Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools

Theme for TIFR Centre For Applicable Mathematics, Bangalore

Navigation

You are here: Home / Academic / Phd-Programme / General Information

General Information

The PhD programme in Mathematics at TIFR CAM is a 5-year programme designed for students who have completed a Master’s degree in Mathematics (or equivalent). The programme will have intensive course work in the 1st year followed by cutting edge research under the supervision of a faculty member at CAM. The research expertise and interests of the CAM faculty can be found at https://www.math.tifrbng.res.in/people/faculty

The PhD Programme consists of 3 stages

Year 1: The student undergoes rigorous training in advanced Master’s/PhD level mathematics with a strong emphasis on Analysis, Probability, and theoretical and numerical study of PDEs. In the first semester, they will take a mandatory course on Advanced Real Analysis and choose three other electives from Introductory PDE, Probability Theory, Complex Analysis, and Advanced Functional Analysis. In the second semester, the student will do a reading course with a faculty member and  will take three other courses from those offered as electives in the Integrated PhD programme. The detailed syllabi of these courses can be found here.

Year 2: The student works under the supervision of a faculty member (prospective PhD supervisor) mastering the background material required and begin identifying research problems for their PhD work. It is the student’s responsibility to find a suitable academic advisor. By the end of the third year the student must pass the Candidacy Examination (details below) to register for PhD.  Additionally, the student should take at least four Topics courses among those offered. They also do a course each on Research Methodology and Research and Publication Ethics with their advisor.

Years 3, 4, and 5: PhD work under the supervision of a faculty member.

Fellowship

YearFellowship (monthly)Contingency (yearly)
1

Rs. 37,000

Rs. 40,000
On registration for PhD degree

Rs. 42,000

Rs. 40,000

Normal progress in the PhD programme

A student is deemed to be making normal progress if they satisfy all of the following.

Year 1: Maintain satisfactory performance in the courses.

Year 2:
  • Completes a minimum of 4 Topics courses (short courses on advanced topics) with an S (Satisfactory) grade.
  • Completes the courses on Research Methodology and Research and Publication Ethics with their advisor with an S  (Satisfactory) grade.
  • Passes the Candidacy Examination.

Years 3, 4, and 5:
  • Register for a PhD with an adviser at the beginning of the third year.
  • Give at least one research presentation every year to the Thesis Monitoring Committee to its satisfaction.
  • Work on research problem(s) and successfully defend the PhD thesis before the end of the 5th year.

What if normal progress is not maintained at any stage of the PhD programme?

Year 1:
  • If a student fails a particular course or if their performance is not satisfactory, the Graduate Studies Committee will decide the future course of action in consultation with the concerned instructor(s).
  • If a student fails in 2 or more courses, then the Graduate Studies Committee may recommend expulsion of the student from the programme.

Year 2:
  • A student who has not obtained an S grade in 4 Topics courses will be asked to take further such courses to satisfy this requirement, and this has to be done prior to their candidacy examination.
  • If a student fails the candidacy examination, the Graduate Studies Committee in consultation with the adviser and the Candidacy Exam Committee, may ask the student to give another one in a few months time. If a student fails the candidacy exam the second time, they will be asked to leave the programme.

Years 3, 4, and 5:
  • If the Thesis Monitoring Committee of a student is not satisfied with the progress of the student at any point, the Graduate Studies Committee may ask the student to leave the programme.
  • If a student is not in a position to defend the thesis by the end of the 5th year, an extension of a few months with half the normal salary may be granted subject to some restrictions. Therefore a student is strongly advised to successfully defend the thesis by the end of the 5th year.

Candidacy Examination

The candidacy examination consists of a research presentation followed by a question/answer session before the Candidacy Examination Committee. The research presentation typically consists of background research material as well as potential research problems the student plans to pursue as part of their PhD work. Upon successfully passing the candidacy examination, the Candidacy Examination Committee continues as the student’s Thesis Monitoring Committee in the subsequent years to monitor their progress.

Registration for PhD

After passing the Candidacy Examination, students can register for a PhD by applying to the Subject Board within 6 months. The application should contain the name of the proposed thesis adviser and a broad description of the topic of research intended to be pursued, and endorsed by the proposed thesis adviser.

It will be the responsibility of the students to identify a research topic and find an adviser suitable to their aptitude and interests. There is no formal procedure for drawing up research programmes and assignments to advisers. Students are expected to develop serious interest in a broad area of specialization by the end of their first year, and they are welcome to consult any faculty member at the Centre for suggestions. Any regular academic member of the School of Mathematics is eligible to be a student’s thesis adviser. For more information, please visit https://www.tifr.res.in/academics/academic_procedures.php


Submission of PhD Synopsis and PhD Thesis

After a student completes their PhD research project, with the permission of the thesis adviser, the student forwards a synopsis of the thesis to the Subject Board, to obtain approval for submission of the synopsis to the TIFR Mumbai Graduate Studies Office. The same procedure will once again be followed to obtain approval for submission of their thesis. Once the Subject Board approves the submission of a synopsis/thesis, the rest of the process of submission and evaluation of the synopsis and thesis will be as per the guidelines prescribed by the Academic Council of TIFR. For more information, please visit https://www.tifr.res.in/academics/academic_procedures.php