RCB PhD Admission 2026-27: Apply by 12 November

The Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad has opened applications for its PhD Programme in Biotechnology for the Autumn Semester of 2026-27. RCB is an Institution of National Importance created by an Act of Parliament and established by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, under the auspices of UNESCO.

The institute’s admission advertisement, published on the RCB announcements page on 12 October 2026, offers 9 seats and sets the last date for submitting online applications at 12 November 2026. The written test and/or interview will be held on 15-16 December 2026 at RCB, Faridabad.

One point decides eligibility here: RCB runs the programme but does not pay a stipend of its own. Every admitted student must already hold a valid national research fellowship, so read the fellowship condition before you fill the form.

RCB PhD admission in biotechnology 2026-27, last date to apply 12 November 2026

Table of Contents

RCB PhD Admission 2026-27 at a glance

Quick facts2026-27

Scholarship from	Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
Last date to apply	12 November 2026 (online applications)
Official website	phd.rcb.ac.in – the online admission form; the advertisement is on the RCB announcements page

Go to official website

What the RCB PhD programme offers

The PhD degree is awarded for research carried out at RCB, with coursework followed by a doctoral thesis under a faculty mentor. The advertisement lists research areas related to, but not limited to, structural biology, molecular medicine, infectious disease biology, agricultural biotechnology, systems and synthetic biology, and cancer and cell biology.

9 seats in the Autumn Semester 2026-27 intake, with reservation of seats as per Government of India guidelines.
Doctoral research at an institution equipped with high-throughput genomics, proteomics, mass spectrometry and advanced microscopy platforms.
Fellowship is not paid by RCB. The advertisement states clearly that admitted students must avail the fellowship they have qualified for as per the rules of the funding agency, and that RCB has no financial liability for it.
A one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Biotechnology (PGD IB) is also advertised separately on the same RCB page, with 30 seats and a 13 November 2026 application deadline.

Eligibility criteria for RCB PhD admission 2026-27

The advertisement lays down three conditions. All of them must be met.

Qualification: a 4-year bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree from a recognised institution in any area of science and technology, or a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, or an equivalent degree.
Qualifying marks: 60% aggregate score or an equivalent grade in the qualifying degree examination. A 5% relaxation is allowed for SC/ST/OBC-NCL and differently-abled candidates as per Government of India norms.
National fellowship: candidates must have qualified the Joint CSIR-UGC test for Junior Research Fellowship (CSIR/UGC JRF), the DBT Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF), the ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (ICMR-JRF), or any other nationally competitive fellowship offered by the Government of India, and must hold a valid fellowship offer at the time of the interview. The candidature is contingent on holding a valid fellowship tenable for five years.

Documents and application fee

Only online applications are accepted. The advertisement asks candidates to study the faculty profile and research areas on the RCB website before filling the form, and states that a written test and/or interview will follow for eligible candidates.

Application fee: Rs 500, submitted in continuation with the online form. SC/ST/PwD/EWS candidates are exempt from the fee.
Keep your qualifying degree marksheet and your national fellowship award letter ready – the fellowship must be valid and tenable for five years.
Applications received after the due date are scrutinised only for eligibility; the advertisement warns that false information or non-possession of essential qualifications detected at any stage leads to disqualification.

How to apply for RCB PhD admission

Open the RCB announcements page and download the advertisement for the PhD Programme in Biotechnology Admissions 2026-27 (Autumn Semester).
Read the faculty profile and research areas on the RCB website.
Fill the online admission form at phd.rcb.ac.in.
Pay the Rs 500 application fee (exempt for SC/ST/PwD/EWS) in continuation with the form.
Submit before 12 November 2026 and keep the acknowledgement for the written test and interview on 15-16 December 2026.

Important dates for RCB PhD admission 2026-27

Advertisement published on the RCB announcements page: 12 October 2026
Last date for submitting online applications: 12 November 2026
Written test and/or interview at RCB, Faridabad: 15-16 December 2026

Fees payable after admission

These are the fees the advertisement lists, payable at the beginning of each semester.

Academic Administration Fee: Rs 5,000 every semester
Tuition Fee: Rs 6,000 in semesters I-II only
Laboratory Fee: Rs 6,000 every semester
Medical Fee: Rs 3,000 every semester
Student Amenities Fee: Rs 1,000 every semester
Hostel Fee: Rs 1,200 every semester
Caution money: Rs 5,000 (refundable), payable at admission
Hostel Security Deposit: Rs 5,000, if applicable
PhD thesis examination fee: Rs 10,000, payable at thesis submission

The advertisement notes that fees may be revised during the course as per the provisions of the RCB Ordinance. Hostel electricity is charged as per the installed meter and mess charges are shared on actuals.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to apply for RCB PhD admission 2026-27?

The last date for submitting online applications is 12 November 2026, as stated in the official RCB advertisement for the PhD Programme in Biotechnology Admissions 2026-27 (Autumn Semester).

Does RCB pay a stipend to PhD students?

No. The advertisement states that students admitted to the programme must avail the fellowship for which they have qualified as per the rules of the funding agency, and that RCB has no financial liability for it.

Which fellowship is required for RCB PhD admission?

Candidates must have qualified CSIR/UGC JRF, DBT-JRF, ICMR-JRF, or any other nationally competitive fellowship offered by the Government of India, and must hold a valid fellowship offer at the time of the interview. The fellowship must be tenable for five years.

How many seats are offered in the RCB PhD programme?

The Autumn Semester 2026-27 advertisement offers 9 seats, with reservation as per Government of India guidelines.

What is the application fee for RCB PhD admission?

The application fee is Rs 500, payable with the online form. SC/ST/PwD/EWS candidates are exempt from paying the application fee.

When is the RCB PhD written test and interview?

Eligible candidates will be called for a written test and/or interview on 15-16 December 2026 at RCB, Faridabad.

What qualifications are needed for the RCB PhD programme?

A 4-year bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree from a recognised institution in any area of science and technology, or an MBBS degree, with 60% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade. SC/ST/OBC-NCL and differently-abled candidates get a 5% relaxation.

Official links

Admission queries can be sent to [email protected] and fee-payment queries to [email protected], as listed in the advertisement.