Indian Institute of Technology Madras – Deakin University Research Academy

Together, we work on leading-edge, cross-disciplinary research challenges that will make a difference in India, Australia and the global community. Our aim is to produce a talented pool of postgraduate research scholars from South Asia and Australia.

When you study a PhD with the IIT Madras – Deakin University Research Academy, you’ll help to drive forward the socio-economic prosperity of India and Australia at an international level. You’ll be part of cutting-edge research tackling global challenges from climate change, smart manufacturing, energy to future infrastructure and critical technology.

Study a jointly supervised PhD in Australia and India

The IIT Madras – Deakin University Research Academy offers jointly supervised, jointly awarded PhD programs (cotutelle PhD). You’ll have the opportunity to combine travel and research, plus you’ll have access to supervision, facilities, resources and funding opportunities from both institutions. Upon completion, you’ll receive two testamurs issued by these world-leading universities.

You’ll start your research at your home institution and undertake a one-year residency at the host institution, typically in the second year of study.

• Australian citizens will commence at Deakin and complete one year at IITM in Chennai, India.
• Indian passport holders will start their project at IITM, and complete a year of study at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
• If you hold citizenship from a country other than India or Australia, you can choose your home institution.

IIT Madras and Deakin enjoy a productive research partnership centred on materials science and engineering research. Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials and IIT Madras’ Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering began collaborating in 2012 with faculty and student exchanges, and co-supervised research scholars.

In 2018, IIT Madras and Deakin were jointly awarded a prestigious Australia–India Strategic Research Fund grant, enabling India’s first bilateral Centre of Excellence in Advanced Materials to be established.

The two institutions also partnered in 2022 to launch the Australia–India Centre for Energy, a virtual centre promoting collaboration in transdisciplinary research, education and training.