards to be available online: 25 April, 2026
• Date of the Entrance Examination: 2 May, 2026
• Date of announcement of results: 2 June, 2026
• Academic session starts: 3 August, 2026

• Brochure
• Application
• CMI Website