All about IIT Hyderabad’s Direct Fellowship- Amount, Objectives, Eligibility, Application Process, Selection Procedure and Documents Required
If you have a CGPA of 9.0+, you can join IIT Hyderabad’s PhD program straight from undergraduation. Get full fellowship details and application tips.
- What is the Direct PhD Fellowship at IIT Hyderabad?
- Objectives of the Fellowship
- Eligibility Criteria & Financial Support
- How to Apply
- Selection Process
- Importance of the Direct PhD Fellowship
- FAQs
What is the Direct PhD Fellowship at IIT Hyderabad?
IIT Hyderabad has a Direct PhD (High CGPA) entry option for exceptional students to directly enter the PhD program without doing a Master’s degree first. This option is for students with an excellent undergraduate degree (BTech, BE, BDes, MSc) with strong academic performance from elite institutes (IIT, NIT, IISc, IISER, CFTIs) to reach a threshold level of high CGPA (analogously ≥ 9.0/10). Candidates will receive an institute fellowship for 5 years, which includes stipend and support.
Objectives
IIT Hyderabad envisions to provide an early-career research career opportunity through the Direct PhD Fellowship program. This fellowship incentivizes merit, will help accelerate research careers, and will help to build a cadre of innovative thinkers. The objectives listed below capture the main purpose of the fellowship:
- Recognize exceptional students with ongoing academic success.
- Streamline the research path by letting high achievers to avoid the Master’s.
- Furnish stable financial aid throughout the entire PhD period (5 years) under this program.
- Enrich IIT Hyderabad’s PhD program by acquiring exceptional students from all over India.
Eligibility & Financial Support
The IIT Hyderabad Direct PhD Fellowship serves to acknowledge outstanding performance by aspiring PhD students and ensures that qualified students receive adequate financial support to pursue their research without interruption. This section outlines the eligibility and financial support that make this fellowship an attractive route for those qualified to pursue their doctoral degree:
Eligibility
- Candidates are required to possess a BTech / BE / BDes / MSc / equivalent with final CGPA ≥ 9.0/10.0.
- Those who have graduated from IITs, NITs, IISc, IISERs or CFTIs (or equivalent degree) are under this applicable scheme.
- GATE or similar national exams are not compulsory for candidates with high CGPA under this scheme.
- The departments may continue to use a higher cut-off for shortlisting beyond the base eligibility.
Financial Support & Fellowship
- Time period: 5 years of support.
Stipend:
- ₹50,000/month for the initial 2 years (JRF-level).
- ₹55,000/month for the following 3 years (SRF-level).
- Institute fellowship funding is fully satisfied, i.e., this fellowship does not require a separate external fellowship.
How to Apply
IIT Hyderabad periodically invites outstandingly high-quality students to apply for a Direct PhD to carry out research. Students would not have to take the GATE to apply for the program. Here are the details of how to apply:
Keep an eye on the special Direct PhD / Higher CGPA call
1. IIT Hyderabad updates the PhD admissions page every year with a “Special Call for Meritorious Students for Direct PhD” (typically in January).
Apply through the PhD admissions portal
2. When the option for Direct PhD is mentioned, you can apply through the IIT Hyderabad PhD admissions portal.
Choose department / specialisation
3. When the special call is made, select the department in the call (for example, AI, ECE, Design, Biology etc.).
No GATE needed (for high-CGPA candidates)
4. If you meet the CGPA requirement from the eligible institutions, GATE is not needed.
Shortlisting & Selection
5. Applications are screened by departments. Shortlisted candidates are called for a written test or an interview/research presentation.
For latest updates, visit the official website – https://www.iith.ac.in/academics/scholarshipFAQ/
Documents Required
To apply for the Direct PhD at IIT Hyderabad, candidates must submit a group of required documents as part of their application. The following is a list of documents that will likely be required:
According to the official website, you will most likely require the following:
- BTech/BE/BDes/MSc degree certificate or provisional certificate.
- Academic transcripts from all semesters with CGPA.
- Statement of purpose/research interest.
- Proof of institute (IIT/NIT/IISc/CFTI) affiliation.
- Government-issued identity proof (Aadhar, Passport, etc.)
- Any forms that have been mentioned by the department in the call.
Selection Process
The selection process for IIT Hyderabad’s Direct PhD program is a multi-stage process to select the best candidates according to merit. The above describes the steps in the selection process:
- Initial eligibility verification (CGPA, university, documents).
- Departmental screening and shortlisting.
- Interviews / tests / research presentations
- Departments may add additional criteria on top of minimum standards.
- Seats may go unfilled if suitable candidates cannot be identified.
Importance of the Direct PhD Fellowship
The Direct PhD Fellowship at IIT Hyderabad represents a unique and exceptional opportunity for talented students to accelerate their research careers with guaranteed funding. The following points describe its major significance:
- Allows outstanding students to accelerate their research careers.
- Less time and money than doing a Master’s first.
- Guaranteed funding for 5 years for academic security.
- Attracts high-potential scholars to IIT Hyderabad, which will improve quality of research output.
FAQs
Q: Am I eligible to apply without a Master’s degree?
Ans: Yes, if you meet the CGPA and institutional requirements, you can directly apply under the Direct PhD scheme without requiring one.
Q: Is a GATE score necessary?
Ans: No, if you have CGPA that satisfies the high CGPA requirement under the Direct PhD scheme you will not need to submit a GATE score.
Q: What is the stipend?
Ans: The stipend would be ₹50,000/month (first two years); and ₹55,000/month (next three years; total of 5 years).
Q: What if I have a CGPA of < 9.0?
Ans: If your CGPA is less than 9.0, you will need to apply through the regular PhD routes (with a Master’s degree or other eligibility) rather than through the Direct PhD application with the low CGPA requirement.
Q: Does Direct PhD have limits on departments?
Ans: Yes, the call specifies the departments in which the Direct PhD is offered, indicating you will need to review that list for eligible departments.
Conclusion
The Direct PhD Fellowship Program at IIT Hyderabad is a forward-looking venture aimed at developing top academic talent from the undergraduate level. Allowing high-achieving students to bypass the Master’s and move into research directly, IIT Hyderabad offers a unique fast-track pathway for all qualifying candidates to engage in high-impact scientific and technology innovation. With robust funding, a five-year fellowship, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, this will enable bright minds to contribute to India’s growing research ecosystem, meaningfully, confidently, and independently at an early stage.
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