Part-time Doctor of Philosophy Programme

Frequently Asked Questions for Part-time PhD Program at IISER Kolkata

  1. What is the purpose of the part-time PhD program at IISER Kolkata?
    The program is designed for professionals from industry, government institutes, organizations, and academia. It offers a flexible route for candidates employed in technical, educational, or medical fields to pursue advanced research while continuing their professional commitments.
  2. What are the eligibility criteria for this program?
    Candidates must meet the following criteria:
    1. Possess a Master's Degree with a minimum of 55% marks OR a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree program with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade, as per the Institute’s basic eligibility criteria.
    2. Be less than 50 years old while commencing the PhD.
    3. Have a minimum of 3 years of regular professional experience in their own field.
    4. A qualifying examination is not mandatory.
    5. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer is mandatory. The template of the NOC is available here.
  3. What is the admission process for the part-time PhD program?
    The admission process involves several steps:
    1. Candidates must complete the online application form available on the IISER Kolkata application portal.
    2. Applicants must include the name of a potential supervisor at IISER Kolkata after prior discussion and consent from the supervisor.
    3. Candidates must qualify the PhD selection interview conducted by IISER Kolkata.
    4. The procedure for appointing a co-supervisor (if any) will follow the Academic guidelines for PhD students of IISER Kolkata after admission, if selected.
  4. What are the requirements after admission to the program?
    After admission, candidates must fulfil the following:
    1. Complete coursework at IISER Kolkata as per the institute's guidelines for all PhD students, with the credit structure determined at the departmental level.
    2. Conduct continuous research work on the assigned project for a minimum of 2 years. The research work may be conducted at other premises (besides IISER Kolkata) as found suitable by the Supervisor and Co-Supervisor (if applicable).
    3. Qualify the Comprehensive Examination as per the institute's guidelines for all PhD students.
    4. Conduct and perform satisfactorily in annual evaluations by the Research Progress Committee as per the institute's guidelines for all PhD students.
    5. Adhere to all academic and other requirements set for regular PhD students.
    6. The Academic Guidelines of IISER Kolkata will be applicable as for other PhD students.
  5. Is continuous physical presence on campus mandatory for part-time PhD students?
    Although the program is designed for professionals to pursue advanced research "while continuing their professional commitments", there are specific academic requirements that would necessitate campus presence at certain times in addition to basic work-related presence in the campus which will be decided by the Supervisor/Co-Supervisor.
    Candidates are required to complete coursework at IISER Kolkata.
    They must also qualify the Comprehensive Examination and participate in annual evaluations by the Research Progress Committee. While candidates may not residing on campus full-time, their involvement with the research Project in the first two years is expected to lead to substantial progress - whether from IISER Kolkata campus or through fieldwork or from the parent organization.
  6. What is the maximum duration for completing the part-time PhD program?
    The maximum tenure of the program will be 7 years.
  7. Does IISER Kolkata provide fellowship or accommodation for part-time PhD students?
    No, candidates must be aware that fellowship and accommodation will not be provided by IISER Kolkata.
  8. How do I find about the fees for the program?
    The fee structure may be found here.

For any additional query email us at:
Dept. of Biological Sciences - dbs.phd.application AT iiserkol.ac.in
Dept. of Chemical Sciences - dcs.phd.application AT iiserkol.ac.in
Dept. of Computational & Data Sciences - cds.phd.application AT iiserkol.ac.in
Dept. of Earth Sciences - des.phd.application AT iiserkol.ac.in
For general queries: phd AT iiserkol.ac.in

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