The Institute: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur – 721302, West Bengal, India

IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2025-26 for the Spring Semester is open for applications in all disciplines, including Engineering, Technology, Science, Architecture & Regional Planning, Humanities & Social Sciences, Rural Development, Law, Management, and Medicine. Admission is offered under various categories, such as Regular with Institute Assistantship, Individual Fellowship (CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICMR/INSPIRE etc.), Sponsored, and Working Professionals. Candidates must thoroughly review the eligibility criteria available in the Information Brochure before applying.

General Guidelines and Fee

• Candidates must apply only through the online portal at www.iitkgp.ac.in.
• Admission of reserved-category candidates will be done as per Government of India notification.
• Furnishing false or wrong data/information at any stage will result in the summary rejection or cancellation of candidature/admission.
• A candidate should submit only one application; duplicate applications will be summarily rejected and no refund will be processed.
• Application once submitted successfully cannot be altered/resubmitted under any circumstances.

Important Dates for IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2025-26

Application Process Instructions

1. STEP-I: Fill in the ONLINE application form. Register with your Email ID and Login. Fill in the appropriate data and upload your testimonials, digital photograph, and signature.
2. STEP-II: Make PAYMENT and SUBMIT Application. Payment of the application fee must be made through the online payment gateway only.
3. STEP-III: Take a PRINTOUT. After final online submission, generate and retain the application printout for future reference. Note: You NEED NOT SEND the hardcopy application by post.

The candidates shortlisted for the final interview will be informed through system-generated email only, and their names may be notified on the webpage. Candidates can also see their status on the web portal by logging in and can download the Written Test/Interview letter, if shortlisted.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria for IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2025-26

Minimum Marks/CGPA Requirement

• A minimum of 60% marks or a CGPA of 6.5 in a 10-point scale in the qualifying examination in Engineering/Science/Commerce/Management/Law and/or equivalent.
• OR
• A minimum of 55% marks or a CGPA of 6.0 in a 10-point scale in the qualifying examination in Humanities/Social Science/MBBS degree and/or equivalent.

Minimum Qualifying Degrees

The minimum qualifying degrees required include Master’s degrees like M.Tech, MS, ME, M.Arch, M.Phil (2-year program), MBA (2-year after B.Tech/M.Sc/MA/M.Com), or LLM (2-year after 5-year/3-year LLB).

Alternatively, candidates with Bachelor’s degrees such as B.Tech/BE/B.Sc(Engg.)/BS (4 yrs.), B.Arch, M.Sc./MA, M.Phil (1-year program), MBA (2-year after BA/B.Sc/B.Com), MBBS (with compulsory one-year internship), or 5 years (minimum) integrated LLB are also eligible, provided they meet the overall academic performance criteria set by the respective academic unit.

Important Note on Conversion: CGPA will NOT be converted into percentage marks if the degree awarding Institute provides marks in the CGPA system or vice versa. Admission is based on the CGPA or Percentage of Marks awarded in the transcript.

Additional Requirements by Category for PhD Admission 2025-26

Regular with Institute Assistantship

Candidates with B.Tech/BE/B.Sc(Engg.)/BS (4 yrs.) or equivalent degrees must possess a valid GATE score (above M.Tech/MCP cut-off) OR a NET qualification with Assistant Professorship. The NET qualification’s validity for admission is three (3) years from the date of declaration of results.

Assistantship Amounts:

• Rs. 37,000/- per month for the first 2 years.
• Rs. 42,000/- per month for the next 3 years.

The maximum period for the Institute Research Assistantship is 5 years. A research student on Institute Assistantship is not permitted to receive any other emoluments, salary, stipend, or scholarship/assistantship during the tenure. If employed, the person must resign and produce acceptance of resignation or a document of sanctioned leave showing no salary is received at the time of joining.

Sponsored and Working Professionals Categories

• Sponsored: Requires a minimum of two years of job experience in recognized establishments (Defense, Govt. organizations, R&D organizations, Universities/colleges, Reputed industries). The minimum residential requirement is one year at a stretch. There is no financial assistance.
• Working Professionals (Minimum Residential): Requires a ‘NO OBJECTION’ certificate from the employer. Specific minimum experience (e.g., 2 years for Engineering, 10 years for RGSoIPL) and higher CGPA/percentage are required based on the discipline. The tuition fee is Rs. 25,000/- per semester (subject to revision). There is no financial assistance.

Selection and Admission for IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2025-26

Admission is recommended by the Departmental Academic Committee (PG&R), abbreviated as DAC (PG&R), based on the following:

1. Overall Academic Performance
2. Written Test (Through offline mode)
3. Personal Interview (Through offline mode)

The final selection and offer will be based on the combined performance in overall academic performance, written test, and final interview.

Admission Guarantee: Mere fulfillment of the eligibility criteria does not guarantee admission to the Ph.D. programme.

Payment of Fees and Deposits

Every Research Scholar must pay fees at the time of joining.

• Non-refundable Onetime fees include Hostel Admission, Medical Examination, Student Welfare fund, Alumni Subscription and Modernisation.
• Semester Fees include Tuition fee*, Registration Fee, Examination Fee, Student Amenities, Medical Registration, Laboratory Fee, Hostel Seat Rent, Mess Charges, etc.
• Refundable fees include Institution Caution Money and Hall Caution Money.
• Tuition Fee Waiver: 100% tuition fees waiver is provided for SC/ST/PwD students.

Key Institute Amenities and Facilities

• Accommodation Warning: Due to paucity of accommodation in the hostels at present, Research Scholars who are offered admission may have to stay outside the campus or share the accommodation on campus during their initial months until they get a suitable accommodation on the campus.
• Health Care: The B. C. Roy Technology Hospital is located at the center of the Campus and provides indoor and outdoor medical facilities. The Institute has Students’ Medical Insurance Coverage which is obligatory and usually covers a part of medical expenses for referred cases.
• Counselling Centre: The Centre offers a broad range of services including psychological assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management to promote mental health and overall wellbeing of the student community.
• Library: The Central Library is one of the largest libraries in Asia, with over 3.8 lakh documents, subscribing to 10,000 e-journals and 40,000 e-books.
• Gymkhana: The Technology Students’ Gymkhana, the nerve-centre for extracurricular activities, organizes the annual social and cultural festival “Spring Festival” and the Techo-Management festival “Kshitij”.

Research Areas for IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2025-26

Ph.D. research facilities are available across the Institute’s academic departments, centres, and schools:

Ph.D. Programme Structure and Requirements

The award of the Ph.D. degree is based on the satisfactory performance of a registered candidate in:

1. Prescribed course work, comprehensive examination & seminars.
2. Publication of original research work in reputed journals/conferences and/or award of patents/technology transfer etc.
3. The thesis submitted by the candidate and a final viva voce.

The thesis shall be the report of research work characterized by either discovery of new facts or a new interpretation of known facts and theory, or an independent design and development, or development of new instrument/technology.

Enrolment and Course Work

A candidate must enrol for the Ph.D. program within 1 month of joining on payment of prescribed fees. All candidates are required to complete the course work as per the existing rules.

Registration

A candidate is required to give a seminar talk on the research topic within three years of enrolment or one year of course work completion. If the seminar is satisfactory, the candidate will be allowed to register for the degree. The registration period is valid for a maximum of 08 (eight) years from the date of enrolment.

Seminar and Synopsis

Prior to thesis submission, the candidate must submit the synopsis and present a seminar to an open audience to test the candidate’s depth of knowledge and research progress. The thesis must be submitted within one month after the Doctoral Scrutiny Committee (DSC) approves the submission on the basis of this seminar.

Thesis and Defence & Award of Degree

The thesis is forwarded to two external experts for examination. Once reports are satisfactory, the candidate defends the thesis before a viva voce board. The degree is awarded at the annual convocation after the student completes all prescribed requirements and clears all fees/dues.

Important Notes & Guidelines