IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026: Application Portal, Eligibility & Dates
The IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 for the Autumn Semester is now live. Submit your application by May 7, 2026, via apply.iiserkol.ac.in. This guide covers mandatory CSIR/UGC-JRF requirements, the 55% aggregate criteria, application fees, June 2026 interview dates, monthly research stipends, and essential documentation for all departments.
IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 Notification
IISER Kolkata has officially released the PhD admission notification for the 2026 Autumn Semester. The institute is inviting applications for research programmes across eight specialized disciplines. Aspiring researchers should thoroughly review the department-specific eligibility criteria before beginning their application. Access the latest updates and the official notification at apply.iiserkol.ac.in/phd. Below is the comprehensive IISER Kolkata PhD Admission notification brochure:
IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026: Overview
Review the summary table below for a quick overview of the IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 process. Understanding these core requirements early will help you streamline your application and ensure all necessary details are accurately submitted.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026: Overview | |
|---|---|
| Particular | Details |
| Institute | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER Kolkata) |
| Programme | PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) – Biological Sciences (DBS) |
| Semester | Autumn Semester 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Fee (General/EWS/OBC-NCL) | Rs. 200 (non-refundable) |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwD) | Rs. 100 (non-refundable) |
| Application Portal Opens | 08 March 2026 |
| Application Portal Closes | 7 May 2026 (Last Date Reminder) |
| Official Website | www.iiserkol.ac.in |
| Notification | Download Notification PDF |
IISER Kolkata PhD Seats
IISER Kolkata offers PhD positions across eight diverse departments. Please note that seats are subject to faculty availability and the status of research fellowship funding. Candidates must carefully examine the official advertisement to identify which labs and supervisors are currently accepting new scholars. Discover the available research areas for the 2026 intake below.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Seats | |
|---|---|
| Department | Research Areas Available |
| Biological Sciences (DBS) | Biophysics, Disease Biology, Neurobiology, Plant Biology, Ecology, Synthetic Biology, Computational Biology and more |
| Chemical Sciences | As per department advertisement |
| Computational and Data Sciences | As per department advertisement |
| Earth Sciences | As per department advertisement |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | As per department advertisement |
| Mathematics and Statistics | As per department advertisement |
| Physical Sciences | As per department advertisement |
| Space Sciences (CESSI) | Not advertising for PhD in Autumn 2026 |
Apply Link for IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026
The official application portal for IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 is now open. To ensure your application is considered valid, please use only the official web portal linked below to submit your credentials and research proposal.
Official Apply Link for IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026
Steps to Apply for IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026
Candidates must complete their PhD application entirely online. We recommend verifying every section for accuracy before final submission, as errors may impact your candidacy. Follow our step-by-step guide below to successfully apply for the 2026 programme.
- Visit the official portal: http://apply.iiserkol.ac.in/application
- Read the department-wise eligibility criteria carefully before filling the form.
- Keep a soft copy of your photograph ready in JPG or PNG format.
- Fill in all personal, academic, and fellowship details carefully and correctly.
- Select your potential PhD supervisor from the list given in the advertisement only.
- Upload all required documents in the prescribed format and file size.
- Pay the application fee online and download the confirmation receipt.
- Take a printout of the completed application and bring it signed to the interview.
IISER Kolkata PhD Application Fee
To finalize your application, a non-refundable fee must be paid through the institute's secure online payment gateway. Please review the fee structure for IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 provided below.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Application Fee | |
|---|---|
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / EWS / OBC-NCL | Rs. 200 (non-refundable) |
| SC / ST / PwD | Rs. 100 (non-refundable) |
| Payment Mode | Online (via application portal) |
| Refundable? | No – Non-refundable |
IISER Kolkata PhD Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, please confirm you meet the academic requirements. Generally, applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks. See the detailed IISER Kolkata PhD 2026 eligibility criteria in the table below.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Eligibility Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Criterion | Details |
| Qualifying Degree | Master’s degree or B.E./B.Tech./M.Tech./MBBS or equivalent |
| Minimum Marks | 55% marks or equivalent grade in qualifying degree |
| 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree | 75% marks required with own fellowship (CSIR/UGC etc.) |
| SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS / PwD Relaxation | 5% marks relaxation in eligibility criteria |
| National Exam Required | CSIR-JRF (Cat I) / UGC-JRF (Cat I) / DBT-JRF-A / ICMR-JRF / DBT-BINC-JRF / Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship / equivalent |
| Fellowship Validity | Must be valid on 31 December 2026 |
| Final Year Candidates | Eligible to apply; admission will be provisional |
| Disciplines Offered | Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Computational and Data Sciences, Earth Sciences, HSS, Mathematics and Statistics, Physical Sciences, Space Sciences |
IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 Important Dates
Stay updated with all crucial deadlines for the IISER Kolkata PhD admission cycle. Missing key dates could lead to the cancellation of your application. The full schedule of important dates for 2026 is outlined below.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 Important Dates | |
|---|---|
| Event | Date |
| Application Portal Opens | 8 March 2026 |
| Application Portal Closes | 7 May 2026 (LastDate Reminder) |
| Shortlist Publication | 14 – 22 May 2026 |
| DBS PhD Interview Dates | 2 June, 3 June and 9 June 2026 |
| Selection Interview Window | 29 May 2026 – 19 June 2026 |
| Publication of Interview Results | By 25 June 2026 |
| Pre-Registration Portal Opens | 29 June 2026 |
| PhD Registration Date | 29 July 2026 |
IISER Kolkata PhD Selection Process
The selection process at IISER Kolkata involves a rigorous screening followed by personal interviews. Departments may establish additional shortlisting criteria based on research aptitude and academic performance. Read more about the selection stages below.
- Stage 1: All applications are screened based on academic merit, subject specialisation, and research area.
- Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates are published on the official website and intimated by email.
- Stage 3: Shortlisted candidates appear for an in-person interview at IISER Kolkata, Mohanpur campus.
- Online interview requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis at the supervisor’s discretion.
- Candidates must bring two sealed recommendation letters in prescribed format to the interview.
- No TA, DA, or accommodation is provided by the institute for attending the interview.
Final selection is based on interview performance and the selected list is approved by the Director.
IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 Interview Schedule
Shortlisted candidates will receive notification of their interview date via email and the official portal. Interviews are primarily conducted in-person at the Mohanpur campus, with online interviews granted only under exceptional circumstances. The full IISER Kolkata PhD 2026 interview calendar is provided below.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026 Interview Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Event | Date |
| Shortlist Publication | 14 – 22 May 2026 |
| Selection Interview Window | 29 May 2026 – 19 June 2026 |
| DBS PhD Interview Date 1 | 2 June 2026 (Tuesday) |
| DBS PhD Interview Date 2 | 3 June 2026 (Wednesday) |
| DBS PhD Interview Date 3 | 9 June 2026 (Tuesday) |
| Publication of Interview Results | By 25 June 2026 |
| Pre-Registration Portal Opens | 29 June 2026 |
IISER Kolkata PhD Stipend
Upon enrollment, PhD students at IISER Kolkata are eligible for a monthly fellowship. The actual stipend amount is contingent upon the funding agency and your specific category of admission. View the 2026 fellowship details here.
| IISER Kolkata PhD Stipend | |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Mode | Approximate Monthly Stipend |
| CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF | Rs. 37,000 (JRF); Rs. 42,000 (SRF) – as per DST norms |
| DBT-JRF-A / ICMR-JRF / DBT-BINC-JRF | As per respective funding agency norms |
| Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship | As per UGC norms |
| Institute-Funded PhD Fellowship | As per IISER Kolkata institute norms |
Documents Required for IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026
Ensure you have all necessary documents digitized and ready before starting your application. Submitting incomplete or illegible documents will lead to disqualification. Consult the list of required documents for IISER Kolkata PhD 2026 below.
- High school leaving certificate and mark sheets (attested copies)
- Mark sheets and certificates of all examinations from secondary level onwards
- Bachelor’s degree mark sheets for all semesters or years (attested copies)
- Master’s degree mark sheets for all semesters or years (attested copies)
- Valid fellowship award letter or admit card with result (CSIR/UGC/DBT/ICMR or equivalent)
- Two recommendation letters in prescribed format in sealed envelopes
- Signed hard copy of the completed application form
- Photo identity proof (government-issued)
- Proof of age (government-issued document)
- Passport-size photograph in JPG or PNG format (for online application)
- Migration certificate from previous university (provisional admission if unavailable)
- Date of birth certificate (original for verification; photocopy for submission).
IISER Kolkata PhD Admission 2026: FAQs
The application window for the IISER Kolkata PhD programme closes on May 7, 2026.
Application fees are set at Rs. 200 for General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates, and Rs. 100 for SC, ST, and PwD applicants.
A minimum of 55% marks in a Master's degree or its equivalent is required to qualify for admission.
Interviews for the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) are scheduled to take place on June 2, June 3, and June 9, 2026.
Yes, candidates must possess a valid national-level fellowship such as CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, or an equivalent award to be considered.
