IIT Patna PhD Psychology Admissions 2025

Indian Institute of Technology, Patna (IITP), has started inviting applications for its PhD Psychology Program, under the Humanities and Social Science Department (HSS), for the academic session of 2025-26.

Eligible Candidates can apply online through the link provided in the article below, before the last date. Read on to learn more about the program, eligibility, exam pattern, and application process of IIT Patna’s PhD Psychology Admissions 2025.

Categories of Admission

IIT Patna offers PhD admissions under the following categories:

1. Regular (Full-Time)

• Teaching Assistant (TA): Students receive an assistantship from the Institute.
  • Eligibility:
    • BE/BTech/BS/MSc/MA/MBA/MCA or equivalent degree with a valid GATE (above cut-off) or NET qualification.
    • GATE waived for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTI) with CGPA ≥ 8.0/10.
    • ME/MTech/MPhil or equivalent with GATE (valid within last 5 years) or NET.
• Research Fellow (JRF/SRF): Students with external fellowships from recognized agencies (UGC, CSIR, DST, DBT, NBHM, INSPIRE, etc). Admission considered during the regular cycle (July/January).
• Project Staff: Students working on IIT Patna’s sponsored projects.
  • Must have at least 2 years remaining on the project at the time of admission.
  • Must have qualified GATE (within last 5 years) or NET.
  • If project ends early, category shifts to self-financed unless assistantship is obtained.
  • If someone is applying as Project Staff for a PhD at IIT Patna, they must bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on the day of the interview.
    • This NOC must be in the prescribed Form II
    • It should be endorsed/approved by:
      1. Principal Investigator (PI) of the project
      2. Head of the Department (HoD)
      3. Dean or Associate Dean of R&D
    • The form is available online: Form II No-Objection Certificate for IIT Patna’s Project Staff

2. Sponsored (Full-Time)

• Sponsored by a reputed industry, R&D organization, government body, PSU, or academic institution.
• No financial support from IIT Patna.
• Must be a regular employee with at least 2 years’ experience.
• An intending sponsored candidate must produce NOC on the day of the interview in the prescribed format: Form I (Sponsorship letter).

3. Employed & Part-Time

• For candidates employed in IIT Patna or other organizations.
• Must have at least 2 years’ professional experience with the current employer.
• Minimum residential requirement: 1–2 semesters to complete coursework.
• A candidate in the Employed & Part-Time category must produce NOC on the day of the interview in the prescribed format: Form III (No-Objection Certificate for Part-Time Students (available on the IIT Patna’s PhD Admissions page on their website)
• Possible online/hybrid coursework with exams on campus.

Age Limit

• Regular & Full-Time (Teaching Assistant):
  • Upper age limit: 28 years for BE/BTech/BS/MSc/MA/MCA/MBA graduates
  • Upper age limit: 32 years for ME/MTech/MPhil/MS graduates
• Relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST, OBC, Women, and PwD candidates
• Research/Project Fellows: Follow the funding agency’s rules; if not specified, IIT Patna’s rules apply

Educational Qualifications (Psychology – HSS Department)

Candidates must meet one of the following:

• MPhil/Master’s degree in Arts, Commerce, Science, Management or Business Administration – CPI ≥ 6.5 or 60% marks.
• Master’s in Engineering/Technology/Design – CPI ≥ 6.5 or 60% marks.
• Bachelor’s in Engineering/Technology – CPI ≥ 6.5 or 60% marks.
• There will be NO direct admission in HSS.

Relaxation & Reservation

• SC/ST: Relaxation of 5% marks or 0.5 CPI.
• Reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD as per the Government of India rules.
• OBC-NCL candidates must provide a latest certificate (issued after 01.04.2025) and a self-declaration form (as per formats indicated at Annexure-I and II, available on the IIT Patna’s PhD Admissions page on their website)
• Reservation not applicable for Sponsored or Employed & Part-Time candidates.

Financial Support

• Assistantship as per MoE norms:
  • Rs. 37,000/month for first 2 years.
  • Rs. 42,000/month thereafter.
• External fellowships as per the funding agency terms.
• Continuation of financial support depends on satisfactory progress in the PhD and fulfilment of assigned academic duties according to Institute norms.

Application Process

Step 1: Pay the Application Fee (via SBI Collect)

Payment Procedure (Step-by-Step) & Fee Details:

1. Visit the official SBI website.
2. Click on “SB Collect”
3. Select “Educational Institutions” as the category
4. Choose “Bihar” under Filter by State
5. Select “INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PATNA”
6. Choose the relevant payment category
7. Fill in all required fields in the “Provide details of Payment” section and click Submit
8. Proceed to pay online or print the challan to make payment at an SBI branch
9. After payment, print the payment receipt for your records

Step 2: Submit Online Application

• After payment, note the reference/journal number.
• Fill and submit the online application form here: IIT Patna PhD Psychology Admission Form.
• After submission, you will receive application details via your registered email.
• Take a printout of the application details and bring it along with:
  • Self-attested copies of mark sheets & certificates (class X to the highest degree)
  • Caste certificate (if applicable)
  • GATE/NET/fellowship certificates
  • Experience certificate
  • NOC (Form I, II, or III, depending on category)
  • Printed e-receipt of payment
• Separate application & fee required for multiple departments.

Step 3: Test/Interview Day

• Produce original ID and all required documents.
• Missing documents may result in disqualification.
• No application or call letters are sent by post. Check your registered email and the IIT Patna PhD Admissions website regularly.

Important Dates

Need more help?

Feel free to contact us at UPS Education or reach out using the contact details provided below-

Contact no: +91-9990717772

Website: upseducation.in

ALSO READ: GATE Psychology vs. UGC NET Psychology: Which One Should You Prepare For?

FAQs

1. What is the last date to apply for the IIT Patna’s PhD Psychology Admissions 2025?

22nd October 2025 (until 11:59 PM).

2. Can I apply if I am employed full-time?

Yes, under the Employed & Part-Time or Sponsored categories. You must produce a No Objection Certificate (Form III for Part-Time, Form I for Sponsored) on the day of the interview.

3. What are the minimum educational qualifications for the IIT Patna’s PhD Psychology Admissions 2025?

MPhil/Master’s in Arts/Commerce/Science/Management/Business Administration, Master’s in Engineering/Technology/Design, or Bachelor’s in Engineering/Technology with CPI ≥6.5 or 60% marks.

4. Do all students get financial support?

Only eligible students in Regular Full-Time category (TA) receive assistantships. Sponsored and Employed/Part-Time students must fund themselves. Support depends on satisfactory PhD progress and completion of assigned duties.

5. What documents are needed on the day of the interview?

Application printout, mark sheets/certificates, caste certificate (if applicable), GATE/NET/fellowship certificates, NOC (Form I/II/III depending on category), experience certificate, and payment receipt.

6. Can I apply to multiple departments?

Yes, but each application requires a separate fee payment and form submission.

7. Where can I find the NOC forms?

All forms (I, II, III) are available here: NOC Forms for the Admission.