Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

NMIMS Mumbai's Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, offered through the Sunandan Divatia School of Science (SDSOS), is a full-time doctoral programme spanning a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, including mandatory coursework. The programme has a seat intake of 10 for Biological Sciences and is offered at the Mumbai campus (with the 2026 batch being offered at the Navi Mumbai campus). The annual fees are Rs. 2,50,000, with an assured scholarship of Rs. 2,00,000 per annum, making the effective annual cost just Rs. 50,000. Admission is primarily through the NMIMS Entrance Test or exemption via UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/SLET, followed by a Personal Interview. The programme is popular for its cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, state-of-the-art labs, and strong alumni network in academia and industry.

Admissions for the 2026 batch are currently ongoing (Phase 1 registration closed on 29th March 2026; Phase 2 registration is open from 30th March 2026 to 31st May 2026). The entrance test and personal interview for Phase 2 are scheduled for 12th June 2026, with the merit list to be declared on 22nd June 2026. Document upload and fee payment window is 22nd to 29th June 2026, and the programme commences on 18th July 2026.

Key Points

Research domains include Cancer Biology, Stress Biology, Translational Phytochemistry, Telomere Biology, Gene Editing, Bioinformatics, Nano Drug Delivery Systems, Culturomics, Gut Microbiology, and T-cell mediated immunity.
Full-time PhD students are eligible for UGC fellowship (JRF: Rs. 46,990/month including HRA + Rs. 2,500 contingency; SRF: Rs. 53,340/month including HRA + Rs. 5,000 contingency).
Candidates with UGC-NET (including JRF), CSIR-NET (including JRF), SLET, or GATE qualification are exempted from the NMIMS entrance test but must appear for the Personal Interview.
The programme is offered at the Navi Mumbai Campus for the 2026 batch.
Illustrious alumni include postdoctoral researchers at Caltech (USA), Lund University (Sweden), University of Michigan (USA), and IIT Bombay.

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Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

NMIMS Ph.D. Biological Sciences Fees

The Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at NMIMS has a gross annual fee of Rs. 2,50,000. However, an assured scholarship of Rs. 2,00,000 per annum is provided to all enrolled students, bringing the effective annual fee down to just Rs. 50,000. Over the maximum programme duration of 6 years, the total gross fees amount to Rs. 15,00,000, while the net payable (after scholarship) is Rs. 3,00,000. Full-time students are additionally eligible for UGC fellowships (JRF/SRF), which further offset costs.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Per Annum)
Tuition Fees (Gross Annual Fees)	Rs. 2,50,000
Assured Scholarship (Deduction)	Rs. 2,00,000
Net Annual Fees (After Scholarship)	Rs. 50,000
Registration Fees (One-time, Non-refundable)	Rs. 2,500 + GST
Total Fees (Gross, for 3 years minimum)	Rs. 7,50,000
Total Fees (Net after scholarship, for 3 years minimum)	Rs. 1,50,000

The scholarship of Rs. 2,00,000 per annum is assured and provided for up to 5 years or completion of the PhD programme, whichever is earlier.
Scholarship is not available if the student re-registers or takes readmission for the PhD programme.
Refund rules are as per UGC notification; details are shared at the time of admission.
Hostel facility is available on campus; hostel fees are separate and not mandatory.
Registration fee of Rs. 2,500 + GST is non-refundable and non-transferable.

NMIMS Ph.D. Biological Sciences Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at NMIMS for the 2026 batch are conducted in two phases. Phase 1 registration has already closed (29th March 2026), and Phase 2 is currently open with registration running until 31st May 2026. The selection process involves an NMIMS Entrance Test (or exemption for NET/GATE/SLET qualified candidates) followed by a Personal Interview at the Mumbai/Navi Mumbai campus.

NMIMS Ph.D. Science (Biological Sciences) Admission Dates

Sr. No.	Event	Phase 1 Dates	Phase 2 Dates
1	Online Registration Opens	14th February 2026	30th March 2026
2	Last Date of Online Registration	29th March 2026	31st May 2026
3	Call Letters Available / Document Upload for Test & PI	2nd April 2026	5th June 2026
4	Entrance Test & Personal Interview	10th April 2026	12th June 2026
5	Declaration of Merit List	20th April 2026	22nd June 2026
6	Document Upload & Payment of Admission Fees	20th - 27th April 2026	22nd - 29th June 2026
7	Commencement of Programme	18th July 2026	18th July 2026
8	Closure of Admission / Last Date of Admission	3rd August 2026	3rd August 2026

Relevant Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Dates
CSIR-NET	Registration Start	1st May 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET	Registration End	21st May 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET	Admit Card	1st July 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET	Exam Date	25th-27th July 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET	Result	4th September 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration Start	1st April 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration End	1st May 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2026 (Tentative)
GATE 2026	Exam Date	7th, 8th, 14th, 15th February 2026
GATE 2026	Result	19th March 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Master's degree (M.Sc.) in any branch of Biological Sciences (minimum 2-year programme) including Microbiology, Biochemistry, Life Science, Biotechnology, Applied Biology, Bioinformatics, or Bioanalytical Chemistry/Science, with at least 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade 'B' in UGC 7-point scale).
Degrees in allied fields such as M.B.B.S. are also accepted.
Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination are eligible to apply provisionally.

Admission Process:

Register online at www.nmims.edu and pay the non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 2,500 + GST.
Download call letter and upload required documents (mark sheets, degree certificates, UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE certificate if applicable, Statement of Purpose).
Appear for the NMIMS Entrance Test (90 minutes, 100 marks: 50% Research Methodology + 50% Domain Specific) at the Mumbai/Navi Mumbai campus. Qualifying marks: 50%.
Candidates with UGC-NET (JRF/non-JRF), CSIR-NET (JRF/non-JRF), SLET, or GATE are exempted from the entrance test but must appear for the Personal Interview.
Appear for Personal Interview (50 marks, 30% weightage) at the Mumbai/Navi Mumbai campus; includes a presentation based on the Statement of Purpose.
Final merit list is based on Entrance Test (70%) + Personal Interview (30%).
Selected candidates complete admission formalities by uploading documents and paying fees within the stipulated timeline.

NMIMS Ph.D. Biological Sciences Scholarships 2026

NMIMS provides an assured scholarship of Rs. 2,00,000 per annum to all enrolled Ph.D. in Biological Sciences students, significantly reducing the financial burden. Additionally, full-time students are eligible for UGC fellowships (JRF and SRF), which provide monthly stipends. The scholarship is available for up to 5 years or until programme completion, whichever is earlier.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
NMIMS Assured Scholarship	Rs. 2,00,000 per annum	All enrolled Ph.D. students	Up to 5 years or programme completion
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Rs. 46,990/month (incl. HRA) + Rs. 2,500/month contingency	Full-time PhD students with JRF qualification	As per UGC norms
UGC-SRF Fellowship	Rs. 53,340/month (incl. HRA) + Rs. 5,000/month contingency	Full-time PhD students (after JRF period)	As per UGC norms

The NMIMS scholarship form (hardcopy) must be submitted to the Dean, Sunandan Divatia School of Science, along with the registration form, SOP, resume, admission form, and offer letter copy.
Scholarship is cancelled if the student is found indulging in any unlawful activity.
Students who re-register or take readmission for the PhD programme are not entitled to the scholarship.
UGC fellowship amounts are subject to revision as per UGC notifications.

NMIMS Ph.D. Biological Sciences FAQs

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at NMIMS offered at the Mumbai campus or Navi Mumbai campus?

Ans. For the 2026 batch, the programme is being offered exclusively at the Navi Mumbai Campus. Previous batches were at the Mumbai (Vile Parle) campus. Candidates should confirm the campus at the time of application.

Ques. Can working professionals apply for the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at NMIMS?

Ans. Yes, NMIMS offers both full-time and part-time options for the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. Part-time candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. Candidates working in reputed research organizations or academic institutions near the Mumbai campus are also eligible, subject to specific conditions including a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience.

Ques. If I have qualified CSIR-NET or GATE, do I still need to appear for the NMIMS entrance test?

Ans. No. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (including JRF), CSIR-NET (including JRF), SLET, or GATE are exempted from the NMIMS entrance test. However, they are still required to appear for the Personal Interview at the Mumbai/Navi Mumbai campus.

Ques. What is the effective cost of the Ph.D. programme after the scholarship?

Ans. The gross annual fee is Rs. 2,50,000. With the assured scholarship of Rs. 2,00,000 per annum, the effective annual fee is only Rs. 50,000. Over 3 years (minimum duration), the net payable amount is Rs. 1,50,000. Full-time students with JRF/SRF fellowships can further offset this cost through monthly stipends.

Ques. What research areas are available under Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at NMIMS?

Ans. The programme covers a wide range of research domains including Cancer Biology, Stress Biology, Enzymology, Metabolite Production, Microbiome Analysis, Translational Phytochemistry, Telomere Biology, Gene Editing, Nano Drug Delivery Systems, Bioinformatics, Glycation, Fermentation and Toxicity, DNA Damage Response and Genome Biology, Culturomics, Gut Microbiology, and T-cell mediated immunity in health and disease.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from NMIMS?

Ans. NMIMS Ph.D. alumni in Biological Sciences have gone on to pursue postdoctoral research at prestigious institutions such as Caltech (USA), Lund University (Sweden), University of Michigan (USA), and IIT Bombay. Career paths include academic positions, postdoctoral research, senior scientist roles in biotech/pharma companies, and research positions in advanced enzyme technology, gene therapy, and related fields.