PhD Admission January 2027 in Philosophy and Sociology, NISER Bhubaneswar

Job Description

PhD admission at NISER Bhubaneswar for January 2027 is open in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. This is the Winter Session of 2026-27. The last date for all schools is 1 November 2026, and there is no application fee.

At a glance

• Programme: PhD in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, starting January 2027
• Where: NISER, Jatni, Khurda, Odisha
• Application fee: none
• Test or interview: 26 and 27 November 2026 (tentative)
• Apply by: 1 November 2026

A humanities PhD inside a science institute, and the research areas show it. Philosophy here means philosophy of science, of biology and of mind, with AI ethics alongside. Sociology runs on heritage, gastronomy, pilgrimage and urban tourism. The fellowship requirement is subject-specific, so read it closely before you apply.

Eligibility for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

• A master’s or equivalent degree from a university or institution recognised by the UGC, with 55% or an equivalent GPA, in humanities and social sciences
• Or at least 75% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade in a four-year, eight-semester bachelor’s degree
• Candidates with a GPA may need a conversion note from their institution if the mark sheet does not give a percentage

National examination required

For Philosophy: a JRF or NET in Philosophy from UGC, CSIR, ICSSR, GATE or another credible funding agency. For Sociology: a JRF in Sociology, Psychology, History or Tourism from UGC, CSIR, ICSSR, GATE or another credible funding agency. The score must be valid for 2026-2027.

One rule that catches people out

The advertisement is explicit: a candidate holding the INSPIRE Doctoral Fellowship only, without having qualified one of the national written examinations listed above, will not be considered for PhD admission at NISER. Several institutes accept INSPIRE on its own. NISER does not. Check this before you spend time on the form.

The cut-off marks for GATE, JEST, JGEEBILS, CSIR-UGC-NET and the rest are set by each school for its own subject area, so a pass alone may not be enough.

Research areas

Philosophy: philosophy of science, philosophy of biology, philosophy of mind, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Sociology: heritage, gastronomy, urban tourism and pilgrimage; and host-guest relations, the host perspective, tourist experience, digital technology, networks and monumentality.

More detail is on the school’s faculty page.

How to apply

Apply online on the NISER online application portal. The portal opened on 1 October 2026. NISER charges no application fee for the PhD programme. If you want more than one school, fill a separate form for each one with its own documents. Keep ready a passport photo and signature as JPEG files, a birth certificate or class 10 certificate, and your qualifying degree certificates and mark sheets.

Candidates still sitting their final examination may apply. They must give an undertaking that the degree certificate will be submitted by the time of admission. If your mark sheet shows a GPA without a conversion note, get one from your institution.

Selection

Each school’s selection committee shortlists from the applications received by the deadline. Meeting the minimum qualification does not guarantee a shortlist, and schools may add their own criteria. Shortlisted candidates face an interview, with a written test as well if the school wants one. Everyone called for the test or interview is reimbursed return travel at second-sleeper class railway fare by the shortest route, against valid documents.

Read the official NISER advertisement (PDF) in full before applying. Browse more PhD positions on ResearchJobs.in, or search our Find a supervisor page.

Key dates

• Portal opened: 1 October 2026
• Last date: 1 November 2026
• Shortlist published on the NISER website: 10 November 2026
• Test or interview: 26 and 27 November 2026 (tentative)
• First-semester registration: 1 January 2027