IISC 2011 FAQ's

FAQ's Related to IISc 2011

1. What is the name of the Degree that would be offered under the proposed undergraduate programme?
Ans: The degree offered is “Bachelor of Science” (BS).

2. Which are the major disciplines being offered?
Ans: Six major disciplines are being offered: (1) Biology (2) Chemistry (3) Environmental Science (4) Materials (5) Mathematics (6) Physics. The respective major discipline will appear in the degree certificate of each graduate.

3. What is the duration of the Programme?
Ans: The duration of the programme is four years, organised as eight semesters. This is perhaps one of the first four-year undergraduate programmes in India. The inaugural batch will commence their classes from August 1, 2011 and graduate in June 2015.

4. What is the structure of the programme?
Ans: Semesters 1,2,3:
Systematic exposure to the pillars of scientific, mathematical and engineering principles will take place during the first three semesters. In each of these semesters, the students will take one course each in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, engineering and humanities. Teaching of the compulsory core courses in science and engineering will include substantial components of laboratory demonstrations and hands-on experiments. The students will also be exposed to courses in humanities that will help them appreciate science and its societal implications and also sharpen their skills in communicating science to both experts and to society at large.

Semesters 4,5,6:
At the beginning of the fourth semester, each student will choose a discipline for specialisation (“major”) according to his/her academic interest. The following specialisations are available: (1) Biology (2) Chemistry (3) Environmental Science (4) Materials (5) Mathematics (6) Physics. All these disciplines are interdisciplinary in nature in that there will be adequate exposure to other disciplines. The number of students in each discipline will be approximately the same. Both the academic interest of the student and his/her performance in the first three semesters will be considered to allocate the major disciplines. In addition to a “major” discipline, a student may also choose a discipline as a “minor” discipline. In each of these semesters, the students will take four courses in the chosen major and minor disciplines. They will also take one elective course in engineering and one seminar course in humanities.

Semesters 7,8:
A research project will be started in the seventh semester along with specialized courses and the final semester will be exclusively devoted to this project. The knowledge gained and skills developed in the first three years will be applied in order to formulate questions on scientific issues, explore answers to these questions, and communicate them to experts and general audience.

5. How is this programme unique?
Ans: The uniqueness of this programme lies in its interdisciplinary approach, strong flavour of engineering, exposure to disciplines in social sciences, and a one year research project. The graduates of this programme will obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in a Specialization. This programme is carefully designed to offer specialization in a Science stream but the knowledge imparted carries a strong flavour of engineering and an exposure to social science disciplines. The students admitted to a stream are encouraged to take courses from other streams, thus maintaining the strong interdisciplinary flavour of this undergraduate programme. One full year of participation in a research project identifies the programme as unique and innovative. This research based interdisciplinary undergraduate programme is well suited to meet the present vocational and post graduate requirements of the ever demanding modern world. The undergraduate programme is embedded in an ambience of a mature and highly sophisticated research culture which has an equally strong base of both science and engineering. This research culture has evolved over the last hundred years, primarily engendered by a highly distinguished faculty, graduate students and post doctoral fellows. The academic environment is open, free, pedagogic and non-hierarchical.

6. How many students are expected to be admitted in the first batch?
Ans: The Institute proposes to offer admission to about 110 to 120 students. Seats will be allotted to general and special categories as per Government regulations.

7. Which are the entry channels to get admitted to the programme?
Ans: To save additional burden of an entrance exam on the overtaxed 12th standard students, IISc is planning to exploit the existing highly competitive national level entrance exams such as KVPY, IIT-JEE, AIEEE and AIPMT. Mechanisms by which rural and women candidates are encouraged in a major way to apply for the programme are also being explored. Students desirous of applying to the BS programme must watch out for the above examinations.

8. Which streams of KVPY would be considered for admission to the Programme?
Ans: Students who have appeared or are appearing for any of the national examinations listed below are eligible to apply.

* KVPY-SA-2009 (selected as fellows)
* KVPY-SB (appeared in 2010)
* KVPY-SX/SB+2 (appeared in 2010)
* IIT-JEE (appearing in 2011)
* AIEEE (appearing in 2011)
* AIPMT (appearing in 2011)

9. How are the students selected for the programme?
Ans: The selection will be based on the performance of the applied candidates in any one of the above examinations. A separate merit list of applied candidates will be prepared for each of the national examinations listed above and the seats will be offered strictly based on rank ordering and the number of seats available. A candidate who has qualified and secured a rank in multiple examinations listed above will be included in all the appropriate merit lists. Separate merit lists will be prepared for candidates belonging to different reserved categories, as per standard Government of India regulations.

10. Will a candidate with outstanding performance in the above national examinations be automatically considered for admission even if he/she does not apply to the programme ?
Ans: No. Only candidates who apply to the BS programme will be considered for possible selection.

11. Which subject groups are mandatory at the 12th STD level for admission to the BS Programme?
Ans: The proposed BS programme will be open to 12th standard students whose main subjects include physics, chemistry and mathematics (all three). Candidates who have studied Biology, Economics, Electronics, Computer Science, Statistics, etc., should also have taken Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

12. What are the time-lines for applying to the Programme?
Ans: The first announcement on the UG programme will be released in August 2010 both in media and through the IISc UG website (http://www.iisc.ernet.in/ug). The formal advertisement will be released in December 2010. Applications forms will be received during 1 January - March, 2011. The first set of admission offers will be made to KVPY candidates in April 2011. The next set will be announced during the first week of June 2011. Counselling of admitted students will be conducted during the third week of June 2011. Classes will commence from 1 August 2011.

13. What are the different ways of applying to the programme?
Ans: The application form may be obtained by any of the following two methods.

* Off-line application - Send your request for an application form with two address slips, with your mailing address clearly written (preferably stickers), and a Demand Draft for Rs. 600/- for GN/OBC/KM candidates (Rs.300/- for SC/ST/PH categories, along with a copy of an appropriate certificate) to the Deputy Registrar (Academic), Admissions Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012. The DD has to be drawn in favour of “Registrar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore”. Requests for off-line applications will be received only after January 1, 2011.

* Online application - Online application may be prepared and submitted by accessing the IISc UG website http://www.iisc.ernet.in/ug with effect from 01.01.2011. Online application fee is Rs. 400/- for GN/OBC/KM candidates and Rs. 200/- for SC/ST/PH categories. After submitting the online application, a printed copy of the filled online application along with a Demand Draft for the required amount must be sent to the Institute. Deadline for submitting online application is 25.03.2011.

Filled-in off-line application form and online application form (printed copy) should reach the Deputy Registrar (Academic), Admissions Unit, IISc, Bangalore-560012 on or before 31.03.2011.

14. What are the different opportunities available to the graduates of the programme?
Ans: Academic Opportunities: IISc BS graduates with their solid foundation and multidisciplinary approach can either embark on a career of their choice or pursue advanced degrees such as PhD in the chosen discipline and allied interdisciplinary areas anywhere in the world. The course curriculum designed to ensure equivalence to a M.Sc. degree, in conjunction with a strong laboratory module, exposure to modern instrumentation, and research and training, will prove to be of immense value to students in either pursuit. The unique opportunity to engage in an intense two-semester research project in an inspiring environment would enable students to make intelligent career choices especially pertaining to research.

Industry Opportunities: The modern Indian industry is on the radar of a globally competitive world and is looking towards arriving at the highest echelons. To meet the growing demand for a broad-based human resource pool with strong analytical skills, personnel who are competent enough to specialize quickly into specific fields of expertise are envisaged. Given this emerging industrial scenario, graduates of the new BS programme honed with their multidisciplinary training will be ideally suited for recruitment by our modern industry.

15. What is the medium of instruction of the BS Programme?
Ans: The medium of instruction is English.

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