The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) has opened admissions for its January 2027 session. If you want to do a PhD in science, engineering or medical research at a CSIR or ICMR laboratory, this is one of the biggest opportunities of the year. AcSIR describes itself as India’s largest academic institution for doctoral research. It awarded 958 PhD degrees in 2025 and has more than 7,000 PhD students currently enrolled.
This guide covers everything you need for the AcSIR January 2027 admission: programs, eligibility, the CSIR GATE/GPAT JRF stipend, the semester fee, international joint PhD options, and the step-by-step application process.
What Is AcSIR?
AcSIR was established as an “Institution of National Importance” by an Act of Parliament in 2012. It is an umbrella institution that brings together 78 research institutes across India, including:
- 38 institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- 28 institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- 5 institutes of the Department of Science & Technology (DST)
- Other research institutes, including MAX, TIGS and the Wildlife Institute of India
AcSIR students do their research inside national laboratories such as CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, CSIR-CDRI Lucknow, CSIR-CEERI Pilani, CSIR-CFTRI Mysuru and CSIR-CLRI Chennai. That means access to world-class research infrastructure from day one.
AcSIR PhD at a Glance
| Highlight | Figure |
|---|---|
| PhD students enrolled | More than 7,000 |
| PhDs awarded in 2025 | 958 |
| New PhD enrollments per year | More than 1,000 |
| Faculty members | 3,346 |
| Publications by students | More than 29,000 |
| Patents by students | About 1,200 |
| Alumni | More than 7,000 |
| Campuses across India | 78 |
Rankings (as listed in the AcSIR brochure): 9th in NIRF, 14th in SCImago Institutions Rankings, 11th in Nature Index, and 9th in CWUR.
Programs Offered for the AcSIR PhD January 2027 Session
- PhD in Science: Biological, Chemical, Physical, Mathematical & Information, and Agricultural Sciences
- PhD in Engineering
- PhD in Medical Research
- IDDP (Integrated Dual Degree Program): M.Tech + PhD in Engineering
AcSIR has seven faculties of study: Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mathematical & Information Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Medical Research.
AcSIR PhD Eligibility Criteria 2027
PhD in Science
Qualifying degree:
- A 2-year Master’s degree in Science after a 3-year Bachelor’s degree, with at least 55% marks, or
- A 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering with at least 75% marks
Who can apply (any one route):
- National-level fellowship holders: a valid fellowship from CSIR, ICMR, UGC, DBT, INSPIRE, RGNF, etc. Tenable at all AcSIR institutes except ICMR institutes.
- Institutional fellowship: available only at DST-CeNS, DST-IASST, DST-IIA, DST-ARIES, MoEFCC-WII and TIGS.
- Temporary project staff: Project Assistants, SRFs and others at AcSIR institutes. An NOC is mandatory.
- Industry/Institute sponsored candidates: regular employees with an NOC from their employer.
AcSIR PhD in Engineering
Qualifying degree:
- A 2-year Master’s degree in Engineering/Technology with at least 55% marks, or
- A 4-year B.E./B.Tech with at least 75% marks
Eligible routes include national-level fellowships, self-sponsored candidates (preference for those who qualified GATE, JEST or another national exam), an institutional fellowship at DST-ARIES, temporary project staff, and industry/institute sponsored candidates.
AcSIR PhD in Medical Research
This program is available only at ICMR institutes, MAX and TIGS. Eligible qualifications include:
- MD, MS, DM or M.Ch from an NMC-recognised medical college
- MBBS, BDS or MDS with at least 55% marks
- A Master’s degree in Science or Public Health with at least 55%
- A Master’s in Population Studies, Social Medicine, Community Health, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, Mathematical Sciences, Economics, Biostatistics or Demography with at least 55%
- MCA or M.Sc in Computer Science with at least 55%
- A 4-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with at least 55%
IDDP (M.Tech + PhD)
- A 4-year B.E./B.Tech with at least 55% marks
- Admission through a valid GATE/GPAT score (CSIR-GATE-JRF) or as an industry/institute sponsored candidate. Sponsored candidates need leave granted for the first two semesters.
Relaxation: A 5% relaxation in marks is allowed for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled and EWS candidates across all programs.
Final-year students can apply. If your results are awaited, you can still apply and be admitted provisionally, as long as you meet the required marks when you join.
CSIR GATE/GPAT JRF: Stipend and Eligibility
One of the biggest attractions of the January 2027 session is the CSIR GATE/GPAT Junior Research Fellowship, offered by CSIR-HRDG through AcSIR’s centralised admission process.
| Fellowship | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| JRF-GATE/GPAT (first two years) | ₹37,000 |
| SRF-GATE/GPAT (third year onwards) | ₹42,000 |
You also receive an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000. The fellowship lasts up to five years, subject to satisfactory research progress.
Who is eligible:
- B.E./B.Tech graduates with a valid GATE score can apply for PhD (Engineering), PhD (Science) or IDDP.
- B.Tech (Biotechnology) graduates with a valid GATE score and at least the 85th percentile can apply for PhD (Science).
- B.Pharm graduates with a valid GPAT score can apply for PhD (Science).
Who is not eligible: candidates who already hold an M.E./M.Tech, and candidates eligible for CSIR-SRF-Direct.
Age limit: 28 years, with 5 years of relaxation for SC/ST candidates, women and persons with disabilities, and 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates.
Note for IDDP students: because the fellowship is awarded for a PhD, there is no automatic exit after completing the M.Tech.
AcSIR Fee Structure 2027
| Program | Regular (per semester) | Industry/Institute Sponsored (per semester) |
|---|---|---|
| PhD (Science) | ₹15,000 | ₹30,000 |
| PhD (Engineering) | ₹15,000 | ₹30,000 |
| PhD (Medical Research) | ₹15,000 | ₹30,000 |
| IDDP in Engineering | ₹15,000 | ₹30,000 |
Application fee: ₹1,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, and ₹500 for SC/ST/PwD/Women candidates.
Useful to know: if you are selected at more than one AcSIR institute, you can transfer the tuition fee you paid to the other institute, as long as you do so before the academic session begins and seats are available.
Program Duration and Coursework
| Program | Coursework Credits | Minimum Duration | Maximum Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD (Science / Engineering / Medical Research) | 18 | 3 years | 6 years |
| PhD (Agricultural Sciences) | 25 + 10 | 3 years | 6 years |
| IDDP (M.Tech + PhD) | 70 | 5 years | 8 years |
International Joint PhD (Cotutelle) Opportunities
AcSIR PhD students can spend part of their research abroad and earn a joint PhD degree from both institutions. Partner universities include:
- University of Melbourne, Australia
- RMIT University, Melbourne
- Deakin University, Melbourne
- University of Western Australia, Perth
- Murdoch University, Perth
- Macquarie University, Sydney
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane
- University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney
- University of Agder, Norway
AcSIR also has partnerships with the University of Turku (Finland), AIST (Japan) and École Centrale de Nantes (France).
Key benefits of the joint PhD program:
- Joint supervision by faculty from both institutions
- A monthly stipend from the host institution for up to 12 months
- A full tuition fee waiver by the host institution
- Health cover for up to 12 months
- A relocation grant covering international return airfare and visa fees
How to Apply for AcSIR Admission January 2027
Step 1: Sign up. Register on the AcSIR Online Admission Portal at www.acsir.res.in/admissions. You will receive your login credentials by email.
Step 2: Fill in the application form. Complete the online form. You will receive an AcSIR Application Number (AAN), for example AcSIR12345. Keep it safe, because you will need it for all future communication.
Step 3: Pay the application fee. The fee is ₹1,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, or ₹500 for SC/ST/PwD/Women candidates.
Step 4: Print your acknowledgement. Save the acknowledgement receipt showing your AAN.
Step 5: Selection. Shortlisted candidates will be informed by email and called for a written test and/or interview at designated centres.
Important: You can apply to more than one program, but you may submit only one application per program. Duplicate applications will be rejected.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Session | January 2027 |
| Last date to apply | October 31, 2026 |
| Test/interview dates | To be announced on the admission portal |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for an AcSIR PhD without a fellowship?
Yes, through some routes. For PhD in Engineering, self-sponsored candidates can apply, with preference for those who qualified GATE or JEST. Institutional fellowships are available at select DST institutes, WII and TIGS. Temporary project staff and sponsored candidates can also apply.
What is the stipend for the CSIR GATE JRF through AcSIR PhD?
It is ₹37,000 per month for the first two years and ₹42,000 per month from the third year onwards, plus a contingency grant of ₹20,000 per year.
What is the AcSIR PhD fee per semester?
The fee is ₹15,000 per semester for regular students and ₹30,000 per semester for industry/institute sponsored students.
Can B.Tech graduates apply directly for a AcSIR PhD?
Yes. B.Tech graduates with 75% marks can apply for a PhD in Engineering or Science. Graduates with 55% marks and a valid GATE score can apply for the IDDP (M.Tech + PhD).
Can final-year students apply for AcSIR PhD?
Yes. Candidates whose results are awaited can apply and will be admitted provisionally if selected.
What is the last date for AcSIR January 2027 admission?
The last date to apply is October 31, 2026.