What is IACS?
IACS (Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science) is a public deemed, research university for higher education and research in basic sciences under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, situated at the heart of the Cultural capital of India. From 1907 to 1933, the period of some of its golden years’ work was carried out at this great centre and it was from here that Sir C.V. Raman did his groundbreaking research, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
Lets explore more via this blog about the Courses provided in IACS.
Important Dates to Remember
- Applications Begin in: March 2025
- Deadline: May 2025
- Entrance Exam in: June 2025
- Results in: July 2025
Eligibility Requirements:
To apply for any program at IACS, you need to meet certain requirements, varying from course to course. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements for the courses.
For Integrated BSc-MSc:
- Completed Class 12 (or equivalent) with science as your main stream.
- Physics, chemistry, and mathematics/biology are must-haves.
- A minimum of 60% marks (relaxation for reserved categories).
- If you’ve aced exams like KVPY or JEE Advanced, you might even skip the entrance test (subject to IACS discretion).
For MSc Programs:
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (physics, chemistry, biology) with at least 55% marks.
- Qualify through the IACS entrance exam or national-level exams like GATE or JAM.
For PhD Programs:
- A master’s degree with at least 55% marks in the relevant field.
- A valid score in national-level exams such as NET-JRF, GATE, or JEST.
Admission process and Exam Pattern:
- Integrated Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
- Mode: Fully computer-based test in cities across India.
- Entrance Exam: UG Pre-Interview Screening Test.
- Exam Pattern:
- 20 questions (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) – compulsory.
- 20 questions (Biology or Computer Science) – optional.
- Each question carries 2 marks. Negative marking: 1 mark deducted for every 3 wrong answers.
- Selection Process:
- Based on a written test score and an interview.
- Cut-off marks will be set for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Final merit list prepared using appropriate weightage for the written test and interview.
Seats: A maximum of 80 students will be selected.
- Master’s/Integrated Masters-PhD Program
- Mode: Fully computer-based test.
- Entrance Exam: Master’s Pre-Interview Screening Test.
- Exam Pattern: Subject-specific MCQs based on the candidate’s chosen discipline.
- Selection Process:
- Shortlisting based on written test performance, followed by an interview.
- A maximum of 20 students per school (Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, etc.).
Eligibility:
- Bachelor’s degree with 60% marks (reservation rules apply).
- Engineering graduates opting for Mathematical & Computational Sciences must have adequate training in Mathematics and Computer Science.
- 3. PhD Program
- Admission Rounds: Conducted twice a year (Autumn and Spring semesters).
- Selection Process: Candidates are shortlisted based on their academic qualifications, followed by interviews in specific research areas.
Preparation Tips:
The initial preparation begins with thoroughly covering core subjects – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Focus more on critical thinking by practicing problem-solving. Check out SciAstra’s courses and resources to further enhance your preparation. Familiarize yourself with exam patterns by regularly practicing mock tests.
Scoring and Shortlisting:
A cut-off score will be set based on the aggregate marks from the three compulsory subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). The final merit list will be prepared considering the following:
- The weightage of the UPST score (based on all 4 subjects, i.e., Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology/Computer Science).
- The score obtained in the interview.
- Both the written test score and interview score will be individually scaled to 100.
How to Prep:
- Know the basics: Be confident about fundamental concepts from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Be articulate: Clearly explain your thought process when solving problems during the interview.
- Link your interests: If you’re asked about future aspirations or research, tie them to your academic strengths.
- Anticipate questions: Prepare for common interview topics, like applications of your favorite concepts or why you want to study at IACS.
Admission Process:
- The very first step begins by deciding which program you should opt for, based on your interest and meeting the required eligibility criteria (Please check the eligibility criteria provided earlier in this blog).
- Fill out the application form on the IACS admission page.
- After filling out the application form, you need to appear for the entrance test conducted by IACS.
- Gather all the necessary documents including mark sheet of 10th and 12th, character certificate, date of birth proof, passport size photo, nationality certificate, etc.
- The Application fee is generally ₹1,200 for the general/OBC/EWS category and ₹600 for the reserved category ST/SC/PD.
- Shortlisted candidates will be proceeded for an interview assessing their academic background and research interests.
- You will be assessed based on the entrance scores, interview performance, and academic records.
- Keep an eye on the official website of IACS, results are posted after the interviews.
About us: Sciastra
At SciAstra, we guide students who want to become scientists and pursue research by helping them secure admissions in the top colleges for the same like IISER, NISER, CEBS, ICAR, CMI, etc.
Our mentors are from the top research institutes like IISER, NISER, IACS, CMI, ISI, IISC Bangalore, and so on. If you are looking to prepare for IAT / NEST 2024, you can check out our courses and get access to live classes, recorded lectures, study material, mock tests, doubt-clearing classes, and much more!
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