Ph.D
Accepted entrance exams
About Ph.D
ILBS New Delhi offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) across five specialisations: Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Nutrition, Epidemiology, Molecular Medicine, and Nursing. All programmes are full-time research degrees with a minimum duration of three years, conducted within the super-specialty liver and biliary sciences environment at ILBS Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. The total programme fee is INR 20,000 for the full doctoral tenure, with an application fee of INR 1,000. Admission is through the ILBS written entrance examination and departmental interview; candidates with valid CSIR-NET, UGC-NET JRF, or GATE qualifications are eligible for direct interview. ILBS functions under the Government of NCT of Delhi.
Admissions for the next Ph.D cycle at ILBS are upcoming; the admission notification is expected in March-April 2027. Candidates may monitor the official ILBS website (ilbs.in) for updates and prepare their application documents in advance.
Key Points
- Five Ph.D specialisations available at ILBS: Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Nutrition, Epidemiology, Molecular Medicine, and Nursing, all full-time with a minimum 3-year and maximum 5-year duration.
- Programme fee of INR 20,000 is uniform across all five specialisations for the complete doctoral tenure; application fee is INR 1,000.
- Candidates holding CSIR-NET, UGC-NET JRF, GATE, or ICMR-JRF qualifications are eligible for a direct departmental interview, bypassing the ILBS written entrance test.
- Research is conducted within a clinical super-specialty setting with access to molecular biology labs, patient cohorts, and translational research infrastructure focused on liver and biliary diseases.
- Available seats per batch: Biomedical Sciences (5), Clinical Nutrition (2), Epidemiology (1), Nursing (2); Molecular Medicine intake is not separately disclosed.
ILBS Ph.D Fees 2026
Fee Structure
| Specialisation | Programme Fee | Application Fee | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Nutrition, Epidemiology, Molecular Medicine, Nursing | INR 20,000 | INR 1,000 | INR 21,000 |
- The programme fee of INR 20,000 covers the complete doctoral tenure and is uniform across all five Ph.D specialisations at ILBS.
- Scholars with active CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, or ICMR-JRF awards continue to receive their monthly fellowship from the respective funding agency throughout the programme.
- Fees is subject to change, Please verify with the official sources before taking admission.
ILBS Ph.D Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Ph.D Admission Notification (Next Cycle) | March-April 2027 |
| Online Application Period | April-May 2027 |
| ILBS Written Entrance Examination | May-June 2027 |
| Departmental Interview | June-July 2027 |
| Programme Commencement | July 2027 |
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must hold an M.Sc degree with a minimum of 60 percent marks in a relevant discipline from a recognised university, or an MBBS with at least 55 percent marks.
- Candidates with MD, MS, DNB, or M.Phil qualifications in a relevant field are also eligible to apply.
- A valid CSIR-NET, UGC-NET, GATE, or ICMR-JRF qualification is preferred; JRF-qualified candidates bypass the written entrance test and appear directly for the departmental interview.
- The minimum Ph.D duration is 3 years; completion may extend up to 5 years depending on research progress and thesis submission timeline.
Admission Process
- Monitor the ILBS website (ilbs.in) for the annual Ph.D admission notification and access the online application form.
- Submit the application online with postgraduate certificates, marksheets, CSIR/GATE scorecard if applicable, and identity proof. Pay the INR 1,000 application fee.
- Appear for the ILBS written entrance examination on the notified date, or proceed directly to the departmental interview if holding a valid CSIR-NET, UGC-NET JRF, or GATE qualification.
- If shortlisted, attend the departmental interview at ILBS Vasant Kunj, New Delhi and carry all original documents for verification.
- On selection, complete admission formalities at the ILBS academic section and pay the programme fee of INR 20,000 at the accounts section.
ILBS Ph.D Scholarships 2026
Available Scholarships
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| CSIR-JRF / UGC-JRF Fellowship | INR 37,000/month (JRF) or INR 42,000/month (SRF) plus contingency | Ph.D scholars who qualify CSIR-NET or UGC-NET with JRF, applied through CSIR/UGC portals after enrolment |
| ICMR Senior Research Fellowship | Monthly fellowship and contingency as per ICMR norms | Ph.D scholars in biomedical or epidemiology fields qualifying the ICMR competitive examination |
| Central Government OBC/SC/ST Scholarship | Fee reimbursement as per Government of India norms | OBC, SC, and ST candidates meeting income and merit criteria, applied through the National Scholarship Portal |
- Scholars with an active JRF qualification receive their fellowship from the respective funding agency independently of the ILBS programme fee.
- Government of India post-doctoral fellowships and SERB or DBT grants may be available to eligible doctoral alumni after programme completion.
ILBS Ph.D FAQs
Ques. Can I apply to ILBS Ph.D without a NET or GATE qualification?
Ans. Yes. Candidates without CSIR-NET, UGC-NET, or GATE must clear the ILBS written entrance examination before the departmental interview. NET or GATE qualification is strongly preferred and allows you to bypass the written test, but it is not a mandatory prerequisite for eligibility. Candidates with M.Sc (60 percent) or MBBS (55 percent) may apply through the regular entrance route.
Ques. Is the ILBS Ph.D programme funded? What monthly stipend can I expect?
Ans. ILBS does not pay a separate monthly stipend from its own funds. Scholars who hold an active CSIR-JRF (INR 37,000/month) or ICMR-JRF fellowship continue to receive that fellowship from their funding agency throughout the programme. The INR 20,000 programme fee is a one-time payment for the full doctoral tenure and is not a recurring cost.
Ques. Which Ph.D specialisation at ILBS has the most seats and what are the intake numbers?
Ans. Ph.D (Biomedical Sciences) has the largest intake at 5 seats per batch. Clinical Nutrition and Nursing each offer 2 seats, while Epidemiology has 1 seat. Seats for Molecular Medicine are not separately disclosed. The confirmed total intake is at least 10 scholars per annual admission cycle across all specialisations.
Ques. Does ILBS accept MD or MS degree holders for Ph.D admission?
Ans. Yes. Candidates with MD, MS, DNB, or M.Phil degrees in a relevant discipline are eligible for ILBS Ph.D admission. Such candidates follow the same admission process as M.Sc holders: ILBS written entrance test (unless NET or GATE qualified) followed by a departmental interview at the institute.
Ques. How long does the ILBS Ph.D typically take to complete?
Ans. The minimum programme duration is 3 years. Most scholars complete within 4 to 5 years depending on the research area, thesis write-up timeline, and publication requirements. ILBS permits up to 5 years for completion before extensions are formally required. The programme commences in July each year.
Ques. What makes ILBS a unique research environment for Ph.D in medical sciences?
Ans. ILBS is India’s only standalone liver and biliary sciences institute, offering a highly focused research environment unavailable at general universities. Scholars have direct access to clinical cohorts in hepatology, transplant, and biliary disease units alongside molecular biology, genomics, and translational research labs. The institute spans disciplines from basic science to epidemiology, nursing research, and clinical nutrition, all within one campus dedicated to a single disease domain.