IIT Bombay to hire 30 counsellors for students after campus death; apply by Oct 17
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IIT Bombay's Student Wellness Centre is hiring 26 student and 4 senior counsellors; applications close on 17 October 2026.
What Happened
IIT Bombay's Student Wellness Centre has invited applications for 30 ad hoc counsellors, with a deadline of 17 October 2026, as the institute moves to strengthen mental health support on its Powai campus. The openings, reported on 12 and 13 October, comprise 26 student counsellor posts and four senior counsellor posts. The hiring follows the recent death of a second-year B.Tech student, Sahil Wakode, which led to student protests on campus.
Key Facts
- The Student Wellness Centre is recruiting 30 counsellors: 26 student counsellors and 4 senior counsellors.
- Applications close on 17 October 2026; interviews are scheduled between 12 and 18 October, and selected candidates may begin from 15 October.
- Applicants need a master's degree (MA or MSc) in psychology; student counsellors need two years of experience and senior counsellors ten.
- The upper age limit is 45 years.
- Full-time counsellors will work 40 hours a week and part-time counsellors 20 hours.
- Appointments are initially for 89 days and may be extended based on performance.
- Monthly pay goes up to Rs 1.6 lakh depending on the role, according to reports of the notice.
Why It Matters
Large residential campuses such as the IITs bring together thousands of young people under heavy academic pressure, often far from home for the first time. Students and parents have for years asked whether counselling services on these campuses are big enough for the numbers they serve. A recruitment drive of 30 counsellors at one institute is a significant expansion, and its speed, with interviews running in the same week the notice closes, shows the institute is treating the matter as urgent.
The detail on working hours also matters to students. Having a mix of full-time and part-time counsellors makes it easier to keep a wellness centre staffed across evenings and weekends, when students often find it hardest to reach help. The provision for some counsellors to live on campus, reported by one outlet, points the same way.
There are open questions. The posts are ad hoc and the first term is 89 days, which means the expansion is, for now, a short-term contract arrangement rather than permanent staffing. Reports also give different figures for the lower end of the pay range and for the number of posts in the formal notice, so applicants should read the official notice on the Student Wellness Centre website before applying.
For students elsewhere, the move is a reminder that most universities and colleges have a counselling or wellness cell, even if it is small. Using it early, before stress builds into a crisis, is the advice mental health professionals repeatedly give.
Impact
Short-term: Students at IIT Bombay should see more counsellors available within weeks, with appointments starting from mid-October.
Long-term: Whether the posts become permanent will decide if the expansion lasts. Other IITs and large campuses may face pressure to show similar staffing levels.
Who is affected: IIT Bombay students and their families, psychology graduates looking for counselling jobs, and the institute's administration.
Key Takeaway
IIT Bombay is hiring 30 counsellors on short-term contracts, with applications closing on 17 October 2026, to expand mental health support on campus after a student's death.
Questions and Answers
How many counsellors is IIT Bombay hiring, and for what roles?
Thirty in all, through its Student Wellness Centre: 26 student counsellors and 4 senior counsellors, on an ad hoc basis.
Who can apply, and by when?
Candidates with an MA or MSc in psychology, aged up to 45, with at least two years of experience for student counsellor posts or ten years for senior posts. The last date is 17 October 2026.
Are these permanent jobs?
No. The appointments are initially for 89 days and can be extended depending on performance.
What should a student do if they are struggling with stress on campus?
Reach out early to the college's counselling or wellness cell, a trusted faculty member or a friend. If anyone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
