
IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission 2026: The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram has released its PhD Admission 2026 notification for the upcoming Varsha 2026 semester, commencing in August 2026. Candidates should submit their applications using the official website before 20 April 2026. The application shortlisting will be based on the postgraduate course marks and CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF / GATE.
The IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission provides an opportunity for aspiring researchers to join a premier institute. Candidates should review the essential details for participating in the admission drive of the institution.
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IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission 2026 Overview |
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Exam Name |
IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission |
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Conducting Body |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram |
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Programme |
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) |
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Vacancies |
Offered across multiple schools and one centre |
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Application Mode |
Online |
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Official Website |
iisertvm.ac.in |
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Notification Release Date |
20 March 2026 (Application Portal Opens) |
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Last Date to Apply |
20 April 2026 |
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Session Starts |
August 2026 |
IISER TVM offers PhD seats in multiple departments. The exact seat distribution, depending on the institution, will be provided by the IISER authority.
School of Biological Sciences
School of Chemical Sciences
School of Mathematical Sciences
School of Data Sciences
School of Earth, Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (EESS)
Centre for High-Performance Computing (CHPC)
School of Physical Sciences
Candidates interested in the IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission 2026 should be aware of the dates regarding the admission and counselling processes.
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IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission Important Dates 2026 |
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Application Portal Opens |
20 March 2026 |
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Last Date to Apply |
20 April 2026 |
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Interview – Physical Sciences |
07-08 May 2026 |
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Interview – EESS |
07-08 May 2026 |
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Interview – Mathematical Sciences |
13-15 May 2026 |
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Interview – Data Sciences |
2nd week of May 2026 |
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Interview – Chemical Sciences |
19-21 May 2026 |
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Interview – CHPC |
21-22 May 2026 |
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Interview – Biology (Round 1, Online) |
1st week of June 2026 |
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Interview – Biology (Final Round, In-Person) |
1st week of July 2026 |
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Session Starts |
August 2026 |
IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Application Form Link is active for the candidates on the official website. Candidates visit the portal to complete the registration process, fill out the form, upload the documents, and make the application fee payment accordingly. Then, submit the admission form before the last date, which is 20 April 2026.
General / OBC-NCL / EWS: ₹500
SC / ST / PwD: ₹250
IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Application Form Link (Active)
Candidates should follow the steps to apply for the IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission 2026.
Step 1: Visit the official application portal at IISER and click "Apply Now" to complete the registration.
Step 2: Activate the account by clicking the link sent to the registered email address.
Step 3: Log in and fill out the application form with personal details, academic records, national exam scores, and referee information.
Step 4: Upload all required documents in JPEG/JPG format according to the specified file size limits.
Step 5: Preview the application carefully for any errors and select "Save App & Proceed for Payment" to move to the billing section.
Step 6: Complete the online application fee payment and download the final submitted form along with the application number for future reference.
Applicants for the IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission 2026 must meet specific criteria regarding their nationality, age, and educational background. IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission Eligibility Criteria 2026 is set to ensure that all candidates possess the foundational requirements for advanced doctoral studies.
Candidates must satisfy the minimum academic qualifications to be considered for the IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission 2026. This typically includes a Master's degree with a stipulated minimum CGPA or percentage, along with a valid score in a national-level examination.
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Criteria |
General / OBC-NCL |
SC / ST / PwD |
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Minimum Marks in Master’s |
6.5 CGPA (10-point scale) or First Class |
5.5 CGPA or 50% marks |
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Required National Exam |
CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF / GATE or equivalent (valid as on 01 August 2026) |
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Exemption from National Exam |
BS-MS/MSc/Integrated MSc from IISERs/IITs/IISc with CGPA ≥ 8.0 |
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BE/BTech Eligible |
Only for select research areas in Physics, Data Sciences, and EESS |
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Candidates need to attach the documents required for the IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Admission.
Passport-size photo (JPEG/JPG, max 500 KB)
Scanned signature (JPEG/JPG, max 500 KB)
Date of Birth proof (JPEG/JPG, max 2048 KB)
Category certificate for OBC-NCL / SC / ST / EWS / PwD (JPEG/JPG, max 2048 KB): General candidates do not need this.
Bachelor’s degree certificate or marksheet
Master’s degree certificate or marksheet (final year students can upload available semester marksheets)
National level exam scorecard (CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF / GATE / JEST, etc.) if results are not out, upload the hall ticket or admit card.
PwD certificate (only for PwD candidates).
Statement of Purpose (for Biology applicants, entered in the form, not uploaded)
Proof of passing Class 10 (Secondary level)
Proof of passing Class 12 (Higher Secondary level)
IISER Thiruvananthapuram PhD Selection Process 2026 involves an initial shortlisting phase, based on academic performance and national examination scores and an interview round.
Shortlisting: Candidates are initially shortlisted based on their academic qualifications and scores in national-level examinations (e.g., CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, GATE).
Interviews:
Biology: Requires a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and involves two rounds of interviews (the first round online, the final round conducted in-person at the IISER TVM campus).
Chemistry: Shortlisting is based on CSIR-JRF/UGC-JRF/GATE marks and ranks, followed by an in-person interview.
Physics: Candidates undergo shortlisting, followed by a hybrid interview, with the option to choose between theoretical or experimental research streams during the application.
Mathematics: Selection involves shortlisting based on eligibility criteria, followed by an offline interview held at IISER Thiruvananthapuram.
Data Sciences: Shortlisting is determined by the candidate’s chosen research area, followed by a hybrid interview.
EESS: Shortlisting is based on academic marks, followed by a hybrid interview.
CHPC: Shortlisting is based on the selected research area, followed by a hybrid interview.