Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025 (July)

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram invites applications for PhD admission for the academic session starting in July 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality
  • Candidate should be an Indian citizen
• Age Limit
  • Below 35 years as on 07th May, 2025.  Age relaxation as per Govt Rules.

Minimum Qualifications

For candidates with Master’s Degree in Technology/ Engineering as their highest qualifying degree

• ME/M.Tech with 60% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if grading system is followed. (55% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD) in the qualifying master’s degree. OR
• Master of Science in Engineering or equivalent from leading foreign Universities with minimum CGPA 8.00/10 or 3.60 /4 or equivalent.

For candidates with Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/ Technology as their highest qualifying degree

• BE/B.Tech with 75% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if grading system is followed. (70% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD) in the Qualifying Bachelor’ degree. They should have a valid GATE score.
• Candidates in the following categories are exempted from the requirement of GATE score: –
  • BE/B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) /Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) with 7.50 CGPA (CGPA of 7.00 for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD) on a scale of 10 or equivalent in the Qualifying Bachelor’s degree. They need to qualify the screening test conducted by IIST. OR
  • Dual degree (Bachelors in Engineering and Masters in Science from IITs and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology) with minimum score in Bachelor’s degree as mentioned above. They need to qualify the screening test conducted by IIST. OR
  • Applicants who have qualified UGC-CSIR-NET-JRF/LS or NBHM/JEST in the relevant disciplines, the score/certificate should be valid at the time of application. Applicants with JEST should have valid JEST rank.

For candidates with Master’s Degree in Science/ Humanities/ Management/ Social Sciences as their highest qualifying degree

• Master’s in the relevant area with a minimum of 60% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if grading system is followed. (55% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD) in the Qualifying Master’s degree. They must have qualified a National Eligibility Test, such as UGC-CSIR-NET-JRF/ LS or NBHM/JEST/ GATE in the relevant discipline.
• The score/certificate should be valid at the time of application.
• Applicants with JEST should have valid JEST rank.

Applicants with Bachelor’s Degree with four-year duration in Science/Humanities/ Management/ Social Sciences as their highest qualifying degree

• Bachelor’s Degree (4 years’ duration) with 75% marks or its equivalent grade in a point scale, if grading system is followed. (70% marks or equivalent CGPA for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD).
• They must have cleared a National Eligibility Test, such as UGC-CSIR-NET-JRF/LS or NBHM/JEST/GATE score in the relevant discipline.
• The score/certificate should be valid at the time of application.
• Applicants with JEST should have valid JEST rank.

Selection Procedure

• The selection process is either through (1) Direct Interview (OR) (1) Screening Test of one-hour duration (Objective type) + Interview based on the following conditions.
• Criteria for Direct Interview: Candidates with a valid UGC-CSIR-NET-JRF/LS/NBHM/ JEST Rank/GATE score (2023, 2024, 2025).
• The selection process for all other eligible candidates will be through Screening Test (objective type) + Interview.
  • The candidates who qualify the screening test will only be eligible to appear for interview. There will be a relaxation of 5 % in qualifying marks for SC/ST/PD and OBC / EWS candidates.
  • Final selection will be based on the performance in the interview.
  • A UR candidate should score 60 % and above to be selected and for the SC/ST/PD and OBC / EWS candidates, the score should be 55 % and above.

Fellowships

• All scholars selected to the PhD programme (listed in Table 1) shall receive a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) of ₹ 37,000/- per month. (Research Scholars selected with UGC/CSIR/NET-JRF/NBHM and State Government Science and Technology Scheme etc., shall draw fellowship from the concerned organizations). For all research scholars with external fellowship, the concerned rules and regulations of the funding agency apply.
• The fellowship will be enhanced to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) of ₹ 42,000/- per month based on a performance review after two years of the programme. SRF will be given to a maximum of another three years.
• The scholars will be required to assist the Departments in tutorials, practical training in labs or similar academic activities normally limited to 6 hours per week.
• The scholars will have to pay applicable fees as well as charges for the services provided by the Institute like boarding/lodging/medical facilities etc., as per IIST rules.
• For those who receive fellowship from agencies such as DST, CSIR, NBHM, UGC and candidates who have been provided research fellowship by State Government Science and Technology Scheme through competitive written test etc., the Institute will not bear the fellowship of the student if the same is stopped due to any reasons by the concerned agency.
• Hostel accommodation will be provided to regular Ph.D students, subject to vacancy. Preference will be given to candidates whose fellowships are borne by the Institute. HRA will be provided to those who stay outside the campus.

Application Process

• Applications shall be submitted online at the IIST website http://admission.iist.ac.in.
• Applications received online only will be considered.
• Candidates are permitted to apply up to maximum four broad research areas only, including research areas across different departments, if eligible.

• Opening of IIST website for online submission of applications: 8 April, 2025
• Closing of IIST website for online submission of applications: 7 May, 2025
• Display of shortlisted candidates for Screening Test & Direct Interview: 16 May, 2025
• Date of screening test: 16 June, 2025 (1000hrs-1100hrs)
• Interview Dates: 17 June, 2025 – 19 June, 2025
• Display of provisionally selected candidates: 1 July, 2025
• Fee payment for first allotment: 2 July, 2025 – 4 July, 2025
• Reporting date at the Institution: 26 July, 2025
• Classes begin for Ph.D Programme: 28 July, 2025
• Last date of Admission: 14 August, 2025

• Notification
• Application Form
• IIST Website