FAQ – On Science Stream
Disclaimer
We wish to reiterate that all informa on provided on this forum is on a best
effort, good intent basis. This informa on is not a subs tute for the actual
rules and regula ons governing various exams and counselling process or any
other ac vity related to admission.
Team Margdarshak does not make claim to the accuracy of the content.
You are accountable for all decision you make, even as we endeavour to share
our valuable learning.
Also, pls do check current years guidelines as and when different exam
authori es publish – for more relevant and authen c informa on. All
informa on shared here are based on our learning from past years.
Preamble
Dear parents:
This par cular FAQ provides informa on related to science stream for the kids who want to pursue
pure science rather than Engineering or medical.
If you have any valuable authen c informa on on this topic, please share it back with Team
Margdarshak (you will see our contacts in WhatsApp with the Admin role enabled). This will help us
to improve the content.
Please do NOT share the content from Margdarshak forum outside of the people who are in the
current group.
FAQ #01 – My child is in science stream, but not interested in medical
or engineering. Can you provide colleges where he/she can pursue
either pure science or Math? Also please list the entrance exams for
suggested colleges?
FAQ #02 – Tell me more about IISERs?
The Government of India has established the IISERs at Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune,
Thiruvananthapuram, and Tirupa to integrate and promote interdisciplinary science educa on and
research. Pune and Kolata are the oldest, immediately followed a year later by Mohali and then
Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. Though there is no ranking among the IISERs themselves, these 5
older ones are generally more sought a er by students.
The first 3 semesters are common for all students and the students need to study all subjects including
courses in PCMB along with some computer programming basics, earth and climate sciences,
academic communica on.
Admission to IISER is only through their own admission test – IISER Ap tude Test (IAT).
Note : IISERs allow PCM, PCB and PCMB students.
FAQ #03 – Tell me about NISER and CEBS, Mumbai?
Na onal Ins tute of Science Educa on and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar and Department of Atomic
Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai are the ins tutes under the
Department of Atomic Energy, India. NISER and CEBS offer 5 year Integrated MSc courses. The syllabus
and course work is similar to IISERs.
Admission is through the Na onal Entrance Screening Test (NEST). The NEST entrance exam has 4
sec ons for PCMB. But it takes scores of best of 3 subjects. So, a student can skip one subject
completely if they wish so. However in IISER IAT exam, all 4 PCMB sec ons are considered in final
scores, at least un l 2023. Refer to www.nestexam.in
FAQ #04 – Any addi onal resources online?
Sciastra youtube channel and app, created and run by a NISER student Vivek Dwivedi has many
videos and resources for IAT, NEST exam prepara ons
FAQ #05 – Is engineering available in IISERs?
IISER Bhopal has started 2 new programs in addi on to the 5 years BS-MS degrees. These are :
1. 4 years BS in engineering : The first 2 years are common for which the students can choose
chemical engineering, or data science and engineering, or electrical engineering and computer
science.
2. 4 years BS 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 specializa on
in Economic Sciences.
FAQ #06 – What are the other op ons available for studying pure
science a er 12th ?
Below are some of the other op ons the students can explore :
1. Indian Associa on for cul va on of science(IACS), Kolkata : This is an autonomous research
ins tute under dept of science and technology and considered to be one of the oldest science
research ins tute in India. They offer 5 year integrated BS-MS course in Science similar to IISER.
Admission is through their entrance exam UPST conducted all over India. Refer to
h p://www.iacs.res.in/
2. Some Central Universi es offer admission to Integrated MSc courses. Some of the central
universi es like University of Hyderabad, Delhi University, BHU, Pondicherry University are well
known for UG and PG courses in pure science. Admission is based on the scores of the Common
University Entrance Test (CUET) conducted by NTA. Please refer to website NTA (
h ps://cuet.samarth.ac.in/index.php/app/info/universi es ) for a list of universi es and the courses
offered and the websites of individual universi es for more details on the admission process.
3. There are some private universi es that offer undergraduate courses in pure science.
Notable among those are Ashoka University, Azim Premji University, Shiv Nadar University etc. Please
explore and refer to the websites of the universi es for more details on the admission process. Many
of the private universi es also accept SAT score as qualifying criteria.
4. Cochin University of Science and Technology (h ps://admissions.cusat.ac.in/) offer 5 year
Integrated MSc courses in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Comp Sc and Photonics. Admission is
through common admission test conducted by CUSAT.
5. Some other ins tutes that offer UG programs in Science :
BITS Pilani : Offer 4 year Integrated MSc in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Bio, Eco. Admission is thru
BITSAT. Based on their first-year academic performance students have the op on to opt for 5 year
dual degree of MSc and BE.
BIT, Mesra, Ranchi – Offer Integrated MSc in all science subjects. One of the oldest technical
ins tute. Admission is on merit based on 12th Std board marks.
6. Indian Ins tute of Space Science and Technology offers 5 year dual degree – BTech(Engg
Physics) + MSc/MTech in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Solid State Physics, Earth System Science etc.
Admission is through JEE (Adv) rank.
7. Interdisciplinary School Of Science (IDSS) at Savitribai Phule University, Pune offers 3 year
BSc(Blended) course with specialisa on in Physics, Chemistry, Environment Sciences, Earth Sciences
(h p://www.unipune.ac.in/snc/interdisciplinary_school_science/IDSS_Phase_1/bsc-blended.html).
Admission is through it’s entrance exam. This course is specially designed to provide interdisciplinary
educa on in Science and is designed in collabora on with University of Melbourne and IISER
Tirupa .
The above is not an exhaus ve list. There can be many other good op ons for undergraduate studies
in science available in various parts of India. For example, there are established reputed regional
colleges in various ci es who provide BSc/MSc courses and the admissions are done on all-India
basis. Similarly, there are some reputed state universi es who offer BSc/MSc courses and admit
students from all over India without any regional quota.
FAQ #07 – What are the op ons for student who want to pursue
undergraduate in Mathema cs ?
Below ins tutes are well known for their specialised courses in Mathema cs :
1. Chennai Mathema cal Ins tute (refer to the table above) offer 3 year BSc Hons and MSc in
Maths. Admission is through it’s own entrance exam.
2. Indian Sta s cal Ins tute (refer to table above) offer 4 year BMath and BStat. Admission is
through it’s own entrance exam.
3. Ins tute of Mathema cs and Applica ons, Bhubaneswar ( h ps://iomaorissa.ac.in/ ) offer
undergraduate course in Maths and Compu ng.
Apart from the above below are the other reputed science and technology ins tutes who also offer
specialisa on/major in Mathema cs:
1. Indian Ins tute of Science offers 4 year BS(Research) in Maths and BTech in Maths and
Compu ng
2. IISER offers major in Mathema cal Science in their BS-MS dual degree program.
3. NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai : Similar to IISER, provide Integrated MSc
With Maths Major. Admission through NEST exam. h ps://www.nestexam.in/
4. Some of the IITs and NITs offer Integrated MSc in Maths
Almost all the ins tutes and universi es men oned in the above FAQs offer courses with Maths as
major or specialised subjects,
