🚀 Astonishing News! Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26 Notification Out
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26 notification is officially released! IIST, a premier institute declared as a Deemed to be University under section 3 of the UGC act 1956, is inviting applications from highly motivated Indian citizens for its Ph.D. Programme starting in January 2026. IIST is dedicated to basic and applied research, particularly for the national R&D requirements of the Indian Space Programme. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a vibrant research atmosphere and contribute to cutting-edge science and technology.
Table of Content
- Departments under Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26
- Important Dates for Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26
- Eligibility Criteria
- Selection Procedure
- Research Fellowship
- Fee Structure
- How to Apply & Application Fee
- Funded Research Areas (Table 1 & 2)
Departments under Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26
The Ph.D. Programme is open for admission in the following departments:
| Department Name |
|---|
| Aerospace Engineering |
| Avionics |
| Chemistry |
| Earth and Space Sciences |
| Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Mathematics |
| Physics |
Important Dates for Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26
Note the tentative key dates for the admission process:
| Sl. No. | Event | Date* |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Opening of IIST website for online submission of applications | 03 November, 2025 – 1100 hrs (Monday) |
| 2. | Closing of IIST website for online submission of applications | 20 November, 2025-2359 hrs (Thursday) |
| 3. | Display of shortlisted candidates for Screening Test & Direct Interview | 27 November, 2025 (Thursday) 1600hrs |
| 4. | Date of screening test (Venue: IIST Campus, Valiamala) | 15 December, 2025 (Monday) |
| 5. | Interview Dates (Venue: IIST Campus, Valiamala) | 16-19 December, 2025 |
| 6. | Display of provisionally selected candidates | 26 December, 2025 (Friday) – 1700hrs |
| 8. | Reporting date at the Institution | 02 January, 2026 (Friday) |
| 10. | Last date of Admission | 16 January, 2026 (Friday) |
*Note: The dates are tentatively fixed. The age limit for applicants is below 35 years as on 20th November, 2025, with age relaxation applicable as per Government Rules.
Eligibility Criteria for Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26
The minimum educational qualifications fall into four broad categories, requiring a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree with specific marks/CGPA and a valid National Eligibility Test score.
Category Highlights:
- Applicants with M.E./M.Tech. (or equivalent): Minimum 60% marks or equivalent grade (55% for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD). Must qualify a National Eligibility Test, such as GATE/CSIR/UGC-NET/NBHM/JEST or Screening Test conducted by IIST.
- Applicants with B.E./B.Tech. (or equivalent): Minimum 75% marks or equivalent grade (70% for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD). They should have a valid GATE score (some exemptions apply).
- Applicants with Master’s/BS-MS in Science/ Humanities/ Management/ Social Sciences (or equivalent): Minimum 60% marks (55% for OBC/EWS/SC/ST/PwD). Must have qualified a National Eligibility Test (CSIR/UGC-NET/NBHM/JEST/GATE) in the relevant discipline, valid at the time of application.
Candidates awaiting final year/semester results are also eligible to apply, but selected candidates will receive provisional admission and must produce relevant documents within the specified time for confirmation.
Selection Procedure
The selection process for the full-time Ph.D. Programme (IIST Fellowship, External Fellowship, etc.) is through one of the following methods:
Criteria for Direct Interview (a)
Applicants who satisfy the minimum eligibility criteria and have a valid CSIR/UGC-NET/ NBHM/JEST/GATE score will be shortlisted and invited directly for an interview.
Screening Test + Interview (b)
Applicants satisfying the minimum eligibility criteria but not having a valid National Eligibility Test score can be admitted through a one-hour objective type screening test, followed by an interview.
- Candidates who qualify the screening test will be called for the interview.
- The final selection is based on performance during the interview.
- Minimum Interview Score: UR category must secure 60% or more, while SC/ST/PwD/OBC/EWS must secure 55% or more above in the interview to be considered for selection.
Research Fellowship
Research scholars selected for the full-time Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26 (listed in Table 1) receive a generous fellowship:
- Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): ₹37,000/- per month.
- Senior Research Fellowship (SRF): ₹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.
Scholars are required to assist departments in academic activities like tutorials or practical training in labs, normally limited to 6 hours per week. Hostel accommodation will be provided subject to availability, with preference given to candidates whose fellowships are borne by the Institute. HRA is provided to those who stay outside the campus.
Fee Structure (Per Semester)
The following fees are to be paid at the beginning of every semester:
| Description of Fees | Amount (₹) |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees(*)/ Semester | 2500 |
| Other Fees/Semester | 4950 |
| Total Fee (A) | 7450 |
| Hostel Fee/ Semester | 10250 |
| Admission Fee (Non-Refundable) One-time | 1500 |
| Caution Deposit (Refundable) (One-time) | 5000 |
| Grand Total 1st Semester (A + B) | 24200 |
| 2nd Semester onwards (A + B – one time) | 17700 |
*SC/ST/PwD students are exempted from payment of Tuition Fees. A candidate who confirms the seat has to remit a Seat Acceptance fee of ₹4950/-.
How to Apply & Application Fee
- Applications are received online only through the IIST website: https://admission.iist.ac.in.
- Candidates are permitted to apply up to a maximum of four broad research areas.
- Application Fee (Non-refundable):
- General/EWS/OBC candidates: ₹700/-
- SC/ST/PwD and Women applicants: ₹350/-
- Non-submission of relevant proof for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD) online will lead to rejection of the application. GEN-EWS/OBC-NCL candidates need to produce an updated certificate issued on or after 01st April, 2025 during the reporting at the Institute.
Funded Research Areas for Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) PhD Admission 2025-26
The tables below summarize all the research areas for the January 2026 admission. Please refer to the official document for comprehensive eligibility details.
Table 1: Funded by IIST (All Broad Areas)
| Department | Broad Area |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | Biofluid Mechanics/Bioastronautics (PAE01), Experimental & CFD Combustion, combustion instability (PAE02), Fluid mechanics, Aerodynamics, Compressible flow, Heat transfer (Experimental/Numerical analysis) (PAE03), Mechanics of Composites (PAE04), Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (PAE05), Subtractive /Additive Manufacturing (PAE06), Fluid Structure Interaction (PAE07) |
| Avionics | RF, Microwave Engineering, Antennas, Microelectronic Sensors, MEMS & Microsystems, Semiconductor Optoelectronics & Photonics, Instrumentation & Embedded Sensor-Electronics, Biomedical Electronics, Reinforcement Learning for 5G/6G networks, Analog/RF VLSI, Signal Processing and Communication, Digital VLSI Design, Astrobiology (PAV01), Quantum Cryptography Modeling and control, Navigation Guidance and Control, Convex programming and decentralized control for Swarm robotics, Power Electronics and Electric Drives, Power Electronics in terrestrial/aerospace/space microgrids (PAV02) |
| Chemistry | High temperature materials (PCH01) |
| Earth and Space Sciences | Geospatial data Intelligence and spatial analysis for high resolution remote sensing datasets (PES01), Astronomy & Astrophysics (PES02), Atmospheric Science (PES03) |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | Sociology/Social Work (PHS01) |
| Mathematics | Stochastic Processes; Queueing Theory (PMA01), Partial Differential Equations (Theory and Numerics) (PMA02), Differential Equations, Numerical Simulations and Orbital Mechanics (PMA03) |
| Physics | Physics (experiment oriented) (PPH01) |
Table 2: External Fellowship Holders (All Broad Areas)
Candidates with a valid fellowship from Government agencies (DST, CSIR, NBHM, UGC, or State Government Science and Technology Scheme) are eligible to apply for these positions.
| Department | Broad Area |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | Radiative heat transfer through participating medium (EAE01) |
| Avionics | Quantum Cryptography / Modeling of Physiological Systems (EAV01), Power Electronics in terrestrial/aerospace/space microgrids (EAV02), Nanotechnology for Sensors/MEMS/Astro biology (EAV03), Microelectronics Sensors, MEMS & Microsystems (EAV04), Analog/ RF IC Design (VLSI) (EAV05), Guidance Navigation and Control, Satellite Mission Design, Deep Space Navigation (EAV06), Power Electronics and Electric Drives (EAV07) |
| Chemistry | Energy Storage Materials & Devices (ECH01), Nanomaterials for chemical sensors (ECH02), Bioastronautics (ECH03) |
| Earth and Space Sciences | Astronomy & Astrophysics (EES01) |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | Sociology/Social Work (EHS01) |
| Mathematics | Stochastic Processes; Queueing Theory (EMA01), Differential Equations, and Applications (EMA02), Partial Differential Equations (Theory and Numerics) (EMA03), Differential Equations, Numerical Simulations and Orbital Mechanics (EMA04), Machine Learning Algorithms (EMA05) |
| Physics | Physics (Quantum Materials & Devices) (EPH01) |
Further Information and Next Steps
We recommend all interested candidates to carefully review the complete official notification before applying. Ensure all required certificates are ready, especially the updated ones for reserved categories.
Applicants for the screening test and/or interview may be reimbursed for the to-and-fro sleeper class train fare/bus fare by the shortest route, upon production of original tickets.
External Links:
- Official IIST Admission Portal: https://admission.iist.ac.in
- Link to Access Syllabus for Screening Test: (Click the provided link in the original document)