IISc mid-year PhD 2026-27

IISc mid-year PhD admission 2026-27 is notice IISc/Acad/MidYearAdmission/2026/01 dated 2 September 2026. The form opens on 6 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 on 26 October 2026. Interview window is 16–20 November 2026. Session starts 1 January 2027. Notice: Mid-year Admission Notice PDF. Apply from iisc.ac.in → Admissions → Apply Online.

What IISc actually does

The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, is a research university. This mid-year call is for PhD research programmes and the External Registration Programme. It is not the regular August intake and not an undergraduate seat.

A valid national test score, where the department asks for one, must still be valid on 1 January 2027. Lectureship-only NET is not enough for the NET JRF route.

What kind of seat this is

Regular research PhD in listed science, engineering, interdisciplinary and medical areas, plus ERP for employed candidates who are sponsored. Final-semester students can apply if they finish all degree requirements by 1 January 2027 and can submit certificates by 31 March 2027.

Who should apply — and who should skip

Apply if you have a second class in a listed qualifying degree, and a valid GATE, GPAT, JEST or NET JRF where that mode is mandatory. SC/ST applicants get the minimum class relaxed to pass class. EWS and OBC-NCL certificates must be issued on or after 1 April 2026.

Skip if you have only UGC-NET lectureship or Category-2 / Category-3 and the department wants JRF. Skip ERP if you do not have two years of full-time employment as on 1 January and an employer sponsorship letter. Skip if you were hoping this form opens before 6 October. It does not.

Dates and fee

Item	On the official notice
Portal opens	6 October 2026
Last date	26 October 2026, 23:59
Interview	16 November 2026 to 20 November 2026
Session start	1 January 2027
Research fee	Rs 800 General / OBC / EWS; Rs 400 SC / ST / PwD
ERP fee	Rs 2,000, all categories
Refund	Non-refundable. Gateway charges are yours.

Available positions

1. Research PhD — science, engineering, interdisciplinary, medical Department-wise

Eligibility criteria
Minimum second class, or equivalent, in the qualifying degree for that department. Routes printed in the notice include a bachelor’s in engineering or technology or a 4-year BS; a master’s in science or in economics, geography, psychology, management, commerce, operations research, or computer science/application; a master’s in engineering, technology, architecture, agriculture, pharmacy or veterinary sciences; a four-year degree from a CFTI (including IIITs in PPP mode) with CGPA 8 out of 10; MBBS, MD, MDS or Pharm D; BPharm; BDS; and BE/BTech equivalent examinations of professional societies recognised by MoE/UPSC/AICTE, only if enrolled up to 31 May 2013. A master’s in life sciences or chemical sciences from IISc needs CGPA 8.5. A 1-year MEng from IISc is also listed. GATE, GPAT, JEST or NET JRF must be valid on 1 January 2027 where the mode requires it. NET JRF means Joint CSIR-UGC NET for JRF, UGC-NET for JRF, JEST, NBHM Research Award or INSPIRE, and you must be qualified for JRF. Lectureship-only is not eligible on that route. JGEEBILS-2026 is accepted where the notice says so. NEET PG, INI-CET or AIAPGET can be used for PhD in Medical Sciences.

No category-wise vacancy split is printed on this notice. Reservation follows Government of India rules, including Kashmiri Migrant and Kashmiri Pandit / Kashmiri Hindu families (non-migrants) in the Valley.

2. External Registration Programme (PhD) Sponsored

Eligibility criteria
Same educational qualification as regular candidates. A CSIR-UGC NET JRF, UGC-NET JRF, DBT JRF, ICMR JRF, GATE or NBHM qualification is desirable. Two years of full-time employment as on 1 January of the academic year. Official sponsorship from the employer, with documents uploaded. Fee Rs 2,000 for every category.

No category-wise vacancy split is printed on this notice.

Educational qualifications

Route	Degree / marks	Extras
Engineering bachelor’s	Second class, or pass class for SC/ST	National test if the department mode requires it
Master’s	Second class in the listed subjects	Same
CFTI 4-year	CGPA 8 / 10	Includes IIITs in PPP mode
Medical	MBBS / MD / MDS / Pharm D / BPharm / BDS	NEET PG / INI-CET / AIAPGET for Medical Sciences
ERP	Same as regular	Two years employment and sponsorship

Selection

Shortlist from the national entrance test and the qualifying degree.
In-person interview. Some departments add an aptitude test or a preliminary interview.
ERP selection is the in-person interview.

How to prepare (free, official)

How to apply without getting played

Wait for 6 October 2026. The notice says the website opens that day.
Pay the research slab or the ERP slab. They are different.
Keep the EWS or OBC-NCL certificate dated on or after 1 April 2026 ready for interview.

FAQs

What is the last date?
26 October 2026, 23:59. The form opens on 6 October 2026.

Who can apply?
Applicants with a second class in a qualifying degree listed for that department, plus the national-test rule for that mode.

How many vacancies?
Not printed as one total. Departments are listed in the notice.

Where do I apply?
iisc.ac.in Admissions, Apply Online.

What is the fee?
Rs 800 for General / OBC / EWS research applications. Rs 400 for SC / ST / PwD. ERP is Rs 2,000 for all categories. Non-refundable.

Can final-year students apply?
Yes, if they expect to finish every requirement by 1 January 2027 and can submit certificates by 31 March 2027.

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IISc mid-year PhD 2026-27 — apply 6 to 26 October

Official Details