About IISERs
Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are premier institutes for integrated science education and research. They offer a 5-year BS-MS Dual Degree in basic sciences. Admission via IAT (IISER Aptitude Test), JEE Advanced, or KVPY.
7 IISERs
Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal, Trivandrum, Tirupati, Berhampur
IAT / JEE Adv
3 admission channels: IAT, JEE Advanced, KVPY
5-Year BS-MS
Integrated dual degree — excellent for research careers
~₹40,000/yr
Government fees — very affordable for research quality
Research Focus
Pure sciences — Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, Earth Sci.
PhD Entry
Direct PhD at IITs, IISc, international universities
All 7 IISERs — Details
| IISER | Location | Founded | Subjects | Annual Fee | Special Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IISER Pune | Pune, Maharashtra | 2006 | PCM, Biology, Earth Sci. | ₹40,000 | Chemistry & Biology, oldest IISER |
| IISER Kolkata | Kolkata, WB | 2006 | PCM, Biology, Data Sci. | ₹40,000 | Physics, Chemical Sciences |
| IISER Mohali | Mohali, Punjab | 2007 | PCM, Biology, Chem Bio. | ₹40,000 | Biological Sciences, Punjabi region |
| IISER Bhopal | Bhopal, MP | 2008 | PCM, Biology, Economics | ₹40,000 | Interdisciplinary Science programs |
| IISER Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram, KL | 2008 | PCM, Biology, Interdisc. | ₹40,000 | Physics, Mathematics |
| IISER Tirupati | Tirupati, AP | 2015 | PCM, Biology | ₹40,000 | Growing IISER, South India |
| IISER Berhampur | Berhampur, Odisha | 2016 | PCM, Biology | ₹40,000 | Newest IISER, East India |
IAT Exam Pattern
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT): 60 Questions | 3 Hours | Physics (15) + Chemistry (15) + Maths (15) + Biology (15) | Marking: +4/−1 | Computer-based online test | Conducted in June
JEE Channel: JEE Advanced qualified students with rank in top 10,000 can directly apply to IISERs via JEE channel — no separate IAT needed. This is easiest for JEE aspirants.
KVPY Channel: KVPY SA/SX/SB fellowship holders can also apply. KVPY is conducted by IISc Bengaluru — discontinued from 2024, replaced by INSPIRE.
| Channel | Who Can Apply | Selection Basis | Application Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAT Channel | Class XII pass / appearing in current year | IAT merit list from June exam | Fill IAT form → Appear in test → Counselling |
| JEE Advanced | JEE Advanced qualified (AIR ≤10,000) | JEE Advanced rank | Apply via IISERs portal using JEE roll no. |
| KVPY/INSPIRE | KVPY SA/SX fellowship holders | KVPY score | Apply via IISER portal using KVPY reg. no. |
Career After IISER BS-MS
BS-MS Dual Degree
Complete 5-year program covering your chosen science discipline with thesis in final year.
Research Career Options
Direct PhD: IISER/IIT/IISc/JNU/foreign universities. Industry: Pharma, biotech, data analytics, finance.
₹35,000–55,000/month
PhD fellowship from CSIR, UGC, DBT or institutional scholarships.
Research + Academia
DRDO, ISRO, BARC, TIFR, teaching at colleges, international postdocs and industry research positions.