IIT Patna Ph.D. Admission 2026: Shortlist and Interview Schedule
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- 1 Dec 2025Tentative release of Ph.D. admission offer letters
Official admission offer letters will be issued tentatively starting December 1, 2025. - 21 Nov 2025IIT Patna Ph.D. admission tentative result declaration date
Selected candidate shortlist and merit list results are scheduled for release on November 21, 2025. - 10 Nov 2025IIT Patna Ph.D. exam and interview window commences
Department-level written tests and interviews are conducted from November 10 to November 15, 2025. - 31 Oct 2025Call letters issued for IIT Patna Ph.D. shortlist
Shortlisted candidates received official call letters for the departmental written test and interview round. - 22 Oct 2025IIT Patna Ph.D. 2026 application process closed
The deadline to submit online application forms and SBI Collect receipts ended at 11:59 PM. - 22 Sep 2025IIT Patna Ph.D. 2026 online application window opened
IIT Patna started accepting online applications for Ph.D. programs across Regular, Sponsored, and Employed categories.
IIT Patna issued Ph.D. admission call letters on October 31, 2025, with written exams and interviews conducted between November 10 and November 15, 2025. Tentative results are scheduled for release on November 21, 2025, followed by offer letters on December 1, 2025.
Below is the complete guide covering the interview schedule, eligibility criteria, department lists, application steps, required documents, and top Ph.D. colleges in India.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna |
| Application Fee (General/OBC/EWS) | Rs 1,000 |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwD/Women/Transgender) | Rs 500 |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 60% marks or 6.5 CPI |
| Upper Age Limit (TA – M.Tech/M.E.) | 32 years |
| Upper Age Limit (TA – B.Tech/M.Sc./MA/MCA) | 28 years |
| Interview Schedule Window | November 10 – 15, 2025 |
Ph.D. Eligibility
To qualify for admission, candidates must hold a minimum of 60% marks or a 6.5 CPI in their qualifying degree. Age criteria vary based on candidate stream and fellowship category for Teaching Assistantship (TA) positions.
Applicants in the TA category holding B.Tech, M.Sc., MA, or MCA degrees must not exceed 28 years of age. For those holding M.Tech, M.E., M.S., or M.Phil degrees, the upper age limit is 32 years. An age relaxation of up to 5 years applies to SC, ST, OBC (NCL), PwD, and Women candidates. Research or Project Fellows follow funding agency norms or institute rules.
Direct Ph.D. admission without a written test is available for CFTI B.Tech/BS graduates within the last 5 years who meet the required CGPA. Direct admission is also granted to IIT or IISc Master’s graduates within the last 5 years possessing a CGPA of 8.5 or higher.
| Qualifying Degree / Category | Maximum Age Limit | Applicable Relaxations |
|---|---|---|
| TA Category – B.Tech / M.Sc. / MA / MCA | 28 years (as on application deadline) | 5 years for SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/PwD/Women |
| TA Category – M.Tech / M.E. / M.S. / M.Phil | 32 years (as on application deadline) | 5 years for SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/PwD/Women |
| Research or Project Fellows | As per funding agency norms | Institute norms applied if funding agency specifies none |
Ph.D. Entrance Exams
A valid GATE score is a mandatory prerequisite for candidates applying under the Institute Fellow (IF) category. Applicants can also qualify through national tests such as NET, depending on department guidelines and candidate category.
Candidates who graduated with a B.Tech or BS from a CFTI within the last 5 years with qualifying CGPA, or Master’s graduates from an IIT or IISc within the last 5 years with a CGPA of 8.5 or higher, are eligible for direct admission without taking the institute written examination.
Ph.D. Application Process
Candidates must register and complete their application online through the official portal before October 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM. The application fee must be remitted via SBI Collect online payment portal prior to submitting the form.
General, OBC, and EWS category applicants pay an application fee of Rs 1,000. Candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwD, Women, and Transgender categories pay Rs 500.
Documents Required
- Physical copies of original mark sheets and certificates
- GATE or NET score card
- No Objection Certificate (NOC), if required
- Caste certificate, if required
- Copy of the application
Candidates must carry physical copies of original documents along with their application to the written test or interview. Final selection depends on departmental written test and interview performance.
Top Ph.D. Colleges
At least 3561 colleges offer Ph.D. programs across India, including 287 government institutions and 1129 private institutions. Government colleges have a median total course fee of ₹71,600, with the middle half ranging between ₹34,582 and ₹1.16 lakh based on data from 126 institutions. Private colleges record a median total course fee of ₹1.85 lakh, with the middle half spanning ₹90,270 to ₹3.00 lakh across 249 institutions.
Key states with high institutional presence include Maharashtra with 609 colleges, Tamil Nadu with 538, Karnataka with 352, Uttar Pradesh with 287, Gujarat with 222, and Rajasthan with 188. Across 9 reported colleges, the median average placement package stands at 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
- Pay Application Fee via SBI Collect: Pay Rs 1,000 (General/OBC/EWS) or Rs 500 (SC/ST/PwD/Women/Transgender) through online SBI Collect payment portal and save the e-receipt.
- Submit Online Application Form: Fill out the online application form on the official website (iitp.ac.in), uploading the SBI e-receipt and requisite academic documents before October 22, 2025 (11:59 PM).
- Download Call Letter: Shortlisted candidates download their official examination/interview call letters issued on October 31, 2025.
- Attend Written Test and Interview: Appear for the department written examination and/or interview between November 10 and November 15, 2025, carrying physical original documents and application copies.
- Check Results and Receive Offer Letter: Check tentative selection results published on November 21, 2025, and receive the tentative admission offer letter released on December 1, 2025.
FAQs
What is the application fee for IIT Patna Ph.D. admission 2026?
General, OBC, and EWS candidates pay Rs 1,000 for the application fee, while SC, ST, PwD, Women, and Transgender applicants pay Rs 500. All applicants must process their application fee online through the official SBI Collect portal and preserve the generated e-receipt.
What is the age limit for IIT Patna Ph.D. admission 2026?
For Teaching Assistantship category applicants, the upper age limit is 28 years for B.Tech, M.Sc., MA, or MCA degree holders, and 32 years for M.Tech, M.E., M.S., or M.Phil graduates. Candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (NCL), PwD, and Women categories receive up to 5 years of age relaxation.
Is GATE mandatory for Ph.D. admission at IIT Patna?
A valid GATE score is a mandatory prerequisite for Institute Fellow category applicants. However, direct Ph.D. admission without a written test is available for qualified CFTI B.Tech or BS graduates, as well as Master’s degree holders from IITs or IISc within the last 5 years with required academic performance.
When are the interview dates for IIT Patna Ph.D. 2026?
Shortlisted candidates download call letters issued on October 31, 2025. Departmental written examinations and personal interviews are conducted between November 10 and November 15, 2025. Tentative selection results are declared on November 21, 2025, followed by official offer letter releases on December 1, 2025.
Which departments offer Ph.D. at IIT Patna?
IIT Patna offers Ph.D. programs across diverse academic streams. These include Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Humanities and Social Sciences.
