IIT Delhi Ph.D. Admission 2026: Dates and Selection Criteria
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- 11 Apr 2026IIT Delhi PhD 2026 application last date announced
The online submission window for Semester I doctoral admissions closes at 4:00 PM. - 21 Mar 2026IIT Delhi PhD 2026 application portal opened online
Applications for PG and doctoral programmes for the 2026-27 session (Semester I) were activated at 12:00 noon.
IIT Delhi Ph.D. admission 2026 (Semester I) online applications opened on March 21, 2026 (12:00 PM), with the last date to apply being April 11, 2026 (4:00 PM). Candidates require a relevant Master’s degree with 60% aggregate or B.Tech with 70% aggregate along with a valid GATE, CSIR NET, or UGC NET score.
Applicants paying the ₹200 application fee (₹50 for reserved categories) can explore doctoral research programs across engineering, sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary fields. Below is a detailed breakdown of eligibility criteria, entrance exam exemptions, fee waivers, application steps, and top doctoral institutions.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date (Sem I) | March 21, 2026 (12:00 PM) |
| Application Last Date (Sem I) | April 11, 2026 (4:00 PM) |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (General/OBC/EWS) / ₹50 (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Minimum Qualification (Master’s Degree) | 60% aggregate or 6.00 CGPA on 10-point scale |
| Minimum Qualification (B.Tech Degree) | 70% aggregate or 7.00 CGPA on 10-point scale |
| CFTI / IIT Direct Admission Threshold | CGPA 8.0 or above (GATE score waived) |
| Selection Process | National Entrance Exam Score + Written Test & Interview |
Ph.D. Eligibility
Full-time Ph.D. admission at IIT Delhi requires a Master’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Science, or Humanities with a minimum of 60% aggregate or a 6.00/10 CGPA. Applicants entering directly with a B.Tech or BE degree must score at least 70% aggregate or a 7.00/10 CGPA.
Specific exemptions exist for high-performing graduates from Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) and IITs. B.Tech graduates from CFTIs holding a CGPA of 8.0 or above at the end of their 6th semester, as well as MA and MSc graduates from IITs with a CGPA of 8.0 or higher, qualify directly for interviews without national entrance scores.
| Qualifying Degree | Minimum Aggregate / CGPA | National Entrance Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree (Engg / Tech / Sci / Humanities) | 60% aggregate or 6.00/10 CGPA | GATE / CSIR NET / UGC NET / ICMR (if applicable) |
| B.Tech / BE or Equivalent Degree | 70% aggregate or 7.00/10 CGPA | GATE / CEED / CSIR / UGC NET compulsory |
| B.Tech / BE / Integrated M.Tech from CFTIs | CGPA 8.0/10 or above (6th sem onwards) | Waived (Direct Interview) |
| MA / MSc Graduates from IITs | CGPA 8.0/10 or above | Waived (Direct Interview) |
| MBBS / MD Degree Holders | 60% aggregate | ICMR for MBBS; Merit-based for MD |
Ph.D. Entrance Exams
Candidates applying without an M.Tech degree must clear national competitive examinations such as GATE, CEED, UGC NET, CSIR NET, DBT, ICMR, or hold an INSPIRE Fellowship. M.Tech degree holders qualify directly based on their post-graduate academic record and departmental screening tests.
The Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) department conducts specialized written tests for Philosophy Ph.D. applicants based on syllabus reading materials in May 2026. The minimum program duration is two years for M.Tech holders and three years for B.Tech entrants, with a maximum allowable period of seven years for thesis submission.
| Admission Category | National Exams Accepted | Selection Stages |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (with M.Tech degree) | M.Tech qualification | Written Test + Personal Interview |
| Full-time (without M.Tech degree) | GATE / CEED / UGC NET / CSIR NET / ICMR / DBT / INSPIRE | Score Screening + Written Test + Interview |
| Part-time / Sponsored Applicants | Relevant degree + Work Experience | Written Test + Personal Interview |
| Joint PhD (UQ / NCTU Taiwan) | Qualifying Degree + Research Aptitude | Parent Institute Written Test & Interview |
Ph.D. Application Process
| Qualifying Degree | Sponsoring / Parent Institution | Min. Work Experience Required |
|---|---|---|
| ME / M.Tech / MS (Research) / MD | Any Recognized Institution | Not Required |
| BE / B.Tech / MSc / MA / MBA / MBBS | CFTIs / Central Universities | 1 Year |
| BE / B.Tech / MSc / MA / MBA / MBBS | IIT Delhi (Project or Regular Staff) | 1 Year |
| BE / B.Tech / MSc / MA / MBA / MBBS | Other Recognized Institutions | 2 Years |
Applicants must complete the process online at www.iitd.ac.in by registering, filling in academic details, and uploading required documents. The submission is completed by paying the application fee of ₹200 (₹50 for SC/ST/PwD) online, without submitting any hard copy.
Top Ph.D. Colleges
Across India, at least 3561 colleges offer Ph.D. degrees, comprising 287 government institutions and 1129 private institutions. Government colleges report a median total course fee of ₹71,600, with the middle half ranging from ₹34,582 to ₹1.16 lakh across 126 reporting institutions. Private colleges report a median course fee of ₹1.85 lakh, spanning between ₹90,270 and ₹3.00 lakh across 249 institutions. The overall median placement package across 9 reporting institutions stands at 6.47 LPA.
Prominent states providing doctoral education include Maharashtra with 609 colleges, Tamil Nadu with 538 colleges, Karnataka with 352 colleges, Uttar Pradesh with 287 colleges, Gujarat with 222 colleges, and Rajasthan with 188 colleges. Candidates evaluating doctoral options can review leading government, NIRF-ranked, and private institutions across major education hubs.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Science | Bangalore | — | ₹89,200 | 1 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras | Chennai | Government | ₹30,850 | 1 (Overall, 2025) |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | Delhi | Government | — | 2 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | Mumbai | Government | ₹70,200 | 3 (Overall, 2024) |
| Manipal University Manipal | Manipal | — | ₹59,000 | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Punjab Agricultural University | Ludhiana | — | ₹1.76 lakh | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Jamia Millia Islamia University | Delhi | Government | ₹27,740 | 4 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur | Kanpur | Government | ₹52,200 | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹7,130 | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | Roorkee | — | ₹85,800 | 6 (Overall, 2025) |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Kolkata | Kolkata | Government | ₹5,000 |
| Bharathi Women’s College | Chennai | Government | ₹5,105 |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi | Delhi | Government | ₹5,215 |
| Gulbarga University | Gulbarga | Government | ₹6,545 |
| Govt. Raza Post Graduate College | Rampur | Government | ₹6,810 |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹7,130 |
| Calicut University | Calicut | Government | ₹7,130 |
| Bastar University | Bastar | Government | ₹7,170 |
| Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research | Chandigarh | Government | ₹7,410 |
| Government Thakur Ranmat Singh College | Rewa | Government | ₹7,777 |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani | Pilani | Private | ₹1.84 lakh |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Private | ₹3.60 lakh |
| VIT University Chennai | Chennai | Private | ₹1.33 lakh |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | Patiala | Private | ₹69,000 |
| Chebrolu Hanumaiah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Guntur | Private | ₹1.05 lakh |
| Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad | Dhanbad | Private | ₹50,400 |
| Uttaranchal University | Dehradun | Private | ₹3.59 lakh |
| Marwadi University | Rajkot | Private | ₹2.25 lakh |
| SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Navi Mumbai | Navi Mumbai | Private | ₹3.00 lakh |
| Doon Business School | Dehradun | Private | ₹3.30 lakh |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 179 | ₹50,000 – ₹8.75 lakh | Alliance University, Christ University |
| Pune | 173 | ₹52,785 – ₹5.16 lakh | Symbiosis Law School Pune, Armed Forces Medical College |
| Mumbai | 149 | ₹7,923 – ₹33.82 lakh | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies |
| Chennai | 135 | ₹5,105 – ₹7.50 lakh | Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences |
| Coimbatore | 114 | ₹36,500 – ₹9.34 lakh | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, P.S.G College of Technology |
| Delhi | 77 | ₹5,215 – ₹7.50 lakh | All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia University |
| Jaipur | 76 | ₹30,970 – ₹45.00 lakh | Manipal University Jaipur, University of Rajasthan |
| Hyderabad | 69 | ₹35,000 – ₹5.20 lakh | University of Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad |
| College | City | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|
| IIHMR University | Jaipur | ₹4.00 lakh |
| Indian School of Business Management & Administration | Kolkata | ₹69,900 |
| Indian Institute of Business Management and Studies | Mumbai | ₹75,800 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Sri City | Sri City | ₹1.83 lakh |
| Shyam University | Dausa | ₹3.15 lakh |
| Birla Institute of Technology Mesra | Ranchi | ₹1.99 lakh |
How to Apply for Ph.D. Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Eligibility Criteria: Verify if you hold a Master’s degree with 60% marks (or B.Tech with 70% marks) and have qualified in GATE, CEED, UGC NET, CSIR NET, ICMR, or DBT exam.
- Access Admission Portal: Visit the official portal at www.iitd.ac.in, click on ‘Admissions’ and select ‘Announcements’ to access the application link between March 21, 2026 and April 11, 2026.
- Register and Complete Application: Register as a new user, fill in personal credentials, qualifying degree details, and select your target research department/school.
- Upload Required Documents: Upload scanned copies of Aadhaar/Passport, marksheets, degree certificates, national exam scorecard, category certificate, and NOC or Sponsorship letter if applying under part-time/sponsored mode.
- Pay Application Fee: Pay ₹200 (General/OBC/EWS) or ₹50 (SC/ST/PwD) through online net banking, debit card, or credit card before April 11, 2026 (4:00 PM).
- Appear for Written Test and Interview: Shortlisted candidates must appear for the department-specific written test and personal interview (held during May 2026 for Semester I).
FAQs
IIT Delhi Ph.D. Admission 2026 Last Date
The last date to submit online applications for IIT Delhi Ph.D. admission 2026 for Semester I is April 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Online applications opened on March 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM through the official institute portal.
Is NET Compulsory for Ph.D.?
National exams like GATE, CSIR NET, or UGC NET are required for candidates without M.Tech degrees. However, CFTI graduates with a CGPA of 8.0 or above and IIT MA or MSc holders meeting CGPA requirements receive entrance exam waivers and qualify directly for interviews.
What is Ph.D. Eligibility at IIT Delhi?
Eligibility requires a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 60% aggregate or 6.00/10 CGPA. Alternatively, candidates with a B.Tech or BE degree require at least 70% aggregate or 7.00/10 CGPA alongside a valid national competitive exam scorecard.
Do You Need a Master’s to Get a Ph.D.?
No, direct Ph.D. entry after B.Tech is permitted at IIT Delhi. Candidates must score at least 70% aggregate or 7.00/10 CGPA in their B.Tech degree and hold a valid GATE, CEED, CSIR NET, or UGC NET score to qualify for admission screening.
What are the Fees for a Ph.D. Program in India at IIT Delhi?
The online application fee is ₹200 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, and ₹50 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Furthermore, admitted candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories are fully exempted from paying tuition fees throughout their doctoral program.
How Many Years is a Ph.D. at IIT Delhi?
The minimum Ph.D. duration is two years for candidates entering with an M.Tech degree and three years for those entering with a B.Tech degree. All registered doctoral candidates are granted a maximum duration of seven years to complete and submit their research thesis.
