(Please ensure you fulfill the detailed eligibility criteria for Direct entry mentioned here before reading further. )

Application Procedure

You need to apply for the regular PhD programme in one of the PMRF Granting Institutions. If selected for the PhD programme, and you are found strong enough, the institute will nominate you. Nomination does not guarantee PMRF. After successful nomination, you will be invited by New Delhi to apply so that an expert panel will look at the nominations and make (final) decisions.

FAQ

Note: The information available here was current upto the May 2021 season. It has been kept here for archiving and posterity. Especially be careful of all deprecated information.

1. If there is no interview for direct intake to PMRF this year, what is the procedure for direct intake ?

A. Same review process as lateral entry except that the application is “tagged” as “direct entry”.

2. I am a final year MSc ESE student. My question: Is project proposal needed for direct entry?

A. No, but it helps.

3. {deprecated} I completed my MTech from IIT Bombay in 2017, applied for PhD back here after 2yrs work exp and got into IIT in Aug 2019. Am I eligible for PMRF 'direct entry' (as opposed to lateral entry)?

A. No. [This question came in July 2020, so you should extrapolate based on this question.]

4. {deprecated} How many recommendation letters other than that of allotted PhD supervisor are needed for direct entry candidates? How are they to be submitted or do we need to give the details of referees?

A. You need zero letters technically. But if you have a supervisor who can give you a letter that is best. If not, check with the Head or the admissions committee.