For admission to the PhD Programme in Engineering departments, a candidate must satisfy one of the following criteria:

1. Master’s degree in Engineering/Technology/Medical Sciences/Veterinary Sciences/Pharmacy in a relevant area with a minimum Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of either 6.0 or 60% of marks.
2. Four-year Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology/Medical Sciences or equivalent in a relevant area with a minimum CPI of either 7.0 or 70% of marks. Or the candidate must satisfy the relevant specific criteria given below.
3. A candidate having a Four-year Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology or equivalent in a relevant area, with a Postgraduate Degree in Management Science(Finance) or MBA with Finance specialization or equivalent, is also considered for admission in the area of specialization ‘Construction Management’, of the Department of Civil Engineering. The candidate should have a minimum of either 6.0 CPI or 60% marks in Bachelor's level and either 6.0 CPI or 60% marks in the postgraduate degree.
4. A candidate having MSc degree with Mathematics as a subject at bachelor’s level is also considered for admission in the Department of Civil Engineering. The candidate should have a minimum of either 7.0 CPI or 70% marks in Master’s level with consistent first class at other levels.
5. A candidate having a Two-year Master's degree (after completion of 4-year Bachelor's degree) or three-year Master's degree (after completion of 3-year Bachelor's degree) in Engineering/ Technology/Science in a relevant area with minimum Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of either 6.0 or 60% of marks is also considered for admission in to PhD Programme in Biosciences and Bioengineering.
6. A candidate with a Two-year MSc degree (after completion of 3-year Bachelor's degree) in a relevant area with minimum CPI of either 6.0 or 60% marks, is also considered for admission in to PhD Programme in Biosciences and Bioengineering.
7. Postgraduates in Computer Science (ALCCS) from Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), with a minimum Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of either 6.0 or 60% of marks, are also eligible to apply for admission in to PhD programme in Computer Science and Engineering
8. A regular student of IIT Guwahati who is continuing his/her MTech studies and having a minimum CPI of 8.0 at the end of second semester may be enrolled in the PhD programme of the Department in the beginning of his/her third semester of study. Such students can receive only PhD Degree.
9. A student of IIT Guwahati who is continuing his/her BTech studies and having a minimum CPI of 7.0 at the end of sixth semester may be enrolled in the PhD programme of the Department in the beginning of his/her seventh semester of study. Such students can receive dual BTech and PhD Degree. Both the degrees will be awarded after completion of PhD degree. However, the candidate must possess a valid GATE score to receive assistantship.
10. An MTech graduate from the Computer Science and Engineering Department of IIT Guwahati, up to a period of 2 (two) years from his/her completing the programme, with a minimum CPI of 8.0 in course work, may be considered for direct admission into the PhD programme in the Computer Science and Engineering Department.
11. A candidate with medical qualification viz., MBBS / BDS / MD / MS / BVSc / MVSc having 60% marks OR Allied health care professional degrees viz., Masters in Physiotherapy / Prosthetics and Orthotics / Occupational Therapy having 60% marks in both bachelor degree and master degree is eligible for PhD programme in Mechanical Engineering.

For receiving assistantship in PhD programmes in Engineering Disciplines, a candidate must have a minimum qualifying Post Graduate Degree in Basic Sciences OR Graduate / Post Graduate Degree in Professional Course selected through a process described through any one of the following:

1. Scholars who are selected through National Eligibility Tests – UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship) and GATE
2. The selection process through National level examinations conducted by MHRD and its Agencies and Institutions such as UGC/IIT/IISc./IISER/IIIT, etc.

Relaxation for SC/ST/PwD Candidates: Eligibility criteria will be relaxed by 5% marks or 0.5 CPI for SC/ST/PwD applicants.

For admission to the PhD Programme in Design, a candidate must satisfy one of the following criteria:

1. MArch/ MDes degree or MTech/ ME degree in a relevant area, with at least CPI 6.0 out of 10 or at least 60% marks.
2. Master’s degree in Applied Arts/ Ergonomics/ Fine Arts/ Psychology/ Physiology/ Occupational Safety and Health/ Journalism/ Mass Media Communication with at least CPI 6.0 out of 10 or at least 60% marks.
3. Two-year Master’s degree in Management (MBA or equivalent) with at least CPI 6.0 out of 10 or at least 60% marks, with relevant studies in Design field, and Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
4. Four-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Design or Engineering/Technology or Five-year BArch degree or equivalent in a relevant area with at least CPI 7.0 out of 10 or at least 70% marks
5. Four-year Undergraduate Diploma in Design (NID or equivalent), with postgraduate qualification in relevant area with at least CPI 6.0 out of 10 or at least 60% marks.
6. A two-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Design and relevant areas (NID/CEPT or equivalent) with first class at Bachelor’s level.
7. BFA (4-year professional programme, after 10+2)/ GD Art (5-year programme after 10th standard) with one-year professional experience, with at least CPI 7.0 out of 10 or at least 70% marks.
8. Master of Computer Application(MCA) degree, with one year of professional experience, with at least CPI 6.0 out of 10 or at least 60% marks.
9. A regular student of IIT Guwahati who is continuing his/her MDes studies and having a minimum CPI of 8.0 at the end of second semester may be enrolled in the PhD programme of the Department in the beginning of his/her third semester of study. Such students can receive only PhD Degree.
10. A student of IIT Guwahati who is continuing his/her BDes studies and having a minimum CPI of 7.0 at the end of sixth semester may be enrolled in the PhD programme of the Department in the beginning of his/her seventh semester of study. Such students can receive dual BDes and PhD Degree. Both the degrees will be awarded after completion of PhD degree.

For receiving assistantship in PhD programmes in Design, a candidate must have a minimum qualifying Post Graduate Degree in Basic Sciences OR Graduate / Post Graduate Degree in Professional Course selected through a process described through any one of the following:

1. Scholars who are selected through National Eligibility Tests – UGC NET including lectureship (Assistant Professorship) and GATE
2. The selection process through National level examinations conducted by MHRD and its Agencies and Institutions such as UGC/IIT/IISc./IISER/IIIT, etc.

Relaxation for SC/ST/PwD Candidates: Eligibility criteria will be relaxed by 5% marks or 0.5 CPI for SC/ST/PwD applicants.