All applicants are required to appear for at least one of the following national level entrance tests (TIFR graduate studies admission test, JEST, GATE, UGC/CSIR test for JRF) conducted at different centres. These tests will cover basic topics in physics, mathematics or engineering. Top candidates from these tests can apply to appear in the next phase of the selection process. Performance in the entrance test, along with the additional information requested in the online application form will be used to shortlist candidates for the interviews.
Eligibility
- For the PhD program: MSc/ MS or equivalent degree in Physics of duration not less than 5 years after Std XII.
Students holding a 4-year UG degree with ≥75% aggregate are eligible to apply directly to the PhD program (instead of the I-PhD program). However, they will not receive a Master's degree together with the PhD. They may choose to apply to the I-PhD program if they wish to obtain a Master's degree together with the PhD. - For the Integrated PhD program: ME/ M Tech/ BSc/ BS/ BE/ B Tech or equivalent degree in Physics of duration not less than 3 years. Any other degree in Science / Engineering or equivalent, of duration not less than 3 years in total. (Students already having/ completing Master’s degree by July 2026 are not eligible for I-PhD)
Provisional Admission
If no proof of passing is available at the time of joining, the student will be *provisionally* admitted provided he/she submits a certificate from the Head of the previous Department/Institution that he/she has actually appeared for the qualifying examination and results are still awaited. A student will not normally be permitted to join without any of these proofs; however, an exception can be made at the discretion of the Dean (GS). “Provisional admission” means that the student may join and begin academic activities.
Fellowship
Students who are provisionally admitted will not be paid a fellowship until they submit a pass certificate (for all semesters), provisional or final degree certificate for the qualifying examination for their program. Once this is submitted they will receive the full stipend appropriate for their program together with arrears from the date of the proof document (provisional/final degree certificate), or the date of joining, whichever is later.
Deadline
If the proof document is not submitted by the end of the first academic year, the provisional admission of the student will stand terminated. Further extension(s) of this deadline may be granted at the discretion of the Director TIFR or Centre Director in extraordinary cases.
Termination
If their academic programme gets terminated because of poor performance or any other reason (e.g. disciplinary) before the proof of passing is submitted, no arrears will be paid and the student must leave the programme immediately.
Entrance tests
The first level of selection to the ICTS graduate program is performed using results from the following national exams:
- TIFR GS Exam
- JEST (Physics)
- GATE (Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Sciences)
- CSIR UGC NET (Physical Sciences - JRF eligible)
Interviews
Interviews are typically done in two different stages. The interviews based on TIFR-GS test are typically conducted in March-April, while the interviews based on other tests (JEST, GATE, UGC-CSIR, etc) are typically held in June-July.
The top scorers in the entrance tests should apply for ICTS graduate program through the online application form, where they will be asked to submit additional information such as academic records, research experience, academic reference letters, etc.
The precise cutoff scores for different entrance tests will be announced each year. Performance in the entrance test, along with the additional information requested in the online application form will be used to shortlist candidates for the interviews.
For any queries contact us at : gs @ icts . res . in