The Interview for Admission to the Ph.D. Programs
in the ECE Department, IISc


As you may know, there is an increasing emphasis on R&D in the industrial sector in India, and there is also a huge need for faculty in higher education. Consequently we hope that many of you will strive for a Ph.D. degree. IISc provides an opportunity to B.E./B.Tech students to opt for a direct Ph.D. registration. If the interview performance is very good, the interview committee can recommend this. Please prepare well and if you are B.E/B.Tech student, let us know if your are inclined for a direct Ph.D.

The interview is conducted as follows:

Each candidate is asked to indicate on a check-list one or two proposed research areas of his/her interest. All candidates, irrespective of their planned area of research, are examined on their analytical ability by being asked questions in some areas of basic mathematics of communication engineering. Hence, candidates should be prepared in at least 2 of the following areas of mathematics
  • Real Analysis and Differential Equations
  • Matrix Analysis, Linear Algebra
  • Fourier, Laplace and z-Transforms
  • Probability Theory
  • Discrete Mathematics (combinatorics, graphs, discrete probability)
The problems posed will not involve lengthy calculations, but will test the basics, and the ability to think "on ones feet". Such questioning could last 10 to 15 minutes. Following satisfactory performance in this part of the interview the candidate will be asked questions in the proposed area of research or any related area. These questions will be from topics of undergraduate study (for M.Sc. Engg) and topics of post-graduate study (for Ph.D.). The nature of the questions will be to explore the students clarity of thinking and deeper understanding of the topics, rather than descriptive system level knowledge.

IISC |  ECE Home |  About |  Academic Programmes |  Facilities |  Laboratories |  People |  Other Professional Activities |  Faculty Positions |  IISC Map