Indian Institute of Science
भारतीय विज्ञान संस्थान
A research institute founded in 1909 that admits only about 125 students a year to its four-year BS (Research) degree.
- Students
- 5,678
- 708 undergraduates
- Tuition
- ₹80,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1909
- QS World Ranking
- #221
- 2027 edition
About IISc Bangalore
The Indian Institute of Science was established in 1909 with the backing of Jamsetji Tata and the rulers of Mysore State, who provided 371 acres of land in Bangalore. It has always been primarily a graduate research institute: of the 5,678 students on its rolls in January 2026, about 2,900 were PhD or integrated PhD students and more than 2,000 were on master's programmes, taught by 490 faculty.
Research is organised into six divisions (Biological Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Electrical, Electronics and Computer Sciences; Interdisciplinary Sciences; Mechanical Sciences; Physical and Mathematical Sciences) plus the Tata IISc Medical School. The undergraduate programme was added only in 2011. The four-year Bachelor of Science (Research) starts with three common semesters in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, engineering and earth sciences, then moves to a major in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Mathematics or Physics, ending with a substantial research project.
Since 2022 IISc has also offered a B.Tech in Mathematics and Computing, and from 2026-27 it added B.Techs in Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanics and Computing, all admitted through JoSAA. With only about 125 BS (Research) places a year, IISc suits students who already know they want to do science research and who want to learn next to PhD students from their first year.
Why students choose IISc Bangalore
A very small undergraduate cohort (125 BS (Research) places in 2026, including 5 for foreign nationals) inside an institute of about 5,700 mostly graduate researchers.
The BS (Research) degree ends with a faculty-guided research project, and undergraduates can take courses across more than 40 departments.
Low fees: BS (Research) tuition is Rs 80,000 a year and is fully waived for SC, ST and PwD students.
Foreign nationals can apply with SAT or ACT scores plus an interview, not only through Indian entrance exams.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (rules shown are from the 2026-27 cycle)
Selectivity
IISc does not publish an acceptance rate. The 2026 BS (Research) intake was 125 (100 gender-neutral seats, 20 supernumerary seats for women and 5 for foreign nationals). In 2026 the Round 1 JEE (Advanced) closing rank for general-category seats was 2,203 (CRL), and the IAT Round 2 closing rank was 54.
Typical entry requirements
| Indian Class XII (CBSE, state boards and equivalents) | BS (Research): Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with 60% or first class, plus a JEE (Advanced) or IAT rank; 2026 general-category closing ranks were 2,203 (JEE Advanced CRL) and 54 (IAT) |
|---|---|
| Foreign nationals and OCI (F) | BS (Research): SAT or ACT from 2025 or 2026, shortlisting and interview; or an IAT/JEE (Advanced) rank at least as good as the general-category cutoff. Non-Indian school qualifications need an Association of Indian Universities equivalence certificate |
| B.Tech applicants | JEE (Advanced) rank and JoSAA choice filling; no separate IISc application |
Deadlines
- BS (Research) online application 2026 (reference) Non-binding Passed7 June 2026
Applications opened 1 May 2026; the deadline was extended to 7 June 2026, 23:59 IST.
- Counselling Round 1, JEE (Advanced) (reference) Non-binding Passed30 June 2026
In person. Round 2 for IAT candidates was held online on 16 July 2026; students reported on 24 July and classes began on 3 August 2026.
These are 2026-27 dates from the BS (Research) admissions pages. The 2027-28 notification had not been published on the pages checked; expect a similar May-June application window.
How to apply
For BS (Research), apply online on the IISc admissions portal (it opened on 1 May 2026) and upload your JEE (Advanced) or IAT result within three days of its declaration; seats are then allotted in counselling rounds. Foreign nationals apply on the international portal. For B.Tech, register on JoSAA and choose IISc programmes during choice filling.
What admissions looks for
- A strong rank in JEE (Advanced) or the IISER Aptitude Test; seats go by rank within category.
- Class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and at least 60% (or first class).
- For foreign nationals applying with SAT or ACT, performance in the interview after shortlisting.
- Interest in research: the programme is designed as a pathway to research and academia.
Tips for applying to IISc Bangalore
- 1 Take the IAT as well as JEE (Advanced): IISc accepts either rank for BS (Research), and the application window runs past the JEE (Advanced) exam.
- 2 Update your JEE (Advanced) and IAT results on the IISc portal within three days of their declaration.
- 3 If you are a foreign national, SAT or ACT plus an interview is a route that avoids Indian entrance exams entirely.
- 4 Decide between BS (Research) and B.Tech early: B.Tech seats come only through JoSAA, with no separate IISc application.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
Tuition is fully waived for SC, ST and PwD students. BS (Research) students can compete for donor-funded fellowships, including several for women in science (such as the Mallika Women in Science and IISc-AANA Midwest Chapter fellowships). The IISc Promotional Fellowship is discontinued for students admitted from 2026-27. Fees for foreign nationals were not listed on the pages checked.
- Rs 1,00,800 (including Rs 15,000 refundable deposits)
- BS (Research) first-year total, General/OBC/EWS
- Rs 2,20,800
- B.Tech first-year total, General/OBC/EWS
- Rs 20,800 (tuition waived)
- First-year total, SC/ST/PwD
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (August-December and January-April)
Bachelor of Science (Research), Physics major
Three common semesters across the sciences, then a physics major and a research project with IISc faculty.
Bachelor of Science (Research), Biology major
Taught alongside the Division of Biological Sciences, which has 76 faculty.
Bachelor of Science (Research), Mathematics major
One of five majors in the programme; majors run from semesters 4 to 8.
B.Tech Mathematics and Computing
IISc's first B.Tech (since 2022), blending mathematics with computer science, data science and AI.
B.Tech Aerospace Engineering
New from 2026-27, covering aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and space systems.
Research
- IISc faculty have filed 1,834 patent applications through IISc's IP cell since 1995.
- The institute recorded 3,818 publications in 2025, and 137 startups have been incubated so far.
- C. V. Raman, the Nobel laureate, was IISc's first Indian director.
Schools & faculties
- Division of Biological Sciences
- Division of Chemical Sciences
- Division of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Sciences
- Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences
- Division of Mechanical Sciences
- Division of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
- Tata IISc Medical School (Division of Medical Sciences)
Student life
IISc's green campus sits in the north of Bengaluru, and undergraduates check into hostels on arrival. With a small undergraduate body in a graduate-heavy institute, students spend a lot of time around research labs, and many join lab projects early. Undergraduates run their own clubs and student council, and host Pravega, IISc's undergraduate science, technology and cultural festival. The Open Day each year lets visitors tour labs and see undergraduate experiments.
- Pravega, the undergraduate-run science, tech and cultural festival.
- Undergraduate research teams, including an iGEM synthetic biology team.
- Annual Open Day with undergraduate experiments and lab tours.
- The JRD Tata Memorial Library.
Housing. New undergraduates check into IISc hostels on the reporting day, and the institute runs its own hostels and messes.
Location
The campus lies in north Bengaluru, a large, busy city that is India's technology and startup hub. Inside the gates the campus is green and quiet; outside, the city's technology companies and startups offer internship and industry links, which IISc highlights as a reason to study there.
Nearest airport: Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR)
Notable alumni
- SM Sudha MurtyAuthor, philanthropist and chair of the Infosys Foundation; MEng in computer science from IISc
- GN G. N. RamachandranPhysicist behind the Ramachandran plot in structural biology; joined IISc in 1942
- AM Anna ManiPhysicist and meteorologist, later deputy director general of the India Meteorological Department; research scholar at IISc
- KS Kamala SohonieBiochemist and the first Indian woman to earn a PhD in a scientific discipline; her admission opened IISc to women
- RN Roddam NarasimhaAerospace scientist and fluid dynamicist; master's degree in engineering from IISc (1955)
- KH Kota HarinarayanaAeronautical engineer who led the Tejas light combat aircraft programme; master's degree in aerospace engineering from IISc
Frequently asked questions
How do I get into IISc's BS (Research) programme?
Apply on the IISc portal (May to early June in 2026) with a JEE (Advanced) or IISER Aptitude Test rank. Seats are allotted in counselling rounds by rank; the 2026 general-category closing ranks were 2,203 in JEE (Advanced) and 54 in the IAT.
Does IISc accept NEET for BS (Research)?
Not in 2026. The 2026-27 selection process lists only JEE (Advanced) and the IAT for Indian nationals, plus SAT/ACT or IAT/JEE (Advanced) for foreign nationals.
Can international students apply to IISc for undergraduate study?
Yes. There were 5 foreign-national seats in BS (Research) in 2026. Foreign nationals can apply with SAT or ACT scores and an interview, or with an IAT or JEE (Advanced) rank at the general-category cutoff.
What are IISc's undergraduate fees?
For 2026-27, BS (Research) tuition is Rs 80,000 a year and B.Tech tuition Rs 2,00,000 a year for General, OBC and EWS students, with tuition fully waived for SC, ST and PwD students.
Does IISc offer a B.Tech?
Yes. Mathematics and Computing has run since 2022, and Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanics and Computing started in 2026-27. Admission is only through JoSAA.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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