Ph.D. & Master of Science by Research

International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore) invites applications for its research degree programs, namely, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Science by Research (M. S. (By Research)). This call for admissions is for academic year 2024-25 (Term 2) starting in January 2025. The Ph. D. program has full-time as well as part-time registration options and the M. S. (By Research) program is for full-time applicants only. The students admitted to these programs will be referred to as research scholars.

1.Research Domains:

At IIIT-Bangalore, there are seven research domains with Ph.D.& MS by Research degree programs in all the domains, except Mathematics and Physics which has only the Ph.D. program. The following table lists the research domains for which there are openings for research scholars to be admitted in January 2025. Please note that some research areas could fall under more than one research domain. Research areas mentioned below are applicable to both full-time and part-time Ph.D. applications.

A brief description of the active research work in the afore-mentioned research domains is given in item # 6.

In the case of part-time applications: any selected applicants would be required to obtain an appropriate IP clearance and a No Objection Certificate from their employers for their academic work at IIIT-Bangalore, prior to joining the programme.

IIIT-Bangalore has various specialized research canters and labs. More information about them is available on our website.

2. Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy program should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent), as well as have a good academic and, where applicable, technical track record.

As an admission criterion placed for Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University Grants Commission, we require applicants to take either a national entrance examination, as specified by concerned research domains, or a domain-specific entrance examination at IIIT-Bangalore before the interview.

Research domain-specific requirements for the above-mentioned openings are as follows:

• For applicants to Computer Science, Data Sciences & Artificial intelligence(DSAI), VLSI and Embedded Systems, Software Engineering and Networking Communication & Signal Processing, a four-year Bachelor’s degree in engineering (B.E., B. Tech. or equivalent) is required for the Master of Science by Research program; and a Master’s degree in engineering (M.E., M. Tech. or equivalent) is required for the Doctor of Philosophy program. Additional specific requirements are as follows:

• Computer Science and Software Engineering:

• Applicants should have a GATE or GRE score taken in the last five years.
• Candidates with suitable industrial or academic experience and credentials may apply without competitive exam (GATE/GRE) scores, which may be waived. Applicants should clear a written exam conducted by IIIT-Bangalore, covering topics on Data Structures and Algorithms, Discrete Maths, DBMS, Operating Systems, Basic Programming, Computer Architecture and Organization.
• Screening/shortlisting will be based on the afore-mentioned score and other application details furnished by the applicant, followed by an interview.

• Data Science & Artificial intelligence(DSAI):

• Applicants should have taken one of the following examinations:
  • GATE examination in any relevant engineering domain.
  • written examination conducted by the research domain at IIIT Bangalore exclusively for applicants to Data Sciences & Artificial intelligence.
• Ph. D., candidates should have a M.Sc. (Math or Computer Science) or, M. Tech (Computer Science) degree.
• Screening/ shortlisting will be based on the afore-mentioned score and other application details furnished by the applicant, followed by an interview.
• VLSI and Embedded Systems:
• Applicants will have to write a written exam, followed by an interview if selected. GATE scores are not mandatory but will be desirable.
• Shortlisting of applicants will be done based on their academic background and other details submitted by the applicants.

• Networking, Communications & Signal Processing:

               Requirements (Ph.D.):

• Strong background in Computer Networks
• Strong background in Analog and Digital Communication 
• Basics of Signal Processing
• Mathematics: Probability Theory, Random Variables, and Statistics 
• Optimization techniques for Applied Wireless and ML

               Requirements (M. S. (By Research):

• Good background in Computer Networks 
• Good background in Analog and Digital Communication  
• Basics of Signal Processing 
• Mathematics: Probability Theory, Random Variables, and Statistics.

3. Fellowships/Scholarships & Tuition Fees:

• For full-time M. S. (By Research) students, a fellowship of INR 20,000/- per month is available.
• Full-time Doctor of Philosophy - fellowship of INR 38,500/- per month till the completion of comprehensive exam. INR 43,500/- per month after the completion of comprehensive exam as per Institute policy. Fellowship is paid for a period of 5 years.
• The tuition fee for both the programs is INR 77,000/- per semester for Academic Year 2024-25. The tuition fee is payable till the student completes submission of the thesis. The tuition fee is, however, subject to revision from time to time.

• Estimate of Hostel and Mess Fees:

• Hostel Accommodation and allied Charges: INR 39,000/- per Semester.
• Mess Charges: INR 28,800/- per Semester.
• Medical Insurance Premium charges: INR 2,000/- to be paid each year.
• Refundable Caution Deposit for Library and Hostel: INR 19,000/- (one-time Payment).
• These rates are subject to revision from time to time. other costs for supplies, travel, purchase of a laptop, etc., need to be factored by students depending on their individual circumstances.
• Alumni contribution and convocation charges will be levied on completion of thesis defense and while submitting no dues as per the rules and regulations in practice at the time of graduation.

4. How to Apply?

• Please click on (https://pravesh.iiitb.net) for applying for the programme. (Note: The application fee is non – refundable)
• All queries may be sent via e-mail to the email id: research.admissions@iiitb.ac.in  
• The degree program manuals are available at https://www.iiitb.ac.in/courses/master-of-science-by-researchdoctor-of-philosophy

5. Important Dates:

6. Brief Description of Research Domains having research degree programme openings in Jan 2025

• COMPUTER SCIENCE (CS): Research areas in Computer Science are aligned with the research interests of the Computer Science faculty. Broad areas of research in Cryptography emphasize on secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and verifiable computation, side-channel attacks and counter measures, homomorphic encryption and applications, both at the theoretical as well as applied level. Algorithms in general, and specifically, graph and geometric algorithms are also focus areas of research in Computer Science. Smart grids, supply chains and their optimization, applications of machine learning, cloud computing, dynamic modeling and control of servers, renewable energy are some other specific areas in Computer Science. On the Software Engineering side, Software Testing and Formal Verification, with specific focus on testing and verification of embedded software and machine learning algorithms are our current research interests. .
  
  FACULTY INVOLVED: Prof Ashish Choudhury, Prof Meenakshi D’Souza, Prof V. N. Muralidhara, Prof Sachit Rao, Prof Shrisha Rao, Prof Sujit Kumar Chakrabarti, Prof Pradeesha Ashok. Prof Srinivas Vivek, Prof Vinu E Venugopal, Prof Tulika Saha.

• DATA SCIENCES & Artificial intelligence(DSAI): Data Management: Database Design, Information Retrieval, Network Analysis, Mining Latent Semantics, Data Mining and Data Warehousing, Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, Linked Data and Semantic Web, NoSQL Databases, Geographical Information Systems.

Data Visualization and Computational Techniques: Graphics & Visualization, and GPU Computing, Computational Topology.

Machine Learning-Theory and Applications: Theoretical aspects of Machine Learning, Applied Machine Learning, Applied Computer Vision, Speech understanding, Automatic Speech Recognition, Medical Image analysis, Remote Sensing and Drone Image analysis.

FACULTY INVOLVED: Prof Amit Chattopadhyay, Prof Chandrashekar Ramanathan, Prof Dinesh Babu Jayagopi, Prof Jaya Sreevalsan Nair, Prof Sachit Rao, Prof Srinath Srinivasa, Prof T. K. Srikanth and Prof V. Ramasubramanian, Prof Viswanath Gopala Krishnan, Prof Uttam Kumar, Prof Vinu E Venugopal, Prof Raghuram Bharadwaj, Prof Sushree Sangeeta Behera, Prof Tulika Saha.

• VLSI and Embedded Systems: 

The Electronic Systems Design domain encompasses a broad range of topics covering several aspects of both, digital and analog hardware systems, implemented using FPGAs and custom fabricated VLSI circuits, design methodologies around EDA flows, verification and validation, and system prototyping; realization of real time embedded systems where both the hardware and the software components are treated agnostically based on end system requirements; embedded implementation of feedback control using variegated sensors. Emphasis is also placed on emerging technologies based on Micro and Nano-electro mechanical devices – fabrication of 2D/3D structures, Characterization and system applications, Microprocessor design.

FACULTY INVOLVED: Prof Madhav Rao, Prof Subir K. Roy, Prof Nanditha Rao, Prof Kurian Polachan, Prof Sakshi Arora.

• NETWORKING, COMMUNICATION & SIGNAL PROCESSING (NCSP):     

The Networking, Communication and Signal Processing research domain focuses on all aspects of networking, communications, and signal processing. Transceiver design for 5G and beyond wireless communication systems, coding for low-latency communication (streaming codes), Signal processing for communications, Radar Imaging using synthetic aperture, Realization of mm Wave base station antenna array and beamforming, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces or Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces: Modeling and Optimization for 6G, Deep Learning / Machine Learning Applications for Wireless Communications.

FACULTY INVOLVED: Prof Debabrata Das, Prof Jyotsna Bapat, Prof V. Ramasubramanian, Prof Priyanka Das, Prof Amrita Mishra, Prof Prem Singh, Prof Vinod Reddy, Prof Sushree Sangeeta Behera.

• The tuition fee per semester for the scholars who are joining the Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Science by Research programme in the academic year 2024-25 will be as follows:

• The tuition fee is payable till the student completes submission of the thesis. The tuition fee is, however, subject to revision from time to time.
• Alumni contribution and convocation charges will be levied on completion of thesis defense and while submitting no dues as per the rules and regulations in practice at the time of graduation.

Hostel facility is subject to availability.

The male students admitted to the research programme will be provided accommodation in an off-campus hostel facility arranged by IIIT-B.The female Students will be provided hostel accommodation on campus itself. The hostel fee rates are applicable uniformly for all the students irrespective of the hostel location.

Estimate of Hostel and Mess Fees:

• Hostel Accommodation and allied Charges: INR 39,000/- per Semester.
• Mess Charges: INR 28,800/- per Semester.
• Medical Insurance: INR 2,000/- per annum to be paid each year.
• Caution Deposit: INR 19,000/-.

           These rates are subject to revision from time to time.

 Other costs for books and supplies, travel, purchase of a laptop, etc., need to be factored by students depending on their individual circumstances.

• For Full-time Master of Science by Research/ Master of Science (Research) students, stipend of INR 20,000/- per month is available.
• For Full-time Doctor of Philosophy - consolidated stipend of INR 38,500/- per month till the completion of comprehensive exam. INR 43,500/- per month after the completion of comprehensive exam as per Institute policy. Stipend is paid for a period of 5 years.

Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy program should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent), as well as have a good academic and, where applicable, technical track record.

As an admission criterion placed for Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University Grants Commission, we require applicants to take either a national entrance examination, as specified by concerned research domains, or a domain-specific entrance examination at IIIT Bangalore before the interview.

Research domain-specific requirements are as follows:

• For applicants to Computer Science, Data Sciences, VLSI, Software Engineering and Networking Communication & Signal Processing, a four-year Bachelor’s degree in engineering (B.E., B.Tech. or equivalent) is required for the Master of Science by Research/ Master of Science (Research) program; and a Master’s degree in engineering (M.E., M.Tech. or equivalent) is required for the Doctor of Philosophy program. Additional specific requirements are as follows.

1. Computer Science and Software Engineering:

• Applicants should have a GATE or GRE score taken in the last five years.
• Candidates with suitable industrial or academic experience and credentials may apply without competitive exam (GATE/GRE) scores, which may be waived. Applicants should clear a written exam conducted online by IIIT Bangalore, covering topics on Data Structures and Algorithms, Discrete Maths, DBMS, Operating Systems, Basic Programming, Computer Architecture and Organization.
• Screening/ shortlisting will be based on the afore-mentioned score and other application details furnished by the applicant, followed by an interview.

2. Data Science & Artificial intelligence(DSAI):

• Applicants should have taken one of the following examinations:

• GATE examination for Computer Science,
• A 45-minute online written examination conducted by the research domain at IIIT Bangalore exclusively for applicants to Data Sciences & Artificial intelligence(DSAI).

• For PhD, candidates should have a M.Sc. (Math or Computer Science) or, M. Tech (Computer Science) degree.
• Screening/ shortlisting will be based on the afore-mentioned score and other application details furnished by the applicant, followed by an interview.

3. VLSI and Embedded Systems:

• Applicants will have to write an written exam, followed by an interview if selected. GATE scores are not mandatory but will be desirable.
• Shortlisting of applicants will be done based on their academic background and other details submitted by the applicants.

4. Networking, Communications & Signal Processing:

             Requirements (PhD):

• Strong background in Computer Networks.
• Strong background in Analog and Digital Communication.
• Basics of Signal Processing.
• Mathematics: Probability Theory, Random Variables, and Statistics.
• Optimization techniques for Applied Wireless and ML.

                 Requirements (MSR):

•  Good background in Computer Networks.
•  Good background in Analog and Digital Communication.
•  Basics of Signal Processing
• Mathematics: Probability Theory, Random Variables, and Statistics

Important information

One-stop page for program descriptions, program manuals, admissions brochure:

https://www.iiitb.ac.in/courses/master-of-science-by-researchdoctor-of-philosophy

Research admissions website (main website for research admissions, with the call-for-applications):

https://www.iiitb.ac.in/courses/master-of-science-by-researchdoctor-of-philosophy

Research admissions portal (for online registration): http://pravesh.iiitb.net

research admissions e-mail ID (for queries or communication with the Institute on admissions-related matters): research.admissions@iiitb.ac.in

A. On admissions process:

1. How can I submit my application for research degree programs at IIIT-Bangalore?

You have to submit your application online using given admission portal.

2. What is the timeline for the admissions process?

Details can be found in our call-for-applications, which is available at our main website for research admissions. The entire process is from February-May for admissions to Term I (August-December) and October-December for admissions to Term 2(January-May).

3. How do I pay my application fees?

Follow the instructions on the admissions portal.

B. On eligibility criteria:

1. What are the research domains at IIIT-Bangalore?

The research domains at IIIT-B are aligned to the mainstream research done by faculty members at the Institute. The domains form the administrative structure for the research admissions. Faculty members from each domain take ownership in terms of eligibility criteria for admission in their areas of specialization, and they play a major role in selecting the applications categorized under their respective domains. As of August 2024, there are seven research domains at the Institute: Computer Science; Data Sciences; VLSI and Embedded Systems; Information Technology & Society; Mathematics & Basic Sciences; Networking, Communications & Signal Processing; Software Engineering.

2. Do I need GATE score for applying for the research degree programs at IIIT-Bangalore?

Requirement of GATE score depends on the requirement specified by the research domain that aligns with your research interests.

3. Can the eligibility criteria for Computer Science, Software Engineering and Data Sciences can be used interchangeably?

No, the eligibility criteria for Computer Science, Software Engineering and Data Sciences are different, and cannot be used interchangeably.

4. What is the syllabus and format for written examination in the different research domains?

The candidates shortlisted for interview will be notified via email. It will be communicated in that email if the candidate has to take the written examination, in which case, the details of the written examination will be given in the email as well.

5. I have a valid score in a national entrance examination, which is listed as a requirement by the research domain. Will I still need to take the written examination at IIIT-Bangalore?

During our review process, it will be determined if your overall profile matches our criteria for shortlisting. In case you satisfy all the other criteria but fall short on the score, we will invite you to take the written examination. However, this also depends on the logistics of any specific admissions cycle, and will be subjected to the criteria that prevail for the concerned admissions cycle. The requirement for taking the written examination will be specified in our email inviting you for the interview at IIIT-B, if you are shortlisted.

6. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and extensive work experience. Can I apply for your Doctor of Philosophy program?

We do not consider work experience in lieu of Master’s degree requirement. At this time, our requirement for Master’s degree for Doctor of Philosophy admissions is strict. Nevertheless, we encourage applicants to apply for our Master of Science by Research program and then in case of continued interested, apply for the doctoral program by special admission, as specified in our Master of Science by Research program manual.

7. I have a MCA. Can I apply for your Doctor of Philosophy program?

We do not consider MCA to be equivalent to M.Tech. and hence we will not consider you to be eligible for our Doctor of Philosophy program. Nevertheless, we encourage you to apply for our Master of Science by Research program.

8. Can I enrol for Master of Science by Research program and continue for your doctoral program?

Our program manual for Master of Science by Research specifies the option for special admissions for our Master of Science by Research students to bypass their regular admissions process for our doctoral program. This can be done soon after the student submits his/her Master’s thesis, and while the student is still completing the Master’s program.

C. On research degree programs:

1. Can I register part-time for the research degree programs?

Yes, one can register as a part-time student for our Ph. D program and we have openings only fulltime for MS by Research.

2. What are the differences between full-time and part-time registrations for the research degree programs?

The type of registration (i.e. part-time or full-time) has no bearing on the requirements of the program, which are the same for all students enrolled in the program. The degree program requirements, i.e. for graduation from the concerned degree program, the fee structure, and the timetable for the lecture-based courses are the same for both full-time and part-time registrations. The flexibility for part-time students lies in using more one-on-one courses with their advisor’s/thesis supervisors; and also in a lighter semester load (i.e. 8 credits for part-time vs. 16 credits for a full-time student). Our program manuals have the details on semester load.

It is mandatory that part-time students, who are employed at an external organization at any point in their research degree program, obtain appropriate IP clearance and submit a No Objection Certificate from their concerned employers for their academic work at IIIT-B.

3. Where can I find details about the tuition fees and other fees for the degree programs?

The details can be found in the admissions page in the website.

4. What do I write for SOP and Research preparation while applying?

For SOP - Describe in a short .pdf document your motivation for seeking admission to the IIIT-B research programs. It is important for us to understand your vision and long-term goals that have prompted you to apply.

For Research Preparation - Describe in a short document how you have emotionally and academically prepared yourself for the demanding research programs at IIIT-B. Ideally this must complement your Statement of Purpose and also justify the choice of program / domain / area of research you have indicated.

Click the buttons below for the Master of Science by Research and Doctor of Philosophy Manuals:

MS by Research    Doctor of Philosophy

Computer Science and Software Engineering:

 Fundamentals of CS topics covered in BE/BTech programmes.

 Data Science:

1. Linear Algebra.
2. Probability and statistics and related topics.
3. Data structures and Algorithms.
4. Numerical Methods.
5. DBMS and Discrete Mathematics.

Mathematics & Physics (MBS) [only PhD]:

 Mathematics:

• Groups, Rings, Field Theory, Galois Theory.
• Matrices, System of linear equations, Vector Spaces.
• Linear Transformations, Inner product spaces, Eigen values and Eigen vectors, spectral theorem for normal matrices.
• Elementary number theory, Calculus, Real Analysis, Differential Equations.

 Physics:

I. Mathematical Methods of Physics: Dimensional analysis. Vector algebra and vector calculus. Linear algebra, matrices, Cayley-Hamilton Theorem. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Linear ordinary differential equations of first & second order, Special functions (Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre functions). Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms. Elements of complex analysis, analytic functions; Taylor & Laurent series; poles, residues and evaluation of integrals. Elementary probability theory, random variables, binomial, Poisson and normal distributions. Central limit theorem.

 II. Classical Mechanics: Newton’s laws. Dynamical systems, Phase space dynamics, stability analysis. Central force motions. Two body Collisions: scattering in laboratory and Centre of mass frames. Rigid body dynamics, moment of inertia tensor. Non-inertial frames and pseudoforces. Variational principle. Generalized coordinates. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism and equations of motion. Conservation laws and cyclic coordinates. Periodic motion: small oscillations, normal modes. Special theory of relativity: Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics and mass–energy equivalence.

III. Electromagnetic Theory: Electrostatics: Gauss’s law & its applications, Laplace and Poisson equations, boundary value problems. Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere's theorem. Electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations in free space and linear isotropic media; boundary conditions on the fields at interfaces. Scalar and vector potentials, gauge invariance. Electromagnetic waves in free space. Dielectrics & conductors. Reflection & refraction, polarization, Fresnel’s law, interference, coherence, & diffraction. Dynamics of charged particles in static and uniform electromagnetic fields.

IV. Quantum Mechanics:  Wave-particle duality. Schrödinger equation (time-dependent and time-independent). Eigenvalue problems (particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, etc.). Tunneling through a barrier. Wave-function in coordinate and momentum representations. Commutators and Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Dirac notation for state vectors. Motion in a central potential: orbital angular momentum, angular momentum algebra, spin, addition of angular momenta; Hydrogen atom. Stern-Gerlach experiment. Time independent perturbation theory and applications. Variational method. Time dependent perturbation theory and Fermi's golden rule, selection rules. Identical particles, Pauli exclusion principle, spin-statistics connection.

V. Thermodynamic and Statistical Physics: Laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell relations, chemical potential, phase equilibria. Phase space, micro- and macro-states. Micro-canonical, canonical & grand-canonical ensembles, partition functions. Free energy and its connection with thermodynamic quantities. Classical and quantum statistics. Ideal Bose and Fermi gases. Principle of detailed balance. Blackbody radiation and Planck's distribution law. Free-electron theory.

VI Error Analysis, Data interpretation and analysis: Precision and accuracy. Error analysis, propagation of errors. Least squares fitting.

VII. The candidates should also prepare to answer questions about their Postgraduate Projects and / or MPhil Thesis.

Networking, Communications Signal Processing(NCSP)

1. Strong background in Computer Networks.
2. Strong background in Analog and Digital Communication.
3. Basics of Signal Processing.
4. Mathematics: Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, Random Variables, and Statistics.

IT and Society(ITS)

The candidates will have to write a short essay (1500 words) on a topic of interest to the IT and Society research domain at IIITB that can be viewed here: http://citapp.iiitb.ac.in/. A set of questions related to the research interest mentioned by the various candidates in their application form will be provided; candidates can choose the one(s) they would like to answer.

VLSI and Embedded Systems

1. Combinational logic circuits, minimization of Boolean functions. Arithmetic circuits. Sequential circuits, flip-flops, shift registers, timers and counters, timing- setup/hold. 8-bit microprocessors and microcontrollers: applications, memory and input-output interfacing, Basics of Computer architecture, ALU, instruction pipeline, instruction decoding, SRAM, DRAM.
2. Characteristics and applications of diode, BJT and MOSFET; small signal analysis of transistor circuits, feedback amplifiers.
3. Characteristics of operational amplifiers; applications of opamps: difference amplifier, adder, subtractor, integrator, differentiator, instrumentation amplifier, precision rectifier, active filters and other circuits.
4. Oscillators, signal generators, voltage controlled oscillators. Comparators, Schmitt trigger, multi-vibrators.
5. Sample-and-hold circuits, analog-to-digital (successive approximation, integrating, flash and sigma-delta) and digital-to-analog converters (weighted R, R-2R ladder and current steering logic). Characteristics of ADC and DAC (resolution, quantization, significant bits, conversion/settling time).
6. Control theory. Transfer functions; poles and zeros; stability and compensation.
7. Basic Microcontroller Peripherals (e.g., GPIO, PWM, Counter, ADC, DAC, SPI, I2C, UART etc.,)
8. Basics of C and Python Programming.