IISER Pune PhD applications close Oct 25: January 2027 session across 6 subjects

By TUF News Desk · Published 24 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

The deadline is tomorrow. The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune is taking online applications for its PhD programmes for the January 2027 session, and the window shuts on October 25, 2026. The institute opened the portal on October 12, and it has packed the whole selection into the weeks that follow: a written test on November 2, the shortlist on November 13, and interviews on December 3 and 4.

The subjects on offer go wider than the usual physics-chemistry-biology set. They include cognitive sciences, educational psychology, design, anthropology, computer science, and philosophy and history of science. Candidates apply online through the institute’s official website, iiserpune.ac.in, and should have their eligibility and documents sorted before they start the form.

Who can apply

The minimum is a master’s degree in science or mathematics, or a four-year bachelor’s degree, with at least 60 per cent aggregate marks. Students with a four-year BSc-BEd degree, an MA in Education, or a BEd after a three-year BSc in science or mathematics are also eligible. The institute prefers candidates with national-level qualifications such as CSIR-UGC NET for some streams, but meeting the minimum does not guarantee a shortlist since additional criteria may apply. Candidates holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status can also apply through the institute’s departmental portals if they earned their qualifying degree in India.

For the science education research stream, the work spans curriculum design, teaching methods, educational psychology and the cognitive and social aspects of learning, so it is aimed as much at future education researchers as at lab scientists.

Selection process

There are two stages. First comes the written examination on November 2, 2026. Candidates who qualify move to the interview, and the shortlist will be published on the Department of Science Education (DSE) website on November 13. The in-person interviews happen at the institute on December 3 and 4, and the final decision rests on interview performance.

How to apply

Apply online through the official IISER Pune website before October 25. Keep your degree certificates, marksheets and category documents scanned and ready; our admission documents checklist covers the usual set. Download the confirmation page after submitting, since the form only counts as complete once the institute has it on record.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to apply for IISER Pune PhD admissions 2027?

October 25, 2026. Applications for the January 2027 session close on this date.

Which subjects are open for the January 2027 PhD session?

Cognitive sciences, educational psychology, design, anthropology, computer science, and philosophy and history of science.

What are the eligibility criteria?

A master’s degree in science or mathematics, or a four-year bachelor’s degree, with at least 60 per cent aggregate marks. BSc-BEd, MA Education and BEd (after a three-year BSc in science or mathematics) holders are also eligible.

What is the selection schedule?

Written examination on November 2, 2026; shortlist published November 13 on the DSE website; in-person interviews on December 3 and 4. Final admission depends on interview performance.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: NDTV, The Times of India, Careers360