The WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. (WISE-PhD) is part of the Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN) scheme, initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). This fellowship is designed to support women scientists and technologists aged 27–45 years in pursuing independent doctoral research in STEM fields as bench-level scientists. It provides financial support to carry out Ph.D. research in both basic and applied sciences.
Vision & Objectives
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Vision:
To empower women to pursue higher education and doctoral research through independent project grants. -
Objectives:
- Encourage women scientists to undertake doctoral research in science and engineering.
- Promote knowledge dissemination through Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) activities.
Target Group & Scientific Disciplines
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Target Group:
Unemployed women or those not in regular employment who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in basic or applied sciences.
Note: Women in regular employment are not eligible for this programme. -
Scientific Disciplines Covered:
- Physical & Mathematical Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- Engineering & Technology
Project Duration
- The fellowship is tenable for a maximum period of 5 years or until the submission of the Ph.D. thesis, whichever comes earlier.
Benefits
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Fellowship Grant:
₹37,000 per month (subject to applicable House Rent Allowance (HRA) as per DST norms). -
Research Grant:
₹1.00 lakh per annum. -
Institutional Overhead:
₹50,000 per annum (as per DST norms). -
House Rent Allowance (HRA):
- Fellows may be provided with suitable single-seated hostel accommodation by the host institution.
- Alternatively, if a fellow arranges for personal accommodation, HRA is payable based on city categorization by the Government of India (subject to submission of an HRA certificate).
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Additional Benefits:
Access to institutional facilities, mentoring, and support for SSR activities.
Eligibility
- Academic Qualification:
- Applicants must hold an M.Sc./M.Tech. or equivalent degree (e.g., B.Tech., M.Phil., M.Pharm.) in basic or applied sciences from a recognized university or institute.
- Age Limit:
- Applicants must be between 27 and 45 years old at the time of submission.
- A relaxation of 3 years is available for SC/ST/PH candidates.
- Employment:
- Only women who are not in regular employment (i.e., unemployed or not receiving any other fellowship) are eligible.
- Candidates already registered for a Ph.D. and not availing fellowship from any source are eligible.
- Candidates who have completed two years of their Ph.D. are not eligible.
Application Process
Mode: Online via the DST e-PMS Portal (https://onlinewosa.gov.in/)
- Registration:
- Visit the DST e-PMS Portal and register using your active email ID.
- An auto-generated email will provide you with a user ID and a link to create a password.
- Proposal Submission:
- Log in to the portal and fill in the application form for WISE-PhD.
- Provide details such as department, institute, and institute address (as per the host institution) and indicate your designation as “WISE-PhD Fellow.”
- Enter all mandatory information, including:
- Project Title (max 500 characters)
- Project Summary (max 3000 characters)
- Keywords (max 6)
- Objectives of the project (max 1500 characters)
- Expected outputs/outcomes (max 1500 characters)
- Budget details: Fellowship, HRA, research grant, and overhead.
- Document Upload:
- Upload required documents as per the prescribed formats (file size must not exceed 2MB). Formats are available on the portal under “Formats.”
- Final Submission:
- Preview your complete proposal. Edit if necessary (changes are possible only before final submission).
- Click “Final Submit” to complete the submission.
- No hard copy is required.
Documents Required
- Project Proposal Document (in the prescribed format)
- Biodata of the Principal Investigator (signed; as per format)
- Mentor’s Biodata (signed; as per format)
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- Disability Certificate (if applicable)
- Proof of Age (Birth Certificate or Class 10 mark sheet)
- Recent Photograph of the PI
- Signature of the PI
- Highest Degree Certificate
- House Rent Allowance (HRA) Certificate (if eligible; as per format)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the WISE-PhD programme?
It is a fellowship scheme under the WISE-KIRAN initiative to support women in pursuing doctoral research in STEM fields as bench-level scientists. -
What are the eligibility criteria?
Applicants must have completed a master’s or equivalent degree in basic or applied sciences, be aged between 27 and 45 (with a relaxation for SC/ST/PH), and must not be in regular employment. -
Can I apply if I’m already receiving a Ph.D. fellowship from another source?
No, applicants must not be availing any other fellowship. -
What is the duration of the fellowship?
The fellowship is valid for a maximum of 5 years or until the Ph.D. thesis is submitted, whichever is earlier. -
Where can I apply?
Applications are submitted online via the DST e-PMS Portal. -
Is a hard copy required?
No, all applications must be submitted online. -
What documents are required for the application?
Refer to the Documents Required section above. -
Who should I contact for queries?
For further queries, contact the helpdesk at [email protected].