Indian Maritime University (IMU) PhD, Integrated PhD and MS (By Research) Admission 2025-26

Indian Maritime University (IMU) invites application for PhD, Integrated PhD and MS (By Research) Admission 2025-26. IMU has 6 Campuses located at Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.

Thrust Areas for Research (indicative)

• Marine Security
• Naval Architecture
• Marine ballast water system studies;
• Green technology -Tidal energy/renewable energy
• Cyber security risk assessment for seaports
• Marine bunker system studies;
• Maritime/ Port Management
• Seafarer mental health and well-being
• Marine electric propulsion system Studies
• Blue economy
• Marine Environment: pollution/ litter management; Recycling, etc.
• Autonomous shipping and the possible challenges e.g. cyber threats (cyber security)

Eligibility Criteria

For PhD

• A 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body. OR
• equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institution accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institution. OR
• 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. OR
• S (By Research) awarded by IMU. OR
• Mariners with Master/ MEO Class I Certificates of Competencies or PGDMOM qualifications, with 2 years of teaching experience preferably continuous, at degree level as faculty in IMU/ IMU Affiliated Institutes/Directorate General of Shipping approved institutes are also eligible for Ph.D programme

Note: A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Government of India from time to time.

For Integrated Ph.D and M.S (By Research) Programme

• Graduate (U.G) degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with at least 55% marks or equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), except in the case of Mariners for whom a Master/MEO Class I Certificate of Competency would suffice.
• A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Government of India from time to time.

Additional requirement for admissions to Part Time Ph.D, Integrated Ph.D and M.S (By Research) programme

• PhD, Integrated Ph.D and MS (By Research) programmes through part time mode shall be permitted provided that all conditions stipulated at 4.1 above are fulfilled.
• Categories: The following category of Ph.D Candidates shall be considered for Part Time Ph.D Admissions
  • Seafarers: Candidates who are actively serving on board Merchant ships shall be deemed as seafarer. They shall possess the Master or MEO Class I certificate of Competency or PGDMoM qualifications
  • Other than Seafarers: Candidates who are not employed on board Merchant ships, and undertaking shore jobs shall be deemed as Other than Seafarer.
• Requirement for submission of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for admission:
  • Seafarer: Shall submit proof of active seagoing service (copy of the COC and CDC for the six months of sailing prior to the last date of admission). They are exempted from NOC.
  • Other than Seafarer: Shall submit NOC for admission to the Ph.D programme from the current employer.

Selection Procedure

• Admissions to the I-PhD, Ph.D & MS (By Research) Programmes shall be done through written test & Interview. The written test syllabus shall comprise of 50% questions on Research Methodology and remaining 50% shall be subject specific.
• Reservations are applicable to SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD candidates as per Govt. of India rules.
• Shortlisted candidates as per the minimum educational qualifications & fulfilment of other conditions will be called for an “test and interview” or “interview” by the department committee.
• The following candidates are exempted to appear for written Test subject to fulfilment of education qualification:
  • UGC-NET (JRF & Lectureship)/CSIR NET (JRF & Lectureship)/GATE/CEED/CAT. (Note: The validity of the certificate beyond the stipulated period shall not be considered)
  • JRF/SRF working in projects of IMU or National or International Research Institutions with whom IMU has signed MoU
  • Scientists of Level ‘B’ and above with minimum 2 years of experience from National or International Research Institutions who are sponsored or nominated by the parent organisation.
• Students who have secured at least 50% marks in the Written Test are eligible to be called for the Interview.
• A relaxation of 5% marks will be allowed in the Written Test for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/differently-abled category, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Government of India from time to time.
• IMU may decide the number of eligible students to be called for an Interview based on the number of. seats available.
• For the selection of candidates, a weightage of 70% for marks obtained in the Written Test marks and 30% weightage for the marks obtained for the performance in the Interview conducted by the IMU shall be given.
• The selection of shortlisted candidates under Clause 4.3 (d) shall be based on interview with 100% weightage.
• The Interview shall be conducted by the Departmental Committee.

University Fellowship

IMU offers 06 six university fellowships per year to the Scholars admitted under full time Ph.D. programme. The details of the fellowship are as follows:-

• JRF – For first two years 31,000/-
• SRF – from third year to fifth year 35,000/-

Tenure: The tenure of the fellowship is five years from the date of commencement of Ph.D Programme. The fellowship shall commence from the date of joining as a full-time research fellow in Ph.D. programme.

Application Process

Candidates have to fill online application.

Steps to fill the Registration Form

1. Step-1 — Fill the online application with Basic details.
2. Step-2 — Fill Personal details.
3. Step-3 — Fill Qualification details.
4. Step-4 — Fill Experience details.
5. Step-5 — Upload photograph, signature and documents.
6. Step-6 — Pay application fee.

• Online Registration Opens: 24 November, 2025
• Last Date for Registration: 20 December, 2025
• Written Test: To be announced later
• Interview: To be announced later
• Date of commencement of Programme: 1 March, 2026

• Brochure
• Application Form
• IMU Website