PhD Admission 2026 at IISc | Life Sciences | Apply Now
Applications are now officially open for the PhD Admission 2026 at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, India’s premier destination for scientific research. If you are aiming for a PhD Admission 2026, this is your opportunity to join an ecosystem that defines the cutting edge of global innovation. Whether you are interested in fundamental sciences, interdisciplinary bioengineering, or high-end engineering, IISc offers a platform where your research can truly change the world.
About the Institute
Founded in 1909 with the visionary support of Jamsetji Tata and the Maharani of Mysore, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has consistently ranked as the top university in India and among the finest globally for research and citations per faculty. An IISC career—starting from your doctoral journey—places you in a lush, 400-acre “green lung” of Bangalore, surrounded by legendary departments that have produced Nobel laureates and pioneers of Indian space and nuclear programs. The institute is not just an academic body; it is a national asset dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in science, engineering, and management.
No.: IISc/Acad/Admission/2026/01
Admission Notice for U.G. / P. G. / Ph. D. Programmes for the Academic Year 2026-27
(Session starting from August 2026)
RESEARCH PROGRAMMES [Ph D/M Tech (Research)] under PhD Admission 2026
- Ph D in Science Faculty: Biochemistry, Ecological Sciences, Microbiology & Cell Biology, Molecular Biophysics, Developmental Biology and Genetics, Neurosciences [Ph D & M Tech (Research).
- Ph D in Interdisciplinary areas: Bioengineering (offered by the Department of Bioengineering), Energy (offered by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research).
Eligibility Criteria for IISc PhD Admission 2026
Applicants possessing a minimum of second class or equivalent in the following degrees, as applicable to the individual departments/areas, are eligible to apply:
- Master’s degree in Life Sciences/ Chemical Sciences from IISc with a minimum CGPA of 8.5 or equivalent (for PhD only).
- Valid GATE score/NET JRF is mandatory (no minimum cutoff).
- Note:
- The GATE/GPAT/NET JRF/other National entrance test passing certificate/score card should be valid as on 01 August 2026.
- NET JRF includes –Joint CSIR-UGC NET for JRF; UGC-NET for JRF; DBT JRF; ICMR JRF; JEST; NBHM Research Award; INSPIRE. Applicants must be qualified for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to be eligible to apply through the NET JRF mode. Candidates who have qualified only for Lectureship (LS)/Assistant Professorship/qualified under Category-2 or Category-3, are not eligible for admission for the Research Programme at IISc.
- Applicants applying through INSPIRE mode must have a valid provisional INSPIRE offer for consideration of their application at level II of the selection, issued by DST at the time of interview.
- Applicants who have qualified in the Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences-2026 (JGEEBILS) are also eligible to apply.
- Applicants who have qualified in NEET PG (2025)/INI-CET are eligible to apply for PhD in Public Health.
- Selection procedure: Candidates are shortlisted for an in-person interview based on their performance in the National Entrance Test and/or the qualifying degree. Selection is based on performance in the interview (in some departments, an aptitude test/ preliminary interview may precede the final Interview).
COURSE PROGRAMMES IN SCIENCE [M Sc Programme]
Eligibility Criteria for IISc PhD Admission 2026
- Disciplines: Life Sciences
- Educational qualification: A minimum of first class or equivalent in Bachelor’s or an equivalent degree in Biological Sciences (including Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary Sciences and Agricultural Sciences), Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT), Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (BASLP), (or) A minimum of first class or equivalent in BE /BTech degree.
- Qualifying examination: JAM in Biotechnology (BT) paper OR GATE in Biotechnology (BT), Biomedical Engineering (BM), Electronics Communication Engineering (EC), Ecology (EY), Mathematics (MA), Physics (PH), Life Sciences (XL) Paper
INTEGRATED Ph.D PROGRAMMES
Eligibility Criteria for IISc PhD Admission 2026
- Disciplines: Biological Sciences
- Educational qualification: A minimum of first class or equivalent in a Bachelor’s or an equivalent degree in Biological Sciences (including Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Agricultural Sciences) or A minimum of first class or equivalent in BE/B Tech degree.
- Qualifying examination: JAM in Biotechnology (BT)
- Selection procedure:
- The shortlisting of candidates for interviews will be based on the performance in JAM 2026.
- Shortlisting for Physical Sciences is also done based on JEST 2025/2026 score.
- The selection will be based on the performance in the Interview/ combined performance in the JAM/JEST (as applicable) and in the Interview as specified by the programme.
Additional Information
- Reservation/concession/relaxations for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Person with disability (PwD) and Kashmiri-Migrant (KM), Kashmiri Pandits/ Kashmiri Hindu Families (Non-Migrants) living in the Kashmir valley: As per Government of India regulations.
- The minimum class prescribed in the qualifying examination is relaxed to a “Pass Class” for SC/ST candidates.
- Applicants who have applied before the declaration of results must log in and update score/ rank details within 03 days after the result announcement.
- Applicants applying under EWS/OBC (as per central list of OBC available at www.ncbc.nic.in) category must ensure that they have a valid EWS/OBC-NCL Certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026 (i. e. FY: 2026-27) at the time of interview/ written test.
- Scholarships: All the regular PG/PhD students (except for M Sc/ M.Mgt/M.Tech through CFTI Mode (Non IIT’s)/Joint M. Tech in Semiconductor Technology/ M. Engg and UG Programmes) who join the Institute are eligible for scholarships from MHRD/CSIR/UGC/ICMR/DBT/DST/AICTE/DAE (NBHM) depending upon their mode of entry.
- Scholarships from many Indian and multinational agencies and business houses are also available for meritorious students.
- The results of applicable national level examination/mode of entry should be available/declared atleast 15 days prior to the commencement of the respective interviews else the said mode of entry/national level examination will not be considered for further admission process. No representation/correspondence on the matter will be entertained.
- IISc has many merit-based private/donor fellowships that provide enhanced monthly fellowship (up to two times) for course (M.Tech.) and Research (M.Tech. (Research)/Ph.D.) programs of IISc. Further details, including entitlements, can be accessed here: https://odaa.iisc.ac.in/fellowships-consolidated/. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (Admission Notice for the Acad. Year 2026-27)
- There are supernumerary seats for women candidates across various programs, and details are available at www.iisc.ac.in/admissions.
- Applicants are advised to visit the website at www.iisc.ac.in/admissions and the admission portal regularly for admission updates. All further updates shall be published/updated only on the IISc website/admission portal. Applicants are also advised to regularly visit the department website to which they are applying to familiarize themselves with all admission-related matters, areas of study/research, etc.
Timeline for 2026 Applicants
As of today, February 19, 2026, the application window is officially open. Mark these dates in your calendar to ensure you don’t miss out:
- Website Opens for Applications: February 11, 2026.
- Last Date for PhD/M.Tech (Res) Submissions: March 23, 2026 (23:59 IST).
- ERP Application Deadline: March 31, 2026.
- Commencement of Session: August 2026.
Applying for PhD Admission 2026 at the Indian Institute of Science is the ultimate step for any scholar looking to build a prestigious IISC career. Whether you are pursuing a Life Sciences PhD or exploring interdisciplinary engineering, the selection process is rigorous and values both your performance on national tests such as GATE/NET JRF and your potential during the in-person interview. With the application portal closing on March 23, 2026, now is the time to finalize your research interests and gather your credentials. Joining IISc means more than just a degree; it signifies your entry into an elite global network of scientists dedicated to advancing human knowledge.
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