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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Programmes of Study

For the academic year 2026, the University is offering six academic programmes:

Five Master’s programmes:

One Doctoral Programme: An interdisciplinary PhD in Urban Studies and Practice.

The Master’s programmes are full-time for two years, including an internship, independent project and/or dissertation in the last term.

The Doctoral Programme is designed to be completed in a maximum of five years, with an ideal completion time of four years, subject to the applicant clearing all internal reviews, examinations, and assessments as necessary.
Yes, IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The programmes will be delivered from the IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University Campus in Bengaluru.

The academic year for the Master’s and Doctoral programmes will start on 31 August 2026. Admitted students are expected to arrive in Bengaluru before 24 August 2026 to complete admission formalities and orientation processes.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in any subject or discipline.
  • Their age should not exceed 35 years as of 1 August 2026 (for the 2026 academic year intake).
  • Applicants must have basic proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehending English. The University provides assistance in English writing for applicants with limited ability, so that they are better able to cope with the academic needs of the programme.
  • Applicants will be selected on merit, based on their scores in the Entrance Examination conducted by the University, as well as their written essays and interview.
  • Recognising the value of an inclusive and diverse classroom across various socio-economic categories, the University follows a weighted Diversity Points system in the admission process. This process will be fair and transparent.
Applicants for the Doctoral Programme must have completed a Master’s degree from a recognised University with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale, wherever a grading system is followed.
Currently, only resident Indian citizens can apply to study at IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University.
No, these are full-time programmes. Master’s students and Doctoral scholars cannot be employed, either full-time or part-time.
There is no minimum score; applicants need to have successfully completed their Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University to apply to our Master’s programmes.
Applicants need to have scored at least 55% in their Master’s degree from a recognised University to apply to our Doctoral Programme.
You are welcome to apply if you want to do a second Master’s programme.

The age of an applicant to our Master’s programmes should not exceed 35 years as of 1 August 2026 (for the 2026 academic year intake). There is no age limit for those applying to the Doctoral Programme.

Yes, Bachelor’s degree holders of any stream are eligible to apply to any of our Master’s programmes. For example, BSc graduates can apply to our MA programmes, while BA graduates can apply to our MSc programmes.

Our programmes are delivered in English, so students need to have basic proficiency in reading English, and understanding written and spoken English. Support is available for students with limited ability in English.

Admission Process

You can apply at www.iihs.ac.in.

Applications for the Master’s programmes must be submitted by 20 March 2026, and for the Doctoral Programme by 27 April 2026. Please refer to the Prospectus for the academic year 2026–27 for key dates.

Broadly, the steps of the Master’s programmes’ application process are as follows:

  • Fill the online application form
  • Appear for the online admission test
  • Shortlisted candidates are called for an online interview

Further details regarding the above steps will be provided in the Prospectus for the
academic year 2026–27.

You can apply for up to two Master’s programmes, clearly indicating your first priority. This will be considered when admission offers are made.
The entrance examination will be conducted in English.

Broadly, there are three stages in the application process for the Doctoral Programme:

  • Fill the online application form
  • Appear for the online entrance examination
  • Shortlisted candidates are called for an in-person interview in Bengaluru

Further details regarding the above steps will be provided in the Prospectus for the
academic year 2026.

Recognising the value of an inclusive and diverse classroom across various socio-economic categories, the University will follow a weighted Diversity Points system in the admission process. Applicants will be assigned Diversity Points based on recognised aspects of marginalisation and exclusion, such as caste, tribe, gender (including transgender), economic vulnerability (measured by limited household income), location of 10+2 schooling in non-metropolitan cities or rural areas, first-generation learners, and differential physical ability. To be considered for Diversity Points, applicants must provide supporting documentation within the required timelines.

Here is the link to the sample question paper for the Master’s programmes.

No, you don’t need to complete the application in a single session. The online application form has multiple sections. You have the option of saving your application at any point in time and coming back to it later. The application is complete once you review your answers and press the Submit button at the end of the form.

The written test for the Master’s programmes will be conducted online and consists of two parts: (1) A multiple choice test comprising two sections: a General section, covering reading comprehension, and basic mathematical and logical reasoning; and an Advanced section, with knowledge-based questions across themes of the Master’s programmes; and (2) Two essays. The duration of the test is 180 minutes.

The written test for the Doctoral Programme will be administered online and comprises the following.
  • Multiple choice questions that test general logic and reading comprehension skills, as well as advanced questions by topic.
  • Questions on Research Methods.
  • Research Proposal: Within a fixed word limit, applicants will be expected to describe their proposed doctoral research, with a focus on their research question, possible project and methods.
  • Intellectual statement: Within a fixed word limit, applicants will be expected to describe their motivation and preparation to pursue a doctoral degree.

All interviews will be conducted by a panel of IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University faculty members. Interviews for admission to the Master’s programmes typically last about 20–30 minutes and are conducted online. Questions will be asked to assess candidates’ fitment for the programme they have applied for.

Interviews for admission to the Doctoral Programme for shortlisted candidates will be held in person at the IIHS, Sadashivanagar Campus in Bengaluru, by a panel of IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University faculty members.

Fees, Stipends, and Financial Aid

All fee details and other charges are provided in the Prospectus for 2026. Details about financial assistance are also be provided in the Prospectus.

Financial assistance for our Master’s programmes can take various forms, to cover in part or in full, tuition, accommodation, food (as applicable), and Exposure and Practica visits, depending on the nature of need and the documentation provided to support the request for financial assistance. Depending on the need and documentation produced, an additional stipend to manage living costs may also be provided. More details are provided in the Prospectus for 2026.

The Master’s programmes offered by the University are eligible for education loans from major banks, as per respective bank policies.

We anticipate that there will likely be additional expenses that Master’s students will need to prepare for:

 

i) Food: Students will be provided lunch on Campus on all teaching days. However, they are responsible for expenses related to breakfast and dinner on all days, as well as lunch during weekends and holidays.

 

ii) Transport: IIHS University will provide pooled pick-up and drop services, operating at fixed times, between the Campus and the accommodation. If a student is unable to avail the provided pool transport service, then they shall be responsible for any travel expenses incurred. Please note that the cost of transportation in Bengaluru can vary greatly depending on the mode of transport as well as the distance travelled.

Typical modes of public transport include buses (managed by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation or BMTC), Metro Rail (managed by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd or BMRCL), autorickshaws, and private cab operators.

 

iii) Other living expenses: Other living expenses that students may want to prepare for include personal phone bills, eating out at restaurants and cafes, intercity travel (except Exposure Visits), personal leisure and recreation, memberships to gyms and fitness clubs, shopping for clothing and other essentials, printing or stationery requirements, and personal book purchases.

Medical insurance for hospitalisation will be provided by the University without any cost to students. However, out-of-hospital medical expenses such as doctor consultation fees, tests, and medicines are to be borne by students.

The stipend for Doctoral Scholars is INR 75,000 per month for four years or whenever the scholar completes their Doctoral Programme, whichever is earlier, subject to acceptable progress and academic performance. Please refer to the Prospectus for more details.

There are no fees for the Doctoral Programme. Doctoral Scholars get a stipend of INR 75,000 per month for four years or whenever the scholar completes their doctoral programme, whichever is earlier, subject to acceptable progress and academic performance. It can be extended to a fifth year if the Supervisor and Research Committee approve the extension on the submission of a viable completion plan for the fifth year. Please refer to the Prospectus for more details.

Accommodation & Transport

Accommodation for Master’s students will be on a double-sharing basis for the two-year duration of the programmes.
Yes, the Master’s programmes are full-time residential programmes. We believe this is important for effective learning, peer learning, and community-building.
Doctoral candidates will not be provided accommodation by the University and must make their own arrangements in this regard.
For Master’s students, the University will provide pooled pick-up and drop services to and from the student accommodation (provided by the University) and the Campus. These will operate at fixed timings.

Internships & Placements

The University is committed to finding internships for Master’s students who choose to pursue an internship in the last term of the programme. Students may also opt to pursue an independent project or a dissertation instead.

Students will be guided through personalised sessions, workshops, and faculty interactions.

These aim to connect students with organisations offering project roles, supporting application and interview processes, and helping finalise internships, including relevant logistics. Students typically engage with multiple organisations, building strong professional networks. Post-internship, evaluations and final submissions are completed. However, there are no guaranteed placements.

Other Questions

Yes, prospective candidates are welcome to visit IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University. Please inform the University team (admissions@iihs.ac.in) in advance to ensure the availability of the concerned individuals/teams.

 

IIHS, Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru, is located at:

No. 197/36, 2nd Main Road
Sadashivanagar
Bengaluru 560 080
Karnataka

 

If you have any other questions, please write to admissions@iihs.ac.in.

Contact

For more information, please write to admissions@iihs.ac.in.

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