Address: CV Raman Road, 560012 Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Biological Sciences, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Engineering
Established in 1909, IISc is a public deemed research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is consistently ranked among India’s top institutions for research.
The Indian Institute of Science, IISc, in Bengaluru is India’s leading institution for research in science and engineering. It was founded in 1909 thanks to a donation from the industrialist Jamsetji Tata and land from the Maharaja of Mysore, and it opened on a campus in the north of the city. It has about 4,500 students, around a thousand faculty and staff members, and about 20,000 graduates. The campus covers about 400 acres of tree-lined avenues and old buildings.
The institute is organised in divisions of biological sciences, chemical sciences, electrical and computer sciences, mechanical sciences, physical and mathematical sciences, and interdisciplinary research. Researchers work in areas such as aerospace, materials, neuroscience, ecology, computer science and energy. Raman, Homi Bhabha and Satish Dhawan are among the scientists who have worked here, and C. V. Raman became the first Indian director of the institute in 1933.
IISc has been given the status of Institute of Eminence by the Indian government, and it is a regular leader in national rankings for research. It has historically been oriented towards doctoral and master’s students, but it also runs a four-year undergraduate research programme in science. Close ties with the Bengaluru technology cluster, with the Indian Space Research Organisation and with national laboratories give students many opportunities.
Admission to the undergraduate programme is through national tests such as JEE Advanced and NEET for the relevant tracks. The master’s programmes use GATE and other exams, and doctoral programmes recruit by written tests and interviews. International students may apply to most programmes, with scholarship options for research students. Fees are lower than at private institutions, and fellowships often cover living costs. Check the current tariff.
Teaching is in English, and most students live in hostels on campus. Bengaluru is India’s main technology city, and the climate is mild all year round.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Engineering, Life Sciences, Materials, Mathematics, Physics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
India’s premier research institution. Extensive collaborations with national and international universities, research labs (e.g., ISRO, DRDO), and industries. Strong focus on fundamental and applied research.
Research:
World-class research across all major areas of science and engineering, including materials science, genetics, AI, aerospace, and condensed matter physics. Numerous significant scientific contributions.
Famous Alumnis:
C.V. Raman, Homi J. Bhabha, Satish Dhawan, CNR Rao, G. N. Ramachandran, Sudha Murty
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1000
Current students***:
4500
Foreign students***:
1%
Cumulative former students***:
20000
Pros
Foremost research institution in India, high research output and impact, excellent faculty, strong postgraduate programs.
Cons
Primarily a postgraduate and research-focused institution; undergraduate programs are highly selective and relatively new; very high academic pressure.
Best For
Students and researchers aiming for cutting-edge research careers in science and engineering, seeking a premier research environment with world-class faculty and facilities.
Also strong in materials, AI and machine learning and engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad makes a sensible second look at home; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers bioengineering and electrical and electronics as well.
Indian Institute of Technology Varanasi sits close to this institution on materials, life sciences and AI and machine learning; it is slightly larger, at about 6,000 students against roughly 4,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of aerospace, materials and AI and machine learning can consider Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and it also offers mba programmes and covers mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics as well.
Think of University of Hyderabad when physics, materials and life sciences is the priority: it has almost the same size, at about 5,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Looking internationally, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in Russia is where aerospace, physics and mathematics get a comparable treatment; it covers nanotechnologies and computer vision as well, and is larger, enrolling about 7,000 students against roughly 4,500 here.
Looking internationally, California Institute of Technology in the United States is where aerospace, physics and materials get a comparable treatment; it is smaller, enrolling about 2,400 students against roughly 4,500 here, and is private, whereas this institution is public.
Looking internationally, Novosibirsk State University in Russia is where physics, mathematics and life sciences get a comparable treatment; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
In the United Kingdom, Imperial College London teaches much the same core subjects, physics, mathematics and materials, and it covers software engineering as well, and is far larger, with about 20,500 students against roughly 4,500 here.
For a study option in Ukraine with a comparable spread of aerospace, physics and mathematics, Oles Honchar Dnipro National University is the reference point: it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is IISc?
In Bengaluru, in the state of Karnataka, India.
When was it founded?
In 1909, thanks to a donation from Jamsetji Tata and land from the Maharaja of Mysore.
How large is it?
About 4,500 students and around a thousand faculty and staff members.
What is IISc best known for?
Research in physical, chemical, biological and engineering sciences.
Who led the institute?
C. V. Raman became its first Indian director in 1933.
Is it an Institute of Eminence?
Yes. The Indian government has given it that status.
Does IISc offer undergraduate degrees?
Yes. It runs a four-year undergraduate research programme in science.
How do you enter the master's and doctoral programmes?
Through exams such as GATE for master's degrees, and written tests and interviews for doctoral programmes.
What does it cost?
Fees are lower than at private institutions, and fellowships often cover living costs. Check the current tariff.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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