NISER vs IISER: Campuses, Courses, Fee, Admission

Choosing the right institute is crucial for scientific aspirants in India. This article compares the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) to help you make an informed decision.

Academic Structure and Courses:

Both NISER and IISER offer similar programs at the undergraduate level. National Institute of Science Education and Research offers a program called Integrated MSc, whereas IISER offers a program called BS-MS dual degree. Both programs are roughly the same and are 5-year long courses, at the end of which you are awarded a Masters degree. However, there are a few differences, which are mentioned below:

• NISER: Major can be selected in the second year itself after one year of core courses. Students get two years (4th and 5th year) to work on their master’s thesis.
• IISERs: In IISER, students select their major in the third year (however, some IISERs allow the option of pre-major). Students get only one year (5th year) for their thesis work.

To learn more about the course structure and IISER program, click here. For NISER,  click here.

Scholarship & Fees:

Both NISER and IISER students are eligible for the DBT Inspire Scholarship. But only a few eligible students get the scholarship at IISER. The eligibility criteria are released every year and are generally based on marks in the board exam. However, all the students admitted at National Institute of Science Education and Research are eligible for an annual scholarship of 80,000 INR.

Master’s Thesis Project-

NISER generally restricts you from completing your master’s thesis at the institute; hence, you might not get many options for your thesis work. However, IISERs are more flexible in this regard. They allow you to go to any other lab in any other institute for your thesis work. However, certain departments at certain IISERs also have some restrictions.

Course Flexibility-

IISERs have included new majors and subjects of study, such as computer science, earth and environmental science, and climate science, in their curriculum. IISER Bhopal also offers a BS degree in Economic Sciences and Engineering Physics. Hence, there are more options to choose from in IISER than in National Institute of Science Education and Research.

Number of Seats-

There are 7 IISERs all over India, but just one NISER in the entire India. Consequently, the number of seats in IISER is significantly more than that inNational Institute of Science Education and Research:

• Total Number of Seats in IISER in 2024: 1933
• Total Number of Seats in NISER in 2024: 200

Entrance Exam-

Both NISER and IISER conduct their own entrance exams for admission. National Institute of Science Education and Research conducts the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) whereas IISER conducts the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT). Both exams are unique and have their own exam pattern. The difficulty of both IAT and NEST is higher than NEET and JEE Mains. NEST is more difficult than IAT. However, the number of candidates appearing in NEST and IAT is significantly lower than candidates appearing for NEET or JEE. Hence, these exams are less competitive. A detailed exam pattern of both the exams are given below:

IAT:

• IAT consists of a total of 60 questions. There are four different sections containing 15 questions each:
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Mathematics
• All the questions are Multiple Choice Questions with only single correct answers.
• Total time for answering the test is 3 hours or 180 minutes
• The Marking Scheme is as follows:
  • For each correct answer, you will be awarded +4 marks
  • For each incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted
  • No marks for unanswered questions

The total marks obtained by candidates out of 240 are used to prepare the rank list. Click here to learn more about the IAT cut-off.

NEST:

• The NEST exam includes 4 sections: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Each section has 20 questions with one correct answer, and answering correctly earns 3 marks.
• Choosing an incorrect answer will result in a deduction of 1 mark, and not answering a question will not result in any deduction.
• The merit list will be based on the best three scores out of the four sections, and the lowest score will not be considered. 
• The exam is computer-based, and applicants are encouraged to practice using a mock test link before the exam date. 

The language of the question paper will be in Hindi and English, and in case of any confusion, the question paper in English will be considered the standard one.Both NEST and IAT are not easy to crack. If you want to excel at NEST or IAT, you must consider enrolling in one of SciAstra’s Courses. We have hundreds of selections and we are experts in IAT and NEST. Click here to learn more.

Campus:

Both NISER and IISER have the best modern campus with state-of the art facilities. Both are residential institutes. There is only National Institute of Science Education and Research, which is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. IISERs are 7 in number, located in:

• Kolkata
• Pune
• Mohali
• Bhopal
• TVM
• Tirupati
• Berhampur

The campuses for IISER Berhampur and Tirupati are still under construction and might lack certain facilities.

Click here to learn more about different campus facilities at IISER and NISER.

Conclusion:

NISER and IISER are key institutes for science students in India, both offering 5-year courses leading to a Master’s degree. National Institute of Science Education and Research has the Integrated MSc, and IISER provides a BS-MS dual degree. A major difference is when students can choose their specialization and the duration for thesis work. Both institutes offer scholarships, but all NISER students are eligible for an annual 80,000 INR scholarship. IISER offers more courses and has more seats due to its seven locations compared to NISER’s single campus. Admissions are through entrance exams, NEST for NISER and IAT for IISER, with NEST being slightly tougher. Both have modern facilities, but IISER’s multiple campuses provide more options geographically.

FAQs:

1. What are the main differences between NISER and IISER programs?

• Major Selection: NISER students choose their major in the second year, while IISER students choose theirs in the third year (some IISERs offer pre-majors).
• Thesis Duration: NISER offers two years for the master’s thesis (4th & 5th year), whereas IISERs offer only one year (5th year).
• Thesis Location: NISER students generally do their thesis within the institute, while IISERs allow students to pursue thesis projects at other institutes.

2. What scholarships are available?

Both NISER and IISER students can qualify for the DBT Inspire Scholarship, but eligibility is limited for IISER students. However, all National Institute of Science Education and Research students receive an annual scholarship of ₹80,000.

3. Which institute offers more course flexibility?

IISERs offer a wider range of majors, including computer science, earth and environmental science, and economic sciences, compared to NISER.

4. How many seats are available at NISER and IISERs?

There are significantly more seats available at IISERs (around 1933) compared to NISER (around 200) due to the existence of seven IISERs across India.

5. What entrance exams do NISER and IISERs conduct?

NISER conducts NEST (National Entrance Screening Test), while IISERs conduct IAT (IISER Aptitude Test). Both exams are challenging but less competitive than NEET or JEE Mains. NEST is considered slightly tougher than IAT.

6. Where are NISER and IISER campuses located?

NISER has one campus in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. IISERs has seven campuses spread across Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, and Berhampur (under construction).

7. Which institute is better, NISER or IISER?

Both NISER and IISERs are excellent options for science aspirants. The “better” institute depends on your individual priorities. Consider factors like course preferences, scholarship opportunities, preferred location, and the importance of an external thesis project.

About us:

SciAstra is a team of scientists and research scholars from the top research institutes around the world, like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, and so on. Our vision is to promote critical thinking and scientific temperament by helping students pursue careers in science.

We offer many free and paid courses where our mentors from the top research institutes like IISER, NISER, IACS, CMI, ISI, IISC Bangalore, etc., teach students in live classes, with study materials,  mock tests, books, and everything needed. We have taught more than 10,000 students already since 2021 and achieved over 1000 selections with AIR 1, 7,10, 12, and 13 in  IISc Bengaluru, IISERs, NISER, IACS, 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!

To know more about us, click here OR download the SciAstra App from the Play Store and App Store!