Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is a full-time doctoral research programme that is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and research-intensive CSE doctoral programmes in India. The programme imparts the knowledge, skills, and attitude required to conduct world-class research in computer science, with students expected to publish in leading international journals and conferences. The typical duration is 4 to 6 years (minimum 6 semesters, maximum 12 semesters). The annual tuition fee is Rs. 60,000, and all full-time Ph.D. students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000. Admission is through the PGEE (Postgraduate Entrance Examination) conducted by IIIT Hyderabad, requiring both the CSE Subject Test and General Aptitude (GA) paper. The programme attracts students from across India and internationally, and is particularly popular for research in AI, NLP, Computer Vision, Data Systems, and Information Security.

Admissions for the Monsoon 2026 batch are currently ongoing. The PGEE 2026 application portal is open until 31st March 2026, and the entrance exam is scheduled for 2nd May 2026.

Key Points

The Ph.D. CSE programme at IIIT-H is research-driven, with the main emphasis on thesis work rather than coursework; students are expected to publish in top-tier international venues.
All full-time Ph.D. students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000, with additional earning potential through Teaching Assistantship (TA).
The programme has a flexible duration of 4 to 6 years, with a minimum of 6 semesters and a maximum of 12 semesters.
Students must complete 3 breadth courses (one each from Theory, Systems, and AI) and 3 depth courses, with the Comprehensive Exam to be cleared by the end of the 2nd year.
Ph.D. students with high GATE scores (7 GPA or above from CFTIs) may be directly shortlisted for interviews without appearing for the PGEE exam.
The programme covers a wide range of research areas including AI, Machine Learning, NLP, Computer Vision, Data Systems, Distributed Systems, Information Security, and more.

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IIIT Hyderabad Latest Updates and News

08 Apr, 2026 PGEE 2026 entrance exam will be held on May 2, 2026, for M.Tech/MS(R)/Ph.D programs. The interviews are scheduled from June 10 to 13, 2026. Read more.

06 Apr, 2026 IIIT Hyderabad has released Fee structure 2026 for Ph.D Computer Science And Engineering programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 1.8 Lakhs. Check details.

IIIT-H Ph.D. CSE Fees

The Ph.D. (CSE) at IIIT Hyderabad is highly subsidised, with an annual tuition fee of Rs. 60,000. All full-time Ph.D. students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000, which more than covers tuition and living expenses. The total tuition for the programme (typically 5 years) is Rs. 3,00,000, but the net cost to the student is effectively zero or negative given the stipend.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Per Year (Rs.)	Total (5 Years) (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	60,000	3,00,000
Hostel Charges (approx.)	72,000 (Rs. 6,000/month)	3,60,000
Mess Charges (approx.)	60,000 (Rs. 5,000/month)	3,00,000
Total Fees (without stipend)	1,92,000	9,60,000

All full-time Ph.D. students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000, depending on the stage of the student in the programme.
Ph.D. students may earn additional stipend through Teaching Assistantship (TA).
Hostel and mess charges are paid semester-wise, before the start of each semester.
SBI Scholar Loan of up to Rs. 40 Lakhs is available to all admitted students without the need for any security.
Corporate fellowships (e.g., Google, TCS) with higher stipends are available to selected research students.
The typical duration of the Ph.D. programme is 5 years; fees are calculated accordingly.

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IIIT-H Ph.D. CSE Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (CSE) programme at IIIT Hyderabad are conducted primarily through the PGEE (Postgraduate Entrance Examination). Applicants must appear for both the CSE Subject Test and the General Aptitude (GA) paper. The PGEE 2026 application portal is currently open, with the deadline on 31st March 2026. Shortlisted candidates are called for an on-campus interview, and the final selection is based solely on interview performance. The programme accepts students from a wide range of engineering and science backgrounds.

Important Dates

Event	Date
PGEE Application Portal Opens	20th February 2026
PGEE Application Portal Closes	31st March 2026
PGEE Entrance Exam	2nd May 2026 (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Ph.D. Interviews (On-Campus)	12th & 13th June 2026
Application Fee (Non-refundable)	Rs. 3,100

Exam	Event	Date
PGEE 2026 (IIIT Hyderabad)	Application Opens	20th February 2026
PGEE 2026 (IIIT Hyderabad)	Application Closes	31st March 2026
PGEE 2026 (IIIT Hyderabad)	Entrance Exam	2nd May 2026

Note: Candidates with a high GATE score may be directly shortlisted for the interview without appearing for PGEE. Candidates with a GPA of 7 or above from any CFTI college are also eligible for direct interview shortlisting after an internal screening process. Candidates with a valid NET qualification may also be eligible for direct interview shortlisting.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

B.E. / B.Tech. / M.E. / M.Tech. (all branches), M.Sc., MCA, or MA (Maths) with a minimum of 60% or equivalent in the qualifying degree.
4-year B.S. with Mathematics is also eligible.
Candidates with a GPA of 7 or above from any CFTI college are eligible for direct interview shortlisting after an internal screening process.

Admission Process

Register online and fill the application form on the PGEE portal (admportal.iiit.ac.in) before the deadline.
Pay the non-refundable application fee of Rs. 3,100.
Appear for the PGEE computer-based entrance examination (CSE Subject Test + General Aptitude paper).
Shortlisted candidates are invited for an on-campus interview at IIIT Hyderabad.
Final selection is based solely on interview performance; the decision of the interview committee is final.
Candidates with a high GATE score, GPA of 7+ from CFTIs, or valid NET qualification may be directly shortlisted for the interview without appearing for PGEE.

IIIT Hyderabad: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 1 Reviews

The course at this university, a deemed institution without government funding, is noted for its excellent faculty support and well-structured, high-standard examination papers, akin to those at prestigious institutions like Stanford and MIT. The annual fee is 2.2 lakhs, which provides comprehensive access to valuable resources. A noteworthy aspect of the program is its consistent 100% placement rate, with top companies like Google, Microsoft, and Flipkart offering internships that include stipends ranging from 50,000 to 75,000 INR per month.

The placement drive attracts both multinational corporations and startups, offering attractive job packages. Financial support is available through loans and the IIIT Alumni network, assisting economically disadvantaged students. Many students have benefited from this financial aid system, ensuring affordability and accessibility to quality education.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

IIIT-H Ph.D. CSE Scholarships 2026

IIIT Hyderabad provides comprehensive financial support to all admitted Ph.D. (CSE) students. The monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000 effectively makes the programme financially self-sustaining for most students. Additional support is available through corporate fellowships, travel grants, and institutional loan schemes.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Financial Support	Amount / Benefit	Eligibility
Ph.D. Stipend	Rs. 31,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month	All full-time Ph.D. students
Teaching Assistantship (TA)	Additional stipend	Ph.D. students who take up TA duties
Conference Travel Support	Travel expenses covered	Students presenting published research
Corporate Fellowships	Higher stipend (e.g., Google, TCS)	Selected research students
Alumni Pay-it-Forward Fund	Tuition support (from 2nd semester)	Students with family income below Rs. 8 LPA
SBI Scholar Loan	Up to Rs. 40 Lakhs (without security)	All admitted students

The stipend amount depends on the stage of the student in the Ph.D. programme and is continued based on satisfactory academic and research performance.
Financial assistance requires approximately 20 hours of project/research work per week.
The Pay-it-Forward scheme requires the student to pay the tuition fees of another student after graduation and employment.
SBI Scholar Loan is available even if the applicant's family has other existing loans.

IIIT Hyderabad Ph.D Computer Science And Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#15 out of 500 in India 2025

#2nd in Hyderabad

#3 in Telangana

Indiatoday Ranking

#14 out of 269 in India 2025

#1st in Hyderabad

#1 in Telangana

The Week Ranking

#10 out of 286 in India 2025

#1st in Hyderabad

#2 in Telangana

NIRF Ranking

#38 out of 300 in India 2025

#2nd in Hyderabad

#3 in Telangana

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IIIT-H Ph.D. CSE FAQs

Ques. What research areas are available for Ph.D. in CSE at IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. IIIT Hyderabad's CSE Ph.D. programme covers a very wide range of research areas. The breadth curriculum itself spans Theory (Complexity Theory, Algorithms, Programming Languages, Information Security), Systems (Distributed Systems, Data Systems, Compilers, Networks, Software Engineering), and Artificial Intelligence (Statistical Methods in AI, NLP, Information Retrieval, Data Analytics, Computer Vision). Students can specialise in any of these areas or in interdisciplinary fields like Computational Linguistics, Bioinformatics, Cognitive Science, and Spatial Informatics.

Ques. Can I apply for the Ph.D. in CSE at IIIT Hyderabad with a B.Tech. degree (without a Master's)?

Ans. Yes, B.E. / B.Tech. graduates from all branches are eligible to apply for the Ph.D. in CSE at IIIT Hyderabad. The programme does not require a Master's degree as a prerequisite. However, candidates must meet the minimum 60% marks criterion in their qualifying degree and clear the PGEE (CSE Subject Test + General Aptitude).

Ques. How competitive is the Ph.D. CSE admission at IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. The Ph.D. CSE programme at IIIT-H is highly competitive, attracting applications from across India and internationally. The PGEE written exam shortlists candidates for the interview, and the final selection is based solely on interview performance. Candidates with strong GATE scores, research experience, or publications have a significant advantage. The interview evaluates research aptitude, problem-solving ability, and motivation for research.

Ques. What is the Comprehensive Exam in the Ph.D. CSE programme at IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. The Comprehensive Exam is a milestone in the Ph.D. programme that must be cleared by the end of the 2nd year (before starting the 5th semester). It tests the student's breadth of knowledge in CSE and their readiness to pursue independent research. Clearing the Comprehensive Exam, along with the dissertation proposal defense, is required before the student can be declared a Ph.D. candidate and focus entirely on thesis work.

Ques. Do Ph.D. CSE students at IIIT Hyderabad get corporate fellowship opportunities?

Ans. Yes, many Ph.D. students at IIIT-H have been awarded corporate fellowships from companies like Google and TCS, which provide higher stipends than the standard institute stipend. These fellowships are competitive and are typically awarded to students working in areas of interest to the sponsoring companies, such as AI, Machine Learning, NLP, and Computer Vision.

Ques. Is there a Winter admission cycle for the Ph.D. CSE programme at IIIT Hyderabad?

Ans. Yes, IIIT Hyderabad also conducts Winter Research Admissions for Ph.D. programmes (for the Spring semester). The Winter 2025 admissions (for Spring 2026) were conducted with applications open from October to November 2025. The next Winter admissions cycle (for Spring 2027) is expected to open around October 2026. Candidates who miss the Monsoon PGEE cycle can apply through the Winter admissions route.