Direct PhD or MS by Research After a B.Tech
Yes. All 13 institutes in this guide — IISc, nine IITs, IIEST Shibpur, Jadavpur University and NIT Durgapur — admit a four-year B.E./B.Tech. graduate straight to the PhD, each on its own conditions. Where they print a percentage or CGPA floor for general-category candidates, it runs from 60% (CGPA 6.0) to 80% (CGPA 8.5) on the regular route — IIT Hyderabad's separate Special Direct PhD asks for 9 CGPA from IIT, IISc or IISER graduates admitted via JEE Advanced; IISc asks for at least a second class, and several relax the floor for reserved categories. Most ask for a valid GATE score or an equivalent national test, and several waive it for high-CGPA graduates of IITs and other centrally funded institutes.
Updated 24 September 2026 · Valid until 31 March 2027
| Institute | Direct PhD after a B.E./B.Tech. | GATE requirement |
|---|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | Yes. B.E./B.Tech. graduates with GATE/NET JRF can apply directly for the Ph.D. if they meet the relevant engineering department's basic qualification; minimum second class or equivalent. | Valid GATE score/NET JRF mandatory for B.E./B.Tech., valid on 01 August 2026; GATE cut-offs apply. CFTI graduates (minimum CGPA 8.0/10, at least 4-year course) may apply for Ph.D. without GATE. |
| IIT Bombay | Yes: a 4-year Bachelor's in Engineering/Technology qualifies with at least 60%, First Class or CGPA 6.0/10 (55% SC/ST/PwD), plus one extra requirement such as valid GATE; departmental criteria also apply. | MS by Research: valid GATE score in any discipline required, except "commissioned officers of the armed forces" and IIT B.Tech holders with CGPA/CPI 8.00+. Ph.D.: IIT B.Tech admits (CGPA/CPI 8.00+) get assistantship "without GATE requirements". |
| IIT Delhi | Yes: B.E./B.Tech./4-year BS/B.Sc. (in-Person)/or equivalent, with 70% marks or 7.00 CGPA on a 10-point scale (SC/ST/PwD: 65% or 6.50 CGPA) and qualified GATE/JEST/CSIR/UGC NET/CEED/ICAR/DST INSPIRE Fellowship/NBHM; a Department/Centre/School can specify higher short-listing criteria. | Full-time applicants without relevant-field M.Tech./equivalent must have a valid GATE score or have qualified a national level examination. M.S.(R) waiver: current CFTI students with CGPA ≥8.00 (10-point scale) at end of 6th semester or later. |
| IIT Madras | Yes, with "exceptionally good academic record" in an eligible discipline: CFTI B.Tech needs minimum CGPA 8.0/10 or valid GATE score; other universities, minimum CGPA 8.0 (or 75%) and valid GATE. | GATE scores are valid for three years. Valid GATE score is required for Regular-HTRA, Regular-Fellowship and Regular-Project-HTRA categories, except 4 yr B.S/4 yr B.Sc./B.E/B.Tech from a Centrally Funded Technical Institute with CGPA ≥ 8. |
| IIT Kanpur | Absolute minimum: 4-year Bachelor's in Engineering or Science with 75 percent/7.5 CPI and valid GATE score (waived for CFTI graduates). Departments may prescribe more. | GATE requirement waived for CFTI engineering graduates with 75% marks or 7.5 CPI. GATE/CSIR/JRF/NET/COGJET requirement waived for IIT four-year B.Tech/BS graduates with minimum CPI 6.5 overall, 8.0 last two years. |
| IIT Kharagpur | B.Tech./BE/B.Sc. (Engg.)/BS (4 yrs.) is a minimum qualifying degree for the Ph.D., with at least 60% marks or CGPA 6.5 on a 10-point scale; departments may add criteria. | Bachelor's (3.2(b)) applicants: valid GATE score; units may set a cut-off above GATE qualification. Not mandatory for IIT/CFTI, or current overall NIRF ≤ 25, B.Tech with 8.0+ CGPA. |
| IIT Roorkee | Yes: 4-year Bachelor's degree, minimum CGPA 7.50 (10-point scale) or 75% marks, and a national level test such as GATE, or a national level fellowship. Departments may add requirements. | A qualified national level test such as GATE; no minimum score is printed. Exempted: B.Tech. from MoE-funded Technical Institutions (erstwhile CFTIs) or IITs with CGPA 8.0 and above. |
| IIT Guwahati | Yes: 4-year/5-year Bachelor's with CPI 6.0 on 10-point scale (or 60%) in the relevant discipline; relaxed by 0.5 CPI (or 5%) for SC/ST/PwD. Academic division determines suitability of discipline. | “For Institute Assistantship: Valid GATE/CEED Score. BTech/BDes/MSc/MA/MTech/MDes/MS degree (must be an On-Campus Regular degree) from an IIT in the relevant discipline with a minimum CPI of 8.0 on 10-point scale.” |
| IIT Hyderabad | BE/BTech with First Class (60% or 6 CGPA) and GATE or equivalent; CFI graduates: 8 CGPA, entry exam not applicable; Special Direct (High CGPA): 9 CGPA, IIT/IISc/IISER via JEE Advanced. | Direct PhD: GATE or equivalent; CFI graduates with 8 CGPA: entry exam not applicable. MTech-RA: GATE, or 6-month IITH research or 2-year industry/R&D experience. No minimum GATE score stated. |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Yes: Ph.D. (Engineering or Science) needs a regular full-time engineering bachelor's with at least 60% marks or CGPA 6.0/10, plus NET/GATE unless exempt; disciplines differ by department. | Engineering/Science Ph.D. needs NET/GATE; exemptions include B.Tech/B.E. with minimum CGPA 8/10 (or equivalent) from any CFTI or NIRF Overall top-100 institution (application or last year). Departments may set GATE cut-offs. |
| IIEST Shibpur | B.Tech./B.E holders in the relevant branch from a recognized University/Institute with minimum 80% aggregate marks (8.5 CGPA on a 10 point scale) in the qualifying degree and valid GATE score may apply to relevant departments/schools/centres. | Institute Fellowship: valid GATE score above the prescribed cut-off, or NET. Bachelor's route: GATE/NET "with a minimum of 80 percentile". GATE/NET not mandatory for postgraduates in one category. |
| Jadavpur University | Yes, after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's in Engineering/Technology, with a minimum of 75% aggregate or equivalent grade; 5% relaxation may be allowed for SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently Abled and other categories. | Candidates qualified for Fellowship/Scholarship in GATE are exempted from the departmental Written Entrance Test (WRET); for them, selection weights the GATE score 70% and interview/viva-voce performance 30%. |
| NIT Durgapur | Yes. BE/B.Tech is listed at 8.0 CGPA or 75% marks and 7.5 CGPA or 70% marks, the minimum requirement only; meeting it does not ensure an admission-test call. | For Category A, B.Tech/equivalent applicants need valid GATE; selection is through national level examinations conducted by NIT Durgapur. A NET/GATE score card, as applicable, is marked "Not Mandatory". |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | Yes: Ph.D. selection at the PMRF granting institute. IISc/IITs/NITs/IISERs/IIEST/centrally funded IIITs: CGPA/CPI ≥8.0/10. Others "recognized in India": CGPA ≥8 or equivalent plus respective GATE subject score ≥650, or UGC/CSIR JRF rank ≤100, or NBHM fellowship. | Candidates "from any other Institute/University recognized in India, not covered in 1(a) above": minimum CGPA 8 or equivalent plus minimum score 650 in the respective GATE subject, or UGC/CSIR JRF rank ≤100, or NBHM fellowship. |
Source: From each institute's own admission pages, as on 24 September 2026; the pages are listed in the last table. Text in quotation marks is the page's own wording. "Not stated on the source pages" means those pages do not say; it does not mean the rule does not exist.
| Institute | Research master's (MS by Research, MS(R), M.Tech (Research)) | Upgrade to PhD, or exit with a master's |
|---|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | M.Tech. (Research), in the Engineering Faculty. B.E./B.Tech. graduates with a GATE score who meet the department's basic qualification can be considered; mid-year admission is not available. | M.Tech (Res) students with at least 12 credits and a minimum CGPA of 8.0 (7.5 in special cases, on the Committee's recommendation) can upgrade to PhD; PhD students failing CE may request downgrading to master's. |
| IIT Bombay | Master of Science by Research (CSE, CMiNDS, KCDH). Yes: B.E./B.Tech. is among the listed degrees needing First class or 60% (55% for SC/ST); GATE rules differ: valid score in CS, listed papers, or any discipline. | M.S.R.+Ph.D. conversion: M.S.R credit, CPI and Seminar Grade (>= BB) requirements; apply end of 3rd (TA)/4th (RA) semester to 30th June of completion of 3rd year from joining. Ph.D. exit: MS by Research (except HSS). |
| IIT Delhi | M.S. (Research), or M.S.(R), where two-thirds of credits are thesis. B.E./B.Tech. holders with 60% or 6.00 CGPA and a valid GATE score can apply, by discipline (Annexure III). | Ph.D. students may exit with an M.S.(R) degree, only on SRC recommendation, completing all M.S.(R) requirements including thesis within one year of exit approval. |
| IIT Madras | Master of Science by Research (M.S.). A B.E./B.Tech graduate with a valid GATE score and a good academic record in the relevant areas can apply. | For IITM M.S-to-Ph.D upgradation (same department), criterion (c) is "CGPA ≥ 8 in the prescribed courses, with a minimum of three courses completed"; requests "should be submitted within 2 years from the date of joining". |
| IIT Kanpur | MS (By Research) listed in Aerospace and Civil (specific areas only), Chemical, CSE, Electrical, Mechanical, among others. Regular (non-sponsored/non-project) candidates need a valid GATE/CSIR/JRF/NET/COGJET score. | “M.S. by Research programme may be allowed in the beginning of the second/ third/ fourth/ fifth semester to change his/her registration to that of the Ph.D. programme in Engineering, Management, or Design on the recommendation of DPGC and with the approval of SPGC” |
| IIT Kharagpur | MS (by research): "The School has been offering PhD, MS (by research) and MTech programs." "The application for MS admission is invited twice annually by IIT Kharagpur during March-April and October-November." | MS-to-PhD upgrade or PhD exit with a master's: not stated. One programme: after year one, CGPA 8.0+ students may sit a PhD test and/or interview; non-qualifiers can continue two-year M.Tech/MCP/M.Arch. |
| IIT Roorkee | An exiting student, after at least one year in the program after candidacy, "shall be eligible for an MS by Research degree, provided she/he successfully defends her/his MS-Thesis in a presentation before the SRC." | PhD exit, from one year after candidacy: MS by Research on defending an MS-Thesis before the SRC. M.Tech. students may switch to PhD after first year, subject to eligibility criteria. |
| IIT Guwahati | “A Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in the relevant discipline with a minimum CPI 6.0 on a 10-point scale (or 60% marks) that is obtained through a study of at least 6 years duration (in any format, including 2+4, 3+3, 2+5, 2+3+2) after Class 10.” | B.Tech-entry PhD students may opt for Dual Master's + PhD in certain academic divisions, by end of first semester (minimum 72 credits, CPI 6.5). MS(R)-to-PhD upgrade: not stated. |
| IIT Hyderabad | MTech/MDes-RA: BE/BTech with First Class plus GATE qualification can apply; CSE lists a 'Research Assistantship (3 Year)' mode. The postgraduate programme list names no MS (Research). | Institute FAQ (older): M.Tech-to-PhD conversion needs minimum CGPA 8.5 (General), 8.0 (OBC/SC/ST); failing CE twice: quit or exit with MS. In CSE, direct PhDs can get both MTech and PhD. |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | The institute's 'Research Programs' list shows only Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Fellowships; its programme list names no research master's. | A 'Conversion of Ph.D. to Integrated PG-Ph.D.' is listed (details: Institute PG manual). Integrated PG-Ph.D. scholars may withdraw with a PG degree after completing prescribed requirements, subject to conditions. |
| IIEST Shibpur | MS by Research is not among the programmes listed by the Ordinances covering MTech/MPlan/MSc/MBA, nor on the PG admissions list; one clause says it will be offered "in the future". | No exit with a master's degree is stated. Scholars may apply to withdraw, with reasons; a full-time scholar joining a job may convert to self-sponsored after coursework and registration. |
| Jadavpur University | Not stated on the source pages | Upgrade or exit with a master's: not stated on the source pages. A scholar may apply to the Registrar to cancel registration, subject to Doctorate Committee approval. |
| NIT Durgapur | None named on the source pages. The programmes page lists M.Tech, M.Sc., MBA and MSW programmes; the institute says it awards B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees. | Students who "secure a new job or otherwise wish to move outside the institute and end their doctoral program prematurely" need "to refund any scholarship received." |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | PMRF offers fellowships to PhD scholars. Eligibility criterion (c): qualified GATE and pursuing or completed M.Tech./MS by research at a PMRF Granting Institution, minimum CGPA/CPI 8.0, at least four courses. | Upgrading from M.S./M.Tech. to Ph.D. rules out Direct Entry; Lateral Entry may apply. PhD exit to MTech/MS: differential fellowship refunded (except after 3c evaluation); spent research grant need not be. |
Source: From each institute's own admission pages, as on 24 September 2026; the pages are listed in the last table. Text in quotation marks is the page's own wording. "Not stated on the source pages" means those pages do not say; it does not mean the rule does not exist.
| Institute | Monthly fellowship | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | Monthly: Ph.D. JRF Rs. 37,000 for the first two years, then SRF Rs. 42,000 for the third, fourth and fifth year, subject to successful completion of the comprehensive examination in due time; M.Tech. (Research) Rs. 12,400 for 2 years. | Ph.D.: normal 5 years, minimum 2, maximum 6 (residence table); another page says minimum 3, maximum 6. M.Tech. (Res): 2.5 years. ECE Ph.D. typically 4-6 years. |
| IIT Bombay | Rs.37,000/month, Rs.42,000 after 2 years, until thesis submission or 5 years, whichever is earlier; RA "will be considered for" Rs.13,400/month (36-month maximum) "subject to serving as a research assistant ... for 20 hours per week". | Ph.D. thesis may be submitted after two years from registration (3 for external candidates); registration valid six years (7 for Masters+Ph.D.), extendable to 8 except External and College Teacher; one MS(R) programme highlights 'flexible duration'. |
| IIT Delhi | Ph.D.: Rs. 37,000 p.m. first 2 years, Rs. 42,000 p.m. next 3 years. M.S.(R): Rs. 12,400 p.m. teaching assistantship (8 hours/week), full-time non-sponsored GATE/CEED-qualified only. Admission does not guarantee assistantship. | Ph.D. with B.Tech.: minimum 3 years, reducible to 2 in exceptional cases with Senate approval; maximum 7 years to submit thesis. M.S.(R): minimum 4 semesters (24 months) full-time. |
| IIT Madras | PhD HTRA: Rs.37,000/month for two years, Rs.42,000/month for next three, plus HRA per GoI norms. M.S. HTRA: Rs.12,400/month for 2 years, up to 6 months more, subject to GTC recommendation. | Direct M.S+Ph.D (full-time): 3–6 years to thesis; DC may extend 2 years. M.S.: minimum 18 months; thesis within 2½ years; GTC may extend up to 1 year for full-time scholars. |
| IIT Kanpur | Currently, MS (By Research): Rs. 12400/- monthly for 8 hours' weekly work, up to 22 months. PhD: Rs. 37000/- first two years, then Rs. 42000/- for three more. | Ph.D. (Engineering/Design) after B.Tech: 6 Sem, 7 Years; M.S. by Research after B.Tech: 4 Sem, 4 Years. "Maximum Duration" counts from first registration. |
| IIT Kharagpur | Ph.D. Institute Research Assistantship, at present: Rs. 37,000 pm (first 2 years), Rs. 42,000 pm (next 3 years). MS (by research): not stated on the source pages. | Ph.D. registration valid 8 years; assistantship up to 5 years; a 3-year minimum is stated for unspecified 'such candidates'. One page: MS lasts at least two years. |
| IIT Roorkee | Institute may give teaching/research assistantships for up to 60 months or till thesis submission, whichever is earlier, with up to ten hours' weekly duties. Assistantship amount not stated. | Full-time PhD: thesis at least two years after candidacy, at most five years from initial registration (six for part-time). Typical completion time not printed. |
| IIT Guwahati | MHRD PhD fellowship, per current norms: ₹37000/month for the first two years (JRF), ₹42000 for the next three (SRF); five years max. | PhD: minimum four semesters (excluding dropped semester(s)/maternity leave); maximum 6 years full-time, 7 years part-time, from admission. MS(R), for full-time students: minimum four semesters (excluding dropped semester(s)) from the date of admission; maximum six semesters. |
| IIT Hyderabad | "As per current norms", MHRD fellowships: ₹37000/month first two years (JRF), ₹42000 next three (SRF). Special Direct PhD (9 CGPA): Rs. 80,000/pm, 4 years. RA: "as per research project guidelines", "depending on mode of admission". | Direct PhD: "Duration: 5 years with Fellowship". "Ph.D. is a 5-year tenure program"; maximum for Regular PhD (Full time) is 6 years. "MTech duration will be 2 years (3 years for MTech RAs)." |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Ph.D. Institute Assistance (B.Tech. entrants included): INR 37,000 a month for the first 2 years, INR 42,000 for the 3rd–5th year, subject to satisfactory progress; maximum five years. | Ph.D.: minimum three years, maximum six; total period must not exceed eight years from admission. Female scholars and PwD (over 40% disability) may be allowed an additional two years' relaxation. |
| IIEST Shibpur | Monthly amounts not printed on the source pages. Full-time Institute scholars can receive Institute fellowship from enrolment; JRF-to-SRF upgradation after 2 years, per Senate policy. | PhD registration valid 5 years, extendable one year at a time (not exceeding two terms). Minimum is credit-based: 64 thesis credit points beyond coursework. No typical duration stated. |
| Jadavpur University | "NO INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIP IS OFFERED." Candidates with a valid GATE score admitted to an AICTE-approved programme under Category A (GATE) apply directly to the AICTE when notified, and get the scholarship "if sanctioned by them." | Ph.D.: minimum three years including coursework; registration valid six years, subject to completing coursework; the Doctorate Committee may allow two more years, total not over eight. Research master's: not stated. |
| NIT Durgapur | At present (PhD regulations): ₹37,000/month for first 2 years, ₹42,000 for the remaining 3 years; enhancement in rate, after two years of enrolment, may be considered on successful DSC assessment and submission of report. | PhD thesis normally within six years of enrolment, extendable by one year for satisfactory reasons; women and PwD (over 40% disability) get two years' relaxation; earliest two years after registration. |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | PhD, per month: Rs 70,000 (years 1-2), Rs 75,000 (year 3), Rs 80,000 (years 4-5), plus Rs 2 lakh yearly research grant. Research master's: not stated on the source pages. | Fellowship runs through the 5th PhD year for B.Tech. (or equivalent) students, or until the final viva voce if earlier. PhD and master's durations: not stated on the source pages. |
Source: From each institute's own admission pages, as on 24 September 2026; the pages are listed in the last table. Text in quotation marks is the page's own wording. "Not stated on the source pages" means those pages do not say; it does not mean the rule does not exist.
| Institute | Selection | Next intake (published by 24 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | Shortlisting for an in-person interview on National Entrance Test performance and/or the qualifying degree; selection on the interview. In some departments an aptitude test or preliminary interview comes first. | Website opens for online submission of applications 06.10.2026; website closes at 23:59 hours on 26.10.2026; commencement of session 01.01.2027. "Mid-year admissions are not available for MTech(Research) or other degree programmes." |
| IIT Bombay | Ph.D.: written test and/or interview as each Department/Centre/School/Interdisciplinary Group specifies. GATE-exempt IIT B.Tech holders (CGPA/CPI ≥8.00/10) "may be admitted to Master of Science by Research Programme under TA/RAP positions through written test and/or interview." | Ph.D./DDDP (Spring Semester), Academic Year 2026-27, "starting from January 2027". Online application forms available September 16, 2026; regular forms by October 17, 2026 (without late fine); extended forms (with late fine) October 21, 2026. |
| IIT Delhi | Ph.D.: normally an interview by the Department/Centre/School, possibly plus a written test. M.S.(R): in the past, normally shortlisting above a programme's GATE cut-off, then written test/interview. | M.S.(R) programmes "are also advertised in the month of October followed by test/ interview in December"; admission to the Ph.D. programme "is possible at any time of the year". |
| IIT Madras | Departments shortlist using "additional and stiffer criteria" and call candidates for "test and interview" or "interview"; selection rests on academic record and interview and/or test performance. | January 2027 admission: apply 10 April to 30 October 2026, 5.00 p.m. Applications invited throughout academic year 2026-27. Written test and interview: to be announced by departments. |
| IIT Kanpur | PhD: written tests and/or interviews of candidates shortlisted by the department's DPGC. Meeting eligibility does not ensure shortlisting; departments may set higher criteria. | Next intake not stated on the source pages. Second-semester admissions normally November-December; PhD advertisement released by September for December. PhD portal: March 19 to April 15, 2026. |
| IIT Kharagpur | Ph.D.: DAC (PG&R) recommends on overall academic performance, written test and/or personal interview; shortlisting for the test is on academic performance. MS: not stated on the source pages. | Ph.D.: rolling; apply throughout the year, processed at least quarterly by each academic unit. MS: one page says invited twice annually, March-April and October-November. |
| IIT Roorkee | Purely on merit. Departments may prescribe higher or additional shortlisting criteria; admission is on written test and/or interview performance. Meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee an interview call. | Spring 2026-27 PhD: apply September 21 to October 20, 2026; tentative test/interview November 16-21; classes January 11, 2027. Later intakes not published as of 24 Sep 2026. |
| IIT Guwahati | Selection for PhD programmes is based on performance in previous educational qualifications and in the written test and/or interview conducted by the respective Department/School/Centre; for MDes/MS(R)/MA, by the respective academic division. | Admissions to the PhD Programme (December 2026 Session) "will commence on 08 October, 2026"; the application portal "will be activated from the same date." |
| IIT Hyderabad | Each department sets cut-offs; shortlisted candidates take a written test and/or interview. In CSE, January rounds may skip straight to online interviews. MTech-RA: entrance exam and/or interview. | Institute-level January 2027 dates: Not published as of 24 Sep 2026. In EE: opens Oct 2026, closes Nov 2026 (expected). In CSE: deadlines typically second weeks of April and November. |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Institute Assistantship admission: scrutiny and shortlisting, then a departmental interview; final selection rests on interview performance. Departments may add shortlisting criteria. PMRF selectees are admitted without interview. | The Ph.D. Admission 2026-2027 portal under Institute Assistantship is open round the year. Final-semester candidates may apply as Result Awaiting but must prove degree completion by September 30, 2026. |
| IIEST Shibpur | Initial screening, then written test and/or interview/counseling; Institute or departments may set shortlisting criteria above minimum eligibility. July 2026 interviews were scheduled offline at departments, July 01-02, 2026. | Two cycles yearly, July and December. December 2026 application dates are not stated on the source pages; document verification and registration for December 2026 admits: 04-05 January 2027. |
| Jadavpur University | Non-exempted candidates sit a Written Entrance Test (WRET), 50% research methodology and 50% subject specific, with 50% qualifying marks for General category applicants; selection weights entrance test 70%, interview/viva-voce 30%, including a research-interest presentation. | “Status APPLICATION CLOSED” |
| NIT Durgapur | Departments shortlist on submitted documents and their own eligibility criteria; shortlisted candidates sit an admission test, possibly further screening, then viva voce. Selection weighs academic performance, written test and viva. | Categories A and B: admission "shall be made once in each semester as per a pre-decided schedule indicating the total number of seats available". Online PhD application (ODD Semester, 2026-27): closing at 2026-08-20 23:00. |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | Institute nominates (may hold internal interviews first); nominee submits a detailed application with recommenders on the PMRF portal; National Coordination Committee makes final selections by rank and seats per institute. | Next intake date not stated. Presently all ministry-sanctioned seats filled; further approval awaited. Nomination calls broadly expected every July/August and January/February; PhD admission timelines typically differ slightly by institute. |
Source: From each institute's own admission pages, as on 24 September 2026; the pages are listed in the last table. Text in quotation marks is the page's own wording. "Not stated on the source pages" means those pages do not say; it does not mean the rule does not exist.
| Institute | What the page says |
|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | Direct Ph.D. students need at least 24 credits with a minimum CGPA of 7 and can take at most two years to complete their RTP. |
| IISc Bengaluru | Direct Ph.D. students qualify for a dual M.Tech. (Research) and Ph.D. degree only if the RTP is completed within 2 years and the comprehensive exam within three years of joining. |
| IIT Bombay | One department offers "a dual MTech + PhD programme for bright B.E./B.Tech./M.Sc. graduates who wish to enter the doctoral programme directly"; it says both degrees are awarded on completion. |
| IIT Bombay | B.Tech. entrants must complete 44 to 56 PhD credits including a seminar; admission stays provisional until Confirmation of Registration, six months to a year later, subject to departmental academic criteria. |
| IIT Delhi | Ph.D. students with a B.Tech./M.Sc. admitted to an Engineering Department must earn at least 20 pre-Ph.D. course credits. |
| IIT Delhi | Final-year candidates who expect to complete all qualifying degree requirements before the date of registration can also apply. |
| IIT Delhi | Meritorious students with a bachelor's degree (such as B. Tech.) are advised to "directly apply for the Ph. D. programmes if they wish to pursue doctoral research." |
| IIT Madras | Direct scholars can earn both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees if all requirements are met, including two additional 6-credit courses by the 4th semester. Coursework is expected within 3 semesters. |
| IIT Madras | Final-year candidates (regular full-time) may apply for the direct M.S+Ph.D; admission is subject to qualifying GATE before joining, failing which the offer is canceled. |
| IIT Madras | One may apply for PMRF only after admission to Ph.D./Direct Ph.D.; for Direct Ph.D. it runs 5 years: Rs.70,000 first two years, Rs.75,000 third, Rs.80,000 last two. |
| IIT Kanpur | Provisional PhD admission may be offered to B.Tech students in their 7th and 8th semesters from MOEFTIs and top 100 NIRF-ranked engineering institutes, based on 6th or 7th semester results. |
| IIT Kanpur | IIT Kanpur's statements conflict: one says "Unlike MTech admission, PhD admission has no cutoff for GATE score"; another says the "cut-off GATE score for M.Tech/MS(R)/PhD shortlisting changes every year/semester depending on applications received." |
| IIT Kanpur | Students doing a PhD directly after B.Tech can get an additional M.Tech./M.Des./M.S. by Research/M.B.A. degree with the PhD, subject to conditions including a 216-credit minimum. |
| IIT Kharagpur | Applicants ranking in the top 50 in GATE 2026 who choose a Ph.D. at IIT Kharagpur are eligible for a prestigious fellowship. |
| IIT Kharagpur | Final-year B.Tech students whose result is awaited apply with CGPA/marks up to the 7th semester of an 8-semester programme. |
| IIT Kharagpur | The registration seminar should normally be held within three calendar years of enrolment; failing it on the second attempt cancels enrolment and the student is asked to leave. |
| IIT Roorkee | B.Tech. entrants take minimum 24 credits of PG-level theory courses. Candidacy needs coursework and seminar credits with CGPA at least 7.00, comprehensive exam minimum 7.00 grade point, approved research proposal. |
| IIT Roorkee | PhD students admitted with a Bachelor's degree also get the parent department's master's (e.g. M.Tech.) if they earn its course credits, excluding thesis, with CGPA 8.5 or more. |
| IIT Roorkee | Final-year students finishing all qualifying-exam requirements before registration may apply and be admitted provisionally. GATE-qualified candidates apply via regular advertisements in September/October and March (tentatively). |
| IIT Guwahati | CSE allowed any-discipline candidates to apply for PhD in July 2026; BTech students may apply directly. IIT BTech/MTech without GATE: Regular-eligible; BTech with GATE no longer valid: not. |
| IIT Guwahati | One page prints a minimum CPI of 7.5 or 70% for a Bachelor's in Engineering/Technology/Medical Sciences in a relevant area; the PhD eligibility text says CPI 6.0 (or 60%). |
| IIT Guwahati | A Comprehensive Examination is held within 24 months of admission for students with only a Bachelor's degree, and within 18 months for those with a master's degree. |
| IIT Hyderabad | In EE, direct PhD students joining after B.Tech should complete at least 24 credits of coursework; Chemical Engineering's Direct PhD lists a total credit requirement of 24. |
| IIT Hyderabad | In CSE, B.Tech graduates from IITs, CFTIs or CFIs in listed disciplines can apply without GATE at 8.0 CGPA (General/OBC creamy layer), 7.2 (OBC non-creamy layer) or 6.8 (SC/ST). |
| IIT Hyderabad | IITH's eligibility criteria are minimums: departments may add criteria, and the cut-off may be increased when there are a large number of applications. |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Scholars entering with a UG degree must complete at least 6 courses within two years, against 4 for PG-degree holders; the comprehensive viva needs a minimum CGPA of 6.5. |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | “B.E./B.Tech./M.S./MCA/M.Sc. with a GATE qualification (in CS, DA, EC, or EE) or NET (in Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science, and Mathematical Sciences).” |
| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Shortlisted IA candidates must attend a personal interview on the scheduled date at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad; no TA/DA is provided. |
| IIEST Shibpur | A B.Tech. entrant must complete at least 24 credits of postgraduate courses (12 with MTech/MSc) in the next two full semesters, qualifying within two attempts with CGPA at least 6.5. |
| IIEST Shibpur | Institute Fellowship age limits (as on the last application date): 32 years for OC male, 35 OBC (NCL), 37 SC/ST/PwD and female; no limit for self-sponsored. |
| Jadavpur University | Engineering & Technology scholars with B.E./B.Tech. or MCA take at least 20 coursework credits (others 12) and need 55% per course and aggregate, or 6.25/10, to continue. |
| Jadavpur University | Fees: non-refundable Rs. 500 application fee per departmental Ph.D. programme; Engineering & Technology Ph.D. registration Rs. 22,000 at admission and Rs. 5000 per semester throughout, regardless of employment or scholarship. |
| NIT Durgapur | A B.Tech scholar takes a minimum of 16 credits plus Research Methodology (9 for an M.Tech holder), with DSC-prescribed coursework completed within the first four semesters. |
| NIT Durgapur | The Category A scholarship is normally given initially for three years, renewable year to year on satisfactory performance up to a maximum of 5 years. |
| NIT Durgapur | Scholars with fellowship must assist their department in teaching (sessional, laboratory etc.) and other academic activity for up to 8 hours per week. |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | Direct entry Fellows are first reviewed within 18 months of joining and must have completed at least four full-semester courses with CGPA 8.5 before that review. |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | Direct entry allows one application and needs PhD selection at the beginning of the current semester; earlier selection means lateral entry only. Deferring PhD admission bars direct entry at joining. |
| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) | Only Indian students are eligible. You must satisfy one criterion in the three years preceding application. Incomplete PMRF TAship cuts the fellowship to JRF/SRF level with HRA per institute norms. |
Source: From each institute's own admission pages, as on 24 September 2026; the pages are listed in the last table. Text in quotation marks is the page's own wording. "Not stated on the source pages" means those pages do not say; it does not mean the rule does not exist.
| Institute | Official pages behind the cells above |
|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru |
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| IIT Bombay |
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| IIT Delhi |
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| IIT Madras |
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| IIT Kanpur |
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| IIT Kharagpur |
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| IIT Roorkee |
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| IIT Guwahati |
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| IIT Hyderabad |
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| IIT (ISM) Dhanbad |
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| IIEST Shibpur |
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| Jadavpur University |
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| NIT Durgapur |
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| PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) |
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Source: As on 24 September 2026. Only official institute or Ministry pages (and, for IIT Bombay's department syllabi, documents those pages link) were used.
About this resource
A direct PhD takes you from a four-year B.E./B.Tech. into doctoral research without first completing a master's. The institutes print their own rules for it, who is eligible, whether GATE is needed, whether a fellowship is paid and, where they print it, how much, and how selection works, though some of their pages disagree with each other, and the tables say where. The source is each institute's own pages, not anyone's summary of them.
Thirteen institutes are covered: IISc Bengaluru; IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati, Hyderabad and (ISM) Dhanbad; and IIEST Shibpur, Jadavpur University and NIT Durgapur. The Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF), a separate fellowship scheme for PhD scholars, has its own row.
At least three things differ from one institute to the next: the academic floor for a B.Tech entrant, printed as a percentage, a CGPA or a class, and relaxed for reserved categories at several; whether GATE or an equivalent test is required, and who is exempted; and whether a research master's is on the programme list at all. The first two tables set these out institute by institute, with the CGPA beside the percentage wherever an institute prints both.
Everything here is as the pages stood on 24 September 2026. Rules can change from one cycle to the next, several cells say 'at present' or 'as per current norms', so treat the tables as a map to each institute's own pages, listed in the last table, and confirm there before you apply. Where a cell says 'not stated' or 'not printed', that only means the source pages do not say; it does not mean the rule does not exist.
What's included
- ✓Direct-PhD eligibility for a B.E./B.Tech. graduate at 13 institutes, in each institute's own terms
- ✓The GATE requirement at each, including who is exempted
- ✓The research master's route (MS by Research, MS(R), M.Tech (Research)) where one exists, and the rules for moving between it and the PhD
- ✓The monthly fellowship where it is printed, and the programme durations
- ✓How selection works, and the next intake where one had been published by 24 September 2026
- ✓A list of the official pages behind every cell
How to use this resource
Start with the first table. Find the institutes whose academic floor and GATE rule you meet, or will meet by the time you graduate, and note which of them waive GATE for high-CGPA graduates of centrally funded institutes.
Use the second and third tables to compare a direct PhD with a research master's where both exist: what each pays, how long it runs, and whether you can move from one to the other.
Before you apply, open the institute's pages from the last table and read the current notice. Dates and figures can change between cycles; the institute's page, not this guide, is the authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a PhD directly after B.Tech in India?+
Yes. All 13 institutes in this guide, IISc, nine IITs, IIEST Shibpur, Jadavpur University and NIT Durgapur, admit a four-year B.E./B.Tech. graduate directly to the PhD. Each sets its own academic floor: for general-category applicants, from 60% or CGPA 6.0 (IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad; IIT Kharagpur also takes 60% marks, though its CGPA floor is 6.5; IIT Guwahati's PhD eligibility text also says CPI 6.0 or 60%, though another of its pages prints a minimum CPI of 7.5 or 70%) to 80% or CGPA 8.5 (IIEST Shibpur), with relaxations for reserved categories at several; IISc asks for a minimum second class or equivalent. Most ask for a valid GATE score or an equivalent national test, though several waive it for high-CGPA graduates of IITs and other centrally funded institutes (IIT Kharagpur and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad extend this to graduates of top NIRF-ranked institutes), and they select by written test and/or interview.
Do I need GATE for a direct PhD after B.Tech?+
At most of these institutes, yes, or an equivalent national test or fellowship such as NET, but several waive it for graduates of particular institutes who meet a stated CGPA. IISc (for a course of at least four years), IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee print a CGPA of 8.0 for graduates of IITs or other centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs), and IIT Hyderabad prints 8 for graduates of what it calls CFIs. IIT Kharagpur prints 8.0 for IIT or CFTI graduates and for graduates of an institute currently ranked 25 or better in the NIRF overall list. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad prints 8 out of 10 (or equivalent) for B.Tech/B.E. graduates of any CFTI or of an institution in the NIRF Overall top 100 in the application year or the year before. IIT Kanpur prints 75% or 7.5 CPI for CFTI engineering graduates and, for IIT four-year B.Tech/BS graduates, a CPI of 6.5 overall with 8.0 over the last two years. IIT Bombay says IIT B.Tech graduates it admits to the PhD with a CGPA/CPI of 8.00 or more get an assistantship 'without GATE requirements', and IIT Guwahati accepts an on-campus regular degree from an IIT in the relevant discipline, with a minimum CPI of 8.0, for its Institute Assistantship. Jadavpur University instead exempts candidates who qualified for a fellowship or scholarship in GATE from its departmental written entrance test.
What is the PhD stipend after B.Tech?+
Ten of the 13 print the standard monthly PhD fellowship: ₹37,000 for the first two years and ₹42,000 for years three to five, IISc, IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Guwahati, Hyderabad, (ISM) Dhanbad and NIT Durgapur. The step up is conditional in places: IISc ties it to passing the comprehensive examination in due time, and at NIT Durgapur the enhancement after two years 'may be considered' on successful DSC assessment and submission of a report; IIT (ISM) Dhanbad pays its assistance subject to satisfactory progress; and IIT Delhi states that admission does not guarantee an assistantship. IIT Hyderabad's Special Direct PhD, for 9-CGPA graduates of IITs, IISc or IISERs who entered via JEE Advanced, prints ₹80,000 a month for 4 years. The Prime Minister's Research Fellowship, a selective scheme which reported that all ministry-sanctioned seats were presently filled, with further approval awaited, pays ₹70,000 a month in years one and two, ₹75,000 in year three and ₹80,000 in years four and five; a Fellow who does not complete its teaching assistantship drops to the JRF/SRF rate. IIT Roorkee and IIEST Shibpur print no amount on the source pages, and Jadavpur University states that no institutional scholarship is offered; there, candidates admitted with a valid GATE score to an AICTE-approved programme under Category A (GATE) apply directly to the AICTE when notified, and get its scholarship 'if sanctioned by them'.
What is an MS by Research, and can a B.Tech graduate apply?+
It is a research master's; at IIT Delhi, for example, two-thirds of the M.S.(R) credits are thesis. IISc (as M.Tech (Research), in its Engineering Faculty, for those who meet the department's basic qualification), IIT Delhi (by discipline, with a 60% or 6.00 CGPA minimum), and IIT Madras (with a good academic record in the relevant areas) state that B.E./B.Tech. graduates with a valid GATE score can apply or be considered; IIT Kanpur lists its MS (By Research) in several departments and asks regular candidates for a valid GATE, CSIR, JRF, NET or COGJET score. IIT Bombay says the same for its Master of Science by Research, listed in CSE, CMiNDS and KCDH: it needs First class or 60% (55% for SC/ST), and the GATE paper it accepts differs by programme. Two of them state a GATE waiver for the research master's itself: IIT Bombay, for IIT B.Tech holders with a CGPA/CPI of 8.00 or more, who may be admitted under TA/RAP positions through a written test and/or interview, and IIT Delhi, for current CFTI students with a CGPA of 8.00 or more at the end of the 6th semester or later. IIT Madras (CFTI graduates with a CGPA of 8 or more) and IIT Kanpur (CFTI engineering graduates with 75% or 7.5 CPI; IIT four-year graduates with a CPI of 6.5 overall and 8.0 over the last two years) print GATE waivers in their admission rules without naming the M.S. specifically. The monthly amount printed for it is ₹12,400 at IISc (for 2 years), IIT Delhi, IIT Madras (the M.S. HTRA, for 2 years, extendable by up to 6 months on GTC recommendation) and IIT Kanpur. IIT Delhi pays it as a teaching assistantship of 8 hours a week to full-time, non-sponsored, GATE- or CEED-qualified students and says admission does not guarantee it; IIT Kanpur's is for 8 hours' weekly work, for up to 22 months.
Can I move from an MS by Research to a PhD, or leave a PhD with a master's?+
Several institutes allow one or both. IISc lets an M.Tech (Research) student with at least 12 credits and a minimum CGPA of 8.0 (7.5 in special cases, on the committee's recommendation) upgrade to the PhD. IIT Madras's criteria for an M.S.-to-Ph.D. upgrade in the same department include a CGPA of at least 8 in the prescribed courses, with at least three courses completed, and a request within two years of joining. IIT Kanpur may allow an M.S. by Research student, at the beginning of the second, third, fourth or fifth semester, to change registration to its Ph.D. programme in Engineering, Management or Design, on the DPGC's recommendation and with the SPGC's approval. IIT Bombay also lets an M.S.R. student convert to its M.S.R.+Ph.D. programme, subject to credit, CPI and seminar-grade (BB or better) requirements, applying between the end of the 3rd (TA) or 4th (RA) semester and 30 June of the year the student completes a third year from joining. IIT Bombay lists an MS by Research exit from its PhD (except in HSS), and IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee let a PhD student leave with an MS by Research degree on conditions. The second table shows what each institute's pages say, including where they state no rule.
When do direct PhD applications open?+
Several institutes admit PhD students more than once a year. Dates published by 24 September 2026 include: IIT Bombay's January 2027 intake, forms from 16 September and regular forms by 17 October 2026; IIT Roorkee's spring intake, 21 September to 20 October 2026; IISc, applications 6 to 26 October 2026 for a session starting 1 January 2027; IIT Guwahati's December 2026 session, from 8 October 2026; and IIT Madras's January 2027 intake, until 5.00 p.m. on 30 October 2026.
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