We automatically think of engineering or medicine when we think about science as a career. Limiting our understanding of science to medicine and engineering is a fallacy, and we should be aware that science encompasses much more. Young brains are typically captivated by the prospect of studying science because they understand that it is the only way to unravel the secrets of our planet and others.
As intriguing as pure science may appear, most students prefer to pursue more professional degrees such as engineering, medicine, aviation, and so on. Many factors contributed to this paradigm shift, including shorter course durations, placement chances after completion, and greater pay packages, among others. This pattern is steadily changing, and a growing number of students are opting to study sciences.
Many students are going to pure sciences now that they are aware of the numerous options in the field of scientific research. Let’s take a look at the top pure science institutes in India, as well as the courses and chances they provide.
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
IISC is a prestigious public research and higher education institute. Locals refer to it as the Tata Institute because it was founded in 1909 with the support of Jamsetji Tata. The IISC in Bangalore is the first Indian university to rank in the top ten of the Times Higher Education Rankings 2016-17 for Best Small Universities in the United Kingdom. (8th Rank)
Courses Available
Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Materials, Chemistry, and Earth and Environmental Sciences are all available as part of a four-year B.Sc. (Research) programme at the institute. Aside from that, the institute offers master’s and research degrees in fields such as Molecular Biophysics, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Astronomy and Astrophysics.
What is the criteria for entry?
The institute offers a four-year B.Sc. (Research) degree in physics, biology, mathematics, materials, chemistry, and earth and environmental sciences. Aside from that, the institute provides master’s and doctoral degrees in Molecular Biophysics, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Astronomy and Astrophysics, among other subjects.
Future Possibilities
A B.Sc. in research allows you to apply for master’s at some of the best colleges in India and internationally. Without a master’s degree, students can also pursue a Ph.D. in the United States. Walmart Labs, IBM Research, Mphasis Innovation, Honeywell, Airbus, St. Gobain, Tejas Networks, and other companies hire research scientists from this prestigious institute. Students can work for companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Aeronautical Development Agency, Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Geophysics Research Institute, and others in the public sector. These degrees can also lead to a career in academia and research as a teaching faculty member at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Multiple Locations
The IISERs are India’s most prestigious research institutes. An Act of Parliament designated them as “Institutions of National Importance.” Kolkata, Maharashtra, Mohali, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, and Berhampur are among the seven campuses distributed across the country.
Courses Available
The institute’s main programme is a 5-year BS-MS degree programme. It includes a broad range of topics, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as a few more courses like Earth and environmental science, humanities, and so on. Aside from that, the institutes offer both integrated MS-Ph.D. programmes and standalone Ph.D. programmes in Science.
What is the criteria for entry?
Students who have completed class 12 and have been awarded a Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana fellowship (a scholarship to encourage students to pursue professions in science and research) are eligible to apply. Students who have passed the JEE Mains test are eligible to apply, and admission is based on their scores (students in the merit list of IITs are eligible for admission). Students who intend to apply directly to any of the campuses must take a separate entrance exam administered by the IISERs. The eligibility cut-offs for admission for students from various boards are variable. The total number of seats available for the BS-MS programme at all IISERs is 1285. National level tests like as the UGC/CSIR-JRF, GATE, JEST, and NBHM are held for Ph.D. admissions.
Future Possibilities
A BS-MS degree from IISER opens access to continued research and admission to Ph.D. programmes at top Indian and international universities. Graduates are hired by pharmaceutical companies for their research and development sections. Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy’s, L’oreal, Unilever, and others are among the corporations that hire students from IISERs. Students can join any CSIR Lab (Council of Scientific and Industrial Studies) at the PhD level by passing the CSIR-NET test and continuing their research in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Drug Formation and Implication, Electrochemical and Electronics Engineering, and other fields. The Indian Patent Agent Exam is for students who want to give legal advice to firms about their patents (a company’s right to prevent others from selling, using, or copying its innovation). It is also common to teach and write for scientific journals.
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai
TIFR is one of the most prestigious research centres for science and mathematics higher education. It is a Deemed University that is part of the Indian government’s Department of Atomic Energy. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust helped create the institute in 1945, under the direction of Dr. Homi Bhabha. Its main campus is in Mumbai, and it also has locations in Hyderabad, Pune, and Bangalore.
Courses Available
The institute provides a Ph.D. programme in Science Education as well as an integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D. programme in Science Education. It includes topics such as Philosophy of Science, Cognition and Learning Theories, Science Methods, and Mathematics Education Research, among others.
What is the criteria for entry?
Graduates applying to TIFR for Physics and Computer Science degrees must submit JEST scores (Joint Entrance Screening Test) or GATE scores. The Joint Graduate Entrance Exam for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences is administered by TIFR in the field of biology. The results of these exams, as well as personal interviews, are used to make final decisions. Each year, roughly 30-35 students are accepted into the programmes.
Future Possibilities
Because it is a well-known research institute, graduates are urged to work as scientists at BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) or any of the CIFR laboratories across the country. International facilities such as Fermilabs, CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research), and others employ graduates. Graduates can work in corporations’ Research & Development divisions, although the majority prefer to work as scientists and mathematicians for organisations like DRDO, HAL, ISRO, BEL, and others.
- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram
The IIST is a Deemed University that is part of the Indian government’s Department of Space. It focuses on space science, technology, and applications research. Dr. G. Madhavan Nair and Dr. B.N. Suresh launched it in 2007.
Courses Available
In avionics, physical sciences, aerospace engineering, and related subjects, the institute provides B.Tech. and Ph.D. programmes. In these subjects, it also provides a dual degree (B.Tech. + M.Tech./M.Sc.). M.Tech. degrees are available in a variety of fields, including aerodynamics, digital signal processing, VLSI and microsystems, to name a few. Astronomy and Astrophysics, Earth System Science, Solid State Physics, and Optical Engineering are among the subjects covered by the M.Sc.
What is the criteria for entry?
The JEE Mains Exam is used to determine admission to undergraduate programmes. GATE scores are used to determine admission to post-graduate institutions. Admissions to Ph.D. programmes are based on GATE, JEST, and UGC/CSIR-JRF scores. About 120 spots for B.Tech. and 20 seats for a dual degree are available at the institute.
Future Possibilities
Students with a CGPA of 7.5 or higher can apply for a position at ISRO, which was founded to help prepare workers for ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). Graduates can also apply to DRDO, HAL, BrahMos, and other organisations. Graduates of Master’s programmes can work for businesses like UTC Aerospace Systems, Team Indus, MEASAT, and others.
If pure science is your passion, these are the best schools for you. Aside from these, a select NITs and IITs (IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Gandhinagar, NIT Agartala, NIT Warangal, and others) also offer Master’s and Doctoral programmes.
