As the graduation Degree reaches to the final year, students are already running from poles to pillars to choose their further education or job opportunities. Take a look at the popular entrance exam details to get admission in the top-most STEM institutes in India.

Every year nearly 11.52 lakh B.Sc. graduates are at the fork of career path. They have variety of options to go for, besides the usual aspects. The best in research go for MSc and PhD. The next go for PG certification and diploma in Pure Sciences. Others move into MBA or study abroad for career switch.

To help young readers make an informed career decision, we bring you 11 Science entrance tests students can choose after B.Sc. Read on…

With over 89 different fields from Astrophysics to Bioinformatics, these entrance tests cater almost every segment of Science.

IIT JAM	MSc Entrance Exam for IITs/NITs/IISER/CFTIs.
JEST	MSc Entrance Exam for National Research Institutes.
TIFR GS	MSc Entrance Exam for Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
JNUEE	MSc Entrance Exam for JNU, Delhi.
NEST	5-year Integrated MSc Program Entrance Test for University of Mumbai and NISER.
ICAR AIEEA	PG Entrance Exam for ICAR.
AIIMS MSc Entrance Exam	MSc and MSc Nursing Entrance Test for AIIMS.
BioInformatics National Certification (BINC)	Certification Course for Bioinformatics Professionals.
Indian Statistical Institute Admission Test	PG and JRF admission in Indian Statistical Institute.
INAT Test	Research scholarship towards a Ph.D. at either IUCAA or NCRA-TIFR.
GATE Science	PG Pure Science Courses at IITs, NITs and CFTIs.

IIT JAM:

If you want to start your second innings at IITs, then there is no better exam than IIT JAM. To fulfil IIT dream after B.Sc., you can appear in this exam and get admission to MSc in IISc, IITs, IISER, NITs and other CFTIs.

Purpose: Admission in MSc or PhD or MSc-PhD Dual degree professional courses offered by the IIT’s and IISc. NITs, IISERs and other reputed colleges also accept IIT JAM Scores for MSc admission.

Eligibility: Check  Updated JAM Eligibility Criteria 2019 here. There are some updates in eligibility criteria this year for engineering graduates.

Exam Dates: 10^th Feb 2018 (conducting body is IIT Kharagpur)

Procedure to Apply: You can apply for IIT JAM 2019 in online Mode from September.

Website: http://jam.iitkgp.ac.in/

JEST:

JEST is recognized as a national eligibility test by Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB). The popularity of Joint Entrance Screening Test is so immense that it is also known as a passport to science research.

Purpose: It is a qualifying test for admission to PhD programmes in physics at more than 20 premier Indian research institutions, and a PhD programme in theoretical computer science at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences.

Eligibility: Check JEST Eligibility Criteria here. The minimum education qualification is B.Sc. for most of the courses. B.Tech./B.E./M.E./M.Tech./4 year B.S./M.C.A. may also be considered for M.Sc and Ph.D (integrated and regular) programmes in some institutes.

Exam Dates: Last year, applications started around in December and the exam was held in February. The exam dates are not released by convenor body yet.

Procedure to Apply: The online registration process for exam will begin in December.

Website: https://www.jest.org.in

TIFR GS:

TIFR GS is a nationwide entrance exam conducted by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in order to provide admission to candidates in postgraduate Science courses offered by it.

Purpose:  The Institute runs a graduate programme leading to the award of PhD, Integrated MSc-PhD as well as MSc degree in certain subjects.

Eligibility: The students will receive a degree through the subject boards of the graduate school of TIFR. So, they need to fulfill the Eligibility requirement of the subject board. The eligibility guideline is given on official website for various offered courses.

Exam Dates: Exam will be conducted in December 2018.

Procedure to Apply: Students can apply in both ways Online and Offline. Students from remote areas who do not have access to internet may apply manually. They can send a request for application form (without DD) along with a self-addressed stamped (Rs 20/-) envelope (size 25cm x 17cm) superscribed “GS-2018 (Subject)” to following addresses:

For Biology:

Admissions Section
National Centre for Biological Sciences
UAS-GKVK Campus, Bellary Road,
Bangalore 560065.

For Other Subjects Except Science Education:

University Cell, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005.

Website: http://univ.tifr.res.in/

JNUEE:

JNU is a prominent university in India which always remains in the news for good or bad reasons. Yet, it s said about JNU that it is not just a university – it is a way of life.

Being a politically conscious campus that believes ‘JNU thinks today that India thinks tomorrow’, the varsity has been a dream institute for many. JNUEE is one of the exams conducted to get admission to this institute.

Purpose: Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Exam is conducted for admission to undergraduate and post graduate programme under JRF. The qualified students can get admission in following schools under JNU:

School of International Studies (SIS)	School of Life Sciences (SLS)
School of Environmental Sciences (SES)	School of Social Sciences (SSS)
School of Physical Sciences (SPS)	School of Computer & Systems Sciences (SC&SS)
School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SL)	School of Computational and Integrative Sciences (SC&IS)
School of Arts & Aesthetics (SAA)	School of Biotechnology (SBT)
Centre for Sanskrit Studies (CSS)	Centre for Molecular Medicine (CMM)
Centre for the Study of Law & Governance (CLG)	Centre for Nano Sciences (CNS)

Eligibility: JNU holds common exam for various M.Phil/MA/MSc programmes. The eligibility guidelines are different for each course. As we are talking about BSc graduates, we’ll discuss eligibility criteria of MSc courses only.

Exam Dates: 27^th to 30^th December 2018

Procedure to Apply: The university will issue the JNU 2018 Application form only through online mode. The window to make corrections in the form will also be opened later. The forms are expected in October 2018.

Website: https://admissions.jnu.ac.in/

NEST (National Entrance Screening Test):

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is a compulsory test for students seeking admission to National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai – Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences for 5-year Integrated MSc Program.

Purpose: Admission to integrated PG course for carrying out cutting edge scientific research and for providing input to scientific programmes of Department of Atomic Energy and other applied science institutions in the country.

Eligibility: Candidates must qualify all four eligibility criteria listed below:

1. Age Limit for NEST Exam: Candidates in General and OBC category should be born on or after August 01, 1999. The age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ ST/ Physically Disabled (PD) candidates.

2. Educational Requirement: Class XII qualifying examination should be passed in either 2017 or 2018. Candidates appearing in 2019 are also eligible. (Where only Letter Grade is given by the Board, a certificate from the Board specifying equivalent percentage marks will be required. In the absence of such a certificate the decision of the respective Admission Committees will be final.)

3. Percentage Requirement: At least 60% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade) in Class XII (or equivalent) examination from any recognized Board in India. For Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and for Persons with Disability (PD), the minimum requirement is 55%.

4. Candidate should secure a position in the NEST merit list.

Exam Dates: Exam will be held on first Saturday of June 2019 i.e. 1^st June 2019

Procedure to Apply: Online Application Process for NEST 2019 will begin on first Monday of January i.e. 7^th January 2019.

Website: https://www.nestexam.in/

Note: The next notification will release on 26^th Dec 2018, candidates are advised to visit the website after this.

ICAR AIEEA PG Entrance Exam:

The history of Agriculture in India dates back to Indus valley civilization era and even before. The economic contribution of agriculture to India’s GDP is 13.7%. India as a country rely on agriculture to such a large extent that agriculture post graduates are one of the most in-demand professionals in Indian banks and central government departments.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India.

Purpose: AIEEA is an entrance exam to get into the ICAR institution. It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world. Large number of Master’s degree holders from agricultural Sciences go for higher education in Indian Universities and abroad. In 2017, ICAR PG Exam admitted 43% female candidates, which shows inclined interest of women in the field.

ICAR has following institutions:

6 Deemed Universities (2 new-NAARM, Hyderabad and NIASM, Melegaon, Maharashtra) 64 ICAR Institutions 15 National Research Centres 6 National Bureaux 25 Directorates/Project Directorates (upgraded NRCs-12)

Eligibility:

Age limit – Candidate must not be less than 19 years.

Qualifying Exam – Candidate must have passed bachelor’s degree from recognized university in the concerned field.

Rest eligibility guideline for admission in various disciplines can be checked here.

Exam Dates: The Exam was conducted on 18^th August recently. The exam dates for upcoming session will be released soon.

Procedure to Apply: The exam registration is in online mode on official website.

Website: https://icarexam.net

AIIMS MSc Entrance Exam:

If you are interested in human body and Science, passionate for making a difference in people’s lives, then medical school are the ultimate destination for you.

If you missed your chance to get into AIIMS for Pre-med course, then MSc can be your second chance to live up the dream.

AIIMS conducts its own medical entrance examination for students to pursue MSc in its paren institute and other 7 campuses.

Purpose: Admission to MSc (various discipline), M.Biotechnology and Nursing courses in AIIMS. Following PG courses are offered in AIIMS through this entrance exam:

MSc in Anatomy MSc Biochemistry MSc Biophysics MSc Cardiovascular Imaging and Endovascular Technologies MSc Physiology MSc Pharmacology MSc Perfusion Technology MSc Reproductive Biology and Clinical Embryology MSc Nuclear Medicine Technology

Eligibility: The eligibility criteria is mentioned in the E-prospectus uploaded on AIIMS official website.

Exam Dates: The exam will be held in online mode only. The exam dates will be in June 2019.

Procedure to Apply: The applications are invited in online mode and it begins in the month of March every year.

Website: https://www.aiimsexams.org

BioInformatics National Certification (BINC):

Bioinformatics is the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data, such as genetic codes. The field combines computer science, biology, chemistry, mathematics, genetics and engineering.

Today almost all life scientists need additional bioinformatics resources. The global bioinformatics market is growing with the sound pace and even the Indian Bioinformatics market is expected to grow at 19.8% rate by 2022.   In upcoming 5 years, there will be high demand of skilled and trained Bioinformatics professionals.

BINC is a certification programme for graduate and post-graduate students for recognizing their exceptional bioinformatics knowledge and skills and to improve their employment opportunities.

Purpose: There is a growing need for trained manpower in the area of Bioinformatics. Currently, various universities and institutions, both government and private, impart Bioinformatics education in India. BINC is a lifetime certificate to facilitate industries and potential employers in recruitment of Bioinformatics professionals having exceptionally good bioinformatics skills.

The qualified candidates will get fellowship of Rs. 25,000/- per month (during the first and second year) and Rs. 28,000/- per month (during the third and subsequent years).

Eligibility:

Bachelor’s/ Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Agriculture, Veterinary, Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering and Technology. No formal training, diploma or certificate in bioinformatics is required. Candidates in final year of Bachelor’s/ Master’s degree are also eligible to apply.

Exam Dates: The registration period for BINC is May-June every year.

Procedure to Apply: Candidates can apply online for BINC exam.

Website: https://cdn.digialm.com//EForms/configuredHtml/1065/55901//index.html

Indian Statistical Institute Admission Test:

Statistician is the coolest job you’ve never heard of. Don’t take our word for it; see for yourself all the great things you can do with a career in Statistics.

ISI Kolkata is a unique  institution devoted to the research, teaching and application of statistics, natural sciences and social sciences. The agency also aims to develop Statistics rigor among Indian youth.

It grants degrees and diplomas in Mathematics, Quantitative Economics, Computer Science and other subjects related to Statistics.

If you have a statistic bent of mind, then Knowledge in statistics provides you way to extract information intelligently from the sea of data available everywhere.

Purpose: The admission to the master’s courses at ISI Kolkata is through an entrance test. The admission tests are held at a number of centres in India. The overall merit is judged based on performance in test and interview both. Sometimes past academics records are also considered. Following PG Courses are available:

M Stat M Math Master of Science in Quantitative Economics Master of Science in Quality Management Science Master of Science in Library and Information Science Master of Technology in Computer Science (Additional requirement GATE Score card) Master of Technology in Cryptology and Security (Additional requirement GATE Score card) Master of Technology in Quality, Reliability & Operations Research Postgraduate Diploma in Statistical Methods & Analytics Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications Postgraduate Diploma in Business Analytics

Eligibility: In order to be eligible for admission to PG programme, an applicant must have:

a three-year Bachelor’s degree or a BE/B Tech degree with Statistics/Mathematics as a subject, or a B Math / B Stat degree from ISI, or a Post-Graduate Diploma in Statistical Methods and Analytics from ISI

The detailed eligibility criterial for ISI Kolkata Admission Test is given here.

Exam Dates: The exam is held in the month of May every year.

Procedure to Apply: The online application process commences in February month.

Website: https://www.isical.ac.in/

INAT:

Space, the final frontier. There is still very little that we actually understand about the vast universe that we live in. To make a step ahead towards your career in Astrophysics and Astronomy, INAT can be an important milestone.

Purpose:
To find passionate students for research in Astrophysics and Astronomy at IUCAA-NCRA Pune Campus.

Eligibility: According to the INAT official website, any Science or Technology graduate can apply for this exam.

We are looking for highly motivated students with a consistently good academic record. While we strongly encourage students from engineering backgrounds to apply for INAT-2018, we emphasize that we are looking for students who are interested in carrying out doctoral research in Physics, or Astronomy and Astrophysics. We hence expect prospective candidates to have a good understanding of basic Physics.

Exam Dates: The exam will be conducted in December.

Procedure to Apply: The online application is slightly different from other exams. The Online Applications will begin in September 2018.

There are Three steps in the application procedure.

1. Candidates must first register by entering their name and valid e-mail address in the appropriate registration boxes below. An application password will then be automatically sent to the candidates’ e-mail address; the e-mail address and the password must be entered in order to fill out the Online Application Form.

2. The Application Form also requires the names and e-mail addresses of two referees.

3. When the form is submitted, E-mails will also be automatically sent to the two referees, requesting them to fill and submit the online Confidential Assessment Form. The candidates should inform their referees about the Assessment Form.

Website: http://inat.ncra.tifr.res.in/INAT2016/candidate/Guidelines.ncra

GATE Science:

The entry to an IIT is considered to be “the beginning” of growth and prosperity in one’s professional life. Hence, the IIT fever is always tempting among Science scholars. GATE is mainly for admission to M.Tech. courses but there is a catch for B.Sc. students.

GATE Science is conducted for following subjects:

Physics Chemistry Mathematics Biotechnology Life Sciences Engineering Sciences Geology and Geophysics Statistics

Purpose:  Qualifying GATE is mandatory for seeking admission or financial assistance to:

1. Masters or Direct Doctoral programmes in Engineering/Technology/Architecture.

2. Doctoral programmes in relevant exams of Science in MHRD/Govt. supported institutes.

3. Recruitment in some PSUs.

 

Eligibility: Those who don’t have Engineering Degrees post a lot of questions related to their eligibility for GATE exam. Unfortunately, B.Sc. BCA and BCS (three years degree) students are not eligible for GATE Exam.

But, B.Sc. (Tech), a four years degree, final year students are eligible for GATE Science. Also, B.Sc. (Research)/ B.S./ Integrated B.S. – M.S. are eligible for the exam.

Exam Dates: GATE Exam 2019 will be on 2^nd Feb, 3^rd, 9^th and 10^th Feb 2019.

Procedure to Apply: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras has released the official details for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2019 exam.

Candidates can register for the examination online between 1^st September and 21^st September 2018 on the GATE official website

Website: http://gate.iitm.ac.in/

That’s a wrap from Eduncle team. As mentioned above, there are large number of courses available. Please make sure that you take your own time and think before you choose a course. Another thing to keep in mind is, whether the course suits the student’s aptitude or not!

Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid.

BSc might or might not be your own choice of career as a teenage fall into the prey of parental and societal pressures at that time easily. But, now you are grown up to make a well-informed step and we hope that our article helped you up to some extent.

If you still have any doubt, Ask Eduncle team by dropping a comment below. We look forward hear your comments and answer them to fill the gaps in your knowledge.