Gandhinagar, 24 February 2026: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar invites applications from eligible BTech students for Start Early PhD Fellowship for Phase II of 2026-27.
The Start Early Ph.D. Fellowship of IITGN is conceived to meet this need. This full-time residential fellowship is designed to enable budding scientists and engineers to gain early entry into the Ph.D. programmes at IIT Gandhinagar.
Key Dates:
Application Open – 11 February 2026
Application Deadline – 25 March 2026 by 5:00 PM (IST)
Highlights
GATE score is NOT mandatory for admission
Candidates are encouraged to appear for GATE for an enhanced stipend rate
Monthly stipend of Rs 47,000 (For candidates with valid GATE score) or Rs 37,000 (for others)
Travel support up to Rs 2 Lakhs for attending international conferences
Support of up to $12,500 may be considered for research at leading Universities/Labs abroad for a period of upto 6 months.
List of Departments
- Biological Sciences and Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive and Brain Science
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Archaeological Sciences
- Earth Sciences
- Electrical Engineering
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
Eligibility Conditions:
Final year BTech (or equivalent undergraduate degree in Engineering) students from NITs with a CPI/ CGPA of not less than 8.0 at the end of their 3rd year for candidates from General/EWS/OBC categories OR CPI/ CGPA of not less than 7.5 at the end of their 3rd year for candidates from SC/ST/PwD categories. Students who are among the top 5 rank holders in the departments at the end of their pre-final year for General/EWS/OBC categories or top 10 rank holders in the departments at the end of their pre-final year for candidates from SC/ST/PwD categories and who do not meet the CPI/ CGPA criteria as mentioned here shall also be eligible.
Final year BTech (or equivalent undergraduate degree in Engineering) students from select colleges who are among the top 5 rank holders in the departments at the end of their pre-final year for candidates from General/EWS/OBC categories or top 10 rank holders in the departments at the end of their pre-final year for candidates from SC/ST/PwD categories.
Students from Final year BTech (or equivalent undergraduate degree in Engineering) from IITs with a CPI/CGPA of not less than 6.0 at the end of their 3rd year.
For exact eligibility, how to apply, selection process, candidates should refer the exact Fellowship Notification, which is uploaded on the official website of IIT Gandhinagar.
https://iitgn.ac.in/admissions/sephd
