
IIT Bombay PhD degree provides research opportunities in advanced engineering and technology disciplines such as aerospace, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and various other disciplines. As per the latest notifications, candidates applying for the IIT Bombay PhD have to complete the course in a maximum of eight years.
✅ IIT Bombay PhD admission 2026 last date is October 17, 2026.
✅ IIT Bombay offers thirty-four specialisations in its PhD programme.
✅ You can apply for up to 3 specialisations or disciplines in the IIT Bombay PhD in a single application.
✅ The application fee for the IIT Bombay PhD is INR 150 for women and SC/ST/PwD candidates and INR 300 for other categories for the regular period.
✅ Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview, a written test or both to make a final selection.
✅ Satisfying eligibility alone does not guarantee your admission to the programme.
✅ Moreover, you can apply for IIT Bombay PhD admissions twice a year, in January and in July.
Continue reading to learn about the IIT Bombay PhD course in detail. Discover eligibility criteria, admission requirements, selection process, specialisations, fees, and more.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) PhD admission brochure is available on its official website. The brochure covers crucial information on IITB PhD admissions, including eligibility, entrance exam, guidelines, and more. You can also use the link below to download the IIT Bombay PhD 2026-27 brochure and save it to your device.
IIT Bombay PhD degree offers research opportunities across various engineering disciplines. The programme is designed to be completed within 4-6 years of duration. However, IIT Bombay has now declared new guidelines under which fresh applicants have to complete the degree in a maximum of eight years. Furthermore, you can choose a maximum of three disciplines or specialisations in a single application. Moreover, the institute also encourages interdisciplinary research via joint supervision & collaborations across departments. Here are the highlights of the IIT Bombay PhD programme:
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IIT Bombay offers a wide range of disciplines or specialisations to choose from in the PhD for research. You can select up to 3 specialisations at one time. Currently, there are 34 disciplines/specialisations being offered for the IIT Bombay PhD admissions. You may explore the available IIT Bombay PhD research disciplines along with several research areas:
IIT Bombay PhD fees per semester range between INR 5,600 and INR 33,150, depending on the category. Apart from this, you have to pay non-refundable admission fees and several security deposits, which are refundable. The admission fees for IIT Bombay PhD are INR 19,350 for candidates belonging to Group I, Group II, SC/ST/PwD, and Institute Staff. Moreover, the IITB PhD fee structure is announced separately for spring and autumn batches, which is as follows for AY 2026-27:
Note:
✅ We have mentioned the fee structure for Group I, Group II, SC/ST/PwD categories only. You can access the IIT Bombay PhD fees brochure to learn about the fee structure for international applicants or institute staff that we have attached above.
✅ Moreover, the total payable fees mentioned above are for semester one only, as it is subject to vary for upcoming semesters or years.
The eligibility criteria for IIT Bombay PhD courses are specified by the respective departments of your chosen disciplines. It also slightly varies by category: general, SC, ST, and PwD. However, regardless of the specialisation you choose, there are several general eligibility standards that IIT Bombay follows for its PhD admissions. Check out the IIT Bombay PhD eligibility:
1. You should have a master's or equivalent degree in engineering or technology.
2. Candidates holding an MBA with a BTech, BE or equivalent degree can apply.
3. A four-year bachelor's degree in technology, medicine, or engineering.
4. Anyone with a 4-year BS (Bachelor's Degree in Science) can apply.
5. Individuals with a master's or equivalent degree in science, commerce, arts (or allied subjects) are also eligible.
Anyone who belongs to the 3rd, 4th, or 5th eligibility category above should also fulfil any one of the following requirements:
✅ Valid scores of GATE or JEST (for Physics Department and Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering only).
✅ Selected through a national-level examination conducted by MoE or its institutions or agencies such as UGC, IIT, IIIT, IISc, etc.
✅ Selected via National Eligibility Test - UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship) and/or admission to PhD.
✅ Candidates should have been shortlisted provisionally for the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship (provisional award letter to be produced)
✅ At least two years of professional work experience (acquired after obtaining the qualifying degree and completed before the commencement of the semester in which admission is taken)
Here are the marks / CGPA requirements in the qualifying degrees listed above based on the categories:
General/ EWS/ OBC-NC Categories
✅ You should have an aggregate of at least 60% marks OR
✅ Acquired first class as specified by the institution OR
✅ A minimum CGPA or CPI of 6.0 on the scale of 0-10 OR
✅ For scales other than 0-10, you should have a score equivalent to at least 6.0 on a 10-point scale
✅ For PhD courses offered by the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, a minimum of 55% will be considered
SC/ ST/ PwD Categories
✅ An aggregate of 55% marks in qualifying degree OR
✅ First class as specified by the institution OR
✅ Minimum CGPA or CPI of 5.5 on the scale of 0-10
✅ On scales other than 0-10, an equivalent score to at least 5.5 on a 10-point scale is required
✅ You can seek PhD admissions offered by the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences with 50% marks in the qualifying degrees
Candidates for IIT Bombay PhD are shortlisted based on the interview and written test. Generally, students are invited for an interview round; a written test is conducted for some candidates, if required, based on the availability of seats and other factors. Moreover, the interview is conducted a month earlier than the beginning of the first semester. Here is the detailed selection process for the IIT Bombay PhD programme:
📝 An interview round is conducted one month before the date of programme commencement.
📝 A written test may be conducted in addition to the interview, if needed.
📝 Meeting the general eligibility requirements alone does not guarantee your invitation for the written test or interview.
📝 Depending on the number of applications and available time and resources, candidates may be shortlisted based on additional academic performance criteria.
📝 Individuals belonging to the SC/ST or PwD categories called for a written test or interview under the Teaching Assistantship (TA) category are eligible for reimbursement of second-class railway fare for a return journey via the shortest route to IIT Bombay, based on the applicable rules.
📝 Students (SC/ST/PwD) who wish to claim reimbursement should provide their original or a photocopy of the railway ticket as evidence.
📝 If a candidate is called for a test or interview for more than one discipline, they can submit only one travel reimbursement claim.
IIT Bombay PhD online application form has been available from September 16, 2026 onwards. The last date to submit the application form is October 17, 2026. You can also submit the form by October 21, 2026, with a penalty for late submission. Here is the detailed schedule for IIT Bombay PhD admissions 2026:
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay or IIT Bombay conducts admissions for PhD courses twice a year: spring (January) and autumn (July). The institute makes the applications available online, and downloadable forms are not available. Candidates are asked to read the information/admission brochure available on the institute's website (attached above as well) carefully to know the guidelines. Moreover, you have to go through the selection process as well to finalise your admission to IIT Bombay. Here is the detailed step-by-step admission process for IIT Bombay PhD:

Source: iitb.ac.in
✅ Visit the official website of IIT Bombay: iitb.ac.in.
✅ Click on “Programs” in the “Academics” section available in the menu, and a drop-down list of courses shall appear.
✅ Choose “PhD”, and you will be redirected to the doctoral admission portal.
✅ Scroll down, click on the “Online Application Portal”, then select “PhD Admissions”.
✅ Now, tap on the link for “ONLINE Application” and a registration form shall appear.
✅ There is a link available: “New User? Click here to register”; click on it.
✅ A new form shall open; enter your email, and your credentials will be generated.
✅ Then, in the “ONLINE Application” section, you have to log in with your generated credentials.
✅ Select the PhD academic unit and apply for up to 3 disciplines.
✅ Fill out your academic details and upload required documents.
✅ As per the specific department’s requirements, you may have to submit an SoP (Statement of Purpose) or a research proposal or both.
✅ Now, you need to pay the application fees online, submit the form, and download a copy of it.
✅ Be ready to appear for an interview or written test for final selection.
✅ If selected, you will have to pay course fees as per instructions and join the new batch.
You have to upload several basic documents in the application form. This includes academic documents and other certificates related to identity, caste, etc. It is advised to combine all applicable documents into one file while applying for multiple disciplines to avoid missing out on any important document. Here is the list of several crucial documents as prescribed by the institute:
📝 Scanned photograph
📝 Scanned signature
📝 Consolidated marksheet of qualifying degree
📝 Candidates who are waiting for results should upload their latest available marksheet
📝 Caste certificate, if applicable
📝 EWS certificate in the prescribed format, if applicable
📝 PwD certificate, if applicable
📝 Statement of Purpose (SoP), whenever required
📝 Research proposal, wherever required
The selection process for IIT Bombay is specific to each PhD academic department. You may have to appear for a written test or interview or both. The institution may apply additional shortlisting criteria depending on the number of applications received. IIT Bombay PhD written test may be conducted alongside an interview, which varies by academic unit. Moreover, there is no particular syllabus for the exam as it varies by academic units and specialisations available. You can check the IIT Bombay PhD brochure to know the syllabus for your desired specialisation.
A PhD from IIT Bombay is one of the most popular doctoral degrees in India. IIT Bombay PhD offers opportunities to research across various engineering, technology, management, and other disciplines. There are a total of thirty-four specialisations available that you can choose from. Moreover, the cost of an IIT Bombay PhD course is also affordable in many ways.
Just the admission requirements differ for candidates depending on their category and chosen academic units. It is advised to read the admission brochure and IIT Bombay PhD admission eligibility and selection process requirements carefully to avoid any misconceptions. Stay up-to-date with the latest notifications to apply for the programme before the deadline.
Yes, you can choose alternative pathways to apply for IIT PhD courses without GATE. For example, candidates with a master's degree in engineering or technology or those who have an MBA with BTech or BE, can apply for an IIT PhD without GATE scores.
Typically, you should have a CGPA or CPI equivalent to 6.0 on a 0-10 grading scale. It may vary for some of the IITs in India, so check eligibility on the official website before applying for admissions.
Yes, learners with a master's degree or equivalent in an engineering or technology discipline or those who have an MBA with BTech or BE degrees, can apply directly for PhD admissions at IIT Bombay. However, you may have to qualify an interview or written test or both, for the final selection.
The semester fees for IIT Bombay PhD range between INR 8,150 and INR 33,150, depending on Group I, Group II, and SC/ST/PwD categories. Besides this, you have to pay admission fees and security deposits. Admission fees are non-refundable, while security deposits are refundable.
The winter session, also referred to as spring session admissions for IIT Bombay PhD, takes place in December/January of every year. You are advised to begin checking the latest notifications from October onwards.
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