About Indian Institute of Science 

We are glad to note that you are considering the Indian Institute of Science as a possible place for your higher studies.  As you may know, the Institute has pioneered advanced post-graduate education in India and has been making significant contributions to frontier areas of research. In its nearly a century long history, it has been able to innovate and introduce new schemes for imparting knowledge and education.

The Institute was the first to introduce the Integrated Ph D program in the Biological, Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences for science graduates. More recently, research degrees have been introduced in the four interdisciplinary areas of: (i) Mathematical Sciences    (ii) Energy (iii) BioSystems Science and Engineering (v) Nano Science and Engineering (vi) Water Research.

The Institute has led the way in starting advanced research in many fields of science and technology. It is currently involved in several areas of national importance like space science and technology, material science and engineering, environmental and atmospheric sciences, endocrinology, genetic engineering, rural technology and energy problems. In the years to come, the Institute has identified three emerging areas for future research; namely, (i) Genomics (ii) Nano- Sciences and (iii) Mathematics.

The Institute has a Centre for Scientific and Industrial Consultancy, through which significant R&D work is done on identified projects sponsored by industry.  The know-how so generated has been transferred to industry.  A transfer of technology has taken place in areas such as low-cost housing and renewable sources of energy which benefit society.  Similarly, the facilities available at the Institute such as low and high speed wind tunnels, water tunnels, high speed computers and sophisticated instruments have been helping public and private sector industries and defence.  There has also been a certain amount of social utilization of work in the biosciences, for instance, (i) in the plant tissue culture of sandal wood, eucalyptus and teak wood, (ii) disease control in silk worms, and (iii) on the nutritional value enhancement of rice strains.  Some projects with industrial relevance include the indigenous development of a cryo-grinding technology for grinding spices, development of particle reinforced aluminium matrix composites and optical coating technology for use in combat aircrafts.  In 1997, the Institute released technologies relating to AIDS diagnostic kits, biomass gasifiers and ferroelectric materials.

In all these endeavors the Institute, with a keen awareness of its long standing reputation and the need for maintaining high quality in all its activities, strives to contribute to the scientific, academic and technological goals of our country.

Whatever may be your natural skills and interests — mathematics, frontier research areas in the theoretical sciences, experimental work in biology, physics and chemistry, new areas in engineering and technology — you will find, in the Institute, a congenial environment that will develop your abilities and will stimulate you to make significant new and original contributions in an area of your choice. The number of students in the Institute is kept deliberately small in order to focus on quality and personal attention.

The details of the various academic programs of the Institute, as also information on how to apply for admission, are given in the following pages.

Being enthusiastic about meeting you, our colleagues join us in inviting you to visit the Institute. You can, of course, feel free to direct your queries to us or to the Chairperson of the Department you are interested in.

Information compiled from: Indian Institute of Science Website