IIT Delhi offers a full-time PhD program across more than 30 academic units covering Engineering, Sciences, Humanities, Management, and Policy. Duration is typically 4 to 5 years with a 3-year minimum. Annual fees range from INR 39,150 to INR 87,900 in the first year. Admission is through GATE, CSIR, or UGC-NET. Fellowship support of INR 37,000 to INR 42,000 per month is available to eligible scholars.
📋 Admission Status: Admissions expected to open October 2026 (Tentative).
Key Points
- Joint PhD programs with Sorbonne University and NYCU Taiwan allow scholars to spend part of their tenure at a partner institution abroad.
- PMRF pays INR 70,000 per month plus INR 2 Lakh per year in contingency grants to top-ranked GATE entrants.
- Part-time PhD mode is available for working professionals in select departments.
IIT Delhi PhD Fees 2026
Standard programs carry a first-year fee of INR 39,150 and INR 22,500 per year thereafter. Technology-intensive programs carry INR 87,900 in Year 1 and INR 49,250 per year thereafter. Fellowship stipends offset most of these costs.
| PhD Program | Year 1 Fee | Year 2 Onward (per year) |
|---|
| Ph.D (Chemical Engineering) | INR 39,150 | INR 22,500 |
| Ph.D (Computer Science and Engineering) | INR 39,150 | INR 22,500 |
| Ph.D (Electrical Engineering) | INR 39,150 | INR 22,500 |
| Ph.D (Mathematics) | INR 39,150 | INR 22,500 |
| Ph.D (Management Studies) | INR 39,150 | INR 22,500 |
| Ph.D (Humanities and Social Sciences) | INR 39,150 | INR 22,500 |
| Ph.D (Artificial Intelligence) | INR 87,900 | INR 49,250 |
| Ph.D (Applied Mechanics) | INR 87,900 | INR 49,250 |
| Ph.D (Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology) | INR 87,900 | INR 49,250 |
| Ph.D (Materials Science) | INR 87,900 | INR 49,250 |
- Fees are subject to change. Verify with official sources before admission.
IIT Delhi PhD Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Application Portal Opened (Indian Candidates) | March 21, 2026 |
| Application Closed (Foreign Nationals) | March 30, 2026 |
| Application Closed (Indian Candidates) | April 11, 2026 |
| Written Test and Interviews Conducted | May 13 to June 15, 2026 |
| Semester 1 Classes Began | July 23, 2026 |
- Dates above were for Semester 1, 2026-27.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Master’s degree (M.Tech / M.E. / M.Sc. / MBA) with at least 60% marks or 6.0 CGPA for General/OBC/EWS candidates, with a valid GATE / CSIR / UGC-NET / ICAR / ICMR / DST-INSPIRE qualification required.
- B.E. / B.Tech holders with at least 70% marks or 7.0 CGPA and a valid GATE score are eligible for direct PhD admission without a master’s degree.
- GATE and NET exemption applies to CFTI graduates (IITs and NITs) with a CGPA of 8.0 or above after at least 6 semesters.
Admission Process
- Register on the portal at ecampus.iitd.ac.in and select target department and program.
- Upload academic certificates, GATE/NET scorecards, statement of purpose, and required documents.
- Shortlisting is based on GATE/NET score, academic record, and qualifying exam performance.
- Shortlisted candidates appear for a Research Aptitude Test (RAT) or department-specific written test.
- Final personal interview assesses research aptitude, proposal quality, and supervisor fit.
- Offer letters are issued via email after the interview round.
IIT Delhi PhD vs Other Colleges
Here is how IIT Delhi PhD compares with other premier research institutions on fees, entrance requirements, and fellowship.
| College | Fees | Exams | Cutoff | Avg / Median Salary | CD Rating |
|---|
| IIT Delhi | 1.3 L to 2.8 L (5 yrs) | GATE / NET-JRF / CSIR | GATE 300 or NET-JRF qualified (2026) | Not Disclosed | 4.3/5 |
| IISc Bangalore | 3.2 L (total) | GATE / NET-JRF / DBT-JRF | GATE qualified (2026) | Not Disclosed | 4.4/5 |
| IIT Bombay | 2.2 L to 3.6 L (total) | GATE / NET-JRF | GATE qualified (2026) | Not Disclosed | 4.4/5 |
| IIT Kanpur | 0.8 L to 2.4 L (5 yrs) | GATE / NET / JRF | GATE 95 percentile (SRF route, 2026) | Not Disclosed | 4.4/5 |
✓ Opt for this if
- You want funded research at a NIRF rank 4 institution with world-class labs.
- You hold a strong GATE or NET-JRF score and plan a long-term research career.
- You are targeting PMRF at INR 70,000 per month with annual contingency grants.
- You want international exposure through the joint PhD track with Sorbonne or NYCU.
✗ Skip if
- You lack a valid GATE, NET-JRF, or CSIR score and are not CFTI-exempt.
- You need guaranteed on-campus housing, as PhD hostel allocation at IITD is very limited.
- You prefer an industry role over academia and want to finish a qualification quickly.
IIT Delhi PhD Scholarships 2026
IIT Delhi provides strong fellowship support through government and competitive external schemes covering the full duration of study.
| Fellowship | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|
| Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | INR 37,000/month | Valid NET-JRF / CSIR / ICAR or equivalent (years 1 to 2) |
| Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) | INR 42,000/month | JRF scholars completing 2 years (years 3 to 5) |
| Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) | INR 70,000/month + INR 2 L/year | Top-ranked GATE candidates admitted via regular PhD route |
| TCS Research Scholarship | Varies | Ongoing PhD scholars selected by TCS Research |
| Google PhD Fellowship | Varies | Nominated by institution in selected research areas |
- Fellowship amounts follow UGC norms and may be revised.
![IIT Delhi - Indian Institute of Technology [IITD]](https://img.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/col27802.gif?h=71.7&w=71.7&mode=stretch)
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