Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali offers a 3-year full-time program across biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth and environmental sciences, and, humanities and social sciences

The candidate must hold a master’s degree in the relevant discipline with a good academic record. Moreover, the candidate must have a valid score in GATE/ CSIR or UGC-NET/ JEST/ NBHM-JRF/JGEEBILS (TIFR/NCBS)/ GPAT/ ICMR-JRF/ DBT-JRF/DST-INSPIRE in the relevant stream.

Check IISER Mohali 

IISER PhD Important Dates 2023

Events Dates
Last date to Apply November 4, 2022

IISER Mohali Ph.D. Eligibility

Specializations Eligibility Criteria
Biological Science Master Degree/ B.Tech/MBBS/M.Pharm./M.Tech and have a valid score in GATE/CSIR or UGC-NET/ JEST/ GPAT/ ICMR-JRF/DBT-JRF/DBT-BINC/ICAR-NET/DST- INSPIRE in the relevant subject
Chemical Science
Physical Science Masters degree/ B.Tech/MBBS/ M.Tech with a good academic record (at least a high second class) and should be GATE/ CSIR or UGC-NET/ JEST/ GPAT/ ICMR-JRF/ DBT-JRF/DBT-BINC/ ICAR-NET/ DST- INSPIRE qualified in the relevant subject.
Earth & Environmental Science Masters/B.Tech/ M. Tech degree in Atmospheric Sciences/ Earth and Environmental Sciences/ Geology/ Chemistry/ Physics/ Environmental Biotechnology/ Biological Sciences/ Geophysics/ Meteorology/Hydrology/ Climate Sciences/ Mathematics / Remote Sensing / Computer Sciences / Artificial Intelligence /Data Sciences and should have a valid GATE/ CSIR-UGC-NET/ DST-Inspire fellowship
Humanities and Social Science M.A./M.Sc./M.Phil degree (minimum 55% for General and OBC category, minimum 50% for SC/ST/PD.) in one or more of the following subjects: Sociology /Anthropology / Geography / Modern Indian History / Urban History / Political Economy / Gender Studies / Urban Studies / English Literature / Development Studies/ South Asian studies

IISER Mohali Ph.D. Admission Guidelines 2022

The basic admission criteria for the Ph.D. program are to have a valid score in qualifying exams such as GATE/CSIR or UGC-NET/JEST/ NBHM-JRF/ JGEEBIL (TIFR/NCBS) /GPAT/ICMR-JRF/DBT-JRF/DST-INSPIRE in the relevant stream.

Students are later selected for Screening Interviews based on the valid score in the qualifying exam.

How to apply?

  1. Visit the official website of the University.
  2. Click on the ‘Apply Online’ option. A new page will appear on the screen.
  3. Select 'Ph.D. admission 2022' and enter a valid email Id and password to register.
  4. After registering, the login information with the password is sent to the candidate via email. 
  5. Open the login page and enter the same login Id and password.
  6. Submit the form and click on ‘Download Report PDF’ and also take a print copy.
  7. The print copy should be mandatorily signed by the candidate.
  8. Submit the attested form during the time of the Interview.
  9. Shortlisted candidates are alarmed via email or speed post for Interview.

Documents Required

  1. Original and a print copy of the application form. 
  2. Scanned copy of passport size photographs and signature.
  3. The graduation Mark sheet and certificate.
  4. Post-graduation Mark sheet and certificate.
  5. Class XII and X Certificates.
  6. Caste Certificate if necessary.
  7. Residence Certificate if needed.
  8. The Scorecard of any qualifying exam appeared as mentioned.

Read more: IISER Mohali Admission

IISER Mohali Ph.D. course details

The course for Ph.D. scholars includes various electives such as Interdisciplinary electives and Nano-Science electives for Science fields. The syllabus for the Ph.D. program is updated according to International Universities. 

The Ph.D. seminar courses need scholars to attend and deliver seminars. Evaluations are done based on participation and the standard of the talk or poster.

Specializations Courses
Biological Science
  • Microbial technology
  • Fundamentals of microbiology
  • Advanced biochemistry
  • Microbial genetics
  • Infectious diseases and epidemiology
  • Principles underlying instrumental biomacromolecular analyses
  • Neuroscience
  • Computational structural biology
  • Cancer cell biology
  • Ecosystem ecology
  • Advances in plant cell and molecular biology
  • Topics in biology-I
  • Topics in biology-II
  • Techniques in biology
  • Regulation of gene expression
  • Biostatistics
  • Immunology
  • Advanced topics in molecular genetics
  • Fluorescence in biology
  • RNA biology
  • Developmental neurobiology
  • Topics in evolutionary biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Animal behaviour: Proximate mechanism, ultimate causes
  • Protein folding, misfolding and amyloid biology
  • Case studies in hypotheses-driven molecular and cellular biology
  • Molecular evolution and phylogenetics
  • Immunological tools, techniques and technologies
  • Origin, ecology and bioresources of Western Himalaya
  • Synthetic biology
  • Bioinformatics
Chemical Sciences
  • Electrochemistry and ionic equillibria
  • Introduction to Stochastic numerical methods
  • Advanced inorganic chemistry
  • Magnetic resonance
  • Elements of NMR theory
  • Advanced organic chemistry
  • Advances in solid state NMR
  • Bio-organic chemistry
  • Chemical crystallography
  • Advanced industrial chemistry
  • Polymer chemistry
  • Chemistry of natural products
  • Frontiers of organometallic chemistry
  • Asymmetric synthesis and catalysis
  • Supramolecular chemistry
  • Kinetics and dynamics of chemical reactions
  • Computational chemistry
  • Chemical dynamics and non-adiabatic interactions
  • Bioinorganic chemistry
  • Numerical methods in chemistry
  • Energetics and dynamics of chemical reactions-2
  • Advances in X-ray crystallography and its applications
  • Chemistry, energy and environment
  • Concepts in nanomaterials and chemical applications
  • Soft matter, colloids and interfacial phenomena
  • Molecular dynamics simulations
  • Photochemistry - concepts, techniques and applications
Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Sedimentology and concepts in Stratigraphy
  • Sustainable interactions with the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Pedosphere
  • Quantitative data analysis in earth and environmental sciences
  • Geomorphology and earth surface processes
  • Remote sensing and GIS
  • Basic meteorology
  • Climate data analysis and visualization
  • Introduction to atmospheric and climate sciences
  • Environmental impact and risk assessment
  • The quarternary period-environments, animals adaptations during the last 2.5 million years
  • Introduction to aeronomy
  • Paleoclimatology
  • Space weather
  • Global tectonics
  • Radiogenic isotope geology
  • Environmental microbiology
  • Environmental biotechnology
Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Construction of identity and knowledge
  • Concepts of space and time in the humanities and social sciences
  • Introduction to linguistics
  • Visual art: Studio practice and theory
  • Identity, power and place
  • Social theory: concepts and debates
  • Advanced qualitative research design and methods
  • Literary appreciation
  • The idea of evolution: Before and after Darwin
  • The social history of science in modern India
  • Women’s history of science
  • Archaeology of the world: A cultural quest into our global past
  • Bones, stones & chromosomes: The story of our evolution
  • From Plassey to partition: A history of modern India
  • India from prehistory to early history
  • Ancient greek theatre: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides
  • Imagining India: An intellectual history of orientalism
  • Intellectual and cultural sources of modernity
  • Cities: Urban theory and laboratory
  • Bodily encounters: Mobility, migrancy and movement
  • Understanding cultures: Past and present using fieldwork, laboratory and archives
  • The archaeology of ancient technologies
  • Economic history of modern India
  • The idea of India: Intellectual imaginary of nation
  • Epistemology of science
  • Metaphysics of science
  • Social theory and religion
  • Epistemology and logic
  • Philosophy of rationality
  • Ethics
  • Themes in infrastructure studies
  • Political philosophy
  • Climate change and sustainable development
  • Reading records
  • Ethnographic research and writing
  • Advanced theory and method in Paleoanthropology
  • Charlie Chaplin’s aesthetic universe
  • Research methods in the humanities and social sciences
  • Science and society
  • Field course in palaeoanthropology and allied disciplines
  • Philosophy in public affairs
  • World cinema

IISER Mohali Ph.D. Fee Structure

Year 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year
Semester Semester-I Semester-II Semester-III Semester-IV Semester-V Semester-VII
Course Fees Rs. 20,000 Rs. 20,000 Rs. 20,000 Rs. 20,000 Rs. 20,000 Rs. 20,000
Registration Fees Rs. 300 - - - - -
Exam Fees Rs. 500 Rs. 500 Rs. 500 Rs. 500 Rs. 500 Rs. 500
Other Fees Rs. 4,989 Rs. 1,100 Rs. 1,989 Rs. 1,100 Rs. 1,989 Rs. 1,100
Total Year-wise Fees Rs. 47,389  44,089 Rs. 44,089

SC/ST and Physically Disabled students are spared from tuition fees.

Read more: IISER Mohali Fee Structure

IISER Mohali Ph.D. FAQs

Ques. Does IISER provide loans or scholarships to Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. Yes, Ph.D. scholars are offered fellowship/ scholarship under various categories. The Department of Science and Technology offers a small number of INSPIRE Scholarships of Rs 5000/- every month to scholars got admission and satisfy the criteria set by DST. Ph.D. scholars can also qualify for fellowships given by CSIR, UGC, DST, DBT, ICMR, and various other agencies.

Ques. How do we know whether we are selected for the Ph.D. program at IISER?

Ans. Selected Ph.D. scholars based on merit and entrance exam are sent an email or post and called for a screening interview. The candidates selected in the screening interview are provided admission at the Institute.

Ques. Are there compulsory internships for Ph.D. scholars at IISER?

Ans. Yes, Ph.D. scholars are expected to participate and complete summer internships after 1st year of the program.

Ques. What are your reviews of the Ph.D. program at IISER?

Ans. Ph.D. program at IISER has great faculty and new opportunities for scholars. Ph.D. scholars were assigned with various interesting thesis and projects during the course period. The Institute also offers good options for students to pursue a Ph.D. abroad.

Ques. What are the basic selection criteria for the Ph.D. program at IISER, Mohali?

Ans. Students qualified national level entrance exam are preferred more for the screening interview. Finally, the students who passed the screening interview are offered admission taking a cumulative of scores in the entrance exam and interview.