PhD admissions closing in days: IISc Oct 26, IIT Delhi Oct 29, IIT Madras Oct 30
By TUF News Desk · Published 22 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
IISc Bengaluru, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur are all shutting their PhD and research admission windows within the next twelve days. The first to go is IISc’s mid-year PhD portal on October 26. Then come IIT Delhi on October 29, IIT Madras on October 30 and IIT Kanpur on November 3.
IISc Bengaluru: closes October 26
IISc opened applications on October 6 for its mid-year PhD intake for the 2026-27 academic year, and the portal at admissions.iisc.ac.in closes at 11:59 pm on October 26. Interviews run November 16 to 20, and the session starts January 1, 2027.
There are two routes in: the regular full-time research programme across science and engineering departments, and the External Registration Programme for working professionals from recognised R&D organisations. The minimum bar is a second-class master’s degree in a relevant discipline; final-year students can apply but must finish all requirements by January 1, 2027. BE, BTech or four-year BS holders need a valid GATE, UGC-NET JRF or CSIR-NET JRF score.
The fee is Rs 800 for General, OBC and EWS candidates, Rs 400 for SC, ST and PwD candidates, and Rs 2,000 for external registration candidates. Check the official mid-year admission notice for department-wise openings.
IIT Delhi: closes October 29
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is admitting to PhD and MS (Research) programmes for the second semester of 2026-27. The last date for national candidates is October 29, 2026, at 4 pm. Sponsored and part-time candidates may be admitted depending on seat availability, but foreign nationals are not eligible under this advertisement.
Apply through IIT Delhi’s PG admissions page and read the information brochure for programme-specific requirements.
IIT Madras: closes October 30
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has opened PhD and MS by Research admissions for the January 2027 session across engineering, science, humanities, social sciences and management. Applications close October 30, 2026, at 5 pm, and everything happens online. The institute does not accept hard copies of the form.
The fee is non-refundable: Rs 1,000 for General, EWS and OBC-NCL men and transgender candidates, and Rs 500 for women in those categories as well as SC, ST and PwD candidates. Each department decides its selection format, as detailed in the admission brochure; shortlisted applicants may face a written test, an interview, or both.
IIT Kanpur: closes November 3
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is taking January 2027 applications for PhD and MS by Research programmes across departments, from aerospace engineering to statistics and data science. The portal is open from October 16 at 2 pm to November 3 at 2 pm.
The application fee is Rs 500 for General, EWS and OBC candidates and Rs 250 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. File a separate form for each programme or department you apply to. See IIT Kanpur’s PG admissions page for the programme list.
What to keep ready
Most of these portals ask for the same set of documents: a photograph, a signature, qualifying-degree certificates and category certificates where they apply.
One more date for research aspirants writing UGC NET as a backup: the December 2026 application window closes October 28, with a Rs 500 late fee option from October 29 to 31.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for IISc mid-year PhD admission?
October 26, 2026, at 11:59 pm, for the January 2027 session. Shortlisted candidates face interviews from November 16 to 20.
When does IIT Delhi PhD admission close for the 2026-27 second semester?
October 29, 2026, at 4 pm for national candidates. The call covers PhD and MS (Research) programmes; foreign nationals are not eligible under this advertisement.
What is the IIT Madras PhD January 2027 application deadline?
October 30, 2026, at 5 pm. Applications are accepted online only; hard copies are not accepted and the fee is non-refundable.
Can I apply to IIT Kanpur PhD if I finish my degree in January 2027?
Yes. Applicants who expect to finish their degree by 4 January 2027 can apply for provisional admission, as long as the form is in by November 3 at 2 pm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for IISc mid-year PhD admission?
October 26, 2026, at 11:59 pm, for the January 2027 session. Shortlisted candidates face interviews from November 16 to 20.
When does IIT Delhi PhD admission close for the 2026-27 second semester?
October 29, 2026, at 4 pm for national candidates. The call covers PhD and MS (Research) programmes.
What is the IIT Madras PhD January 2027 application deadline?
October 30, 2026, at 5 pm. Applications are accepted online only; hard copies are not accepted.
Sources: Collegedunia, Jagran Josh, Times Now, The Telegraph, CareerBox, eduadvice