Department of Computer Science & Engineering, IIT Guwahati

Admission Session: December 2025

IIT Guwahati Main Admission Portal [Click Here!]


The Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Guwahati, invites applications for admission to the following programmes:

For the Dual Degree (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) Programme, B.Tech (CSE) graduate are also eligible to apply. For more details [Click here]

Dual Degree (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) in CSE.

To get admission in Dual (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) Degree, you have to apply for Ph.D. only. See details here.

Ph.D. (Regular / Non-Regular)

Apply for Ph.D. in CSE
(Through Main Admission Portal)

Important Note

Eligibility Criteria

Details About Admission Process

Syllabus for written Test

Model Question Paper

How to prepare for the interview?

Sample Interview Question

Types of Financial Assistance in Ph.D.

Date of Wtitten Test & Interview: TBA

General

Why Ph.D. in CSE @ IITG?

Major research groups

About Ph.D. in CSE @ IITG?

CSE Department Electives

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

For any queries related to admissions contact: cseadmissions@iitg.ac.in

Admissions to the Ph.D. Programme (Dec. 2025)

Important Note


  • CSE department has allowed candidates from any discipline to apply for PhD in December 2025.
  • Candidates with M.Tech. but don't have GATE score can also apply under Regular studentship category for Ph.D. Admission. Details are mentioned in Admission Brochure. Specifically see the details about IATMLA Test of IIT Guwahati.
  • Candidate with UG degree as qualifying degree will get an option to choose Dual (M.Tech. + Ph. D.) degree after getting selected for Ph.D. Programme. For more details see here

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Admission Procedure

  • Mode of Selection: Written Test followed by Interview of Shortlisted Candidates.
  • Syllabus of written test is given below.
  • Selection will be done in OFFLINE mode in the Department of CSE, IIT Guwahati.
  • Interview panel may ask the candidate to show any valid ID card.
  • In the interview, candidates are expected to answer questions from the basic subjects of CSE taken from GATE syllabus. These basic subjects are (a) discrete mathematics (b) programming & data structures (c) algorithms, (d) formal languages & automata theory, (e) computer organization & architecture, (f) operating systems, (g) computer networks, (h) database system. At the time of Interview, candidates need to mention atleast three basic subjects from which questions will be asked.

  • Result will be displayed in the main admission portal, IIT Guwahati, after approval.

Shortlisting Criteria


  • Need to satisfy minimum eligibility criteria as declared in IIT Guwahati Main Admission Portal.
  • Need to satisfy studentship criteria as declared in IIT Guwahati Main Admission Portal. [click here for details]
  • Any additional shortlisting criteria set by the department will be declared later on.

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Syllabus for Written Test

Model Question Paper for PhD Test is available here.

  • Mathematical Foundations:
    Propositional and First order logic. Sets, relations, functions, partial orders. Graphs: connectivity, matching, coloring. Combinatorics: counting, recurrence relations, generating functions. Matrices, determinants, system of linear equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Random variables. Uniform, normal, exponential, Poisson and binomial distributions. Mean, median, mode, and standard deviation. Conditional probability and Bayes theorem.
  • Programming, Data Structure and Algorithms:
    Programming in C. Recursion.
    Arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary search trees, binary heaps, graphs.
    Algorithms: Searching, sorting, hashing. Asymptotic worst-case time and space complexity. Algorithm design techniques: greedy, dynamic programming and divide-and-conquer. Graph traversals, minimum spanning trees, shortest paths
  • Computer Systems:
    Boolean algebra. Combinational and sequential circuits. Number representations, fixed and floating point computer arithmetic. Machine instructions and addressing modes. Instruction pipelining, pipeline hazards. Memory hierarchy: cache, main memory and secondary storage; I/O interface, interrupts and DMA.
    Operating Systems: processes, threads, inter-process communication, concurrency and synchronization. Deadlocks, CPU scheduling. Memory management and virtual memory.
    Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP reference model, basics of packet and circuit switching; medium access control, flow control and routing protocols, IP addressing, UDP, TCP, sockets.

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How to prepare for the interview

In the interview, candidates are expected to answer questions from the core subjects of CSE such as (i) Engineering Mathematics (ii) Digital Logic, (iii) Computer Organization & Architecture, (iv) Programming & Data Structures (v) Algorithms, (vi) Theory of Computation, (vii) Operating Systems, (viii) Database Systems, (ix) Computer Networks. We generally use a syllabus nearly identical to GATE CS syllabus for the interview. However, please note that in the interview, we may ask questions from your research areas that are not covered in the GATE syllabus.

At the time of Interview, we generally ask the candidates to mention at least three core subjects from which we will asked few fundamental questions. Therefore, the candidates must take preparation on core subjects before appearing in interview. By preparation, we do not mean just “reading” through the textbooks and recalling the definitions. The candidates should have understood the concepts, have thought about them critically, and be able to solve problems related to these concepts intelligently. We also try to observe how a candidate thinks while trying to solve a problem.
Few more points to remember:

  • If you are currently working as a lecturer, we expect that you will be able to answer questions from the subjects that you have taught recently in your institution.
  • If you were involved in a research project, then we expect that you will be able to explain the work that you have done in the project.
  • If you have done BTech/MTech Thesis work, then we expect that you will be able to tell your contribution in the thesis work.

Sample Interview Questions is available here.


Should I take preparation on my expected research domain/ research interest?

It is not a mandatory requirement to prepare on advanced topics or research domains. However, knowledge on advance topics or research domains will add additional weight to your application. But the first and foremost eligibility criterion that we will be looking for is if you have a clear understanding of core CS concepts, especially those underpinning the area that you will be working in PhD. For example, if you want to work in ML, we expect that you can answer conceptual questions from subjects like Probability, Linear Algebra, Computer Programming, Data Structure and Algorithms, etc. If you want to work in theoretical computer science, we expect that you can answer questions by applying concepts from Data Structure and Algorithms, Discrete Mathematics, Probability, etc. A candidate who wants to do research in computer systems should be able to solve problems in Data Structure and Algorithms, Computer Programming, Operating Systems, Networking, Computer Architecture, Database Systems, etc. You may not have prepared well to answer questions from all these subjects but you should be ready to take questions from at least a few of them.

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The benefit of joining Ph.D. CSE @ IIT Guwahati

The benefit of joining Ph.D. CSE @ IIT Guwahati are

  • A student joining as direct PhD has the option to get both MTech and PhD degrees, upon meeting the requirements and fulfilling required number of course credits, as per the institute rules.
  • The faculty members and students of the department have several awards and honours to their credit.
  • The department has state-of-the-art research labs and computational infrastructure for research.
  • The department frequently hosts experts from academia and industry to deliver seminars on state-of-the-art research topics.
  • Ph.D. is a highest academic degree and it gets the highest respect in the academic community as well as in industry.
  • IIT Guwahati is indeed known for its beautiful and scenic campus, often considered one of the most beautiful in India, with its location on the banks of the Brahmaputra river and surrounding hills.

List of Ph.D. alumni and their placement detail are available at [CLICK HERE]

Detail about Ph.D. program CSE @IIT Guwahati available [CLICK HERE]

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Types of Financial Assistance in Ph.D.

PhD students are eligible to receive financial assistance through various avenues such as:

  • MHRD Fellowships: As per current norms, MHRD supports PhD fellowships for five years max. PhD students get the monthly stipend of ₹37000 for the first two years (at JRF level) and ₹42000 for the next three years (at SRF level).

  • Travel Fund: IIT Guwahati provides financial assistance to regular PhD students to present their research papers in reputed conferences (preferably in international venues) during their PhD. Every such student is entitled for a total of Rs.1,00,000/- (one lakh only) in the entire institute assistantship duration of PhD period subject to the approval as per institute rules.

  • PMRF: Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) is a very prestigious fellowship which pays high amount as compared to MHRD fellowship. Please see https://www.pmrf.in/ for more details. Visit the PMRF Scholars of IIT Guwahati here https://www.iitg.ac.in/acad/pmrf.php

  • Visvesvaraya Fellowships: PhD students of CSE department can also apply for Visvesvaraya Fellowship. This scheme supports till PhD completion or 5 years whichever is earlier. It also has provision for some contingency fund and HRA, if applicable. Please see https://phd.digitalindiacorporation.in/ for more details about Visvesvaraya PhD Fellowship. You can also visit our institute webpage https://iitg.ac.in/acad/admission/doctoral/disciplines.php/#visvesvaraya to get the details.

  • Industry Fellowships: Companies such as TCS, Intel, Google, Infosys often provides fellowships for full time PhD students. Some of our PhD students have got such fellowships earlier. Getting such fellowships also adds a plus point in your CV. These fellowship amounts vary but usually provides similar monthly stipend as MHRD fellowships.

  • Project Funded Fellowships: Faculty members of the department work on various research projects and students can be hired for doing research in a particular project. The fellowship amount remains the same as MHRD fellowship but an added advantage is that the research problems are predefined from the beginning of the project. Students working in such research project may get the opportunity to do MTech/PhD upon qualifying the MTech/PhD recruitment process. To know more about Project Mode MTech and PhD in IIT Guwahati, please visit https://iitg.ac.in/acad/admission/doctoral/studentship.php and https://iitg.ac.in/acad/admission/doctoral/disciplines.php/#projectmode , respectively. To know more about the funded research projects running in the CSE department, please visit https://iitg.ac.in/cse/csesponsoredresearchprojects.php#Page

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Admissions to the Dual Degree (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) Programme, Dec. 2025

Admission Procedure

Candidate have to apply for Ph.D. only. If the candidate is selected for Ph.D. and subsequently take admission in Ph.D. then the student with UG degree as the qualifying degree will get a provision to choose Dual (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) degree. The student have to opt for the same at the time of Admission and latest by the end of first semester. See the details here.

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Frequently Asked Question(FAQ)

  • Q: What is the selection process for MTech/PhD in the department of CSE, IIT Guwahati?
    A: For detailed information, please visit the department’s admission webpage. [Click Here]

  • Q: What is the format and duration of the written test?
    A: The question will be both subjective and objective. Exam duration will be between 2-3 Hrs. Syllabus of written examination is mentioned in the Department Website.

  • Q: Will accommodation be provided at IIT Guwahati for attending written test and interview?
    A: Yes, candidates will be accommodated in the institute hostels.

  • Q: What is the difference between the Regular and Non-regular categories for admission in MTech/PhD?
    A: Regular and Non-regular are studentship categories as mentioned in IIT Guwahati Admission Portal. [See details]

  • Q: I have done my B.Tech. in non-CS (e.g., Civil, EE etc) but have a valid GATE score in CS. Am I eligible to apply for M.Tech. CSE at IIT Guwahati?
    A: You can apply to the M.Tech CSE at IIT Guwahati. For detailed eligibility criteria, please refer to IIT Guwahati Admission Portal or IITG CSE department webpage. [Click Here]

  • Q: I have done MTech but I don't have any GATE score. Can I apply for PhD under the Regular studentship category?
    A: Yes, you can apply. However, you have to clear the Institute Assistantship Test namely IATMLA as mentioned in the IIT Guwahati Admission Brochure. See the details about the IATMLA test [here].

  • Q: Students from which disciplines are allowed to apply for PhD in CSE, IIT Guwahati?
    A: See the Eligibility Criteria[Click Here]

  • Q: I have done MTech but my GATE score is not valid now. Am I eligible to apply for PhD under the Regular studentship category?
    A: Yes. See the Regular studentship criteria. [See details]

  • Q: Can a BTech student directly apply for PhD in CSE, IIT Guwahati?
    A: Yes

  • Q: My qualifying degree is BTech, but my GATE score is not valid now. Am I eligible to apply for PhD under the Regular studentship category?
    A: No. See the Regular studentship criteria. [See details]

  • Q: I have done BTech/MTech from IIT, but I don’t have any GATE score. Am I eligible to apply for PhD under the Regular studentship category?
    A: Yes. See the Regular studentship criteria. [See details]

  • Q: How to apply for the Dual Degree (M.Tech.+Ph.D.) program in CSE, IIT Guwahati?
    A: For getting admission in Dual Degree, candidates have to apply for Ph.D. Only. See [See details]

  • Q: Can the dates of the written test and interview be postponed on personal/medical grounds?
    A: The declared dates cannot be changed. Candidates who do not appear for the written test are not considered for the interview.

  • Q: Can a candidate who is in the Final Semester of Qualifying Degree apply for MTech/PhD?
    A: Yes. See the corresponding details in IIT Guwahati Admission Portal. [Click Here]

  • Q. Will the Travelling Allowance (TA) be provided by the CSE department, IIT Guwahati, for attending written test and interview?
    A. Yes, it will be provided to only Regular category applicants as per IIT Guwahati norms.

  • Q. What is the valid format and date of issue of the certificate required to provide for application under OBC(NCL)/SC/ST/EWS/PwD categories?
    A: See the details here: [Click Here]

  • Q. What is the valid format and date of issue of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) or Sponsorship Letter required to provide for application under specific non-regular categories?
    A. See the details here     [Click Here]

  • Q. Do I have to appear the Admission Test even if I have GATE score?
    A. Yes, all candidates have to go through the Admission Process which is Written Test + Interview for final selection.

  • Q. Are the IATMLA test and PhD Admission Written Test same?
    A. No. PhD Admission Written Test is the part of PhD Admission process in the department of CSE, IIT Guwahati. But, the IATMLA test is for institute assistantship test if you have MTech/ME degree but you did not qualify the GATE.

  • Q. Do I have to appear both the IATMLA Test and PhD Admission Written Test for getting selected for PhD in CSE, IIT Guwahati?
    A. All PhD Applicants have to go through the PhD Admission Process which is Written Test + Interview.
    If you have MTech/ME degree but did not qualify the GATE, then you have to go through another test namely IATMLA for Institute assistantship or scholarship. For these candidates, the cut-off marks are predefined by the IIT Guwahati.

  • Q. Which B.Tech. disciplines are allowed for Dual (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) Degree program in CSE, IIT Guwahati?
    A. CSE Department in IIT Guwahati has allowed the candidates with B.Tech./B.E. in any discipline to apply for Ph.D. Once such candidate is selected for Ph.D. and subsequently join in Ph.D. program, he/she will get an opportunity to choose Dual (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) Degree upon approval from the Institute authority. There is no separate application link for Dual (M.Tech. + Ph.D.) Degree program other than the Ph.D. Program.

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