PhD Admission for Spring 2027, IISER Kolkata (Physics, Data Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Economics)

Job Description

IISER Kolkata has opened PhD admission for the Spring 2027 semester. Five departments still take applications: Physical Sciences, Computational and Data Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Economics in Humanities and Social Sciences. All five close on 25 October 2026.

At a glance

• Programme: PhD, Spring Semester 2027
• Where: IISER Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Nadia district, West Bengal
• Departments open: Physical Sciences, Computational and Data Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics
• Funding routes: Self-funded (your own JRF or similar) or institute-funded (GATE, JEST, NET-LS and similar)
• Apply by: 25 October 2026, online
• Fee: Rs 200 (GEN, EWS, OBC-NCL); Rs 100 (PwD, SC, ST)

Each department runs its own call, with its own eligibility, supervisors and interview dates. Biology closes on 11 October and Chemistry closed on 8 October, so they are not part of this listing. Space Sciences is not admitting students this semester. PhD registration is on 30 December 2026.

Departments in the IISER Kolkata Spring 2027 PhD round

• Physical Sciences: seats are listed per supervisor. Topics include ultrafast and THz spectroscopy, quantum condensed matter, NV-centre quantum information, ARPES and ultracold gases. Interviews 11 to 13 November 2026
• Computational and Data Sciences: AI and law, NLP, data mining, soft computing, and causal AI for single-cell data. Interviews between 9 and 22 November 2026
• Earth Sciences: open to geology, geophysics and environmental science graduates, and to physics, chemistry, maths and biology graduates. Interviews between 9 and 22 November 2026
• Mathematics and Statistics: interviews 23 to 25 November 2026
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Economics only. Interviews between 9 and 22 November 2026

Why this role matters

Spring admission gives a second chance in the same academic year. If you cleared a JRF, GATE or JEST after the summer round, you do not have to wait until next July. IISER Kolkata’s physics and data-science groups work on quantum materials, ultrafast optics and AI, so the round suits students aiming for research careers in these fields.

Eligibility

• Physical Sciences: an MS with 60% (55% reserved) or a 4-year BS with 75% (70% reserved) in physical sciences. Self-funded seats need a valid fellowship such as UGC/CSIR-JRF or NET Category-1. Institute-funded seats need GATE (rank under 500), JEST (rank under 500), NET-LS, NET Category-2, or NET Category-3 above the 75th percentile
• Computational and Data Sciences: a master’s with 55% or a 4-year bachelor’s with 75% in a computer-science field, and UGC-NET, GATE or equivalent. IISER graduates with CGPA above 8 are exempt from the test
• Earth Sciences: a master’s with 55% in geology, geophysics, earth or environmental sciences, or in physics, chemistry, maths, biology or computational seismology; or a 4-year BS with 75%. You need physics, chemistry and maths at 10+2 level
• Mathematics and Statistics: a master’s with 55% or a 4-year bachelor’s with 75%. Self-funded: UGC/CSIR-JRF, NET Category-1 or NBHM. Institute-funded: GATE, NET-LS, NET Category-2 or Category-3
• Economics: a master’s with 55% or a 4-year bachelor’s with 75% in economics or statistics. Candidates with their own fellowship are strongly encouraged
• Reserved categories get a 5% relaxation where the department says so. Final-year students may apply in Physical Sciences

The pages give no stipend figure. Self-funded students bring their own national fellowship. Institute-funded seats are for students who qualify through GATE, JEST, NET-LS or similar. Some department pages contain small typos, and the Physical Sciences PDF heading still says “Spring 2026” although its dates are for Spring 2027. Read your department’s page with care.

Pay and duration

• No stipend amount is stated on the admission pages
• Self-funded route: your own CSIR/UGC-JRF, NET Category-1, NBHM or similar fellowship
• Institute-funded route: for GATE, JEST, NET-LS and similar qualifiers, as each department lists
• Application fee: Rs 200 for GEN, EWS and OBC-NCL; Rs 100 for PwD, SC and ST (non-refundable)

How to apply

Apply online on the IISER Kolkata PhD application portal. You can edit the form until the last date. Keep a signed printout for the interview. Arrange two recommendation letters in the institute’s format. Bring attested mark sheets, certificates, a photo ID and proof of age to the interview. The institute pays no travel allowance and gives no accommodation for interviews.

Key dates

• Last date for all five departments: 25 October 2026
• Shortlists: by 31 October 2026
• Interviews: 9 to 25 November 2026, by department
• PhD registration: 30 December 2026
• Orientation: 31 December 2026

Please read the official IISER Kolkata PhD admission pages before applying, and browse more PhD positions on ResearchJobs.in.