PhD and MS (By Research) Admission, January 2027 Semester, IIT Kanpur
Job Description
IIT Kanpur has opened PhD and MS (By Research) admission for the January 2027 semester. More than 20 departments and programmes take PhD students, including Physics and Photonics Science and Engineering. The portal opened at 2:00 PM on 16 October 2026. Apply by 2:00 PM on 3 November 2026.
At a glance
- Programmes: PhD and MS (By Research), 2026-27 second semester
- Where: IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Who can apply: At least 55% or CPI 5.5, plus GATE, JRF/NET or a similar test for most routes
- Funding: Institute assistantship or scholarship for non-sponsored students; the page gives no amount
- Apply by: 3 November 2026, 2:00 PM
- Fee: Rs 500; Rs 250 for SC, ST and DAP; no fee for foreign nationals
Registration for the new semester is on 4 January 2027. Sponsored, external, part-time and foreign-national applicants share the same last date. Each department runs its own written test or interview.
Departments in the IIT Kanpur January 2027 PhD round
- Engineering: Aerospace, Civil, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, and Materials Science and Engineering
- Sciences: Biological Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Data Science, and the Materials Science Programme
- Interdisciplinary: Photonics Science and Engineering (Centre for Lasers and Photonics), Intelligent Systems, Sustainable Energy Engineering, the Kotak School of Sustainability, and Space, Planetary and Astronomical Sciences and Engineering
- Design, Economics, and Humanities and Social Sciences (English, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Sociology)
- MS (By Research): Civil (environmental, geotechnical), CSE, Intelligent Systems, Mechanical, and Photonics Science and Engineering
Physics lists research in condensed matter, high-energy physics, complex systems, and photonics and quantum optics, including cold atoms and ions. The photonics programme covers fibre-optic communication, optical imaging, laser manufacturing, quantum communication, nanophotonics and ultrafast lasers.
Why this role matters
A January start lets you begin a PhD without waiting for next July. IIT Kanpur is one of India’s oldest IITs, with strong groups in physics, photonics, materials and computing. Its photonics programme draws faculty from five departments, which suits students who want to work across fields.
Eligibility
- The basic minimum is 55% or CPI 5.5 out of 10. Departments may ask for more
- Bachelor’s in engineering, design or architecture, or a 4-year B.Sc.: a valid GATE, CEED, CAT, GMAT or JRF/NET, unless your degree is from a centrally funded technical institute as the rules define
- Master’s in science, arts or commerce: GATE or JRF/NET, unless the degree is from an IIT, IISER or NIT with CPI 8.0 or more
- PhD in sciences: a master’s in the subject or an allied area, a B.Tech., or a 4-year B.Sc.
- Reservation follows Government of India rules. OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be dated on or after 1 April 2026 at registration
The FAQ and the eligibility page word the GATE waiver slightly differently. Check both, and your department’s brochure, before you apply. The apply page still carries an old 2025 notice, which you can ignore.
Pay and duration
- Institute assistantship or scholarship for non-sponsored PhD and MS (By Research) students. The page gives no figure
- HRA may be paid if no campus room is available at first
- Application fee: Rs 500 (General, EWS, OBC); Rs 250 (SC, ST, DAP); none for foreign nationals. Pay by card, net banking or NEFT. UPI is not accepted
- Withdrawal by 13 December 2026 costs Rs 2,500
How to apply
Apply on the IIT Kanpur PG admission portal. Use a separate form and fee for each programme. Upload a photo, proof of date of birth, your test scorecard, mark sheets and any category certificate. Read the eligibility page and the admission FAQ (PDF) first.
Key dates
- Portal opens: 16 October 2026, 2:00 PM
- Last date: 3 November 2026, 2:00 PM
- Withdrawal with Rs 2,500 deduction: until 13 December 2026
- Registration: 4 January 2027
Please read the official IIT Kanpur PG admission page before applying, and browse more PhD positions on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Official advertisement: iitk.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Read your department's brochure. Each one lists its own tests, cut-offs and research areas.
- Check the GATE rule for your degree. The waiver depends on where your degree is from and your CPI.
- Revise core subjects. Written tests at IIT Kanpur go deep into basics.
- Apply to more than one unit if it fits. Photonics and Physics both cover quantum optics.
- Read likely supervisors' papers. Browse IIT Kanpur faculty on our Find a supervisor page.
About IIT Kanpur
IIT Kanpur was founded in 1959 as one of the first IITs. It is an Institute of National Importance. In its early years it was helped by a consortium of US universities under the Kanpur Indo-American Programme.
