PhD Admission for January 2027, IISc Bengaluru (Science, Engineering, Interdisciplinary and Medical Sciences)
Job Description
IISc Bengaluru has announced its PhD admission for January 2027. This mid-year round covers 25 departments and centres in science, engineering, interdisciplinary research and medical sciences. The online form opens on 6 October 2026 and closes on 26 October 2026.
At a glance
- Programme: PhD (Research Programmes) and PhD under the External Registration Programme (ERP)
- Where: Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
- Session starts: 1 January 2027
- Fellowship: MHRD, CSIR, UGC, ICMR, DBT, DST, AICTE or DAE (NBHM) scholarship, depending on how you enter
- Apply: Online, 6 to 26 October 2026 (portal closes at 23:59)
The notice is No. IISc/Acad/MidYearAdmission/2026/01, dated 2 September 2026. Interviews are planned for 16 to 20 November 2026. Only the departments listed in the notice take students in this round.
Departments open for the January 2027 PhD round at IISc
- Science: Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Materials Research, Developmental Biology and Genetics, Neuroscience, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Solid State and Structural Chemistry, Instrumentation and Applied Physics
- Engineering: Aerospace, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Chemical, Civil, Computer Science and Automation, Electrical Communication, Electrical, Electronic Systems, Mechanical, Nano Science and Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, Sustainable Technologies
- Interdisciplinary: Energy (ICER), Mathematical Sciences (IMI), Cyber Physical Systems (RBCCPS), and Brain, Computation and Data Science
- Medical Sciences: Division of Medical Sciences
Why this role matters
IISc runs one main PhD intake a year in August, so this January round is a second chance for anyone who has just cleared GATE or a JRF exam. A PhD at IISc gives you access to some of India’s best-equipped labs. The scholarship comes from national schemes, and the session starts within three months of applying.
Eligibility
- At least a second class (or equivalent) in the qualifying degree
- BE/BTech, 4-year BSc, or a master’s in science, economics, geography, psychology, management, commerce, operations research or computer applications: a valid GATE score or NET JRF is mandatory
- Master’s in engineering, technology, architecture, agriculture, pharmacy or veterinary science: GATE, NET JRF or GPAT is desirable
- 4-year graduates of a CFTI (including PPP-mode IIITs) with CGPA of 8/10 or more: GATE or NET JRF is desirable
- B Pharm needs a valid GPAT or NET JRF; BDS needs NET JRF; MBBS/MD/MDS/Pharm D: NEET-PG, GATE or NET JRF is desirable
- Scores must be valid on 1 January 2027. NET JRF here covers CSIR-UGC, UGC, DBT and ICMR JRF, JEST, NBHM and INSPIRE. Lectureship-only qualifiers are not eligible
Final-year students can apply if they finish the degree by 1 January 2027 and submit certificates by 31 March 2027. The ERP route is for sponsored staff of R&D organisations, industry or colleges with two years of full-time service. Reservation follows Government of India rules, and EWS or OBC-NCL certificates must be dated on or after 1 April 2026.
Pay and duration
- Scholarships from MHRD, CSIR, UGC, ICMR, DBT, DST, AICTE or DAE (NBHM), depending on your mode of entry; the notice gives no amount
- The notice says some merit-based private and donor fellowships pay an enhanced monthly amount, up to two times the regular fellowship
- Application fee: Rs 800 (General/OBC/EWS), Rs 400 (SC/ST/PwD), Rs 2,000 for ERP candidates; the fee is not refunded
How to apply
Apply online on the IISc Online Admissions portal. The portal opens for this round on 6 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 on 26 October 2026. Pay the fee online by net banking, card or UPI. There is no paper form.
Key dates
- Notice dated 2 September 2026
- Online applications open: 6 October 2026
- Last date: 26 October 2026, 23:59
- Interviews: 16 to 20 November 2026
- Session starts: 1 January 2027
Please read the official IISc mid-year admission notice (PDF) before applying, and browse more PhD positions on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
Official advertisement: www.iisc.ac.in
How to prepare for this application
- Check the GATE/NET rule for your degree. For a BTech or an MSc it is mandatory. Without a valid score you cannot apply.
- Pick departments with care. Only the units listed in the notice admit students in January. Read each one's research page.
- Expect a written test in some units. Some departments test or pre-interview candidates before the main interview.
- Revise your core subject. IISc interviews go deep into basics from your degree and into any project you list.
- Know two or three possible advisers. Browse IISc faculty on our Find a supervisor page and read a recent paper from each.
About IISc Bengaluru
The Indian Institute of Science was founded in 1909 with support from Jamsetji Tata. It is one of India's oldest and best-known research institutions, with programmes across science, engineering and medicine. Most of its students are research scholars.
