NCCS Ph.D. admissions 2026 begin under BRIC, DBT, CSIR, UGC, and BINC fellowships; apply here
NCCS Ph.D. admissions August 2026: The National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, has announced that applications are open for its Ph.D. programme for the August 2026 session. Indian candidates with a postgraduate degree in any branch of science and a strong academic record are eligible to apply. Applicants must also demonstrate commitment to research in modern biology, including Cell and Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Neuroscience, Immunology, Infection Biology, Cancer Biology, and Microbial Ecology.Candidates must hold at least 60% marks or an equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA) in their postgraduate studies. A relaxation of 5% marks is applicable for SC, ST, OBC, and PWD candidates as per Government of India norms. Eligible applicants must possess a valid Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) awarded by CSIR, UGC, DBT (Category I), ICMR, or BINC. Those who have qualified the JGEEBILS examination conducted by NCBS/TIFR in December 2025 are also eligible, with a limited number of NCCS fellowships available for this group.Online applications and interviewsAll applications must be submitted exclusively through the online portal. Applicants are required to have a Gmail account to complete the process. The last date for submission of online applications is May 11, 2026. Shortlisting for interviews will follow NCCS selection criteria, and submission of an application does not guarantee interview or admission.• Direct link to check and download the official notice • Click here to apply onlineAge limits and reservation policiesThe upper age limit for JRF candidates is 28 years as of August 1, 2026. Age relaxation is provided for women, SC, ST, OBC, and PWD candidates in accordance with Government of India guidelines. Reservation policies and relevant certificates must be submitted at the time of joining.Programme details and campus facilitiesThe NCCS Ph.D. programme is full-time, and selected students may be required to reside on campus. Hostel accommodation is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Terms and conditions of fellowships are determined by the respective funding agencies.Research areas and facultyNCCS offers doctoral research across multiple areas of modern biology. Detailed information about research groups and faculty profiles is available at www.nccs.res.in.
