IIT Bombay hiring 30 counsellors after protests; apply by October 17
By TUF News Desk · Published 12 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
October 17 is the last date to apply. IIT Bombay’s Student Wellness Centre has invited applications for 30 ad hoc counsellor posts: 26 student counsellors and four senior counsellors. The institute says selected candidates could join as early as October 15, and interviews run from October 12 to 18.
The recruitment follows the death of a second-year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, on September 18, which triggered large-scale student protests on the Powai campus. During the protests, students told the institute that its mental health support system was not keeping up. Students said the Wellness Centre, with its limited number of counsellors, could not serve nearly 14,000 students across the institute’s courses and departments. They placed expanded mental health support in a list of demands submitted to Director Professor Shireesh Kedare.
Who can apply
Candidates need an MA or MSc in Psychology, with clinical, counselling or social psychology as the specialisation, and at least 55 per cent marks or an equivalent grade. Student counsellors need at least two years of relevant experience after their qualifying degree, while senior counsellors need at least ten years. The full terms are in the official recruitment notice on the Student Wellness Centre’s website.
The institute says it will consider linguistic and gender diversity while selecting the 30 counsellors, so that students from different social and linguistic backgrounds can access support. Experience working with adolescents and young adults, residential academic institutions and crisis cases is desirable. Proficiency in Indian languages in addition to English and Hindi is preferred.
What else has changed on campus
The hiring is one of several steps the administration has announced since the protests. The institute has appointed an additional associate dean under the Dean of Student Affairs who will primarily oversee student welfare. Students have also been told that “student wellness secretaries” will be placed in hostels as part of a wider overhaul of the wellness support system.
Hindustan Times reports that an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death is underway, and that committees dealing with student matters are being reformed to ensure equal student representation. The institute is also considering separate hostel rooms for at least 10 of the selected counsellors, so they can stay on campus and be reachable to students in hostels.
The gap that remains
The students’ charter of demands had asked for one counsellor for every 250 students, which would mean about 56 counsellors for 14,000 students. The current intake of 30 closes roughly half that gap. For students on campus, the practical question is whether waiting lists at the Wellness Centre shrink once the new counsellors join in mid-October.
If you are weighing IIT Bombay against other institutes, campus support systems are worth a line on your checklist along with courses and placements. Our guide to choosing a university explains what to compare. And for those moving into institute housing this year, the hostel vs PG guide covers the trade-offs of campus living.
Frequently asked questions
How many counsellor posts has IIT Bombay opened, and what is the last date to apply?
30 ad hoc posts: 26 student counsellors and four senior counsellors. Applications close on October 17, 2026, and interviews are scheduled between October 12 and 18.
What are the eligibility requirements for the counsellor posts?
An MA or MSc in Psychology, with clinical, counselling or social psychology as the specialisation, and at least 55 per cent marks. Student counsellors need at least two years of relevant experience; senior counsellors need at least ten.
Why is IIT Bombay hiring counsellors now?
The hiring follows the death of a second-year BTech student on September 18 and the protests that followed, during which students said the Student Wellness Centre’s limited staff could not serve nearly 14,000 students.
What other welfare steps has the institute announced?
An additional associate dean to oversee student welfare, plans to place student wellness secretaries in hostels, an independent investigation into the student’s death, and reforms to student committees with equal student representation.
Frequently asked questions
How many counsellor posts has IIT Bombay opened, and what is the last date to apply?
30 ad hoc posts: 26 student counsellors and four senior counsellors. Applications close on October 17, 2026, and interviews are scheduled between October 12 and 18.
What are the eligibility requirements for the counsellor posts?
An MA or MSc in Psychology, with clinical, counselling or social psychology as the specialisation, and at least 55 per cent marks. Student counsellors need at least two years of relevant experience; senior counsellors need at least ten.
Why is IIT Bombay hiring counsellors now?
The hiring follows the death of a second-year BTech student on September 18 and the protests that followed, during which students said the Student Wellness Centre's limited staff could not serve nearly 14,000 students.
What other welfare steps has the institute announced?
An additional associate dean to oversee student welfare, plans to place student wellness secretaries in hostels, an independent investigation into the student's death, and reforms to student committees with equal student representation.
Sources: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times