NISER Bhubaneswar PhD Admission 2025-26 (Summer Session)

National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar invites application for PhD admission for 2025-26 (Summer Session).

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Educational Qualifications

• Biological Sciences
  • 55% or equivalent GPA* in Masters or M. Tech or M. Pharm in any branches of Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Life Sciences, Pharmacy (any specialization), Veterinary Sciences, Computer Sciences, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology. Students with Master’s degree in Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics having interest in pursuing a career in Biology are also encouraged to apply. Candidates with a 4 year / 8 semester Bachelor’s degree program with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade are also eligible to apply for the program.
• Chemical Sciences
  • 55% or equivalent GPA in Master’s in Chemistry or allied Chemistry fields. Students with Master’s degree in any branches of Basic Sciences with undergraduate degree in Chemistry (or Chemistry as one of the subjects) or M.Tech in applied Chemistry or Computer Sciences with interest in pursuing a career in Chemistry are also encouraged to apply. Candidates with a 4-year / 8-semester Bachelor’s degree program with chemistry as major subject with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade are also eligible to apply for the program.
• Computer Sciences
  • 55% or equivalent GPA in Masters in Mathematics or Masters in Computer Science, or M.Tech or M.E. in Computer Science/Electronics/Electrical Engineering or related fields. Candidates with a 4 year / 8 semester Bachelor’s degree program with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade are also eligible to apply for the program.
• Earth & Planetary Sciences
  • 55% or equivalent GPA in M.Sc./M.Tech/M.E in Physics/ Astronomy and Astrophysics/Space Science/Geology/ Applied Geology/Geoscience/Geological Sciences/ Geophysics/ Earth Science(s)/Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences/ Chemistry/ Engineering Physics/ Electrical/ Electronics/Mechanical/Civil/ Computer engineering/Data Science. Candidates with a minimum 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4 year / 8 semester Bachelor’s degree science program with physics/chemistry/geology as one of the subjects or in a 4 year B.E/B.Tech degree program are also eligible to apply for the program.
• Humanities and Social Sciences
  • A Master’s or an equivalent degree from a University or Institution recognized by UGC with 55% or equivalent GPA in Master’s degree examination in Humanities and Social Sciences or Candidates with a minimum 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4 year / 8 semester Bachelor’s degree program with English/Economics/Psychology/Sociology as one of the subjects
• Mathematical Sciences
  • A Master or an equivalent degree from a University or Institution recognized by UGC with 55% or equivalent GPA in Master’s degree examination, OR 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4 year / 8 semester Bachelor’s degree program.
• Physical Sciences
  • 55% or equivalent GPA in Masters in Physics or M.E / M.Tech in Applied Physics. Candidates with a minimum 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4 year / 8 semester Bachelor’s degree science program with physics as one of the subjects or in a 4 year B.E/B.Tech degree programs are also eligible to apply for the program.

Candidates who are appearing for their final examination for the qualifying Degree can also apply, provided they submit an undertaking that they will submit the qualifying degree certificates by the time of admission into the program.

Requirement of Qualifying in National Level Examinations for pursuing Ph.D program

• School of Biological Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of the National Level Examinations i.e. CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/GPAT/DBT-BET/ICMR/JGEEBILS-2025, valid for the academic year 2025-2026.
• School of Chemical Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of these National Level Examinations: CSIR-UGC NET/GATE valid for the academic year 2025-2026.
• School of Computer Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of these National Level Examinations i.e. CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/JEST/TIFR-GS valid for the academic year 2025-2026.
• School of Earth and Planetary Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of these National Level Examinations i.e. CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/JEST valid for the academic year 2025-2026.
• Humanities and Social Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of National Level Examinations as described below.
  • Economics: JRF or NET in Economics from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency
  • English: JRF or NET in English from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency
  • Psychology: JRF or NET in Psychology from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency. Masters in management (OB & HRM) with JRF or NET in the same fields may also apply.
  • Sociology: Public Policy and Governance (Education/Health/Livelihood), Human-wildlife conflict, Society-Science Interface, Environment and Climate Change: JRF or NET in Sociology/Economics/Geography from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency
  • Tourism System and Social aspects of tourism: JRF or NET in Sociology/Political Science/History from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency. Candidates with Master’s degree in tourism or Masters in management with JRF or NET in the same fields may also apply
• School of Mathematical Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of these National Level Examinations in Mathematical Sciences i.e. CSIR-UGC-NET (JRF only) / GATE / NBHM* or any other equivalent national level examination valid for the academic year 2025-2026. *A student will be considered to be qualified in the National Level Written Examination conducted by NBHM if he/she has received a call letter from NBHM to appear in the interview for PhD fellowship 2025 (irrespective of getting selected for NBHM PhD fellowship 2025 or not).
• School of Physical Sciences – Candidates should have qualified at least one of these National Level Examinations i.e. CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/JEST, valid for the academic year 2025-2026.

Important Note

• The cut-off marks for national examinations such as GATE/JEST/ JGEEBILS/CSIR-UGC-NET etc. will be further decided by each School for the relevant subject area.
• Students having INSPIRE Doctoral Fellowship ONLY, without qualifying any of the abovementioned national level written examinations, will NOT be considered for admission to PhD program in NISER.
• Candidates with GPA/CGPA in qualifying degree will be required to produce supporting documents from their respective University/Institute specifying the conversion into percentage if it is not mentioned in their mark sheet.

Fellowship

• ₹37,000/- as Junior Research Fellowship for the first two years, and subsequently ₹42,000/- for a maximum period up to another three years as Senior Research Fellowship, subject to fulfilment of all the academic requirements stipulated by the Institute from time to time.
• Students with external fellowship from agencies viz. CSIR, UGC, etc. will be eligible to draw fellowship as per the extant rules of the respective funding agencies. Such students will NOT be considered for NISER/DAE fellowship.

Selection Procedure

• The selection committee of the respective schools will shortlist the candidates from the applications received by the deadline. Merely satisfying the minimum qualifications does not guarantee shortlisting. The schools may set additional criteria as deemed necessary.
• The short-listed candidates will be called for an interview, supplemented by a written test, if necessary, for the admission.
• Based on the academic record and the performance of the candidates in the selection process, the selection committee will recommend candidates for admission to the Ph.D. program.
• All eligible candidates called for the Test / Interview will be reimbursed return travel fare equivalent to second-sleeper class railway fare by the shortest route from their place of residence to the Institute upon production of valid documents.

How to Apply

• The applicant must apply online through the NISER website (Online Portal) following the stepwise instructions mentioned therein to complete the application submission process. Successful submission of the online application is entirely the candidate’s responsibility. NISER will not bear any liability of an incomplete application or non-submission of any required supporting document.
• Candidates intending to apply for more than one school must fill up separate online application forms for each school with appropriate supporting documents.
• NISER does not demand any application fee from the candidates for the PhD program.

Checklist for application submission:

During online submission, you will need to have the following ready with you for uploading:

• JPEG file of your passport size photo.
• JPEG file of your valid signatures.
• Birth Certificate/10th pass certificate in support of date of birth.
• Certificate in support of category (SC/ST), only if applicable.
• Certificate and mark sheets in support of passing qualifying examination i.e. Master’s degree OR 4 Years / 8 Semester Bachelor’s degree, whichever is applicable. In case the original pass certificate is not issued by University then a provisional certificate from the University/college certifying the completion of degree should be submitted.
• Certificate/document in support of qualifying national level examination(s) viz. CSIR-UGC NET JRF/DBT-BET JRF/JEST/NBHM/GATE or any other as applicable.

• Online application portal will be activated on: 2 April, 2025
• Last date for filling up online application (all schools): 30 April, 2025
• Last date for filling up online application (School of Comp. Sc.): 31 May, 2025
• Short-listed candidates list will be uploaded on NISER website (all schools): 6 May, 2025 to 8 May, 2025
• Short-listed candidates list will be uploaded on NISER website (School of Comp. Sc.): 6 June, 2025 to 8 June, 2025
• School of Biological Sciences test/interview: 26 May, 2025 to 27 May, 2025
• School of Chemical Sciences test/interview: 3 July, 2025 to 4 July, 2025
• School of Computer Sciences test/interview: 1 July, 2025 to 2 July, 2025
• School of Earth & Planetary Sciences test/interview: 4 June, 2025 to 6 June, 2025
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences test/interview: 21 May, 2025 to 22 May, 2025
• School of Mathematical Sciences test/interview: 16 June, 2025 to 18 June, 2025
• School of Physical Sciences test/interview: 2 June, 2025 to 4 June, 2025

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• NISER Bhubaneswar Website