National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, has released the NISER PhD Winter Admission 2026-27 notification for admission to its PhD programme across six schools. The online application portal was activated on 1st October 2026, and the last date for filling up the online application is 1st November 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be uploaded on the NISER website by 10th November 2026, and the tentative dates for the test/interview vary by school, from 19th November 2026 to 15th December 2026. The PhD first-semester registration is scheduled for 1st January 2027, and classes commence on 4th January 2027.
The programme covers six schools — Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Computer Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Candidates need a Master’s degree or a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree with the prescribed minimum marks, and must have qualified at least one national-level examination (CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/JEST/DBT-BET/ICMR/JGEEBILS/NBHM or the relevant exam for the school). NISER does not charge any application fee, and selected students receive a Junior Research Fellowship of ₹37,000 per month for the first two years. This article covers the NISER PhD eligibility, schools, national-level examination requirements, fellowship, selection process, important dates and how to apply, from the official advertisement.
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NISER PhD Winter Admission 2026-27 Important Dates
The application portal opened on 1st October 2026 and closes on 1st November 2026. The shortlist will be uploaded on the NISER website by 10th November 2026, and each school will send call letters to the candidates separately. The table below lists the dates.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application portal activated | 1st October 2026 |
| Last date for filling up online application (all schools) | 1st November 2026 |
| Shortlisted candidates uploaded on NISER website (all schools) | By 10th November 2026 |
| Test/Interview — School of Chemical Sciences | 19–20 November 2026 |
| Test/Interview — School of Humanities and Social Sciences | 26–27 November 2026 |
| Test/Interview — School of Computer Sciences | 1–2 December 2026 |
| Test/Interview — School of Earth & Planetary Sciences | 1–2 December 2026 |
| Test/Interview — School of Physical Sciences | 1–2 December 2026 |
| Test/Interview — School of Biological Sciences | 14–15 December 2026 |
| PhD first-semester registration | 1st January 2027 |
| Classes commence | 4th January 2027 |
NISER PhD Winter Admission 2026-27 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Institute | National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar |
| Programme | PhD (Winter Session 2026-27) |
| Schools | Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Computer Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences |
| Duration | JRF for two years, then SRF for up to another three years (subject to academic requirements) |
| Fellowship | ₹37,000/month (JRF), ₹42,000/month (SRF) |
| Mode of application | Online only through the NISER Online Application Portal |
| Application fee | None |
| Selection | Shortlisting, then interview (supplemented by a written test, if necessary) |
| Travel reimbursement | Return second-sleeper class railway fare by the shortest route for eligible candidates called for the Test/Interview |
| Official website | niser.ac.in |
| Query emails | [email protected] (Biological Sciences), [email protected] (Chemical Sciences), [email protected] (Computer Sciences), [email protected] (Earth & Planetary Sciences), [email protected] (Humanities and Social Sciences), [email protected] (Physical Sciences) |
NISER PhD Eligibility 2026-27
Candidates must have the minimum educational qualification for the school they are applying to, and must have qualified at least one national-level examination valid for the academic year 2026-27. The table below groups the schools by qualification.
| School | Minimum Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | 55% or equivalent GPA in Masters or M.Tech or M.Pharm in any branches of Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Life Sciences, Pharmacy (any specialization), Veterinary Sciences, Computer Sciences, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology. Students with a Master’s degree in Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics having interest in pursuing a career in Biology are also encouraged to apply. Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree programme with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade are also eligible. |
| Chemical Sciences | 55% or equivalent GPA in Master’s in Chemistry or allied Chemistry fields. Students with a Master’s degree in any branches of Basic Sciences with undergraduate degree in Chemistry (or Chemistry as one of the subjects) or M.Tech in Applied Chemistry or Computer Sciences with interest in pursuing a career in Chemistry are also encouraged to apply. Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree programme with Chemistry as major subject with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade are also eligible. |
| Computer Sciences | 55% or equivalent GPA in Masters in Mathematics or Masters in Computer Science, or M.Tech or M.E. in Computer Science/Electronics/Electrical Engineering or related fields. Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree programme with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade are also eligible. |
| Earth & Planetary Sciences | 55% or equivalent GPA in M.Sc./M.Tech/M.E in Physics/Astronomy and Astrophysics/Space Science/Geology/Applied Geology/Geoscience/Geological Sciences/Geophysics/Earth Science(s)/Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences/Mathematics/Chemistry/Engineering Physics/Electrical/Electronics/Mechanical/Civil/Computer/Data Science and related. Candidates with a minimum 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree science programme with Physics/Chemistry/Geology as one of the subjects or in a 4-year B.E/B.Tech degree programme are also eligible. |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | A Master’s or an equivalent degree from a University or Institution recognized by UGC with 55% or equivalent GPA in Master’s degree examination in Humanities and Social Sciences, or candidates with a minimum 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree programme with Philosophy/Sociology/Psychology/History/Tourism as one of the subjects. |
| Physical Sciences | 55% or equivalent GPA in Masters in Physics or M.E/M.Tech in Applied Physics, Quantum Technology/Photonics/Optical Engineering or any other relevant fields. Candidates with a minimum 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a 4-year/8-semester Bachelor’s degree science programme with Physics as one of the subjects or in a 4-year B.E/B.Tech degree programme are also eligible. |
Notes:
- Candidates with a GPA in a qualifying degree may need to produce the conversion note (in case it is not mentioned in their mark sheet) from their institution for the calculation of the percentage.
- Candidates who are appearing for their final examination for the qualifying degree can also apply, provided they submit an undertaking that they will submit the qualifying degree certificates by the time of admission into the programme.
NISER PhD National Level Examination Requirement 2026-27
Candidates must have qualified at least one of the national-level examinations listed for the school they are applying to, valid for the academic year 2026-27. The table below gives the requirement school-wise.
| School | National Level Examination Requirement |
|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | At least one of CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/GPAT/DBT-BET/ICMR/JGEEBILS-2025, valid for the academic year 2026-27 |
| Chemical Sciences | At least one of CSIR-UGC NET/GATE, valid for the academic year 2026-27 |
| Computer Sciences | At least one of CSIR-UGC-NET (LS or JRF)/GATE in MATHS/CS/IT/EE/STATS or NBHM/JEST/TIFR-GS (Maths or CS or LIDS) or related areas, valid for the academic year 2026-27 |
| Earth and Planetary Sciences | At least one of CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/JEST, valid for the academic year 2026-27 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences — Philosophy | JRF or NET in Philosophy from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency |
| Humanities and Social Sciences — Sociology | JRF in Sociology/Psychology/History/Tourism from UGC/CSIR/ICSSR/GATE or any such credible funding agency |
| Physical Sciences | At least one of CSIR-UGC-NET/GATE/JEST, valid for the academic year 2026-27 |
Important Note:
- (a) The cut-off marks for national examinations such as GATE/JEST/JGEEBILS/CSIR-UGC-NET etc. will be further decided by the respective School for the relevant subject area.
- (b) Students having INSPIRE Doctoral Fellowship ONLY, without qualifying any of the abovementioned national level written examinations, will NOT be considered for admission to the PhD programme in NISER.
- (c) Candidates with GPA/CGPA in a qualifying degree will be required to produce supporting documents from their respective University/Institute specifying the conversion into percentage if it is not mentioned in their mark sheet.
NISER PhD Fellowship 2026-27
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) | ₹37,000 per month for the first two years |
| Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) | ₹42,000 per month for a maximum period up to another three years, subject to fulfilment of all academic requirements stipulated by the Institute from time to time |
| External fellowship | Students with external fellowship from agencies viz. CSIR, UGC, etc. will be mandatorily required to draw fellowship as per the extant rules of the respective funding agencies; such students will NOT be considered for the NISER/DAE fellowship |
NISER PhD Research Areas 2026-27
The research areas currently pursued in different schools are given below. Applicants are encouraged to visit the school’s web page for more information on research activities.
School of Biological Sciences: Organelle biogenesis and cellular trafficking; dynamics between the gastric cancer microenvironment and the extracellular matrix; extracellular vesicles (EVs) in gastric cancer progression and EV-based biomarker identification; mechanistic insights into genomic and epigenomic regulators in the pathogenesis of Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy; development and validation of biomarkers for Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma; mechanistic insights into antimicrobial resistance and persistence in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens; molecular mechanisms of non-AUG start codon selection in eukaryotic translation initiation; structure and function of Dengue virus replication complex proteins; identification and characterization of phage-encoded anti-defense proteins that neutralize bacterial immune systems.
School of Chemical Sciences: Detailed information on research areas is available at niser.ac.in/people/fac/scs.
School of Computer Sciences: Parameterized Algorithms, Secure Multiparty Computation, Randomized Algorithms, Computational Geometry, Sublinear Algorithms, Complexity Theory, Machine Learning, Pseudorandomness.
School of Earth and Planetary Sciences: Petrology, geochemistry and lithosphere dynamics of Archean terranes; continental growth and evolution on the Hadean-Archean Earth; radiative transfer in earth/planetary surface photometry & reflectance spectroscopy, hyperspectral data processing, geochemical analysis of planetary analogues, instrumentation and development of VIS-NIR spectrometer; atmospheric physics and fluid dynamics, field meteorological observations, regional convective processes and climatology; exoplanet atmospheres & interiors, planet formation, observational astrophysics (JWST and ALMA); earthquake seismology and physics of earthquakes, laboratory friction experiments and inverse problems.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Philosophy — Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Biology, Philosophy of Mind, AI-Ethics. Sociology — Heritage, Gastronomy, Urban Tourism, Pilgrimage, Host-guest, Host perspective, Tourist experience, Digital technology, Networks, Monumentality.
School of Physical Sciences: Detailed information on research areas is available at niser.ac.in/people/fac/spss, including Quantum Computing Using Neutral Atoms and vapor cell based quantum sensing. For further details of the project description and desired qualifications, visit sites.google.com/niser.ac.in/qnlo/projects/nqm-qc.
NISER PhD Winter Admission 2026-27 Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (NISER Online Application Portal) | niser.ac.in |
| Official Notification PDF | Download Here |
| School of Biological Sciences | niser.ac.in/people/fac/sbs |
| School of Chemical Sciences | niser.ac.in/people/fac/scs |
| School of Physical Sciences | niser.ac.in/people/fac/spss |
| School of Humanities and Social Sciences | niser.ac.in/people/fac/shss |
| NISER Official Website | niser.ac.in |
NISER PhD Selection Process 2026-27
The selection committee of the respective schools will shortlist candidates from the applications received by the deadline. Merely satisfying the minimum qualifications does not guarantee shortlisting, and the schools may set additional criteria as deemed necessary.
- The shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview, supplemented by a written test, if necessary, for admission.
- Based on the academic record and the performance of the candidates in the selection process, the selection committee will recommend candidates for admission to the PhD programme.
- All eligible candidates called for the Test/Interview will be reimbursed the return travel fare equivalent to second-sleeper class railway fare by the shortest route from their place of residence to the Institute, upon production of valid documents.
- Each school will send the call letters to the candidates separately. Candidates should refer to the NISER website for the announcement of the selected candidates.
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How to Apply for NISER PhD Winter Admission 2026-27
The applicant must apply online through the NISER website Online Application Portal, following the stepwise instructions mentioned therein to complete the application submission process. Successful submission of the online application is entirely the candidate’s responsibility, and NISER will not bear any liability for an incomplete application or non-submission of any required supporting document. Candidates intending to apply for more than one school must fill out separate online application forms for each school with appropriate supporting documents. NISER does not demand any application fee for the PhD programme.
Documents to keep ready for uploading during online submission:
| Checklist | Document |
|---|---|
| 1 | JPEG file of your passport-size photo |
| 2 | JPEG file of your valid signatures |
| 3 | Birth Certificate/10th pass certificate in support of date of birth |
| 4 | Certificate and mark sheets in support of passing the qualifying examination, i.e., Master’s degree OR 4 Years/8 Semester Bachelor’s degree, whichever is applicable. In case the original pass certificate is not issued by the University, a provisional certificate from the University/college certifying the completion of the degree should be submitted |
| 5 | Certificate/document in support of qualifying national level examination(s) viz. CSIR-UGC NET JRF/DBT-BET JRF/JEST/NBHM/GATE or any other as applicable |
- Visit the NISER website and open the Online Application Portal.
- Read the full advertisement and check your eligibility for the school you want to apply for.
- Register and fill in the online application form with your personal and educational details.
- Upload the documents listed above in the prescribed format.
- Submit the application before 1st November 2026 and keep the confirmation safe.
- Watch the NISER website for the shortlist (by 10th November 2026) and your registered email for the call letter from the school.
FAQs
Q1. When does the NISER PhD Winter 2026-27 application start?
Ans: The online application portal was activated on 1st October 2026.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
Ans: 1st November 2026 (all schools).
Q3. Is there any application fee for NISER PhD?
Ans: No. NISER does not demand any application fee from the candidates for the PhD programme.
Q4. What is the fellowship for NISER PhD students?
Ans: ₹37,000 per month as Junior Research Fellowship for the first two years, and subsequently ₹42,000 per month for a maximum period up to another three years as Senior Research Fellowship, subject to fulfilment of all the academic requirements stipulated by the Institute from time to time.
Q5. Can I apply for more than one school?
Ans: Yes, but you must fill out separate online application forms for each school with appropriate supporting documents.
Q6. Can final-year students apply for NISER PhD?
Ans: Yes. Candidates who are appearing for their final examination for the qualifying degree can also apply, provided they submit an undertaking that they will submit the qualifying degree certificates by the time of admission into the programme.
Q7. Is INSPIRE Doctoral Fellowship alone sufficient for NISER PhD admission?
Ans: No. Students having INSPIRE Doctoral Fellowship ONLY, without qualifying any of the abovementioned national level written examinations, will NOT be considered for admission to the PhD programme in NISER.
