Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science Scholarships & Eligibility

Established in 1876 by Dr. Mahendralal Sircar, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Jadavpur, Kolkata, holds a historic legacy as India's oldest institute for basic scientific research. Famous as the site where Sir C.V. Raman performed his Nobel Prize-winning work on the Raman Effect, IACS operates today as an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

To nurture scientific talent across undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels, IACS provides comprehensive institutional stipends, state-level awards, and central government fellowships.

Types of Scholarships & Fellowships

• Institutional Stipends & Assistantships (BS-MS & Integrated PhD)
• BS-MS Program: Undergraduate students maintaining high academic standing (typically CGPA equal to or greater than 7.5) starting from their fourth year can receive an institutional stipend of INR 12,000 per month subject to DST/IACS rules.
• Integrated MS-PhD Program: Students enrolled in Integrated MS-PhD programs receive a stipend of INR 12,000 per month for the initial two years of their Master’s coursework. Upon successful transition to the PhD track after fulfilling the required credit and grade criteria, they are elevated to standard Junior Research Fellow (JRF) status.
• National Fellowships (CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, INSPIRE)
• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Candidates admitted to the PhD program with valid national eligibility credentials (CSIR-UGC NET JRF, GATE, or equivalent) receive a fellowship of INR 37,000 per month plus applicable House Rent Allowance (HRA) and a contingency grant.
• Senior Research Fellowship (SRF): Upon completion of two years of satisfactory research progress as a JRF and performance evaluation, fellows are promoted to SRF, drawing INR 42,000 per month plus HRA.
• DST-INSPIRE & KVPY Scholars: Eligible undergraduate/postgraduate students receiving central grants like DST-INSPIRE (SHE) or Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) obtain INR 5,000 per month, along with additional annual mentorship or internship grants up to INR 20,000.
• Postdoctoral Research Associateships (RA)
• Bridge Fellowships & IACS RA: Institute-funded or externally funded Postdoctoral Fellows (Research Associates) draw monthly stipends ranging between INR 47,000 and INR 54,000+ per month, depending on prior experience and band allocations set by DST guidelines, along with applicable HRA.

Eligibility Criteria

Application Process

1. Integrated BS-MS & MS-PhD Programs:
• Applications are invited online via the official IACS portal during the spring admission cycle.
• Candidates must complete the registration, upload academic credentials, and sit for the UPST (Undergraduate Pre-Interview Screening Test) or MPST (Master's Pre-Interview Screening Test) written exams.
• Shortlisted candidates attend an interview round. Financial aid or stipends are automatically activated upon enrollment based on academic standing or external qualification certificates submitted during document verification.
2. Direct PhD Admissions:
• Admissions open biannually (Autumn and Spring Semesters).
• Applicants must apply online through the IACS website, detailing their valid CSIR-NET / UGC-NET / GATE score cards.
• Candidates who pass the initial screening are called for subject-specific interviews before the respective Schools of Study (Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Materials Sciences, etc.).
3. Project Assistantships & Postdoctoral Positions:
• Open positions under specific faculty projects are advertised on the "Career / Academic Notice Board" section of the official IACS website.
• Interested candidates submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) directly via email to the designated Principal Investigator (PI). Selection is conducted through a personal or online interview.

Financial Aid Options & Campus Support

• Travel Grants & Conference Funding: Full-time research scholars (JRF/SRF/RA) can access institutional and national contingency funds to support research travel, field studies, and attendance at international or national scientific conferences.
• Project Assistantships: For students without CSIR-NET JRF, individual research projects funded by agencies like SERB, BRNS, DBT, or DST offer Project Assistant (PA) or Junior Research Fellow (JRF-Project) roles with equivalent stipends.
• Accommodation & Subsidies: On-campus hostel facilities are available for outstation scholars subject to availability. Scholars opting for campus accommodation waive their HRA entitlement as per Central Government norms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does IACS Kolkata offer financial aid to all admitted BS-MS students?

Undergraduate students at IACS can claim central/state scholarships such as DST-INSPIRE (SHE) or JBNSTS if eligible. Additionally, students maintaining a high CGPA (7.5 or above) starting from their fourth year receive an institutional stipend of INR 12,000 per month.

What is the stipend amount for PhD scholars at IACS Kolkata?

PhD scholars possessing a valid CSIR-UGC NET JRF or equivalent fellowship receive INR 37,000 per month for the first two years (JRF) and INR 42,000 per month upon upgrading to SRF. Applicable HRA (27% for Kolkata) is provided if institutional hostel accommodation is not utilized.

Can I pursue a PhD at IACS if I only have a valid GATE score?

Yes, candidates with a valid GATE score meeting the departmental cutoff can be selected for interview rounds. If selected, they are awarded an institute-funded junior research fellowship equivalent to standard JRF rates.

How are external state scholarships like JBNSTS integrated with institute admission?

Students receiving external state awards (such as West Bengal's JBNSTS scholarship) can draw their regular monthly stipend of INR 5,000 per month alongside additional annual contingency grants while studying at IACS.

Are project-based fellowship positions available for candidates without NET-JRF?

Yes, faculty members regularly hire Project Assistants and Project Fellows under externally sponsored grants (DST, SERB, CSIR). These positions are advertised on the IACS official portal, and selection is based on academic record and interview performance.