IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission 2024 (Open): Dates, Eligibility, Fees, Application Process

IIT Kharagpur Admissions to the PhD program 2024-25 is open. The university will conduct the PhD Admission Written test/ interview of the respective departments on May 02 to May 15, 2024. 

IIT Kharagpur offers a 3-year PhD course in 19 departments. The PhD program offers various categories for admission, including Regular with Institute Assistantship, Individual Fellowship, Sponsored, and Working Professionals. The program typically needs to be completed within three years, but candidates can finish it in two years under specific conditions. The candidate must have a minimum of 60% marks in UG or PG degree to be eligible for a PhD course at IIT Kharagpur. The final admission takes place based on the overall academic performance, written test, and personal interview. 

Read More: IIT Kharagpur Placement

IIT Kharagpur PhD Eligibility and Selection Criteria

The aspirants must satisfy the below-mentioned eligibility criteria to be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program at IIT Kharagpur:

• Candidates applying under various categories must have at least 60% marks or a CGPA of 6.5 on a 10-point scale in the qualifying examination in Engineering/Science/Commerce/Management/Law or equivalent,

OR

• A minimum of 55% marks or a CGPA of 6.0 on a 10-point scale in the qualifying examination in Humanities/Social Science/MBBS degree or equivalent.
• For candidates in their final year of the qualifying degree program awaiting results, they must provide the CGPA/Marks of all preceding semesters except the final semester. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the rejection of the application.

The qualifying degrees for admission into PhD course are tabulated below:

• MTech / MS / ME / MSc (Engg.), M.Arch/ MCP (Master of City Planning) /MRP (Master of Regional Planning), MPhil (2 years program), MBA / PG Diploma in Management of 2-year duration (after completion of BTech/MSc/MA/MCom), LLM after (either) at least 5 years of integrated LLB degree after 10+2 examination OR 3 years LLB degree after 10+2+3 examination, and/or A degree equivalent to any of the above

                                                                                               OR

• BTech/ BE / BSc (Engg.), BArch, MSc / MA / MPhil (1-year program), MBA / PG Diploma in Management of 2-year duration (after completion of BA/BSc/BCom), MBBS degree with a compulsory one-year internship, 5 years of integrated LLB degree after 10+2 examination OR 3 years LLB degree after 10+2+3 examination, and/or A degree equivalent to any of the above

IIT Kharagpur PhD candidates are recommended by the Departmental Academic Committee (Post-Graduate and Research), abbreviated as DAC (PG&R), of the relevant department or center based on their:

1. Overall Academic Performance
2. Written Test (conducted offline)
3. Personal Interview (conducted offline)

The final selection to the PhD program of IIT Kharagpur takes place based on the overall academic performance, written test with an interview conducted by IIT Kharagpur. Only those candidates satisfying all the requirements of the selection criteria will be called for the final interview round. 

Read More: IIT Kharagpur Ranking

IIT Kharagpur PhD Additional Requirement 

Apart from the minimum regular requirements, some additional requirements vary on the types of admission and the course structure. The different categories of admission and their requirement details have been discussed below:

1. Regular with Institute Assistantship

• Must have a valid GATE score above the cut-off level for M.Tech/MCP admission or NET qualification with Assistant Professorship for Institute Research Assistantship in the PhD program.
• NET qualification with Assistant Professorship must be valid three years from the date of declaration of NET results.
• If an employed individual applies for an Institute Assistantship and is selected, they must resign from their current job and provide proof of resignation.
• The Institute Research Assistantship is granted for max. 5 years, with monthly amounts of INR 37,000 for 2 years and INR 42,000 for the following three years.
• During the tenure of the Institute Research Assistantship, no research student is allowed to receive any emoluments, salary, stipend, or other forms of financial support. 

2. Individual Fellowship (CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICAR/INSPIRE etc.)

• Must possess a valid award letter with a fellowship granted by the relevant funding agency (such as CSIR, UGC, DST, DBT, ICMR, etc.).
• Candidates accepted under the Individual Fellowship category are not eligible for Institute Research Assistantship.
• Applicants holding a provisional Individual Fellowship award letter must provide a declaration stating that "If the provisional fellowship award is revoked by the funding agency, admission to IIT Kharagpur's PhD program will be terminated from the enrollment date, and IIT Kharagpur bears no responsibility in such circumstances."

3. Sponsored PhD

• Individuals employed for at least two years in establishments such as experience in government ministries, R&D organizations, and reputable industries may qualify for admission to the PhD program as sponsored candidates.
• Must submit an NOC cum sponsorship certificate (Appendix I) for admission.
• Must present a certificate, from their employer upon joining the Institute, confirming that:

1. He/she has been officially released from his duties to join the program and has been granted leave for the required period
2. His/her services shall be retained with the employer.

• The minimum residential requirement is one year at a stretch subject to successful completion of the prescribed course work.
• A candidate sponsored by an industry/ R&D/ educational/ government organization having adequate research facilities may be allowed to work externally under some conditions.

4. PhD through Project

• Candidates on Institute-sponsored projects are eligible for PhD admission under the project category.
• Application must be submitted through the Principal Investigator, Head of Department/Centre/School, and Dean (R&D).
• The project should have a minimum remaining period of 2 years from the PhD program start date.

5. B.Tech from IIT

• BTech/ BS or Dual Degree (BTech + MTech or BS + MS) holders having a final CGPA equal to or more than 8.00 IITs will be given direct admission in PhD program with an Institute Research Assistantship.

6. PhD program for Working Professionals with Minimum Residential Requirements 

• BTech/ BE/ BS/ MSc or equivalent with CGPA ≥ 7.5 or 70% marks and 2 years of experience.
• For 2-10 years experience: BTech/ BE/ BS/ MSc/ MA with CGPA ≥ 7.5 or 70% marks.
• For ≥10 years experience: BTech/ BE/ BS/ MSc/ MA with CGPA ≥ 7.0 or 65% marks.
• For 2-15 years experience: BTech/ BE/ BS/ MSc/ MA/ MBA with CGPA ≥ 7.5 or 70% marks.
• For ≥15 years experience: BTech/ BE/ BS/ MSc/ MA/ MBA with CGPA ≥ 6.5 or 60% marks.
• MBBS: CGPA ≥ 6.5 or 60% marks with 5 years of experience.
• LLB: CGPA ≥ 6.0 or 55% marks with 10 years of experience.

Read More: IIT Kharagpur Reviews

IIT Kharagpur PhD Admission Guidelines

IIT KGP PhD Admission is based on the overall academic performance, written/computer-based test along with a Personal Interview (PI) as decided by the admission committee of IIT Kharagpur. 

How to Apply?

Below are the steps one can follow to fill out the IIT Kharagpur PhD Application:

1. Visit the official PhD portal of IIT Kharagpur i.e. www.iitkgp.ac.in/phd
2. Click on the link that reads, PhD Program (Regular, Sponsored, CSIR/UGC, INSPIRE Fellowship) - Apply Online
3. Register with Your Email ID and Login.
4. Fill appropriate and necessary information in the application form
5. After filling pay the application fee of INR 1000/- (INR 500/- for SC/ST/PWD/Females) via online payment gateway.
6. Submit the duly filled application form.
7. Download the final filled-up form and keep a printout for future reference.

Documents Required

• Class 10th & 12th Marksheets
• Graduation and Postgraduation Marksheets and Certificates
• Work Experience documents
• Agr Proof (Voter ID/Passport etc.)
• Caste Certificate (for reserved quota)

Read More: IIT Kharagpur Cutoff

IIT Kharagpur PhD Course Details

IIT Kharagpur has designed the curriculum for the PhD program in a way to makes the students well-equipped with the respective domains. The following departments are available in the IIT Kharagpur PhD course which offers various areas of research.

Read More: IIT Kharagpur Courses & Fees

IIT Kharagpur PhD FAQs