The Indian Institute of Science [IISc], Bangalore offers the Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] across 44 specialisations in engineering, computer science, biological sciences, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, and management. All 44 programmes are full-time, priced uniformly at ₹1,15,800, and come with an MHRD Doctoral Fellowship of ₹37,000 to ₹42,000 per month for qualifying scholars. IISc Bangalore is ranked 1 in India by Collegedunia and is India’s highest-ranked institution globally for research output.
Applications for the 2026 batch closed March 27, 2026. Departmental written tests and research aptitude interviews are scheduled for April to June 2026, with programme commencement in August 2026.
Key Points
- The MHRD Doctoral Fellowship of ₹37,000 to ₹42,000 per month means the ₹1,15,800 total programme fee is recovered in under 4 months; qualifying IISc PhD scholars are effectively funded throughout the programme.
- The Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) provides ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per month to outstanding candidates at IISc, among the highest doctoral stipends in India.
- Qualifying exams accepted include GATE, UGC NET, CSIR NET, JEST (physics and astronomy), JGEEBILS (biological sciences), and NBHM (mathematics); the relevant exam depends on the specialisation.
- Interdisciplinary programmes include Brain and Computational and Data Sciences, Cyber-Physical Systems, Biosystems Science and Engineering, Ecological Sciences, and Water Research.
- IISc also offers Integrated PhD programmes in science disciplines for candidates entering directly after a Bachelor’s degree through separate application tracks.
IISc Ph.D Fees 2026
IISc charges a uniform fee of ₹1,15,800 across all 44 PhD specialisations. All qualifying scholars who maintain academic progress effectively study at no net cost, given the MHRD fellowship.
Fee Structure
| Course(s) | Total Fees |
|---|
| Ph.D all 44 specialisations: Aerospace Engineering, AI, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Atmospheric Sciences, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biosystems Science and Engineering, Brain and Computational and Data Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Climate Studies, Computational Sciences, Computational and Data Sciences, Computer Science and Automation, Cyber-Physical Systems, Earth Science, Ecological Sciences, Electrical Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Systems Engineering, Energy Engineering, High Energy Physics, Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Management Studies, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Nano Science and Engineering, Neuroscience, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Physics, Product Design and Manufacturing, Sustainable Technologies, Theoretical Chemistry, Water Research and allied chemistry disciplines | ₹1,15,800 |
| Total Fees | ₹1,15,800 |
- Fees is subject to change, Please verify with the official sources before taking admission.
- Application fee is ₹800 (General) and ₹400 (SC, ST, PwD) payable at admissions.iisc.ac.in.
IISc Ph.D Admission 2026
Admission is based on a national qualifying score followed by a departmental written test and research aptitude interview. The applicable qualifying exam depends on the chosen specialisation. Applications are submitted at admissions.iisc.ac.in.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Application Last Date | March 27, 2026 |
| Departmental Written Test | April to May 2026 |
| Research Aptitude Interview | May to June 2026 |
| Final Selection List | June 2026 |
| Programme Commencement | August 2026 |
Entrance Exam Dates
| Exam | Stream | Exam Date |
|---|
| GATE 2026 | Engineering, CS, Materials | February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 |
| CSIR-NET | Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Maths | Two windows in 2026 |
| JEST | Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics | February 2026 |
| JGEEBILS | Biological Sciences | March 2026 |
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Master’s degree in the relevant or allied discipline with a minimum of 55 percent aggregate (CGPA 5.5 of 10); some departments set higher thresholds.
- Valid qualifying score in GATE, UGC NET, CSIR NET, JEST, JGEEBILS, or NBHM for the chosen discipline.
- Final selection is based on qualifying score, academic record, research statement, and departmental test and interview.
Admission Process
- Apply at admissions.iisc.ac.in; upload qualifying scorecard, transcripts, and a research statement for the chosen department.
- Shortlisted candidates attend a departmental written test and research aptitude interview in April to June 2026.
- Selected candidates pay fees and complete document verification to confirm admission.
IISc Ph.D Scholarships 2026
IISc provides one of India’s most generous doctoral funding packages. All qualifying scholars receive the MHRD fellowship from the first month; PMRF candidates receive substantially higher stipends.
Available Scholarships
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|
| MHRD Doctoral Fellowship | ₹37,000 to ₹42,000 per month | GATE, NET, JEST, or JGEEBILS qualified scholars |
| Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) | ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per month | Outstanding scholars admitted via direct or lateral entry |
| IISc Centenary Fellowship | ₹15,000 per month top-up | Outstanding doctoral candidates with strong research proposals |
| External Project Fellowship | As per sponsoring agency | Scholars on funded research projects under a faculty mentor |
- MHRD fellowship continuation requires satisfactory annual progress reviews by the Doctoral Research Committee.
![Indian Institute of Science - [IISc]](https://image-static.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/139486567811.png?h=71.7&w=71.7&mode=stretch)
Comments
Found 4 Comments
IISc Bangalore selects candidates for its BSc (By Research) program based on the JEE Main/ KVPY/ NEET-UG/ JEE Advanced exam and is of 3 years duration. The BSc program at the IISC Bangalore is a flagship program, and it has ranked one of the best research institutes in India. It has ranked 1st for Overall by NIRF 2023. It has ranked 155 Overall by QS 2023. If you want to pursue a career in the research field BSc program from IISC would be the better choice. The Btech from NIT is the 4 years duration course and specializes in tech fields like computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.
Admission to PhD at IISc Bangalore is done based on GATE/NET(JRF) to get selected and you can check out tha page IISc Bangalore PhD course for the same.
The IISC admits students to MSc courses on the basis of written test and interview conducted by IISc Bangalore. The Applications for MSc programs can be filled and submitted through online mode.