PhD Admissions for January 2027, IISER Bhopal (Sciences, Engineering, Economics and Humanities)
Job Description
IISER Bhopal has opened PhD admission for January 2027 for national and international students in nine departments across the natural sciences, engineering sciences, and humanities and social sciences, with applications due by 12 October 2026.
At a glance
- Programme: PhD, semester starting January 2027
- Where: IISER Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Data Science and Engineering, EECS, Economic Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Fellowship: JRF fellowship as per funding agency or Institute norms
- Apply by: 12 October 2026, on the admission portal
The notification is Advt. No. IISERB/DOAA/2026/02, dated 16 September 2026. Eligibility and procedure are on the Institute’s admission page.
PhD streams and departments at IISER Bhopal
- Natural Sciences: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Physics
- Engineering Sciences: Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Data Science and Engineering (DSE)
- Humanities and Social Sciences: Economic Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Shortlisted candidates are called for interview; dates are emailed and posted on the Institute website
Why this role matters
IISER Bhopal combines science departments with engineering, data science and economics, so a single call covers a wide range of research interests. A January start also lets students who have just qualified GATE, NET or CSIR-JRF begin a PhD without waiting for the next academic year.
Eligibility
- With a national test: a 4-year bachelor’s in science, engineering or technology, or a master’s in science, arts, commerce or allied subjects, plus a valid GATE score, UGC-NET/CSIR/NBHM selection (including lectureship) or another national-level selection
- Without a national test: an integrated 5-year MTech, a BTech from an IIT or BS-MS from an IISER with CGPA above 8.0, or a BTech/BE plus MTech/ME
- At least 60% marks or CGPA 7.0 out of 10 overall in the qualifying degree (10% relaxation for SC/ST/PwD, 5% for OBC-NCL/EWS)
- Age preferably not more than 28, with 3 years’ relaxation for OBC-NCL and 5 years for SC/ST/PwD and women
- Departments may add their own criteria and screening
Final-year students may apply; admission would depend on completing the qualifying degree with the required marks before joining. All communication is by email. TA is paid to SC/ST candidates attending interviews, as per Government of India norms.
Pay and duration
- JRF fellowship as per the funding agency or Institute norms; the admission page does not state an amount
How to apply
Apply online through the IISER Bhopal PhD admission portal by 12 October 2026 (11:59 pm). Read the eligibility rules on the IISER Bhopal admission page and the department flyers on the portal first.
Key dates
- Notification dated 16 September 2026
- Last date for online applications: 12 October 2026
- Interviews: dates emailed to shortlisted candidates
Please read the official IISER Bhopal notification IISERB/DOAA/2026/02 (PDF) before applying, and browse more PhD positions on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal
Official advertisement: phdadmission.iiserb.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Check the age rule: the admission page prefers candidates aged 28 or under on the closing date, with category relaxations.
- Read your department's flyer: the portal has department-specific research areas and criteria (for example DSE and HSS).
- Name your interests: interviews reward candidates who can discuss two or three faculty members' work in their chosen department.
- Revise core subjects: expect questions from your master's or bachelor's syllabus, and on any project you have done.
- Explore supervisors: shortlist IISER Bhopal faculty on our Find a supervisor page.
About IISER Bhopal
The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal is one of the IISERs set up by the Government of India's Ministry of Education to combine research and science education. It was established in 2008 and runs BS-MS, MSc and PhD programmes in the sciences, engineering sciences, economics and humanities.
