AM I ELIGIBLE ?

Admission to the PhD program in Department of Computer Science and Engineering is based on high academic performance in all exams starting with the Bachelor's degree, especially in the qualifying degree exam and GATE (whenever applicable). Please look at admissions  for more details regarding eligibility.

I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. AM I ELIGIBLE ?

Apart from students with a background in Computer Science and other Engineering disciplines, our PhD programme is also open to students with MSc in Physics/Mathematics.

WHEN ARE ADMISSIONS OPEN FOR PH.D.?

Admissions are open throughout the year, i.e., a candidate can apply at any time by filling up an application form that can be obtained from the following address.

Assistant Registrar
PGS & R
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016.

HOW DO I APPLY?

An interested person may also contact the department informally by sending a recent biodata. If the application is found satisfactory (according to the standards mentioned above which is often competitive), the applicant is requested to appear for an interview. The objective of the interview is get a better feel of the applicant's background, motivation and research interest. The applicant is put through an oral exam to test his/her proficiency in the area of specialization. (This may vary in accordance with the applicant's background, namely, a person with an MTech is Computer Science will be expected to have reasonable command of core Computer Science subjects whereas a person with an MSc in Physics will be expected to possess skills in basic areas of Physics).

WHAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT CAN I GET?

Following admission, a full-time candidate is eligible for financial aid from the Institute or from other sponsoring agencies like Infosys, IBM, Cisco etc. The outside scholarships are usually more lucrative and are awarded on an all-India competitive basis. Part-time students on the other hand would not be eligible to scholarships. But in many needy cases the Dept. could augment their income on a case-by-case basis.

WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO DO AND WHAT CAN I DO ?

The tenure of a PhD student in the department can be broadly categorized into three phases.

1. Coursework
2. Comprehensive exam
3. Choosing a research topic
4. Research

WHAT COURSES DO I HAVE TO DO?

Initially (for about 2-3 semesters), he/she undergoes course work that is dependent on the student's background and research plan. A PhD student is required to do at least 12 credits of course work which can increase significantly for a student from a non-CS background. The courses are chosen in consultation with a faculty (usually the supervisor).

WHAT ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE?

A PhD student is required to form a Student Review Committee (SRC) by the end of his/her second semester. After two semesters, a PhD student will have to pass a comprehensive examination conducted by his/her SRC in three core areas of Computer Science, of which Data Structures and Algorithms is compulsory .

1. Data Structures and Algorithms (compulsory)
2. Hardware Design and Architecture
3. Programming languages and Compilers
4. Operating Systems

The comprehensive exam may be in both written and oral mode. Satisfactory performance in the Comprehensive exam is mandatory for a student to continue in the PhD programme. Sometimes remedial measures (like doing some additional coursework) are suggested for students whose performance is not totally satisfactory.

HOW DO I SELECT A TOPIC FOR RESEARCH?

After passing the Comprehensive exam a student has to give an oral presentation on the proposed topic of research. Thereafter, the student is expected to give a seminar every semester on a topic related to his/her research.

WHEN DO I FINISH MY THESIS?

A PhD candidate is expected to carry out original research and accumulate sufficient material of an acceptable quality for dissertation. The supervisor is the best judge so he/she must be kept informed of the progress. Often a student ends up collaborating with the supervisor. A progress report is required for every semester.

HOW LONG DOES THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKE?

The time taken for obtaining a PhD depends on various factors including individual ability and a little luck (in identifying a research topic). The average time taken by a full time student is about 4 years and for part-time students it is close to 7 years, which is the maximum allowable period. The minimum time period for a student with MTech degree is 2 years and otherwise it is 3 years.

WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

The thesis is sent by the Insitute to various referees around the world and in India. Once the referee reports come in, a thesis defence will be arranged by the Insitute and the student will be expected to publicly defend his/her thesis in the Institute. Since this process may take a few months, the student could be gainfully employed while waiting to defend the thesis. Most employers in India and abroad would treat the student as if he/she already has a doctorate, and would treat the student on par with those who already have Ph.Ds.

IS IT WORTH IT - WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES ?

For those who are interested to pursue an academic career, namely teaching and/or research, a Ph.D. is a virtual necessity. For others, who wish to pursue developmental activities, it is fast becoming indispensable to cope with the increasing complexity of such activities in the R & D sections of reputed companies. In any case, the satisfaction of completing a dissertation in one's favourite topic is what serves as the primary motivation.