IIEST Shibpur PhD Admission 2025 (July)

Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur invites application for admission to the PhD programme (July Cycle, 2025) of the Institute through online mode in all disciplines of Engineering & Technology, Science, Architecture & Planning, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Admission Categories

• Regular Candidates with Institute fellowship
• Candidates with Individual Fellowship (UGC–NET JRF/ CSIR–NET JRF/ ICMR/ DST INSPIRE etc)
• Candidates from Sponsored Research Project
• Sponsored Candidates
• Candidates without Institute Fellowship (Self-Sponsored)

Eligibility Criteria

The PhD program shall be open to candidates of any Nationality and candidates with the following qualification shall be eligible for admission to the PhD Program of the Institute:

Essential qualifications for all categories

Candidates possessing M.Tech. / M.E. / M.Sc.(Engg.) / M.Arch. / M.U.R.P. / M.Plan. / M.T.R.P. / M.Sc. / M.A. or an equivalent postgraduate degree in the relevant branch from a recognized University/Institute shall have minimum 60% marks (or minimum 6.5 CGPA/DGPA on a 10 point scale) in the qualifying degree to apply for admission in the relevant departments.

For SC/ST/ Person with Disability (PwD) category, a minimum 55% marks or 6.0 CGPA on 10 point scale (throughout from class X to the qualifying degree) is required.

Note: CGPA/ DGPA will not be converted into percentage marks and vice versa

For Regular Candidates with Institute fellowship

• The maximum age is 32 years as on the last date of receiving application. Relaxation of 5 years is applicable for SC/ST/ Person with Disability (PwD) /Female candidates and 3 years for OBC (NCL) candidates as on the last date of receiving application. Selection shall be based on an initial screening followed by written test and / or interview. To be eligible for Institute Fellowship, the candidates must possess a valid GATE (score above the prescribed cut off level) / NET score (including UGC-NET PhD only / CSIR-NET PhD only) as applicable for admission to doctoral programmes in various disciplines.
• Candidates possessing B.Tech./B.E/B.Sc.(Engg.)/B.Arch./B.Plan. or an equivalent Degree in the relevant branch from a recognized University/Institute with minimum of 80% aggregate marks (8.5 CGPA on a 10 point scale) in the qualifying degree and a valid GATE score are eligible to apply for admission in the relevant departments/schools/centres.
• Candidates, who are already working in a research project in the Institute and satisfying the minimum eligibility criteria as mentioned in Section 5.1 and 5.2, may be allowed to appear in the written test and or interview and if selected, a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Principal Investigator (PI) of the concerned project is needed for availing the institute fellowship and in such cases, he/she will be treated as a regular candidate and has to enroll afresh.

For Candidates with Individual Fellowship (CSIR–NET JRF/UGC–NET JRF/ICMR/DST-INSPIRE etc.)

• Candidates who are qualified for the Individual Fellowship category (i.e. CSIR/ UGC/ ICMR/ DST-Inspire etc.) and who fulfill the Essential minimum eligibility criteria as above are eligible to apply for admission in the relevant Departments/Schools/Centres. They must have a valid offer letter of the fellowship issued by the respective funding agency.
• They are exempted from appearing in the written test and interview, but they have to appear in the counseling process. Selection will be based on an initial screening followed by counseling process. Note that appearing in the counseling process does not give the guarantee of selection.
• Candidates admitted under this category will not be entitled to the award of institute fellowship. The maximum age will be considered as per prevailing norms of the respective funding agency.

Candidates from Sponsored Research Project

• Candidates who are already working in a research project in the Institute, appointed through the Office of the Dean (R&C) and applying for Ph.D. under Sponsored Research Project category, must fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria as prescribed in the essential qualifications.
• They have to appear in the counseling process, provided they work in the same sponsored project. If selected, a no objection certificate (NOC) as per supplied format (Form I-D, Annexure IV) from the PI of the concerned project is needed for enrolment in the Ph.D. program.
• The minimum remaining period of the project as well as tenure of the said project employee should be at least 2 years from the date of interview of the Ph.D. program. The Institute will not provide any assistantship /fellowship to such a research scholars.

Sponsored Candidates

Sponsored candidates who are regular faculty/ regular staff members of this Institute or regular faculty members of Govt./Semi Govt. /reputed academic Institute or regular employee of a reputed industrial or research organization having adequate R&D facilities and who has fulfilled the Essential qualifications and has a minimum of two years of professional work experience are eligible to apply for admission to Ph.D. program in the relevant Departments/Schools/Centres. The Institute shall not provide any assistantship /fellowship to such a research scholar. They have to qualify in the interview process.

The eligibility criteria of the candidates having only B.Tech. / B.E. degree (for Sponsored category):

• B.Tech. / B.E. candidate seeking admission to the Ph.D. programme having 02 years of experience in the reputed industry with R&D facility and having at least 80% marks or 8.5 CGPA on the scale of 10 throughout her/his academic career.
• B.Tech. / B.E. candidate having more than 06 years and less than 10 years of experience in the reputed industry with R&D facility and having at least 70% marks or 7.5 CGPA on the scale of 10 throughout her/his academic career.
• B.Tech. / B.E. candidate having 10 years or more experience in the reputed industry with R&D facility should have at least 60% marks or 6.5 CGPA on the scale of 10 throughout her/his academic career.

There are two categories for sponsored candidates:

• Category A
  • Candidates will have to produce a NOC as per the supplied format (Form I-A, Annexure I or for Institute employee: Form I-B, Annexure II) at the time of the interview from her/his employer stating clearly that, in the event of her/his being offered admission, she/he shall be granted leave of an appropriate kind at least for a period of three years to enable her/him to undertake doctoral research at the Institute.
  • The Institute will not provide any assistantship/fellowship to such a research scholar. They have to qualify in the interview process.
• Category B
  • Notwithstanding anything contained in the last paragraph above, the Institute may, at its own discretion, permit a candidate belonging to this category to take admission to the PhD programme if she/he is granted a minimum of six months’ study leave (Form I-C, Annexure III) to enable her/him to complete such part or parts of the course requirement as the SPGC may decide. Under such a case, the employer should provide an assurance that necessary permission shall be granted and facilities shall be extended to the candidate to carry out and complete her/his doctoral research at the parent organization. Under such a case, a co-supervisor from the employing organization may be assigned. The scholar may be permitted to complete the remaining part of the course requirement by taking such courses as may be permitted by the SPGC.
  • After necessary coursework requiring regular attendance at the Institute is completed, a scholar admitted under this category may be allowed to work from her/his parent organization, i.e., the organization where he holds a regular substantive appointment.

Candidates without Institute Fellowship (Self-Sponsored)

• Any candidate having the requisite qualifications as prescribed in Essential qualifications can apply for PhD under this category.
• GATE/NET will not be mandatory for admission in this category.
• Selection/Admission procedure will remain the same as that of regular full-time Institute Scholars.
• To get admission, a candidate belonging to this category will have to produce an NOC as per the supplied format (Form I-E, Annexure V) at the time of the interview from her/his employer, if employed. If the candidate is NOT employed, this is not required.
• If a self-sponsored candidate gets a scholarship within the PhD period from an external agency, he/she can enjoy the scholarship and continue with the PhD without change in his/her enrolment number.
• There is no age limit for candidates under the self-sponsored category.

Age Limit

• Institute Fellowship Category applicable (as on on the last date of receiving application)
  • For OC Male applicants: 32 years
  • For SC/ST/Persons with Disability (PwD) and Female applicants: 37 years
  • For OBC (NCL) applicants: 35 years
• Individual Fellowship
  • As per guidelines of funding agency
• Candidates from Sponsored Research Project
  • As per guidelines of funding agency
• Sponsored Candidates
  • As per guidelines of sponsoring organization
• Candidates without Institute Fellowship (Self-Sponsored)
  • There is no age limit for candidates under the self-sponsored category.

For full eligibility conditions refer to the information brochure.

Application Process

• The applicants are required to fill-in the form from the link given in notification.
• The applicants are also required to download a pdf copy of PhD admission form attached with notice, fill in the form and upload a copy of the same while submitting the online application.
• In the online application form: (i) the candidate has to write within 100 words why he/she wants to pursue Ph.D. and why in IIEST, Shibpur; (ii) he/she has to write a Statement of Problem (SOP) within 500 words about his/her proposed research work.
• Please note that you have to upload your digital photograph and signature in image format.
• The candidates are advised to read Information Brochure very carefully before applying online.
• A candidate can apply to more than one Departments/Centres /Schools. Separate applications to be made by paying the requisite fee for each application.

Selection Process

• Institute/Department(s) may set the criteria higher than the minimum eligibility requirements for shortlisting candidates for written test and or interview/counseling process.
• Selection of candidates will be based on an initial screening followed by their performance in the written test and /or interview/counseling for this cycle for all categories of admission.
• Appearing in the written test and or interview/counseling process does not give the guarantee of selection.
• Candidates have the sole responsibility to be present in the written test and or interview/ counseling process on the scheduled date and time. Institute shall not entertain any appeal in this regard for failing to appear at the scheduled written test and or interview/ counseling process for any reason.

Last date of submission of online application is May 30, 2025 (11:59 PM).

• Notification and Application Form
• Information Brochure 
• IIEST Shibpur Website