IIT Bombay PhD Admission 2025-26 Autumn Semester

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay invites applications for PhD Programs for the for session 2025-26 Autumn Semester.

IIT Bombay PhD Admission Categories

Admissions category	Assistantship/ Fellowship	Hostel Eligibility	Remarks
Teaching assistantship (TA)	MOE, GOI	Yes	The assistantship is payable for a maximum duration of 5 years or up to the thesis submission, whichever is earlier. The monthly rate of assistantship is Rs. 37,000/- for the first 2 years and enhanced rate of Rs. 42,000/- for the remaining period. The continuation of assistantship under TA category will be subject to serving as a teaching assistant in a course / laboratory for 8 hours per week as assigned by the concerned academic unit as well as satisfactory academic performance.
Research assistantship (RA)	MOE, GOI	Yes	The assistantship is payable for a maximum duration of 5 years or up to the thesis submission, whichever is earlier. The monthly rate of assistantship is Rs. 42,000/- for the first 2 years and enhanced rate of Rs.47,000/- for the remaining period. Students admitted under RA category will have to look after the laboratories and also assist in teaching or research or other related academic work for about 20 hours per week as assigned by the concerned academic unit.
Teaching/Research assistantship through project (TAP/RAP)	Funded through Sanctioned project run at IIT Bombay.	Yes	The financial support under this category is provided from sponsored projects as per the norms approved by the sponsoring agency and IITB.The assistantship is payable for a maximum duration of 5 years or up to the thesis submission, whichever is earlier.The continuation of assistantship under TAP / RAP category will be subject to serving for the project as assigned by the concerned project investigator(s) as well as satisfactory academic performance.The assistantship is paid from the office of Dean,IRCC. As per MoE directives, the employees on the rolls (with or without pay) of any organization are not eligible for admission under this category.
Fellowship awards (FA)	Fellowship various organisations/ government/ such as NBHM, DBT, ICMR, DST etc.	Yes	The financial support under this category is provided by various Govt. / Semi Govt. schemes (CSIR, UGC, DAE,DST, DBT, NBHM, etc.) and some other organizations. A valid Junior Research fellowship (JRF) award letter from the Govt. / Semi Govt. agencies (e.g. CSIR/UGC /DAE /DST/ DBT NBHM etc.) is required for the execution of this fellowship. The amount and duration of the fellowship will be as specified by the awarding agency. The disbursement and continuation of the fellowship will be subject to as per the norms specified by the awarding agency or specified by IIT Bombay for TA category, as deemed fit.
Sponsored candidates (SW)	No Assistantship from IITB	No	The students admitted under this category are not eligible for any financial support from the Institute (IIT Bombay) and are sponsored by their employers. They are expected to be released for fulltime course work and research at the Institute for a minimum period of three years.
External (EX)	No Assistantship from IITB	No	The candidates employed in recognized R&D organizations, well-equipped scientific institutions, laboratories, and industrial organizations engaged in research based activities, and desirous of pursuing Ph.D. programme while in employment may apply for admission as external candidates. Candidates must have an internal supervisor from IIT Bombay and an external supervisor from their parent organization for their research.
Self-financed Indian nationals (SF)	No Assistantship from IITB	No	The students admitted under this category are not eligible for any financial support from the Institute (IIT Bombay). Candidate with the provisional DST-INSPIRE fellowship award letter may apply under Self-Finance (SF) category. After successful admission, if the candidate subsequently clears the final round of selection of DST-INSPIRE, s/he would be allowed to convert from the Self-Finance (SF) to Fellowship Award (FA) category. Candidates who are released from the Governmental or educational Institutions on study leave for a period not less than three years for doing research work at IITB, can seek for admission under this category.
Self-financed foreign nationals (FRN-SF)	No Assistantship from IITB	Yes	Foreign Nationals applying under Self-financed (FRN-SF) category should visit the following link for Foreign Students on the website of the IIT Bombay International Relations Office: https://www.ir.iitb.ac.in/.
Foreign nationals with Indian Council for Cultural Relations award (ICCR)	Assistance from ICCR	Yes	These students are sponsored by their Governments and awarded scholarship by them. They should apply for admission through Indian Embassy in their country.
Institute staff of IIT Bombay (IS)	No separate Assistantship from IITB	No	The candidate should have been employed as Institute Staff for at least 2-years (before the starting of the semester in which admission is sought) AND after completion of qualifying degree. The candidate must produce a letter of work experience at the time of application. The concerned academic unit will shortlist the eligible candidates. Admission will be on the basis of written test and interview as applicable to the concerned programme. The candidates need to submit NOC, from the Head/Office-In-Charge, at the time of application.
Project staff employed at IIT Bombay (PS)	No Separate Assistanceship from IITB	No	Candidate who are employed at IIT Bombay (IITB) in a sponsored project undertaken by the Institution (IITB) can seek for admission under this category provided the duration of the project, in which the candidate is employed, is 3 years or more at the time of admission. In addition, the candidates should have completed six months of service (before the starting of the semester in which admission is sought) in a sponsored project at the Institute (IITB). The students admitted in Project Staff (PS) category will continue to work on the sponsored project and carry out the tasks as assigned by the Principal Investigator of the concerned project and undertake the Ph.D. topic under the same Project Investigator(s).
College teacher (CT)	No Assistantship from IITB	No	Candidates employed as faculty members in Colleges and Universities and desirous of pursuing Ph.D. Programme, while in employment and without availing study leave may apply for admission under this category.These candidates must have a Supervisor (internal) from the Institute (IITB) and an external supervisor from their parent organization where they will be doing the research work.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifying Degree

1a. Master’s or equivalent degree in Engineering/Technology

1b. M.B.A (with B.Tech./ B.E. or equivalent an degree)

2a. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology/Medicine (4 year)

2b. Bachelor degree in Science (BS) ( 4 year degree)

3. Master’s or equivalent degree in science

4. Master’s or equivalent degree in Arts/Commerce (or allied subjects)

For qualifying degree listed under 2, 3 and 4 must also full ONE of the following additional requirements:

• a valid GATE/JEST (for Physics) score
• Selected through National Eligibility Test – UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship)
• Selected through a National level examination conducted by MoE or its agencies / Institutions such as UGC/ IIT/ IISc./ IISER/ IIIT etc.
• Selected provisionally for the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship (provisional award letter to be produced)
• Minimum of TWO years of professional experience (acquired after obtaining the qualifying degree and completed before the starting of the semester in which admission is sought)

Marks / CGPA / CPI requirement in Qualifying Degrees (listed above)

For GN/EWS/OBC (NC) category

• a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate, OR
• a First Class as specified by the University, OR
• a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) / Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of 6.0 on the scale of 0-10, OR
• an equivalent to 6.0 on other corresponding proportional requirements when the scales are other than 0-10.
• For master’s or equivalent degree in Arts/Commerce (or allied subjects, a minimum of 55% marks will be considered for admission to the Ph.D. programmes offered ONLY by Industrial Design Centre and Department of Humanities & Social Sciences).

For SC/ST/PwD category

• minimum 55% marks in aggregate, OR
• a First Class as specified by the University, OR
• a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) / Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of 5.5 on the scale of 0-10, OR
• an equivalent to 5.5 on other corresponding proportional requirements when the scales are other than 0­10.
• For master’s or equivalent degree in Arts/Commerce (or allied \subjects, a minimum of 50% marks will be considered for admission to the Ph.D. programmes offered ONLY by Industrial Design Centre and Department of Humanities & Social Sciences.

Note –

• For TA/RA category, All Bachelor’s degree undergraduate course leading to a Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s or Bachelor­-Master Dual Degree in Engineering, Sciences or Architecture offered by IITs (admitted through JEE) having a CGPA/CPI score of 8.00 (on 10 scale) and above from an Indian Institute of Technology or any of the CFTIs is exempted from the requirement of a valid GATE score for the consideration of General Eligibility Requirement for admission.
• For TAP/RAP category, All Bachelor’s degree undergraduate course leading to a Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s or Bachelor-Master Dual Degree in Engineering, Sciences or Architecture offered by IITs (admitted through JEE) having a CGPA/ CPI score of 8.00 (on the scale of 10) and above from an Indian Institute of Technology or any of the CFTIs are exempted from the requirement of a valid GATE score for the consideration of General Eligibility.
• In addition to these criterion applicants must also satisfy the eligibility criteria specified for the respective Departments / Schools / Centres / Interdisciplinary Groups.
• Over and above the general eligibility criteria for admission, candidates need to satisfy additional criteria for financial support / fellowship, as specified under specific admission categories.
• The final selection process to Ph.D. programme to any Departments / Centres / Schools /Interdisciplinary Groups at IIT Bombay will be through written test and/or interview as specified by individual Department / Centre / Schools / Interdisciplinary Groups.

Foe detailed subject wise requirements read prospectus.

Application Process

• Candidates have to apply online through the official website of IIT Bombay.
• Please go through all the instructions mentioned in brochure available at their official website before filling the application form.
• You can apply for up to THREE disciplines/specializations.
• Along with your application, you have to submit a Statement of Purpose or a Research Proposal as required by an academic unit.

You MUST upload the following while submitting the Ph.D. Application.

• Scanned version of photograph.
• Scanned version of signature.
• Mark­sheet of the last semester/ Consolidated mark­sheet of the qualifying degree. Result awaited candidates have to upload their latest/previous semester mark­sheet.
• Caste Certificate (OBC­NC/SC/ST), if applicable. An affidavit for having applied in case the certificate is not yet received.
• Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) candidates needs to submit EWS certificate issued by the Competent Authority in the prescribed format.
• PwD Certificate, if applicable.
• Sponsorship certificate, if applicable. (please upload Sponsorship Certificate, If not available then attach Self Declarant letter stating that the sponsorship certificate will be given at the time of Interview/ Admission).
• Statement of Purpose (SoP), a sample of writing (if applicable), research proposal (if applicable), as a single file irrespective of the number of disciplines/ specialisations.

Selection Process

• Admission is offered on the basis of an interview held usually a month before the commencement of the semester for which admission is sought.
• The interview may be supplemented by a written test, if necessary.
• Merely satisfying the general eligibility criterion as well as criterion set for each admission category is no guarantee for being called for test/interview.
• Depending on the number of applications received and considering the constraints of time and other resources for conducting Written Test and Interview, the Academic Units may put additional academic performance based shortlisting criterion.
• Candidates called for the written Test/Interview under Teaching Assistantship (TA) category, only candidates belonging to SC/ST and PwD categories will be paid single second class return railway fare by the shortest route (as per rules) from their place of residence to the Institute. They have to produce evidence (Original/Photocopy of Railway Ticket) in support of their claim. A candidate called for more than one discipline, can submit only one claim.

• Advertisement Release: 20 March, 2025
• Start of Online applications: 27 March, 2025
• Last Date of Applications: 11 April, 2025
• Last date for submission of completed application EXTENDED forms (with late fine): 14 April, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
• Date of Entrance Test and/or Interview (for all categories): Details will be released by the concerned Academic unit.

• Detailed Advertisement
• Information Brochure
• Schedule
• Online Application Portal
• IIT Bombay Website