All applicants are required to appear for national level entrance tests (TIFR graduate studies admission test, JEST, GATE, UGC/CSIR test for JRF) conducted at different centres. These tests will cover basic topics in physics, mathematics or engineering. Top candidates from these tests can apply to appear in the next phase of the selection process. Performance in the entrance test, along with the additional information requested in the online application form will be used to shortlist candidates for the interviews.
Eligibility
- For the PhD program: Master’s or Integrated Master's degree in Physics of total duration not less than 5 years.
- For the Integrated PhD program: Bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree in Science, Engineering or Medicine of duration not less than 3 years.
Students whose final examination results for their qualifying degree are not declared by the time of joining (but expected in the same year) will be admitted on a provisional basis, subject to the passing of the relevant degree examination. The admission will be regularised on the production of mark sheets/provisional/final degree certificate of the qualifying degree examination. If the candidate’s qualifying degree is a Bachelor's, payment of fellowship will be withheld till the relevant degree certificate is submitted. If the candidate’s qualifying degree is a Master's (and if the candidate already has a Bachelor's), payment of fellowship will be at a lower scale (IPhD) until the Master's degree certificate is submitted. In both cases, once the admission is regularised, arrears corresponding to the full amount of fellowship will be paid calculated from the date of joining.
Entrance tests
The first level of selection to the ICTS graduate program is performed using results from the following national exams:
- TIFR GS Exam
- JEST (Physics)
- GATE (Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Sciences) : 90 percentile and above
- CSIR UGC NET (Physical Sciences - JRF eligible)
Candidates with M.Tech./M.E./M.S. (Engg.) can submit their earlier valid scores of GATE/ equivalent. The dates and centres of all the tests are advertised in major national newspapers.
Interviews
Interviews are typically done in two different stages. The interviews based on TIFR-GS test are typically conducted in March-April, while the interviews based on other tests (JEST, GATE, UGC-CSIR, etc) are typically held in June-July.
The top scorers in the entrance tests should apply for ICTS graduate program through the online application form, where they will be asked to submit additional information such as academic records, research experience, academic reference letters, etc.
The precise cutoff scores for different entrance tests will be announced each year. Performance in the entrance test, along with the additional information requested in the online application form will be used to shortlist candidates for the interviews.
For any queries contact us at : gs @ icts . res . in