IIT Madras PhD, MS research applications open: apply by October 30

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has initiated the application process for its PhD and MS by Research programmes for the January 2027 academic session. Prospective candidates seeking advanced academic work and research opportunities must submit their applications online by October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

This admission cycle is crucial for thousands of postgraduate aspirants aiming to pursue research at an institution renowned for its academic programmes and extensive research in frontier areas. The institute, established in 1959, supports over 5200 post-graduate students and 692 academic staff, with research often leading to publications in international and national journals and patents.

Application Process and Fees

Applications for the January 2027 intake are exclusively accepted through the online mode, and no hard copy applications will be entertained. Candidates applying to multiple departments or research programmes are required to register individual applications and pay separate fees for each.

The application fees vary based on the candidate’s category and are non-refundable. The OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate and Income & Assets certificate for the EWS category, issued after April 1, 2026 (for the financial year 2025-2026), must be submitted at the time of interview or admission.

The application window for these programmes opened on April 10, 2026, and will conclude on October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Candidates are advised to complete their applications well in advance of the deadline.

Selection Process and Eligibility

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written test and/or interview conducted by the Selection Committees of their respective departments. A departmental test will be conducted for candidates who obtained their undergraduate or postgraduate qualifying degree 10 years prior to the last date for application. Applications from foreign nationals may be considered without a personal interview or test.

Reservation policies are applicable as per Government of India rules. Candidates called for PhD or Direct PhD interviews under the Regular (HTRA) category are eligible for second sleeper class single to and fro rail or bus fare reimbursement. The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department has updated details regarding the interview procedure for MS, PhD, Direct PhD, and Ext/PT/Project admissions on its website.

Minimum eligibility criteria vary by category and programme, often including specific marks in qualifying degrees, valid GATE scores, or UGC-NET qualifications. For instance, the CSE department specifies different cut-offs for General, OBC-NCL/EWS, and SC/ST/PwD categories across PhD, MS, and Direct PhD admissions.

For MS admissions in the CSE department, candidates must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

Direct PhD admissions in CSE also have distinct criteria:

Assistantships and Documentation

Scholars admitted to PhD and MS programmes under the Regular scheme are eligible for Half-Time Research Assistantship (HTRA). PhD HTRA scholars will receive an Institute Fellowship of Rs. 37,000 per month for the first two years, increasing to Rs. 42,000 per month for the subsequent three years. MS by Research HTRA Scholars are eligible for an Institute Fellowship of Rs. 12,400 per month for an initial two years, with a possible extension of an additional six months based on a specific recommendation from the Graduate Training Committee (GTC).

Candidates employed on an IIT Madras project can apply for admission to the MS programme if they have a minimum of six months of project experience and a valid GATE score. At the time of admission, candidates must submit original mark/grade sheets and provisional certificates. Degree certificates must be produced within three months from the date of registration, specifically by March 31 for January admissions.

Further reading

• Science Academies Summer Research Fellowship 2027 applications open: apply by 30 November
• Anganwadi Recruitment 2026 applications ongoing: apply by October 21 for Kaushambi UP
• DRDO CASDIC internship 2026 applications open: apply by October 11
• RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 applications open for 590 posts; apply by October 14
• UPSC direct recruitment 2026 applications open for 13 posts; apply by October 16

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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