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1. About IISERs?
The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are a group of premier autonomous public institutions in India dedicated to high-quality science education and research. Autonomous public institutes established by the Government of India (2006–present). They offer integrated BS-MS (5-year dual degree) and PhD programs in fundamental sciences. 7 (seven) campuses: Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati. Focus: Integrate science education with cutting-edge research.
2. Key Features:Dual Degree (BS-MS) Program: 5-year integrated program (Bachelor of Science + Master of Science).
PhD Programs: Research-focused doctoral studies.
No engineering/medical courses: Pure & applied sciences only (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math, Earth Sciences).
3. Admission Process:
For BS-MS (Undergraduate):
KVPY Fellowship (now discontinued, but past qualifiers eligible).
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT): National-level entrance exam.
JEE Advanced (Top 10,000 rankers eligible).
State/Central Boards (Top 1% in 10+2 with PCM/PCB).
For PhD:
Qualify JAM/GATE/JEST/NBHM/CSIR-NET (subject-specific).
Interview + research proposal.
4. Why Choose IISER?
✅ Research-Oriented: Early exposure to labs & projects.
✅ Small Batch Size: High faculty-student ratio.
✅ Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Freedom to explore multiple sciences.
✅ Fully Funded: Low fees + scholarships (INSPIRE, KVPY, etc.).
✅ Global Opportunities: Collaborations with MIT, Max Planck, etc.
5. Fees & Scholarships:
BS-MS: ~₹50,000–60,000/year (hostel extra).
PhD: Fully funded (~₹35,000/month stipend).
Scholarships: INSPIRE, KVPY, institute fellowships.
6. Placements & Careers:
40–50% pursue PhD (IISc, Ivy Leagues, Max Planck).
Industry: Data science, biotech, finance (Tata, DRDO, IT firms).
Entrepreneurship: Startups incubated on campuses.
7. Campus Life:
Hostels, sports, festivals (e.g., IISER Pune’s Quark).
Student-run clubs (Astro, Robotics, Debating).
8. IISER vs IITs/NISER:
IISER: Best for pure science/research.
IIT: Better for engineering/tech jobs.
NISER: Similar to IISER (under DAE).
9. Top IISERs (Ranking):
IISER Pune (oldest, strongest research).
IISER Kolkata (large campus, diverse courses).
IISER Mohali (focus on interdisciplinary work).
10. Notable Alumni:
Researchers at CERN, NASA, Harvard.
Founders of science startups.
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A few important Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. What is IISER?
A: The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are a group of premier autonomous public institutions in India dedicated to high-quality science education and research. They offer integrated BS-MS (5-year dual degree) and PhD programs in fundamental sciences.
Q2. How many IISERs are there?
A: There are 7 IISERs in India:
*IISER Pune (2006)
*IISER Kolkata (2006)
*IISER Mohali (2007)
*IISER Bhopal (2008)
*IISER Thiruvananthapuram (2008)
*IISER Tirupati (2015)
*IISER Berhampur (2016)
Q3. What courses do IISERs offer?
A: *BS-MS (5-year integrated program) in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth & Environmental Sciences.
*PhD programs in various science disciplines.
*Some IISERs also offer MS (Research) and MTech programs.
Q4. How can I get admission to IISER for BS-MS?
A: *Admission is through three channels:
*IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) – National-level entrance exam.
*JEE Advanced – Top 10,000 rank holders eligible.
*State/Central Board Top 1% in 10+2 (PCM/PCB).
Q5. Is KVPY still valid for IISER admission?
A: *No, KVPY was discontinued in 2022.
*However, students who qualified earlier (before 2022) can still apply.
Q6. What is the fee structure at IISER?
A: *BS-MS: ~₹50,000–60,000 per year (excluding hostel fees).
*PhD: Fully funded with a monthly stipend (~₹35,000–42,000).
Q7. Are scholarships available?
A: *Yes, scholarships include:
*INSPIRE Scholarship (for top-performing students).
*IISER Merit-cum-Means Scholarships.
*Research Fellowships for PhD students.
Q8. How is IISER different from IITs/NISER?
A: Feature IISER IIT NISER
*Focus Pure Sciences & Research Engineering & Tech Sciences (DAE-funded)
*Degree BS-MS (5 years) BTech (4 years) BS-MS (5 years)
*Entrance IAT/JEE Adv/Top 1% JEE Advanced NEST
*Research Strong emphasis Moderate Strong (like IISER)
Q9. What are career prospects after IISER?
A: *Research (PhD in India/abroad – IISc, MIT, Stanford, etc.)
*Industry (Biotech, Data Science, Finance, Consulting)
*Government Jobs (ISRO, DRDO, CSIR, etc.)
*Entrepreneurship (Science-based startups)
Q10. Does IISER have a good campus life?
A: *Hostels: Separate for boys & girls.
*Clubs & Societies: Astronomy, Robotics, Debating, Coding.
*Fests: Quark (Pune), INSPIRE (Kolkata), etc.
*Sports & Cultural Activities: Regular events.
Q11. Which IISER is the best?
A: *IISER Pune (oldest, strong research reputation).
*IISER Kolkata (largest campus, diverse faculty).
*IISER Mohali (interdisciplinary focus).
Q12. Can I switch from BS-MS to PhD?
A: *Yes, after completing BS-MS, you can directly apply for PhD in India/abroad (no need for MSc separately).
Q13. Are there internships at IISER?
A: *Summer/Winter Internships (funded by DST, IAS, etc.).
*Research projects from 2nd year onwards.
Q14. What is the teaching style at IISER?
A: *Research-integrated learning (labs from 1st year).
*Flexible curriculum (can choose electives).
*No traditional "college life" – more academic focus.
Q15. How are placements at IISER?
A: *40–50% go for PhD (IISc, abroad).
*Industry roles in analytics, biotech, finance (~₹6–12 LPA avg.).
*Startups & Govt. Research Jobs also common.
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