IIIT Hyderabad Ph.D Humanities: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The Ph.D. in Humanities (offered as Ph.D. in Human Sciences) at IIIT Hyderabad is a full-time, research-based doctoral programme offered through the Human Sciences Research Group (HSRG). The programme is designed for researchers interested in developing new methodologies and epistemologies at the intersection of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Computer Sciences. The typical duration is a minimum of 4 years (1 year of coursework plus 3 years of research), with most students expected to submit within 5 years. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 60,000, and all full-time Ph.D. students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000. The programme is unique in India for its emphasis on Computational Social Sciences and multidisciplinary research at the confluence of Human Sciences and Computer Sciences. Admission is through submission of a research proposal and interview, not through the standard PGEE written exam.

Admissions for the Monsoon 2026 batch are currently open. The PGEE 2026 application portal opened on February 20, 2026, and the last date to apply is March 31, 2026. Ph.D. interviews on campus are scheduled for June 12 and 13, 2026. Applicants for the Human Sciences programme are required to submit a research statement after the application deadline; shortlisting for the interview is based on CV and research statement.

Key Points

The programme is offered through the Human Sciences Research Group (HSRG) at IIIT Hyderabad, which encourages interdisciplinary research at the confluence of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Computer Sciences.
The admission process for Ph.D. in Human Sciences is unique: applicants must submit a 2,000-word research proposal along with a CV. There is no written subject test; shortlisting is based on the proposal and CV.
The programme strongly encourages work in Computational Social Sciences, making it distinct from traditional Humanities Ph.D. programmes in India.
Ph.D. candidates take courses to strengthen research skills and lay a deep foundation in their area of work, followed by a Comprehensive Exam to evaluate readiness for research.
Students are expected to publish and present findings in top-rated journals and conferences, and contribute to related projects within HSRG and the Institute.
All full-time Ph.D. students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000, along with travel support for presenting research at reputed conferences.
B.Tech graduates with at least five years of work experience are also eligible to apply, making this programme accessible to working professionals with a strong research interest.

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IIIT Hyderabad Latest Updates and News

06 Apr, 2026 IIIT Hyderabad has released Fee structure 2026 for Ph.D Humanities programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.8 Lakhs. Check details.

IIIT Hyderabad Ph.D. (Humanities) Fees

The Ph.D. in Human Sciences at IIIT Hyderabad is financially accessible, with an annual tuition fee of Rs. 60,000 and a monthly stipend that effectively offsets the tuition cost. Hostel and mess charges are additional and are paid semester-wise before the start of each semester.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount
Tuition Fee (per year)	Rs. 60,000
Hostel Charges (approx., per month)	Rs. 6,000
Mess Charges (approx., per month)	Rs. 5,000
Application Fee (non-refundable)	Rs. 3,100
Total Tuition Fee (for 5 years)	Rs. 3,00,000

Hostel and mess charges are paid semester-wise before the start of each semester.
These are not mandatory but are available on campus.
The monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000 is provided to all full-time Ph.D. students, subject to satisfactory academic and research performance.
Students are required to contribute approximately 20 hours of work per week (TA/RA duties) to continue receiving the stipend.
The application fee of Rs. 3,100 is non-refundable.
Financial assistance (tuition support) is available for students with family income below Rs. 8 lakhs per annum from the 2nd semester onwards, through the IIITH Alumni Fund on a pay-it-forward basis.
SBI Scholar Loan is also available for students who need additional financial support.

IIIT Hyderabad Ph.D. (Humanities) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Human Sciences at IIIT Hyderabad are conducted twice a year: Monsoon (July) and Winter (January). Unlike other Ph.D. programmes at IIIT-H, the Human Sciences programme does not require a written subject test in PGEE. Instead, applicants must submit a research statement/proposal after the application deadline, and shortlisting for the interview is based on CV and research statement. For Monsoon 2026, the application portal is currently open with a deadline of March 31, 2026, and Ph.D. interviews are scheduled for June 12 and 13, 2026.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Application Portal Opens	February 20, 2026
Application Portal Closes	March 31, 2026
Research Statement Submission	After application deadline (as notified)
Ph.D. Interviews (On-Campus)	June 12 and 13, 2026
Commencement of Classes (Monsoon)	July 2026 (tentative)

Exam / Selection Process

Exam / Test	Details	Remarks
PGEE (General Aptitude)	No subject test required for Human Sciences	Applicants apply through PGEE portal but are not required to appear for a subject test
Research Proposal / Statement	2,000-word research proposal + CV	Mandatory for shortlisting; submitted after application deadline
On-Campus Interview	June 12 and 13, 2026	Final selection based solely on interview performance

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold an MPhil or M.A. in any discipline of the Humanities or Social Sciences, or an MPhil/M.Sc./M.S./M.Tech with a research thesis.
B.E./B.Tech graduates with at least five years of relevant work experience are also eligible to apply.
A minimum of 60% marks (or equivalent CGPA) in the qualifying degree is required.
NET-qualified candidates with current validity are eligible to be shortlisted for Ph.D. interviews without appearing for the PGEE exam.

Admission Process:

Register and fill the online application form on the IIIT Hyderabad admissions portal (admportal.iiit.ac.in).
Pay the non-refundable application fee of Rs. 3,100.
Upload required documents: Resume/CV, detailed marksheet of qualifying degree, and photograph.
After the application deadline, submit a 2,000-word research proposal in PDF format (English, 12-point Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing, with candidate name in header).
The proposal must include: a detailed exposition of the research question, an overview of existing literature, how the proposed research adds to knowledge or addresses research gaps, and reasons for wanting to locate the Ph.D. at HSRG/IIIT Hyderabad.
Shortlisted candidates are invited to the IIIT Hyderabad campus for an interview.
Final selection is based solely on interview performance; the decision of the interview committee is final.
Alternatively, candidates who have worked with HSRG faculty on a research project may be proposed through the Standing Committee for Research Programmes.

IIIT Hyderabad Ph.D. (Humanities) Scholarships 2026

IIIT Hyderabad provides strong financial support to Ph.D. students in Human Sciences. All full-time Ph.D. students receive an institutional stipend, and exceptional candidates may be considered for the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) or corporate fellowships. The stipend structure ensures that most students can pursue their research without financial burden.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
IIIT Hyderabad Institutional Stipend	Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month	All full-time Ph.D. students (subject to satisfactory performance)
Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF)	Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 80,000 per month + Rs. 2 lakh/year research grant	Candidates with outstanding academic record; applied separately through PMRF portal
Corporate Fellowships (Google, TCS, etc.)	Rs. 50,000 per month (varies)	Awarded to select Ph.D. students based on research excellence
IIITH Alumni Fund (Financial Assistance)	Tuition support (need-based)	Students with family income below Rs. 8 lakhs per annum; from 2nd semester onwards

The institutional stipend requires students to contribute approximately 20 hours per week in TA/RA duties.
PMRF applications are made separately through the official PMRF portal (pmrf.in) and are not part of the PGEE process.
Travel support is provided to all Ph.D. students to present research at reputed international conferences.
The Alumni Fund operates on a pay-it-forward basis: recipients agree to support another student's tuition after graduation and employment.
For further details on financial assistance, candidates may write to pgadmissions@iiit.ac.in.

IIIT Hyderabad Ph.D. (Humanities) FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Human Sciences at IIIT Hyderabad the same as a traditional Humanities Ph.D.?

Ans. Not exactly. While it covers Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines, the programme at IIIT Hyderabad is distinctly interdisciplinary and strongly encourages work at the confluence of Human Sciences and Computer Sciences, including Computational Social Sciences. It is designed for researchers who want to study the human world using both traditional HS methods and computational approaches, making it quite different from a conventional Humanities Ph.D.

Ques. Do I need to appear for the PGEE written exam to apply for the Ph.D. in Human Sciences?

Ans. No. Unlike other Ph.D. programmes at IIIT Hyderabad, the Human Sciences programme does not require a written subject test. Applicants apply through the PGEE portal but are shortlisted based on their CV and a 2,000-word research proposal submitted after the application deadline. Shortlisted candidates are then called for an on-campus interview.

Ques. Can a B.Tech graduate apply for the Ph.D. in Human Sciences at IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. Yes, but with a condition. B.E./B.Tech graduates are eligible to apply only if they have at least five years of relevant work experience. Candidates with an M.A., MPhil, or M.Sc./M.Tech with a research thesis can apply directly without the work experience requirement.

Ques. What kind of research proposal is expected for the Ph.D. in Human Sciences application?

Ans. The proposal should be approximately 2,000 words and must include: a detailed exposition of the research question, an overview of existing literature, a discussion on how the proposed research adds to knowledge or addresses research gaps, the candidate's disciplinary location, sources/archives/data to be used, and reasons for wanting to pursue the Ph.D. at HSRG/IIIT Hyderabad. It should be submitted in PDF format in English, 12-point Times New Roman, with 1.5 line spacing.

Ques. What are the career prospects after a Ph.D. in Human Sciences from IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in academia (faculty positions at universities and research institutes), policy research, UX research, computational social science research, think tanks, and interdisciplinary research roles in the tech industry. The programme's unique positioning at the intersection of Humanities and Computer Sciences opens doors to roles in AI ethics, digital humanities, human-computer interaction research, and social computing.

Ques. How is the Ph.D. in Human Sciences structured at IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. The programme consists of one year of coursework to build research skills and a strong foundation in the candidate's area of work, followed by a Comprehensive Exam to assess readiness for research. After clearing the Comprehensive Exam, students proceed to full-time research and writing. The minimum duration is 4 years, and most students are expected to submit their thesis within 5 years of admission.

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IIIT Hyderabad: 2 Answered Questions

How is IIIT Hyderabad's MSIT course for a non it student ? What sort of companies recruit from the MSIT course??

Anupama Chauhanstudied at International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad

IIIT Hyderabad MSIT course is perfect for someone who has a flawed academic profile like a gap year or something. People like these have very limited opportunities so this course might uplift their chances of getting placed decently. However, since you specifically asked, this course is not a good option if you have an IT background. This is because the curriculum is repetitive and covered in a shorter duration. Also, if you are employed, it’s better to invest your efforts in improving your work experience than wasting time on this course.

The placements are decent and in fact, during the first phase, you might get into top IT giants like Amazon, Salesforce, American Express, etc. But if you fail to get placed in these then the only option left is to get into service sector-based companies.

So, this course is best suited for those who are looking for a means to upgrade their academic profile.

Which college should I choose between IIT, Hyderabad & IIIT, Hyderabad for a CSE course?

Divya SarafLives in Hyderabad

Had I been in your place, I would have chosen IIIT Hyderabad over IIT Hyderabad. While both colleges offer a good CS program, IIIT Hyderabad is the clear winner when it comes to CS. Consider the following points of comparison

IIT Hyderabad is a new IIt, so choosing it just because of the IIt tag would be a blunder.
IIT Hyderabad is still in its development phase and its campus still needs a few more facilities to become full-fledged operating.
IIIT Hyderabad has a better religion and brand name among the IT giants and therefore its placement scenario is way better than IIT Hyderabad.
IIIT Hyderabad is well-known for its achievements in competitions like ACM ICPC and GSOC.

I have my cousins in both the institutes and from their discussions I have concluded that IIIT Hyderabad leads in CS opportunities.