IIT Kanpur Ph.D. Admission 2026: Requirements and Written Test
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- 21 Oct 2025IIT Kanpur PhD Semester II portal opened
IIT Kanpur opened its online application portal for PhD and MS (By Research) admissions for Semester II with an application deadline of November 10, 2025. - 15 Oct 2025Chemical Engineering PhD spot admission deadline
Last date to submit online applications via Google Form for Chemical Engineering PhD spot admissions for the July 2026 session.
Non-sponsored regular Ph.D. scholars receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000 for the first two years, which increases to Rs. 42,000 for the remaining three years.
Candidates can review the detailed eligibility criteria, GATE exemption rules, written examination syllabus, application fee structure, fellowship details, and top doctoral institutes below.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Duration | 3 to 5 years |
| Application Fee (General / OBC / EWS) | INR 500 |
| Application Fee (SC / ST / DAP) | INR 250 |
| Monthly Assistantship (Years 1-2) | Rs. 37,000 per month |
| Monthly Assistantship (Years 3-5) | Rs. 42,000 per month |
| Minimum CPI for B.Tech/BS Graduates | 7.5 CPI (75% marks) + GATE |
| Written Test Syllabus Basis | GATE Syllabus |
Ph.D. Eligibility
Academic requirements at IIT Kanpur vary according to the applicant’s prior degree background. Candidates holding a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science need a minimum of 75% marks or a 7.5 CPI, alongside a valid GATE score. However, B.Tech or BS graduates from Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs), IITs, NITs, and IISERs who satisfy the required CPI threshold are exempt from submitting a GATE score.
For Master’s degree holders in Science, Arts, or Commerce, the minimum academic requirement is 65% marks or a 6.5 CPI, along with a valid national test score such as GATE, NET, JRF, CAT, GMAT, or CEED. The national exam requirement is waived for Master’s graduates from IITs, IISERs, NITs, or CFTIs who possess a CPI of 8.0 or higher.
Ph.D. Entrance Exams
Shortlisted applicants are required to complete a multi-stage evaluation process on the IIT Kanpur campus. The first round comprises an in-person departmental written test designed to test foundational knowledge.
Candidates who qualify in the written test advance to the second round, which consists of an oral interview focused on subject fundamentals and research aptitude.
| Selection Round | Format & Mode | Evaluation Syllabus / Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Shortlisting | Screening of Online Applications | Academic CPI, GATE/NET score, research background |
| Stage 2: Written Test (1st Round) | In-Person Written Exam at IIT Kanpur | Respective Discipline GATE Syllabus |
| Stage 3: Oral Interview (2nd Round) | In-Person Interview | Subject Fundamentals & Research Aptitude |
Ph.D. Application Process
Candidates applying for Ph.D. admission must submit their registration forms electronically through the official IIT Kanpur post-graduate portal. Candidates seeking consideration in more than one academic department or interdisciplinary program must fill out and submit separate online application forms for each discipline.
The registration fee is payable via the online payment gateway integrated within the application portal. Category-wise fee relaxations are implemented in accordance with government standards. Foreign national applicants are fully exempted from paying any application fee.
| Category | Application Fee (INR) | Mode of Payment |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC / OBC-NCL | INR 500 | Online Payment Gateway |
| SC / ST / DAP (Differently Abled) | INR 250 | Online Payment Gateway |
| Foreign Nationals | Nil (Exempted) | N/A |
Ph.D. Monthly Fellowship and Institute Assistantship
All non-sponsored Ph.D. students receive an Institute Assistantship or Scholarship according to official IIT Kanpur norms. Financial support for Ph.D. scholars is Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years, increasing to Rs. 42,000 per month for the subsequent three years.
Top Ph.D. Colleges
Across India, at least 3561 colleges offer doctoral programs, including 287 government institutions and 1129 private institutions. For government colleges, the median total course fee stands at ₹71,600, with the middle half ranging between ₹34,582 and ₹1.16 lakh across 126 colleges with fee data. Private colleges feature a median total course fee of ₹1.85 lakh, with the middle half falling between ₹90,270 and ₹3.00 lakh across 249 colleges with fee data.
The distribution by state highlights high concentrations, with Maharashtra leading at 609 colleges, followed by Tamil Nadu with 538, Karnataka with 352, Uttar Pradesh with 287, Gujarat with 222, and Rajasthan with 188 colleges. The median average placement package across 9 reporting institutions is 6.47 LPA.
| 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
- Register on Portal: Register on the official IIT Kanpur admission portal to begin the application process.
- Verify Email ID: Verify the registered email address used for all official correspondence.
- Fill Online Application Form: Complete the online application form with accurate details, submitting separate forms for each program or department.
- Pay Application Fee: Pay INR 500 (General/EWS/OBC/OBC-NCL) or INR 250 (SC/ST/DAP) via the online payment gateway; foreign nationals are exempt.
- Submit Application: Submit the finished online application form and keep a copy for future reference.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| application | IIT Kanpur PG Admission Portal | iitk.ac.in |
Applicants must complete all submission steps online through the official portal. Separate application forms are required for every department or program selected.
FAQs
What are the admission requirements for a PhD program at IIT Kanpur?
Candidates require a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with 65% / 6.5 CPI or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree with 75% / 7.5 CPI, alongside a valid GATE, NET, JRF, CAT, GMAT, or CEED score.
Do PhD students get paid at IIT Kanpur?
Yes, non-sponsored regular Ph.D. scholars receive an Institute Assistantship of Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years, which is enhanced to Rs. 42,000 per month for the next three years.
What is the syllabus for the IIT Kanpur PhD written test?
For subjects such as Mathematics and Statistics, the syllabus for the departmental PhD written examination matches the GATE 2025 syllabus of the respective discipline.
Can I get PhD admission at IIT Kanpur without a GATE score?
Yes, GATE is waived for CFTI, IIT, NIT, and IISER graduates with a CPI of 7.5+ (for B.Tech/BS) or 8.0+ (for Master’s degree holders).
How much is the application fee for IIT Kanpur PhD admission?
The application fee is INR 500 for General/EWS/OBC candidates and INR 250 for SC/ST/DAP candidates. Foreign nationals do not pay any fee.
