IIT Bombay PhD programmes will now have an eight-year maximum duration for new registrations, following an internal review of long-pending doctoral research. The review found that some PhDs had remained incomplete for more than 10 years, with delays linked to factors including supervisor commitments, candidates moving to other work and disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The institute has introduced the limit to encourage timely completion while addressing the reasons behind research delays. Under the current PhD rules, registration can be extended up to a maximum of eight years for most student categories, while External and College Teacher categories can receive extensions up to 10 years. The policy change comes alongside a record 620 PhD degrees being awarded by IIT Bombay for the 2025–26 academic year. The institute said this is the first time its annual PhD output has crossed 600. The development highlights IIT Bombay’s effort to improve research completion timelines while maintaining its focus on advanced academic and scientific work.
IIT Bombay PhD: New 8-Year Limit for Completing Doctorates
