IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026: Eligibility, Vacancy, Age Limit, Selection Process and How to Apply

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026 has been announced under Advertisement No. IISER-K/Admn/NT-04/2026. The recruitment notice includes one Counsellor vacancy at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER Kolkata). The post is a Group B position at Pay Level-7, with an upper age limit of 40 years. Candidates need a Master’s degree with 50% marks in Psychology (Clinical or Counselling) or Social Work (Medical & Psychiatric), along with five years of experience counselling students regarding academic, psychosocial and emotional issues.

The online application process began on 19 September 2026, and the last date for submitting the online application is 19 October 2026, up to 5:30 PM. Candidates who apply online must also send the required hard-copy application, which must reach IISER Kolkata by 29 October 2026, 5:30 PM.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026- Careershodh

Important: Candidates should verify all details against the official IISER Kolkata recruitment notification before applying, particularly eligibility, documents, deadlines and any subsequent corrigendum or update.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026: Overview

The official IISER Kolkata recruitment portal currently lists Advertisement No. IISER-K/Admn/NT-04/2026 dated 19 September 2026 and gives 19 October 2026 at 5:30 PM as the online application deadline.

What is the IISER Kolkata Counsellor vacancy?

IISER Kolkata has advertised one Counsellor position as part of its 2026 direct recruitment for non-teaching positions. The post is classified as Group B and carries Pay Level-7 under the 7th Central Pay Commission. The vacancy is listed as UR-01, with an upper age limit of 40 years.

The position is particularly relevant to professionals with experience in student counselling in academic environments, because the notification specifically requires experience dealing with students’ academic, psychosocial and emotional issues.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates should carefully check both the educational qualification and experience requirements before applying.

Educational qualification

The notification specifies:

• Master’s degree with at least 50% marks
• The degree should be in Psychology (Clinical or Counselling) or Social Work (Medical & Psychiatric)
• Practical experience is also required.

The wording of the notification is important because it identifies the eligible subject areas specifically rather than simply asking for any Master’s degree.

Experience requirement

Candidates must have:

Five years of experience in counselling students regarding their academic, psychosocial and emotional issues in a reputed academic institute or a reputed organization.

This means that applicants should not look only at the total number of years they have worked. They should also consider whether their documented experience demonstrates relevant student counselling work.

IISER Kolkata states that relevant experience will be determined by its Scrutiny Committee. The notification also specifies that experience certificates should clearly mention the candidate’s designation, period of service, nature of work assignments and pay, and should be issued on the organization’s letterhead with the required issuing-authority details.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Age Limit 2026

The upper age limit for the Counsellor post is 40 years. The notification identifies 19 September 2026 as the crucial date for determining age, qualification and experience.
Age relaxation is governed by applicable Government of India norms. The notification also states that the maximum age limit is governed by the Institute’s Recruitment Rules, RCPP-2023, with specific provisions for existing Institute employees.

Candidates should therefore check the applicable rules for their category rather than assuming that the general upper age limit applies identically to every applicant.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Salary and Pay Level

The Counsellor position is listed at Pay Level-7 under the 7th CPC.

The notification states that posts are entitled to the pay corresponding to the advertised 7th CPC Pay Matrix level and applicable allowances and benefits for Central Government employees posted in Kolkata. It also mentions benefits such as medical facilities and LTC according to applicable Institute/Government of India norms.

Applicants should refer to the official notification and applicable pay rules for the exact remuneration and allowances rather than relying on figures published by third-party job websites.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Vacancy 2026

There is one Counsellor vacancy, classified as UR-01. The post is part of a larger recruitment notification containing several Group B and Group C non-teaching positions.

The full notification contains 17 positions across the advertised posts, but candidates interested specifically in psychology and counselling should focus on the separate eligibility requirements for the Counsellor position.

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Selection Process 2026

The recruitment notification describes a multi-stage selection process.

Stage 1: Shortlisting

Applications will first be screened by an Institute-level Scrutiny Committee.

If the number of applications is large, IISER Kolkata may use relevant experience, desirable qualifications and other prescribed criteria to restrict the number of candidates called for the next stage.

The information submitted in the online application is important because the Institute states that candidates are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided.

Stage 2: Skill/Trade Test

The notification states that a Computer Skill Test and/or Trade Test may be conducted at Stage 2 for shortlisted candidates, on a qualifying basis.

The marks or grades obtained at this stage will not be carried forward as additional marks to the next stage.

The Institute may conduct the relevant tests separately or together depending on its requirements.

Stage 3: Written Test

The written test is described as a 100-mark examination consisting of:

• Part A – General: 50 marks
• Part B – Specialization: 50 marks

The notification states that final selection will depend on merit in the written test.

Candidates should therefore prepare not only general topics but also the specialization-related syllabus applicable to the Counsellor post when it is provided by the Institute.

Click here for Part B Study notes

How to Apply for IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026

Candidates who meet the prescribed eligibility conditions need to apply online through the IISER Kolkata recruitment application system.

The application window opened on 19 September 2026.

Important application dates

These dates are specified in the official recruitment notice.

After submitting the online application, candidates are required to send the downloaded application form along with the relevant self-attested documents to IISER Kolkata. The notification specifies the hard-copy deadline as 29 October 2026, up to 5:30 PM.

Official recruitment page:
IISER Kolkata Recruitment Portal

IISER Kolkata Counsellor Application Fee

The notification specifies a total application-related fee of ₹500, consisting of an application fee of ₹450 and a registration fee of ₹50.

The application fee component is exempted for SC, ST, PwBD, Women, Ex-Servicemen and Transgender candidates under the provisions specified in the notification; however, the ₹50 registration fee remains payable.

Candidates should check their applicable category and the payment instructions during the application process.

Documents and Experience Certificate: What Candidates Should Check

Applicants should pay particular attention to documentation.

The notification states that experience certificates should clearly mention:

• Designation
• Period of service
• Nature of work/assignments
• Pay
• Date of issue
• Name and designation of issuing authority
• Signature
• Stamp
• Organization letterhead

For a Counsellor applicant, this is especially relevant because five years of student-counselling experience is an essential part of the eligibility requirement.

A candidate may have worked for several years in psychology, teaching or another related area, but the Institute’s Scrutiny Committee will determine whether the experience is relevant to the advertised post.

Who Can Apply for the IISER Kolkata Counsellor Post?

The vacancy is particularly relevant to candidates who satisfy the following combination:

1. Master’s degree with at least 50% marks in the specified eligible field.
2. Eligible specialization in Psychology (Clinical/Counselling) or Social Work (Medical & Psychiatric).
3. Five years of experience counselling students.
4. Experience involving academic, psychosocial and emotional concerns.
5. Experience that can be appropriately documented.
6. Age within the applicable limit after considering any applicable relaxation.

Meeting a general psychology qualification alone should not be treated as sufficient. Candidates should compare their qualification and experience carefully with the exact wording of the notification.

What Kind of Counselling Experience Is Relevant?

The notification specifically mentions counselling students regarding academic, psychosocial and emotional issues.

Therefore, applicants should carefully document experience involving areas such as:

• Student counselling
• Academic concerns
• Emotional difficulties
• Psychosocial concerns
• Adjustment problems
• Educational and career-related concerns
• Student wellbeing
• Counselling within an academic institution

However, candidates should not assume that every counselling-related activity will automatically be accepted as qualifying experience. The notification gives the Scrutiny Committee responsibility for determining the relevance of experience.

Important Points Before Applying

Before submitting the application, candidates should verify:

• Whether their Master’s degree matches the specified qualification.
• Whether they have the required 50% marks.
• Whether they meet the five-year experience requirement.
• Whether their experience specifically includes student counselling.
• Whether their experience certificates are properly documented.
• Whether their age satisfies the applicable criteria.
• Whether all information entered in the application is accurate.
• Whether all required certificates have been uploaded/submitted.
• Whether both the online and hard-copy deadlines are met.

The Institute states that candidates are responsible for assessing their own eligibility and that applications can be rejected if required information or documentation is incomplete or incorrect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026?

The last date for submitting the online application is 19 October 2026 up to 5:30 PM. The hard copy of the application must reach IISER Kolkata by 29 October 2026 up to 5:30 PM.

How many Counsellor vacancies are available at IISER Kolkata?

There is one Counsellor vacancy, classified as UR-01, under Advertisement No. IISER-K/Admn/NT-04/2026.

What is the qualification for IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026?

Candidates need a Master’s degree with 50% marks in Psychology (Clinical or Counselling) or Social Work (Medical & Psychiatric), along with practical experience.

How much experience is required for the IISER Kolkata Counsellor post?

The notification requires five years of experience in counselling students concerning academic, psychosocial and emotional issues in a reputed academic institute or reputed organization.

What is the age limit for the IISER Kolkata Counsellor post?

The upper age limit specified for the Counsellor post is 40 years, subject to applicable rules and age relaxation provisions.

What is the Salary for the IISER Kolkata Counsellor?

The Counsellor post is classified at Pay Level-7 under the 7th CPC.

What is the selection process?

The notification describes application shortlisting, a possible qualifying skill/trade test, and a 100-mark written test comprising General and Specialization sections.

Where can candidates check official updates?

Candidates should monitor the official IISER Kolkata recruitment website because the Institute states that corrigenda and updates will be published on its website.

Conclusion

The IISER Kolkata Counsellor Recruitment 2026 offers one Group B Counsellor position at Pay Level-7. The essential eligibility combination is particularly important: candidates need the specified Master’s qualification with 50% marks and five years of experience counselling students on academic, psychosocial and emotional issues.

Candidates who intend to apply should carefully compare their qualifications and documented experience with the official notification before submitting the application. They should also remember that the recruitment involves both an online application deadline and a subsequent hard-copy submission deadline.

Because recruitment details can change through corrigenda or official updates, applicants should check the official IISER Kolkata recruitment portal before completing their application.

Official source

IISER Kolkata Recruitment Portal