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IIT Bombay awarded a record 620 PhD degrees during the 2025–26 academic year, the highest by any IIT in a single year. The institute said the rise followed a review of pending research cases and support for students to complete work. At its 64th Convocation, IIT Bombay conferred 3,763 degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes.

Mumbai: Marking an unprecedented academic landmark, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) awarded a total of 620 PhD degrees during the 2025–26 academic year, setting a record for the highest number of doctorates conferred by any IIT in a single year.

PhD Graduates Rise After Review Of Pending Research Cases

In the last five years, the number of PhD graduates fluctuated between 300 to nearly 500. The academic staff at IIT Bombay attributed the rise in PhD graduates to a review of students conducted by the department who had not kept the research on hold for over eight years. "There were nearly 100-125 students whose research was pending, the department reviewed their reasons and provided them the support to complete it in a timely manner. Whereas some did not want to proceed for other reasons so they dropped out," the professor said.

The record figures were highlighted during the institute’s 64th Convocation and Departmental Degree Award Functions (DDAF) held at its Powai campus on August 22 and 23, 2026. Across the full 2025–26 academic session—comprising both its Spring and Autumn sessions—IIT Bombay conferred 3,763 degrees upon 3,442 graduating students, including 791 women and 2,651 men. The total degree tally included 1,713 undergraduate, 1,430 postgraduate, and 620 doctoral degrees.