CHECKOUT IMPORTANT DATES
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is India’s premier institute dedicated to education and research in space science and technology. Established in 2007 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space, IIST offers undergraduate (BTech), dual degree (BTech + MTech), postgraduate (MTech, MSc), and doctoral programs across disciplines such as Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Engineering Physics, and more.
For undergraduate admissions, IIST does not conduct its own entrance exam. Instead, candidates must qualify the JEE Main and then the JEE Advanced exam. Admissions are strictly based on the All India Rank obtained in JEE Advanced, followed by an online application and counseling process through the IIST portal. The institute prepares an admission rank list and allots seats according to merit and candidate preferences. IIST is highly selective, with a limited number of seats and a rigorous admission process, making it one of the most sought-after institutions for students aspiring to contribute to India’s space program. For postgraduate programs, selection is based on national exams like GATE, followed by interviews or written tests.
Name of Exam
IIST 2026
Exam Level
National Level
Conducted by
Indian Institute of Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
Courses offered
UG, PG and Doctoral Courses
Application Mode
Online
Website
iist.ac.in
For IIST 2026 undergraduate admissions, there is no separate entrance exam; admission is based on the JEE Advanced 2026 results. Therefore, the key exam dates to track are those of JEE Main and JEE Advanced:
Events
Event Dates (Tentative)
JEE Main 2026 (Session 1)
Jan-Feb 2026
Jee Main 2026 (Session 2)
April 2026
JEE Advanced 2026
May or June 2026
JEE Advanced Result
June 2026 (Expected)
IIST Application & Counseling
After JEE Advanced result declaration
The IIST 2026 eligibility criteria for undergraduate and post graduate courses are as follows:
The IIST 2026 application process for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses is conducted entirely online. Here is a step-by-step guide and important details:
Steps to apply for IIST 2026-
The IIST 2026 admit card is a crucial document required for appearing in the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) entrance examination, The admit card will be released online on the official IIST admissions portal.
Steps to Download the IIST 2026 Admit Card
Students who successfully submit their registration form will be able to see the IIST Admission/Rank List 2026 online. The third week of June 2026 will see the release of the undergraduate and graduate course rank lists.
If the minimum qualifying marks are met, the rank list will be provided category-by-category based on the total results earned in the national level exam. Students will have to indicate their preferences for various branches once the admissions list is out.
The university will not administer entrance exams to individuals. However, admissions will still be determined by national entrance tests like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, JEST, UGC NET, GATE, and so on. IIST M.Tech/MSc admissions are generally based on GATE scores, followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates in certain specializations.
JEE Advanced Examination Pattern-
Paper
Sections
Type of Questions
Duration
Paper 1
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (all compulsory)
MCQs, NATs, MSQs
3 hours
Paper 2
3 Hours
GATE Examination Pattern-
Component
Details
Subjects
Engineering/Science discipline chosen by the candidate
MCQS, MSQs, NATs
Total Questions
65 (including general aptitude section)
Total marks
100
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) offers comprehensive curricula at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. The key degree programs for 2026 include B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering and Electronics & Communication Engineering (Avionics), as well as a range of M.Tech, MSc, and doctoral programs. Below is a summary of course structures and key syllabus content for major programs.
B.Tech Programs
Practical, hands-on labs and project-based learning are integrated throughout all semesters.
M.Tech and MSc Syllabi
Key postgraduate disciplines include:
Each postgraduate curriculum comprises a mix of advanced core courses, electives, research methodology, and a thesis/project component
The institute will make the IIST cutoff 2026 available online following the results announcement. The cutoff score will be the lowest score needed to shortlist qualified applicants for admission. A number of factors, including as the number of applications, the total number of seats, the reservation requirements, and the results of national level exams, will decide the cutoff for IIST 2026 admission. A call for the IIST 2026 counseling process will be made to candidates who meet the cutoff.