Bachelor of Science – Master of Science (BS-MS)

The five year BS-MS (Dual Degree) Program is offered in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES). The institute will also be offering BS-MS (Dual Degree) program in Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. BS-MS (Dual Degree) program consists of mandatory, common courses (core courses) for all disciplines during the first two years and discipline dependent professional courses during the remaining three years. Core courses include topics from all the four science disciplines in addition to interdisciplinary courses in earth and environmental sciences, computer science and humanities. In the final year, BS-MS students are required to undertake project work with a faculty supervisor, relevant to their major discipline.

In addition to majoring in one of the five (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics) science disciplines, BS-MS students can also minor in another disciplines.

The Institute encourages and rewards academic excellence exhibited by its students. To this end, Professor C. N. R. Rao Education Foundation Prize with a prize amount of ₹ 5000/- per semester is awarded to a student scoring the highest CPI during the first year (in both the first and second semesters) of the BS-MS (Dual Degree) program.

In addition, the Institute awards the President's gold medal for the best academic performance in the graduating class in all disciplines of the BS-MS program. Proficiency Medals are the awarded for the best academic performance in each discipline of the BS-MS program to the graduating class. A Director's gold medal is awarded for outstanding all-round achievement and leadership in the graduating class in all disciplines.^[5]

Bachelor of Science in Economic Sciences

The institute also offers four years BS Program in Economic Sciences for bright and motivated science students who have passed (10+2) with mathematics as one of the subjects. The program integrates classroom learning with research. The training during the programme enables students to pursue careers in academia, industry or government organizations.

• The first year of the program consists of core courses in basic sciences and introductory courses in Economics.
• The next three years are dedicated to specialization in Economic Sciences.
• The students pursuing the BS Program in Economic Sciences can also earn a 'minor' degree in other disciplines after fulfilling the prerequisites laid down by the respective department.
• After spending four years in BS program in Economic Sciences, students have the option to obtain BS-MS (Dual Degree) in Economic Sciences by spending an additional year devoted to courses and research project.

Integrated PhD program (I-PhD)

The institute offers Integrated PhD program in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Physics Department takes I-PhD candidates from JEST channel, Chemistry Department usually takes students from IIT-JAM. All admitted students will receive a fellowship of Rs. 10,000/- pm in the initial two years subject to satisfactory performance in their course work. Subsequently, the fellowship will be revised to comply with the existing MHRD norms.

Students must successfully complete course work, qualifying examination, seminars, and a dissertation. Besides the mandatory requirements, students are encouraged to participate in several professional activities such as workshops, review meetings and conferences.

Doctoral program (PhD)

Admission to the doctoral program is after a master's degree in science. Besides the students of the Integrated Master's program, postgraduate students with a master's degree in science from other Universities/Institutes are also admitted to the doctoral program.

The institute also offers PhD programs in all disciplines. All selected candidates not receiving external fellowship are awarded an Institute fellowship. Currently, the institute offers PhD programs in the following disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and English. All doctoral students are also expected to participate in the undergraduate teaching program of the Institute as a part of their training.^[6] The program involved course work, a qualifying examination, a state-of-the-art seminar, thesis work, open seminar and a thesis examination, leading to the award of a PhD degree.^[7]

Postdoctoral Studies

Postdoctoral studies are possible in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science.

BS-MS (Dual Degree)

The process of admissions in all IISERs is managed by the Joint Admissions Committee (JAC), headed by a chairman and having members from all IISERs. The details regarding admissions in all IISERs can be obtained at IISER admissions website^[9]

Channels of Admission Students are admitted to the programme through the following channels:

• Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) Basic Science Stream: Candidates having a valid KVPY fellowship are eligible to apply for admissions. Additional cut off criteria may be applicable.

• Joint Entrance Exam (Advanced): Candidates in General category securing a rank within 10000 in the Common Rank List (CRL) of JEE Advanced are eligible to apply. For candidates belonging to reserved category (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PD, EWS), their category rank would be used. Additional cut off criteria may be applicable.

• State and Central Boards (IISER Aptitude Test): Students who have passed (10+2) level with science stream during the current or previous year with marks equal or above the cut off percentage in their respective boards are eligible to apply.

Indian nationals and students belonging to PIO or OCI category are eligible to apply provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria described above.

Scholarship KVPY scholars admitted to IISERs would draw fellowship as per KVPY norms. In addition, a limited number of INSPIRE scholarships will be available for candidates admitted through JEE Advanced and SCB channels as per the norms prescribed by DST INSPIRE scheme.

Reservation IISERs follow Government of India rules regarding reservation for seat allocation in Central institutes of higher education.

Bachelor of Science (BS) programme

IISER Bhopal offers four years BS Programme for bright and motivated science students who have passed (10+2) with Mathematics as one of the subjects. The programme integrates classroom learning with research. The training during the programme enables students to pursue careers in academia, industry or government organizations.

BS Programme is offered in two broad streams:

Engineering sciences disciplines

After completing a common curriculum in the first two years, students can choose from one amongst the three major disciplines currently being offered:

• Chemical engineering
• Data science and engineering
• Electrical engineering and computer science

The courses in the above disciplines are designed to enable students to pursue careers in the industry, academia, or government organizations.

Humanities and social science discipline (economic sciences)

The first year of the programme consists of core courses in basic sciences and introductory courses in Economics. The next three years are dedicated to specialization in Economic Sciences.

The students pursuing the BS Programme can also earn a 'minor' degree in other disciplines after fulfilling the prerequisites laid down by the respective department. After spending four years in the BS programme, students have the option to obtain BS-MS (Dual Degree) by spending an additional year devoted to courses and research thesis.

Integrated PhD (I-PhD)

Admission to the Integrated PhD programme will be made once a year during May/June. Advertisement would be floated between March/April. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree. A written or oral exam will be conducted at the campus. A prospective candidate should have completed a graduate programme (BSc/BTech/B.E.) in a discipline relevant to his/her choice of Integrated PhD programme. Candidates seeking admission in Chemistry should have a valid JAM score. Candidates seeking admission in Physics should have a valid JEST rank

PhD

Applications are invited twice a year. A prospective candidate should have completed a postgraduate programme (M.S./MSc/MTech/MBBS) in a discipline relevant to his/her choice of PhD programme along with qualifying a national entrance exam. Students should have a valid rank in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and/or have qualified the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)/University Grants Commission (UGC)/National Eligibility Test – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF), or other equivalent examinations. All selected candidates not receiving external fellowship will be awarded an Institute fellowship.