IIT Roorkee and Niigata University Launch Double Degree PhD Programme

Strengthening Indo-Japanese Academic Ties

The agreement was signed by Professor KK Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, and Professor Matsuo Masayuki, Dean of Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University. The tie-up comes after the visit of Niigata University President Tatsuo Ushiki to IIT Roorkee wherein the process was initiated to further academic association between India and Japan.

In response, a high-level delegation from IIT Roorkee—including Director KK Pant, Dean of International Relations Professor Vimal Chandra Srivastava, Dean of Sponsored Research Professor Akshay Dvivedi, along with faculty members Professor Sandeep Singh (Earth Sciences) and Professor P. Gopinath (Biosciences and Bioengineering)—visited Niigata University to formalise the foundation of this strategic partnership.

IIT Roorkee Programme Highlights

• Dual PhD Degrees: Earn a doctoral degree from both IIT Roorkee and Niigata University.

• Global Research Exposure: Access labs, mentors, and resources across India and Japan.

• Interdisciplinary Focus: Opportunities in AI, robotics, sustainability, biotech, and more.

• Academic Exchange: Structured mobility for both students and research faculty.

• Addressing Global Challenges: Research aligned with sustainability, technology, and resilience.

Candidates can also check the IIT Roorkee courses to know about the details of other programmes as well.

Know more about: IIT Roorkee Cutoff

Opportunities Through the Double Degree PhD from IIT Roorkee and Niigata University

The newly launched double degree programme will enable doctoral students to pursue research jointly at both institutions, earning a PhD degree from IIT Roorkee and Niigata University. This model encourages deeper academic immersion, greater access to research infrastructure, and strong mentorship from leading faculty across both countries.

The programme also facilitates student and researcher exchanges, access to educational and laboratory resources, and fosters the holistic development of scholars. Both institutions are devoted to providing a seamless academic and administrative platform for the fellows to have a successful research period.

The double degree PhD initiative is designed to promote cutting-edge research across disciplines that address global challenges. According to IIT Roorkee’s statement, students can pursue research in areas such as:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Robotics and Automation

• Sustainability and Climate Change

• Biosciences and Biotechnology

• Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology

• Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Resilience

• Energy Systems and Renewable Technologies

• Water Resources and Hydrology

• Environmental and Earth Sciences

• Information and Communication Engineering

This broad interdisciplinary academic development is also intended to graduate globally talented researchers capable of contributing to solutions for important social and environmental issues.

Read more about: IIT Roorkee Admissions

Leadership Perspectives

Professor KK Pant described the initiative as a reflection of IIT Roorkee’s commitment to global academic engagement. “The double degree programme will enhance students’ research capabilities and further strengthen our academic and research ties with Niigata University,” he said.

Professor Matsuo Masayuki stated, “We are looking forward to collaborating with IIT Roorkee on the programme to develop outstanding researchers who could address global issues through bilateral coordination.”

Many students get placed in campus drives. Students can check IIT Roorkee placements to get more details of students placed, salary packages, top recruiters and others.

Final Take: A Strategic Collaboration for Global Research Impact

The IIT Roorkee–Niigata University integrated double degree PhD programme is a progressive initiative in higher education and research cooperation. Providing doctoral students with dual academic homes and cross-disciplinary mentoring, the programme not only enriches scholarly production, it also helps the global academic community respond to today's most urgent challenges.