Notification for AcSIR, India – Deakin University, Australia Joint (Ph.D) Degree Program, 2025-26.

ACADEMY OF SCIENTIFIC AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH (AcSIR), INDIA
&
DEAKIN UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA

Notification for AcSIR, India – Deakin University, Australia
Joint (Ph.D) Degree Program, 2025

Applications are invited from students currently enrolled in the PhD program of AcSIR at any of its associated Research Institutions for the AcSIR – Deakin University, Australia, Joint PhD (Cotutelle) Fellowship Program, 2025-26. The Joint PhD degree program (JDP) will focus primarily on the following broad research areas:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Energy
• Critical technologies (Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Robotics, Haptics, IoT etc)
• Technology for Healthcare
• Climate change adaptation and sustainability
• Agriculture and Environment
• Future infrastructure

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
The selected students, as a part of their AcSIR PhD program, will have to spend a maximum of 12 months at Deakin University, Australia. The selected students will be provided international return airfare by economy class, overseas student health cover, visa application fees, full tuition fee waiver and a scholarship of $34,400 per annum (tax exempt) only during their 12 months study period at Deakin University.

ELIGIBILITY
1. The applicants (only Indian National), should be enrolled for Ph.D under AcSIR associated Research Institutes in any subject faculty;
2. Applicants should have completed their DAC I and are in their 2nd and 3rd semester of their AcSIR-Ph.D enrolment (on the date of their submission of application). Accordingly, the eligible Regular Ph.D admission batches are August 2024 and January 2025.

It mandatory to meet the English language entry requirements at the time of formal application, which is to be submitted by shortlisted candidates only. Specifically:

• IELTS: Overall score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.
• PTE: Overall score of 60, No less than 50 in each skill.

Note: AcSIR students employed on permanent positions (including industry-sponsored) are not eligible to apply.

HOW TO APPLY
The completed application form (in the specified format) should be submitted to the AcSIR Coordinator of the institute where the applicant is enrolled for Ph.D. The applicants must attach a ONE-PAGE synopsis of their on-going Ph.D work with a tentative PhD thesis title, highlighting the objectives and the intended scope of PhD research work (in not more than 300 words) along with their application. Students are strongly advised to reach out to the Deakin University faculty members (at least 2-3 research faculties) from their identified research area to obtain their consent to supervise their PhD, before applying for the program.

https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/why-choose-deakin-for-your-research-degree/find-aresearch-supervisor

The applications, complete in all respects, along with the comprehensive examination report (if completed), are to be emailed by the institute’s AcSIR Coordinator to the admission.jdp@acsir.res.in with a copy to the Senior Manager (arpita.acsir@acsir.res.in) latest by August 22, 2025.

Contacts
Please address queries to the relevant contact.

AcSIR contact details: 
International Academic Collaborations
admission.jdp@acsir.res.in

Deakin University contact details:
Ms. Gayathri Vedanarayanan, Senior Manager, Research Engagement
gayathri.v@deakin.edu.au

Important Notes for Attention:

1. If selected, students must successfully complete the AcSIR comprehensive examination before going to the Deakin University as part of their PhD program.
2. If selected, students must fulfil a minimum enrolment requirement of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years in the JDP program.
3. The student will receive intimation directly from Deakin University about their selection.
4. Candidates selected and enrolled in this joint Ph.D. program would have to comply with the degree requirements of Deakin as well as AcSIR, as applicable and amended from time to time.
5. Deakin University will not be liable for any financial assistance to the JDP students, upon returning to India, after completing their 12-month fellowship at Deakin University.
6. As per the agreement, AcSIR is not liable for any financial assistance to students during their tenure in the Joint PhD degree program. Students must ensure that their fellowship is reactivated (if applicable) by the Indian funding agency according to its rules, after their return to India.
7. The provisions of the JDP are liable to change by AcSIR or Deakin University.

Please click the links below to download:

Notification  |   Application