Program Overview

Joint Doctoral Program - University of Manchester

The Joint Doctoral Program between the University of Manchester and IIT Kharagpur is a four-year PhD program that offers students the opportunity to conduct research under the joint supervision of faculty members from both institutions.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. For Indian nationals: Open to B.Tech. or M.Tech/M.Sc. graduates with a CGPA of 7.5 from any IITs.
2. For UK and other nationals: Bachelors or Masters graduates in science, engineering or related fields from a globally reputed university (QS WUR 500 universities) with minimum first class or equivalent, or minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
3. English language IELTS 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in every category, or equivalent (which could include GCSE English pass or equivalent) as a screening requirement.

Application Process

The application process involves the following steps:

• Applicants can apply through the online portal.
• An applicant may apply against only one of the offered projects.
• The following documents will be required during the online application:
  1. Academic Transcripts
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Statement of Research Interest (max 750 words)
  4. Two recommendation letters
  5. Any photo identity proof (Passport / Aadhar Card / Voter ID / Student ID Card)
  6. Photo and Signature

Recruitment Process

The recruitment process will be jointly managed by the two institutions and will involve two steps:

1. Supervisors from both institutions will evaluate applications for their respective projects and recommend the names of top candidate(s).
2. The Joint Programme Board involving members from IIT Kharagpur and the University of Manchester will select the 3 positions for scholarships based on the merit of both the candidate and the project.

Equal Opportunity Policy

The University of Manchester and IIT Kharagpur pride themselves on their commitment to fairness, inclusion, and respect in everything they do. Applications are welcome from people of all backgrounds and identities.

Program Duration and Time Allocated between Institutions

The program is four years long, with the time allocated as follows:

• Year 1: Spent at IITKGP, with coursework to be completed within the first two semesters and preliminary research activity initiated.
• Year 2: Spent at Manchester, with research work continuing and a registration seminar given.
• Year 3: Spent at Kharagpur/Manchester, with research continuing and an enhancement seminar given.
• Year 4: Spent at Manchester/Kharagpur, with thesis work completed and a synopsis seminar given.

Award of Degree

If a student successfully defends their thesis as required by each institution, both institutions will jointly award the doctoral degree. There will be two parchments, each prominently mentioning the joint nature of the work and the partner institute's name.

Funding

Both the University of Manchester and IITKGP will waive/absorb their respective tuition fees. IIT Kharagpur will award a stipend at the prevailing JRF/SRF rates while the student is resident in its campus. The University of Manchester will make available competitive scholarship opportunities while the student is in residence at Manchester.

Post Study Work Visa

As per the prevailing rules of the UK and India.

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions of the program are available upon request.