IIT Bombay PhD Admission 2025-26: Your Incredible Path to Success
Applications are invited for the Ph.D. (Spring Semester) for the Academic Year 2025-26.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai – 400 076
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) is now accepting applications online for admission to its prestigious Ph.D. (Spring Semester) for the Academic Year 2025-26, commencing from January 2026. This guide provides comprehensive information on eligibility criteria, important dates, and available vacancies to help you with your IIT Bombay PhD Admission 2025 application. For more details on other ongoing PhD admissions, you can check this link.
General Eligibility Criteria for IIT Bombay PhD Admission 2025-26
Candidates applying for the Ph.D. program must meet specific eligibility requirements, which vary based on their qualifying degree and category.- Qualifying Degrees: Master’s or equivalent degree in Engineering/Technology, M.B.A. (with B.Tech./B.E.), Bachelor’s degree (4 years) in Engineering/Technology/Medicine/Science, or Master’s in Science/Arts/Commerce.
- Additional Requirements: For degrees other than Master’s in Engineering/Technology, candidates must also have a valid GATE/JEST score, be selected through UGC NET, a national-level examination, or have a provisional DST-INSPIRE Fellowship. Alternatively, they can have a minimum of two years of professional experience after their qualifying degree.
Marks/CGPA Requirements
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GN/EWS/OBC (NC) | Minimum of 60% marks or a First Class, or a minimum CGPA/CPI of 6.0 on a 10-point scale. For M.A. or equivalent in Humanities and Social Sciences, a minimum of 55% marks is required for admission to the H&SS Department. |
| SC/ST/PwD | Minimum of 55% marks or a First Class, or a minimum CGPA/CPI of 5.5 on a 10-point scale. For M.A. or equivalent in Humanities and Social Sciences, a minimum of 55% marks is required for admission to the H&SS Department. |
Sanctioned Strength for Ph.D. Programme for 2025-26
The following table outlines the sanctioned strength for the Ph.D. program for the Academic Year 2025-26 under the Teaching Assistantship Category. The sanctioned strength is for both Autumn and Spring Semesters.| Department/Centre/School | GE (40.5%) | EWS (10%) | OBC-NC (27%) | SC (15%) | ST (7.5%) | TOTAL | PD* (5%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engg. | 7 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| Biosciences and Bioengg. | 9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 1 |
| Chemical Engg. | 9 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 1 |
| Chemistry | 11 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 31 | 2 |
| Civil Engg. | 12 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 35 | 2 |
| Computer Sci. & Engg. | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 1 |
| Earth Sciences | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 1 |
| Economics | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Electrical Engg. | 16 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 2 |
| Energy Sci. & Engg. | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| Environmental Science and Engineering (ESED) | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Industrial Engg. & Operations Research | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Mathematics | 11 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 1 |
| Mechanical Engg. | 15 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 41 | 2 |
| Metallurgical Engg. & Mat. Sci. | 9 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 1 |
| Physics | 9 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 1 |
| Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies (ADCPS) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Centre for Climate Studies | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Centre for Educational Technology | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Centre for Machine Intelligence and Data Science (C-MinDS) | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Science (CRNTS) | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Centre for Systems and Control | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering (CSRE) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH) | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship (DSSE) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| IDC School of Design (IDC SOD) | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 1 |
| Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| Total | 199 | 49 | 132 | 74 | 37 | 491 | 27 |
Important Dates for IIT Bombay PhD Admission 2025-26
The following schedule outlines the key dates for the Ph.D. (Spring Semester) admission for the Academic Year 2025-26. Note that all dates are tentative and subject to change.| Particulars | Ph.D. (Spring Semester 2025-26) |
|---|---|
| Advertisement on website | September 5, 2025 |
| Availability of online application forms | September 10, 2025 |
| Last date for submission of completed application REGULAR forms (without late fine) | October 17, 2025 |
| Last date for submission of completed application EXTENDED forms (with late fine) | October 21, 2025 |
| Last date for Departments to send the list of candidates to be called for Written Test/Interview | October 24, 2025 |
| Display of list of candidates called for Entrance Test and/or Interview | October 27, 2025 |
| Date of Entrance Test and/or Interview (for all categories) | To be announced by concerned academic units |
| Recommendations from Heads of Dept/School/Centre/ID groups to reach Academic Office | By December 13, 2025 |
| Declaration of Result/Payment of fees | December 19 to December 24, 2025 |
| Reporting & Orientation (tentative) | January 01 & 02, 2026 |
| Semester Registration (tentative) | January 01 & 02, 2026 |
| Instruction begins (tentative) | January 05, 2026 |
Fellowship for IIT Bombay PhD Admission 2025-26
IIT Bombay offers various admission categories, each with specific criteria and financial support options.| Admissions Category | Assistantship/Fellowship | Hostel Eligibility | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching assistantship (TA) | MOE, GOI | Yes | Assistantship payable for a maximum of 5 years or until thesis submission, whichever is earlier. Requires assisting in a course/laboratory for 8 hours a week. |
| Research assistantship (RA) | MOE, GOI | Yes | Assistantship payable for a maximum of 5 years or until thesis submission, whichever is earlier. Requires assisting in research or other duties for 20 hours a week. |
| Teaching/Research assistantship through project (TAP/RAP) | Funded through sanctioned project at IIT Bombay | Yes | Assistantship is payable for a maximum of 5 years or until thesis submission, whichever is earlier. Continuation is subject to satisfactory performance in the project. |
| Fellowship awards (FA) | Various organisations (UGC, DAE, DST, etc.) | Yes | Requires a valid Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) award. The amount and duration are determined by the awarding agency. |
| Sponsored candidates (SW) | No Assistantship from IITB | No | Candidates are employed in recognized R&D institutions, laboratories, or industrial organizations and are sponsored by their employer for full-time research. |
| External (EX) | No Assistantship from IITB | No | Employed candidates who wish to pursue a Ph.D. while continuing their employment. Must have an internal supervisor from their parent organization. |
| Self-financed Indian nationals (SF) | No Assistantship from IITB | No | Candidates fund their own studies. Those with a provisional DST-INSPIRE Fellowship may be admitted under this category initially. |
Other Fellowship Opportunities
- **PMRF Fellowship:** IIT Bombay is authorized to award the PMRF Fellowship to exceptional Ph.D. candidates. Fellows receive a monthly stipend of Rs 70,000 and an annual contingency grant of Rs 2 Lakh. Candidates must first be admitted to the regular Ph.D. program and then nominated by the Institute.
- **Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme:** This scheme, initiated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, aims to increase PhDs in ESDM and IT/IT Enabled Services. Full-time candidates receive a fellowship of Rs 31,500 p.m. (revised to Rs 38,750/- from April 1, 2019) for the first two years and Rs 35,000 p.m. (revised to Rs 43,750/-) for the third to fifth years. An annual contingency grant of Rs 30,000 is also provided.
Important Notes
The dates given above are tentative. Any changes will be indicated on the website https://acad.iitb.ac.in/admissions/research.No admission for Urban Science & Engineering is offered for the Autumn & Spring semester 2025-26. Similarly, no admission is offered for the spring semester 2025-26 for the Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies and Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship.The final selection process will be through a written test and/or interview as specified by the individual academic unit.