Ph.D. Programme

This is a full-time research programme where in the students work towards their Ph.D. degree under the supervision of an IIA faculty. Students may join the programme in either the first semester beginning in August or the second semester beginning in January.

Entrance examination is held in December followed by interview in January. Students passing the JEST exam will be interviewd in May / June.

The qualifying degrees for this programme are M.Sc/Integrated M.Sc (Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Applied Mathematics, Astronomy, Electronics, Photonics, Optics), M.E./M.Tech and Integrated M.E/M.Tech (Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Photonics, Optics, Opto-Electronics, Radio Physics & Electronics), M.Phil (Applied Physics, Instrumentation, Photonics, Optics, Physics).

Course Work

All students are required to undergo a course work normally for a period of one year before beginning the work towards their Ph.D. thesis. The one-year course work programme starts with an orientation programme for one week on Introduction to Astronomy & Astrophysics at IIA. The present course work structure is as follows:

  • First Semester (Aug-Dec) :

1) JAP Course AA 362 - Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
2) JAP Course AA 363 - Fluid Mechanics and Plasma Physics
3) JAP Course PH217 - Fundamentals of Astrophysics
4) IIA Course - Numerical and Statistical Physics

  • Second Semester (Jan-Apr) :

1) JAP Course AA 365 - Galaxies and Interstellar Medium
2) JAP Course AA 372 - General Relativity and Cosmology
3) IIA Course -- Astronomical Techniques
4) IIA Course -- Research Methodology

  • Project (May-Jul)
Tenure of the Programme

Students admitted to the Ph.D. programme are initially offered a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). On completion of two years as a Junior Research Fellow, a student is offered a Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) after an assessment. The total tenure of the fellowship may not ordinarily exceed five years, inclusive of the one year course work. Once a student submits the thesis, an enhanced fellowship amount may be given for a further period of one year. The continuation of the fellowship beyond this period is not guaranteed.

Scholarship & Other Allowances

The stipend of a JRF is Rs. 31,000/- pm, and of a SRF is Rs. 35,000/- pm in addition to an annual book grant and medical facilities. Upon submission of the Ph.D. thesis the fellowship may be further increased. Hostel accomodation is normally provided to all students. If a student opts to stay in a private accomodation, a house rent allowance is paid as per the institute rules. Students are eligible to enroll in the contributory medical scheme of the institute. Subsidised canteen is available on-campus in Bangalore as well as at the field stations of the institute. During tours, students get travel and dearness allowances on par with staff members of the institute. They also receive support to participate in national and international scientific conferences.


Last updated on: February 20, 2024