Table of Contents for BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26

• Introduction & Overview
• Important Dates
• Disciplines and Campus Vacancies
• Minimum Eligibility Criteria
• Financial Assistance & Fellowship
• Application Process
• Written Test Details
• Fee Structure (Per Semester)

Introduction & Overview

BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26 applications are officially invited for the Second Semester intake, commencing in January 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for aspirants seeking to pursue their research career (Full-time and/or Part-time) at an Institute of Eminence, as recognized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. BITS Pilani, with its multi-campus structure in Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad, offers a research-led environment and is highly ranked in the country.

The PhD program at BITS Pilani covers a wide range of disciplines including Engineering, Science, Pharmacy, Economics & Finance, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management. With robust research facilities and external funding secured over ₹398 crores in the last 5 years, the institution is committed to helping students conquer complex research challenges. This highly competitive program seeks motivated individuals who wish to contribute to cutting-edge research.

BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26: Important Dates

Available Disciplines and Full-time / Part-time Vacancies

Applications are invited across the following departments at the Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses. For specific areas of specialization, candidates must check the respective department website. The table below shows the availability status for Full-time and Part-time BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26 across campuses.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria for BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26

Candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission, as departments may set specific shortlisting criteria:

• Master’s Degree Holders: M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm./MBA/M.Phil. or an equivalent degree with a minimum of 60% aggregate in the qualifying examination.
• Bachelor’s Degree Holders: M.Sc./B.E./B.Pharm. or an equivalent degree with a minimum of 60% aggregate in the qualifying examination.
• HSS Special Case: For Humanities and Social Sciences, candidates with an M.A. degree require a minimum of 55% aggregate.
• Part-time Applicants: Must have a minimum of one year experience in the related field of study.

Coursework Requirements after Admission

1. Candidates admitted with a qualification equivalent to a BITS First Degree (e.g., M.Sc., B.E., B.Pharm.) must complete a minimum of 6 courses (24 units) in the first and second semester.
2. Candidates admitted with a qualification equivalent to a BITS Higher Degree (e.g., M.E., M.Tech., MBA) must complete a minimum of 2 courses (6 units) in the first semester.

Financial Assistance for BITS Pilani PhD Scholars

All full-time Ph.D. students admitted through the BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26 receive comprehensive financial support:

• Fellowship Duration: Fellowship is provided up to a maximum of five years, either from the Institute or Sponsored Projects.
• Institute Fellowship: Students offered an Institute fellowship will receive ₹37,000 per month.
• Fellowship Enhancement: The monthly fellowship amount may be increased to ₹40,000/- or ₹42,000/- after two years, based on satisfactory performance.
• Contingency Grant: Institute Fellows also receive an annual contingency amount of ₹20,000/-.
• Travel Support: Full-time Ph.D. students are eligible for International Travel Support of up to ₹1.5 lakh to present their research work at an international conference.
• Students with their own fellowships (UGC/CSIR NET, etc.) are also admitted.

Application Process for BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26

1. The Admission portal opened on 26th September 2025. Candidates must apply online through the prescribed application form.
2. Register online to generate a username and password before filling the form.
3. Carefully select the preference of the campus(es) (Pilani/Goa/Hyderabad) to which you wish to apply. Campus preferences cannot be changed after submission.
4. The completed application form and the non-refundable application fee of ₹2600/- must be submitted online by the deadline of 5:00 PM on 17th November 2025.
5. Only one application form is permitted. An edit option will be available until the submission deadline.

BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26: Written Test Details

Shortlisted candidates will appear for an admission test, which may include a written exam and/or interview.

The test structure varies by discipline:

Written Test for Science Departments (Subject Specific)

• Disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics.
• Test Structure: 50-100 multiple-choice questions, all subject-specific.
• Duration: 2-3 hours.
• Marking: Negative Marking may apply (25% deduction for each incorrect answer).

Written Test for HSS / Economics & Finance (Two Tests)

Candidates in Humanities & Social Sciences / Economics & Finance will write two tests: Test-I (Common) and Test-II (Discipline Specific).

Test-II for Humanities & Social Sciences will be discipline-specific and subjective in nature.

BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26: Fee Structure (Per Semester)

The detailed fee structure for the BITS Pilani PhD Admission 2025-26 is as follows (all figures in ₹). This table is based on the official brochure and includes all term-wise payments: