IIT Delhi, University of Queensland Open Joint PhD 2026

• IIT Delhi and UQ announce joint PhD program starting from July 2026.
• Initiative aims to boost innovation and strengthen India-Australia academic partnerships.
• Interested candidates must submit EoIs online before January 7, 2026.

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have announced that they are accepting Expressions of Interest (EoI) for their collaborative PhD program that will begin in July 2026.

This elite alliance offers the possibility to carry out innovative research under the guidance of the dual supervision of prominent professors of both the institutions and obtaining a joint PhD degree as the final result of the program. The program serves as a source of innovation and helps the two countries, Australia and India, to further cement their academic relations, which is in line with their expanding research collaboration.

Applications are welcome from highly talented candidates in any of the disciplines mentioned Sciences, Technologye, Engineering, Mathematics, Humanities, and Social Sciences. EoI's are to be submitted through an online portal not later than 7:00 pm IST on January 7, 2026. Applicants can find it easier to apply if they attend the information sessions that will be held online on the 11th of November and the 10th of December, as the sessions will cover the program structure, eligibility, and the application process just to name a few.

Also Read: IIT JAM 2026 Registration Ends Today: Apply and Check Details

This project is a step further from recent work-sharing agreements. For instance, on October 24, an MoU was signed between IT Delhi and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) paving the way for improved STEM education and training of teachers. Besides the MOU, it cites endeavors such as the Sci Tech Spins (STS) Lecture Series, which participated 3,000 KVS students in 2025, focusing on government schools in Delhi-NCR for the purpose of educational outreach.

The UQ-IIT Delhi program is designed to be of support to India’s academic ecosystem and therefore, a feeder to its education and research market, which is estimated to be worth $100 billion by 2030 besides being a promoter of global knowledge exchange through international ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌collaboration.