IIT Kanpur PhD Admission 2025-26 (I Semester)

16 April, 2025

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

PhD

IIT Kanpur

IIT

IIT-Kanpur-Logo

Full details for IIT Kanpur PhD Admission 2025-26 (I Semester).

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur will invites applications for admission to PhD programmes commencing commencing in 2025-26 (I Semester).

Vacancy

  • PhD Aerospace Engineering
  • PhD Biological Sciences & Bio engineering
  • PhD Chemical Engineering
  • PhD Chemistry
  • PhD Civil Engineering
  • PhD Cognitive Science
  • PhD Computer Science & Engineering
  • PhD Design
  • PhD Earth Sciences
  • PhD Economic Sciences
  • PhD Electrical Engineering
  • PhD Humanities and Social Sciences
    • PhD English (Literature, Linguistics & ELT)
    • PhD Fine Arts
    • PhD Philosophy
    • PhD Sociology
    • PhD Psychology
  • PhD Interdisciplinary Programme on Materials Science
  • PhD Management Sciences
  • PhD Materials Science & Engineering
  • PhD Mathematics
  • PhD Mechanical Engineering
  • PhD Photonics Science and Engineering
  • PhD Physics
  • PhD Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering
  • PhD Statistics
  • PhD Sustainable Energy Engineering

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility conditions that are given below are the absolute minimum. Departments may add other requirements over and above these.

The specified minimum marks/CPI (Cumulative Performance Index), referred to in subsequent sections, implies a minimum of 55 percent marks /5.5 (on a 10 point scale) as long as it is not less than the minimum pass marks/CPI; otherwise, the specified minimum marks/CPI implies the minimum pass marks/CPI.

Students who are in the final year of their programme (likely to finish the programme by July 27, 2025) may also apply and secure provisional admission for the session commencing in July 2025 (2025-26-I Semester).

Eligibility Criteria

Programme Offered by the Department/
Interdisciplinary Programme (IDP)		 Eligibility Criteria
PhD in
Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Biological Sciences & Bio-Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering · Computer Science & Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Management Sciences
  • Materials Science & Engineering
  • Interdisciplinary Programme on Materials Science
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Photonics Science and Engineering
  • Sustainable Energy Engineering
  • Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering
 (i) A Master’s degree in Engineering with marks/CPI not below the specified minimum.
or
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) with a minimum of 75 percent marks/7.5 CPI and a valid GATE score (the requirement of GATE score is waived for candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) from the centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs)).
or
A Master’s degree in Science or an allied area while satisfying each of the following three criteria:

  1. a minimum of 65 percent marks/6.5 CPI in the Master’s degree,
  2. first division in bachelor’s degree, and
  3. Valid JRF/GATE score.

For admission into PhD in Biological Sciences and Bio Engineering, applicants having Master’s degree in Pharmacy/Medicine/Veterinary Science with marks/CPI not below the specified minimum, or Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy/Medicine/Veterinary Science with a minimum of 75 percent marks/7.5 CPI, may also be considered a Valid GATE score is required.

For admission into PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, applicants with Master in computer applications while satisfying each of the above criteria in (a), (b) and (c) may also be considered.

(ii) A valid GATE score is required for the candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Design/Architecture, except in the case of candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) /Design/Architecture from the centrally funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs). The candidates with Master’s degree in Science must either have a valid GATE score or must have qualified for/in JRF/NET.

For admission into PhD in Biological Sciences and Bio Engineering and Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering : The requirement of GATE/JRF/NET is waived for candidates having a Master’s degree in Sciences/arts from IITs/ IISERs /NITs with a minimum CPI of 8.0.
PhD in
Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Economic Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics
  • Biological Sciences & Bio-Engineering
  • Sustainable Energy Engineering
  • Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering
 (i) A Master’s degree in the relevant subject or a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) with marks/CPI not below the specified minimum.
(ii) The candidate either must have a valid GATE score or must have qualified JRF. In addition to GATE/JRF, a valid JEST score is also an eligibility criterion for applying to the PhD programme in Physics. Candidates with the NBHM fellowship will be considered for PhD in Mathematics/Statistics. The requirement of GATE/JRF/JEST is waived for candidates having a Master’s degree in Science from IITs/IISERs with a minimum CPI of 8.0.
(iii) For Economic Sciences:

  1. The candidate must have a Master’s degree in economics or a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Sciences (4 year programme) or a Master’s degree in Sciences or in an allied field of economics with marks/CPI not below the specified minimum.

(iv) For Economic Sciences and Earth Sciences:

  1. The candidate must either have a valid GATE score or must have qualified JRF/NET. The requirement of GATE/JRF/NET/JEST is waived for candidates having a Master’s degree in Sciences/arts from IITs/ IISERs / NITs with a minimum CPI of 8.0. (For Economics and Earth Sciences)
PhD in
Cognitive
Science
  • Cognitive Science
 Applicants must have a MA/M.Sc/M.Phil/MS/equivalent degree (Cognitive Science/ Psychology/ Linguistics/Philosophy/ Anthropology/ Physics/ Chemistry/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Bio Sciences/ related disciplines) with a minimum of 60%/6.0 marks/CPI in the qualifying degree. Applicants should have a valid score/qualification in GATE/ CSIR/ JRF/ NET/ COGJET/ other equivalent exam. Applicants from IITs with a minimum CPI of 8.0 are exempted from the GATE/ CSIR/ JRF/ NET requirement. Applicants with M.Sc. in Cognitive Science are also exempted from the GATE/CSIR/JRF/NET requirement.
or
M.Tech/ME/MD (any branch) with a minimum of 60%/6.0 marks/CPI in the qualifying degree.
or
B.Tech/BE (any branch), BS 4-year programme (Physics/ Chemistry/ Mathematics/ Statistics/Biosciences/ related sciences), MBBS. Applicant must have a minimum of 75%/7.5 marks/CPI in the qualifying degree. Should have a valid score/qualification in GATE/ CSIR/ JRF/ NET/ COGJET/ other equivalent exam. Applicants from CFTIs (centrally funded technical institutions) with a minimum CPI of 7.5 and those with an MBBS degree are exempted from the GATE/ CSIR/ JRF/NET requirement.
PhD in
Humanities
and Social Sciences
(HSS)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences [English (Literature, Linguistics & ELT), Fine Arts, Philosophy, & Sociology]
 Applicant must have a Master’s degree in relevant subject or Master degree in Engineering/technology with marks/CPI not below the specified minimum
or
a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4 year programme) with a minimum of 75 percent marks/7.5 CPI and a valid GATE score or must have qualified JRF ( NET in the case of Ph.D. programmes in Humanities)
or
A Master’s degree in Sciences/(fine-arts)/arts/commerce or chartered accountant from or in an allied field of HSS or an allied area while satisfying each of the following criteria:
a minimum of 55 percent marks/5.5 CPI in the Master’s degree or CPI not below the specified minimum.

  1. first division in bachelor’s degree, and
  2. JRF/NET in a relevant discipline, GATE in Humanities and Social Sciences (XH) or any other national level exam

For admission to the Ph.D. programmes in sciences and Humanities , the candidates from any background either must have a valid GATE score or must have qualified JRF ( NET in the case of Ph.D. programmes in Humanities ) , unless the candidates have a master’ s degree in science /arts from IITs/ IISERs / NITs with a minimum CPI of 8.0.
PhD in
Management
  • Management Sciences (all areas of Management)
 (i) A Master’s degree in management or relevant disciplines in Engineering / technology with marks / CPI not below the specified minimum.
or
a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) with a minimum of 75 percent marks/7.5 CPI and a Valid GATE/CAT/GMAT score ( the requirement of GATE/CAT/GMAT score is waived for candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) from the centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs)).
or
A Master’s degree in Science/arts/commerce/chartered accountancy while satisfying each of the following three criteria:

  1. a minimum of 65 percent marks/6.5 CPI in the Master’s degree,
  2. first division in bachelor’s degree, and
  3. Valid JRF/GATE/CAT/GMAT/NET score or any other national level examination.

(ii) A valid GATE score is required for the candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme), except in the case of candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (4-year programme) from the centrally funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs). The candidates with Master’s degree in Science/arts/commerce must either have a valid GATE/CAT/GMAT score or must have qualified for/in JRF/NET.
PhD in
Design
  • Design
 (i) A Master’s degree in Engineering/Design with marks/CPI not below the specified minimum.
or
a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Design (4-year)/architecture or Science (4-year programme) with a minimum of 75 percent marks/7.5 CPI and a valid GATE/CEED score (the requirement of GATE/CEED score is waived for candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Design / Architecture or Science (4-year programme) from the centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs)).
or
A Master’s degree in Science or an allied area while satisfying each of the following three criteria:

  1. a minimum of 65 percent marks/6.5 CPI in the Master’s degree,
  2. first division in bachelor’s degree, and
  3. Valid JRF/GATE/CEED score.

(ii) A valid GATE/CEED score is required for the candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Design/Architecture or Science (4-year programme), except in the case of candidates with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering /Design/Architecture or Science (4-year programme) from the centrally funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs).

Financial Assistantships

  • Financial support (in the form of Institute Assistantship) is available to the regular (non-sponsored/ non part time/ non external) students of MTech, MS (By Research), MDes and PhD Programmes.
  • The student is expected to carry out the assigned duties during the programme. Mtech, MDes and MS (By Research) students are currently entitled to a monthly assistantship of Rs. 12400/- for 8 hours of work per week. For PhD students the corresponding financial support amounts to Rs. 37000/- for the first two years, and thereafter, it is raised to Rs. 42000/- for another three years.
  • Students may also avail financial assistantship from external funding agencies (such as UGC/CSIR/NBHM/DBT/ICAR/ICMR/PMRF etc.).
  • In addition to the above, several attractive fellowships from Industry/DAE are also available.

Important Dates

  • Opening of Online Applications portal: 28 March 2025
  • Last Date for Applications (Extended): 21 April 2025 (2 PM)

Application Fee

  • General, EWS and OBC and OBC-NCL candidates: Rs.500/-
  • SC/ST and all DAP candidates: Rs.250/-
  • Foreign National category: Nil

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