Q: My degree certificate is not yet arrived from my previous institute, is it okay to verify all the other documents and start the stipend process?

A: No, the degree certificate is a mandatory document, without which the stipend can not be started, regardless of the funding source.

Q: How do I choose my PhD supervisor?

A: Choosing a supervisor, may depend on your admission category, e.g. a TAP student may already have a supervisor assigned already. A common process is to first look for faculty profiles on the respective department website, identify research interests, then schedule a meeting by sending an email.

Q: Is it mandatory to choose my supervisor from my department itself?

A: This is department dependent. If your department allows a professor from other departments to be the main supervisor, good. Sometimes a department mandates to have a professor from the department to be a co-supervisor. You can confirm this with the respective department office/head.

Q: Do I require co-guide as well? How many?

A: It is not compulsory to have a co-guide, but according to institute rules, a professor can not supervise more than 5 scholars, in which case the main supervisor might suggest you search for a co-guide, or assigns a professor himself.

Q: Why is there less number of RnD profiles coming up for hiring?

A: The profiles depend completely on companies’ interest. If they have an opening for PhDcandidates for the pattern, they might consider them. Also, we get inputs from PhD students eachyear before the start of placement season regarding which R&D profiles they seek to work for. Wecontact those companies as well, and if they are interested, they do come.

Placement Blog 2020-21

Q: Why not allow PhD students to attend all sector companies?

A: The restriction is not from the Placement Cell’s side but rather from the company’s side, whichsees much more flexibility in UGs than field-specific PhDs. Nonetheless, the placement cell tries toconvince the company to consider the PhD students along with UGs for other profiles.

Q: Why not companies and institutions which are working in R&D be encouraged to work with PhD from the start of their research work?

A: IIT Bombay is working over a similar proposal called IITB Research Park. But it will take at least 5-6 years in setting it up. This is so because there is a formal procedure to do things (considering the formality to be honoured from both companies’ side and IITB’s side) and has to include the support from academic fraternity (students and faculty) and also other subsidiaries to help us give a concrete shape to the design we might consider.

Q: Why not update us through messages?

A: We have a placement blog which consists of all the necessary information required. Hence regular checks of placement blogs would eliminate the chances of communication gaps.

Q: For PhD students, five slide ppt must be in front of the interviewer for one to understand what they are doing and then only should be followed by a technical interview.

A: Considering the large number of applications each company has to go through to shortlist/select a student, it will not be a good idea to make it compulsory for the recruiter to go through a 5 slide ppt before proceeding with interviews. A small, crisp and to the point resume or SOP should be enough to leave a mark in the mind of the recruiter and later at the start of the interview the student can explain the areas he/she has worked in.

Q: Could placements be conducted twice a year for PhD scholars (something like, in tandem with the convocation)?

A: A placement season is a yearlong event. The interviews start in December and continue in the next semester from January to June.

Q: Why isn’t the PhD package different from Bachelors and Masters?

A: Most of the time it is different from bachelor and master students. In those rare cases where it isn’t, the placement cell doesn’t have any say in it since it’s the jurisdiction of the company to decide what package to give to scholars and other students.

Q: Why is the JAF deadline necessary?

A: Company has a timeline for shortlisting candidates from resumes, hence if we don’t keep any deadline, the company will ignore the applications received outside their timeframe.

Q: What is a seminar? Is it mandatory to opt for it? What are the credits?

A: A seminar can be considered as a pre-research course, in which you need to select a topic and prepare a report on it, mainly about the existing literature. The course is mandatory to be taken as a part of coursework in the first year and has 4 credits associated with it.

Q: What is APS?

A: APS is an abbreviation for Annual Progress Seminar, in which the researcher has to show the work progress done in the previous year in front of the review committee.

Q: What is a qualifier?

A: A qualifier is similar to an interview, in which a scholar has to select two subjects of his choice and appear in front of a panel of faculties, and answer/discusses problems given by the panellists. It is mandatory for the research scholar to pass the qualifier, only after which he is allowed to carry out his research work.

Q: What is the requirement of a qualifier if I have already given an entrance interview?

A: The qualifier is said to test the scholar's ability to discuss and portray the problem given to him, and also check his thinking process and style of delivery. The panellists often ask to describe the given problem as if teaching to a batch of students, in which case the qualifier tests the scholar's ability of presentation as well.

Q: What is the process to execute the qualifier?

A: Typically, there is a qualifier form available in every department, which needs to be filled. According to the subjects chosen, the office then assigns two professors and a moderator as a panel, which strictly does not include the research-supervisor if already chosen. Then the scholar needs to approach the professors to approve the selected subjects and take their signature, and hand it over to the department office. After doing so, the department schedules the qualifier.

Q: When does a TA student receive a stipend?

A: By 10th of every month.

Q: What documents need to be submitted to get started with the stipend?

A: Bank details need to be uploaded in ASC portal.

Q: What are the requirements for the stipend?

A: The student should have a course work CPI greater than or equal to 6.0.

Q: When does a TAP/RA student receive a stipend?

A: 10th of every month.

Q: What documents need to be submitted to get started with the stipend?

A: Bank details need to be updated in the ASC website.

Q: What are the criteria for converting to PhD?

A: A student pursuing full-time MTech at the institute should fulfil minimum qualification prescribed for admission to any specified PhD programme in the institute and also should have obtained an SPI of 9.0 or above after having registered for full credits of course work in the first semester.

Q: What is the process of PhD conversion?

A: The student shall apply for the change by the end of the first semester through DPGCs/IDPCs/SPGCs who will forward the application to PGAPEC along with their recommendation.

Q: When can I apply for PhD conversion?

A: The student should apply for the change over by the end of the first semester.

Q: What are the fellowships available in IITB? What is the criteria for selection in a particular fellowship? What is the duration and stipend for different fellowships?

A: SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY IITB

Q: Where do I check the status of my course registration?

A: Go to ASC website (https://asc.iitb.ac.in/acadmenu/), login and select Academic (left side) -> Registration -> Status

Q: What will happen if I fail to do the course registration in the given time period?

A: There is an extended period within which registration can be done with a fine.

Q: What is the process for course registration?

A: 1. Students have to clear institute and hostel dues before registration.
2. Go to ASC website (https://asc.iitb.ac.in/acadmenu/), login and select Academic (left side) -> Registration -> Registration/Adjustment

Q: How many courses can I take in a semester?

A: There is no limit as such to the number of courses that can be taken. But the clashing of timeslots may restrict you to a definite number of courses.

Q: Can I withdraw from a course? How?

A: Log in to the ASC portal. Under the Registration tab, there is an option of Course Withdrawl where you can choose the courses you wish to withdraw before a mentioned deadline. After exercising this option on ASC, approval of faculty advisor is required. Student can mail the faculty advisor to approve the request of course withdrawal.

Q: How to extend the course duration from 2yrs to 3yrs?

A: The approval of DPGC and then PGAPEC is required supported by genuine reason by the student.

Q: Is it necessary to take the core course in the same semester?

A: The transcript will reflect FR on not completing the core courses in the required semester. So it is advised to complete the core courses in the same semester. However, you have to complete then the required core courses in the same semester of the next academic year.

Q: What are the minimum credits I need to complete for finishing one semester?

A: The minimum no. of credits for finishing a semester varies for different programmes and departments. Your faculty advisor will inform you about that. Faculty advisor won't approve the registration if you fail to opt for minimum required credits and you will be notified about the same.

Q: What is the fee structure for M.Tech/MBA/M.Sc./MUDE/MPhil?

A: FEES STRUCTURE

Q: Where do I pay the fee?

A: The option of fee payment is available on the ASC external website.
ASC EXTERNAL

Q: What to do if I fail to pay the fee in the given time?

A: Contact the academic section / dean-ap.

Q: I paid the fee but the status is showing no fees has been paid. What should I do?

A: Wait for a few days. If it still doesn't update, contact the academic office.

Q: Which documents are required for document verification?

A: The required documents will be mentioned in the admissions letter. Also, they will be mentioned in the upload portal.

Q: What should I do if I fail to produce some of my documents?

A: Your admission will stand cancelled.

Q: What should I do if my previous degree exams are pending?

A: Contact Dean-AP.

Q: Can I change my Guide during MTP?

A: Yes

Q: Can I choose a Guide from other departments?

A: Yes, Discuss with Fac Adv and with the Prof whom you want as your guide. Convey the decision to Proj Incharge and HOD(?). Each student should have a Project Supervisor from the faculty of the parent department.

Q: Details about placement

A: PLACEMENT PORTAL IITB

Q: What is the process for Project Topic selection?

A: Dept provides a list of topics; every student decides for one topic, in case of a clash, the studentwith higher CPI will be given the preference. Students may discuss with their prospective guide ifthey'd like a project of their own.

Q: Can I see my marks for each stage of the Project?

A: Evaluation of Projects is usually done in 2 stages. After completion of each stage a grade score isallotted. Mode/pattern of evaluation varies among Depts.

Q: Do I need a NOC from my Dept/Institute before applying for an Internship?

A: Yes, for certain internships the NOC needs to be submitted along with the application, forinternships through placement cell, NOC can be provided after confirmation.

Q: Can I apply for internships outside the placement cell?

A: Yes