IACS Kolkata: Admission, Courses, Facilities, Hostel, Placement, Scholarship

Q: Which would be better, IISER or IACS Kolkata?

IACS Kolkata is counted among the top-rated institutes in India. However, if you are talking about undergraduate programs then joining IISER Kolkata will be better. IACS Kolkata just started their 5 year-long integrated BS-MS program. Whereas, IISER Kolkata has offered this course for over 10 years. The quality of teaching and infrastructure is definitely better at IISER Kolkata compared to IACS Kolkata.

IACS is a UGC-affiliated research institute located in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1876 by Mahendra Lal Sarkar, a distinguished physician, and civil servant. IACS offers a postgraduate program, PhD and Integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D. programs in various fields of science. The institute is recognized as a centre of excellence in research and has been the recipient of several prestigious awards and grants, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, the highest scientific award in India.

IACS offers integrated undergraduate and graduate programmes, integrated masters and doctoral programmes, and PhD programmes in science. The entire admissions process is completed online. The criteria for selection are based on performance in prior qualifying exams, admission exams, and interviews. Check: IACS Admission

Table of Content

IACS Course & Fees
IACS Admission
IACS Cutoff
IACS Campus Life and Events
IACS Placements
IACS Alumni
IACS Scholarships
IACS FAQs

IACS Course & Fees

Undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated graduate-postgraduate-doctoral, and doctoral courses (PhD) are all offered through IACS courses, primarily in science-related fields. All of these programs are offered in the student's preferred specializations. Check out the list below -

IACS B Sc + M Sc Program

Fees	INR 29200 [1st-year fees]
Eligibility	Graduation in Science or Engineering with 60% aggregate
Selection Criteria	MPST merit rank and Interview
Duration	5 Years

Check IACS B Sc + M Sc Program

IACS M Sc + PhD. Program

Fees	INR 29200 [1st-year fees]
Eligibility	10+2 Science stream with 60% aggregate
Selection Criteria	UPST merit rank and Interview
Duration	5 Years

Check IACS M Sc + PhD. Program

IACS PhD. Program

Fees	INR 47800 [1st-year fees]
Eligibility	Master’s program with 55% marks aggregate
Selection Criteria	GATE, UGC–NET, JEST, CSIR–NET or equivalent National level examination merit rank and interview
Duration	2 Years

Know more about IACS PhD . Program

IACS Admission

The admission process for each course is Entrance based at IACS, but the majority of them require the candidates to apply online through the official website of IACS. Admission is conducted by the autonomous body, where selection criteria may remain the same, but the number of students admitted may vary each year.

After the entrance examination, the candidates who have qualified are called for a personal interview. The interview panel usually consists of faculty members and experts in the relevant field, who evaluate the candidates based on their academic record, research experience, and other relevant factors. The personal interview is the final step for admission to any kind of course in IACS.

Application Process

Here are the steps to apply to the IACS, listed below -

Check the availability of the application form and the admission notification on the official website of IACS.
Apply for the desired course by filling up the form for UPST or MPST.
Wait for the release of the admit card and appear for the entrance exam, which is usually a two-hour-long test.
The evaluation of the candidates is based on their entrance exam score and marks from their last qualifying examination, which becomes vital if multiple candidates have the same entrance exam score.
IACS will release a provisional merit list and then a final merit list based on the candidates' evaluation.
Candidates who secure a place on the merit list will be called for a personal interview.

IACS Cutoff

According to the IACS, for the Physical Sciences (PS), shortlist, the percentage of marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics were taken into consideration. For the Biological Sciences (BS) shortlist, the percentage of marks in Biology and the two best science subjects were taken into consideration. Shortlisted candidates comprised the top 30% of applicants from each board based on the aforementioned marks.

In the end, the cut-off scores for general candidates were determined to be 88% for BS and 91% for PS across all boards. The shortlisting was completed while taking into consideration the UGC's rules and regulations in this area as well as the occasionally updated reservations policy of the Government of India.

IACS Campus Life and Events

The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) offers various academic programs and has excellent facilities for students, including a library, seminar halls, hostels, and a centre for computer research, education, and services. IACS hosts many academic programs such as conferences, seminars, summer schools, and endowment lectures. Students from different streams have the opportunity for collaborative research at IACS.

The IACS library is one of the oldest libraries in Eastern India and has modern facilities. It has an extensive collection of journals, books, e-books, research papers, academic books, and laboratory manuals. The library has a yearly budget of more than five crores and a digital library accessible at any time. The digital library includes alphabetical order of most-read journals, bound volume journals, printed current journals, and other resources.

IACS has seminar halls named after renowned scientists such as CV Raman Hall, MLS Hall, and S N Bose Hall. The Centre for Computer Research, Education, and Services is an independent body of IACS, which provides easy access to materials, research communication, collaboration, and publications.

IACS also provides students with decent hostel facilities, including affordable lodging and food. The campus has made progressive developments, including the establishment of the IACS Creche for working parents at IACS.

Check: IACS Hostel

IACS Placements

The college has a placement department, and there are lots of internship opportunities available to the students for training and research. Medical students typically prioritize studying over applying for jobs directly. Below are the details -

Information	Details
Average Annual Package for Placed Students (UG)	INR 4-5 LPA
Average Annual Package for Placed Students (PG)	INR 7 LPA
Annual Package for Recruited Students by Companies	More than INR 6 LPA
Employment Areas for IACS Graduates	Research Institutes, Universities, IT and Software Companies, DRDO, ISRO

Check: IACS Placement

IACS Alumni

The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) has a large alumni network of accomplished individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields. Some notable IACS alumni are:

Name	Field	Notable Contributions
Sir C. V. Raman	Physics	Nobel laureate for the Raman Effect
S. N. Bose	Physics	Discovered Bose-Einstein statistics
Satyendra Nath Bose	Physics	Discovered bosons
Meghnad Saha	Astrophysics	Created Saha's ionization equation
Sambhu Nath De	Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Dynamics	Pioneer in the field
Kankan Bhattacharya	Chemistry	Discovery of biological water
Mahananda Dasgupta	Nuclear Physics	Distinguished Nuclear Physicist
Ashoke Sen	Theoretical Physics	Recipient of the Fundamental Physics Prize
Gopalasamudram Narayana Iyer Ramachandran (G. N. Ramachandran)	Biophysics	Created the Ramachandran plot for protein structure analysis

Know More: IACS Faculty

IACS Scholarships

The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) in Kolkata, India, offers a variety of scholarships and fellowships for students and researchers in various fields. Here are some of the scholarship opportunities available at IACS Kolkata:

IACS Kolkata offers UG program students a monthly stipend of INR 3000 starting in their fourth semester.
To qualify for a scholarship worth INR 12,500 per month for the PG Program, students must achieve a specific CGPA.
Students have other options, including Inspire, KVPY, and JBNSTS.

Check: IACS Scholarship

IACS FAQs

Ques. What is the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS)?

Ans. The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) is a premier scientific research institute based in Kolkata, India. It was established in 1876 by Mahendra Lal Sarkar and is dedicated to the pursuit of basic research in the chemical and physical sciences.

Ques. What are the major research areas at IACS?

Ans.The major research areas at IACS include theoretical and experimental physics, physical chemistry, materials science, and chemical biology. The institute also has active research programs in interdisciplinary areas such as energy, environment, and nanoscience.

Ques. How is the academic environment at IACS?

Ans. The academic environment at IACS is highly competitive and challenging. The institute has a strong emphasis on research and provides a supportive environment for students and researchers to pursue their academic interests. The faculty members at IACS are highly accomplished researchers and are dedicated to mentoring and guiding their students.

Ques. What are the admission criteria for IACS?

Ans. Admission to IACS is based on the academic record of the applicant, their performance in national-level entrance exams, and an interview. The institute offers integrated BS-MS, MS, and PhD programs in various areas of science. The exact admission criteria may vary depending on the specific program.

Ques. What are the career prospects for IACS graduates?

Ans. IACS graduates have a wide range of career opportunities available to them. They can pursue academic careers in universities and research institutions, work in the industry, or pursue entrepreneurship. Graduates from IACS are highly sought after by employers due to their strong academic background and research experience. Texas Instruments, Coca-Cola, Cipla, Airbus, CESC Ltd, Mercedes Benz, Citi Bank, ADB, Siemens, and HSBC are some of the employers of IACS.

Ques. How is the campus life at IACS?

Ans. The campus life at IACS is vibrant and diverse. The institute has a rich tradition of organizing various cultural and sports events throughout the year, and students are encouraged to participate in these activities. The campus has several amenities, including a library, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium.

Ques. What courses are available at this IACS?

Ans. Undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs are available at IACS. These degrees offer specialization in the schools of interdisciplinary and applied sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences, material sciences, physical sciences, and mathematical and computational sciences.

Ques. How is the IACS alumni association?

Ans. The institute, as one of the oldest and most prestigious in the field of research and science, has distinguished alumni. Sir C.V. Raman conducted research on the 'Raman Effect' at this institution. Professor Kankan Bhattacharya's experiments resulted in the discovery of biological water. As a result, the institute has a renowned alumni base and invites notable alumni to share their experiences and knowledge with current students.