Science Entrance Exams 2027: At a Glance
Key Exam Dates tracks 7 science entrance exams for the 2027 admission season in India.
Official 2027 dates have not yet been published for any exam in this stream. Each row below shows the previous cycle's confirmed dates as reference, labelled as such, and is updated the day an official notification appears.
All dates verified against official exam-authority notifications. Last updated . How we verify.
Science – Institute Level Entrance Exams 2027
| Exam | Application Start | Application Deadline | Exam Date | Mode | Target Colleges | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IAT (IISER) 2027
Integrated Aptitude Test for IISER
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: 05 Mar 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 13 Apr 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 07 Jun 2026 |
CBT Center | All IISERs + IISc | Official |
|
NEST 2027
National Entrance Screening Test
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: 05 Jan 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 08 Apr 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 06 Jun 2026 |
CBT Center | NISER & UM-DAE CEBS | Official |
|
ISI Admission 2027
Indian Statistical Institute Admission Test
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: 12 Feb 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 26 Mar 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 10 May 2026 |
Offline | Indian Statistical Institute | Official |
|
CMI Entrance 2027
Chennai Mathematical Institute Entrance Examination
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: 02 Mar 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 04 Apr 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 02 May 2026 |
Offline | Chennai Mathematical Institute | Official |
|
MET (Manipal) 2027
Manipal Entrance Test Science
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: 30 Sep 2025 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: Ph 1: 15 Mar 2026 | Ph 2: 25 Apr 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: Ph 1: 13-14 Apr 2026 | Ph 2: 23-24 May 2026 |
CBT Center | B.Sc Programs (MAHE) | Official |
|
Christ University Entrance 2027
Christ University Science Entrance Test
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: 03 Dec 2025 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 30 Mar 2026 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 06 Apr 2026 (Session 2) |
CBT Center | B.Sc Programs | Official |
|
SNUSAT 2027
Shiv Nadar University Scholastic Aptitude Test Science
|
To be announced 2026 cycle: Nov 2025 |
To be announced 2026 cycle: 31 Mar 2026 (Ph 3) |
To be announced 2026 cycle: Ph 1: 11 Jan 2026 | Ph 2: 08 Feb 2026 | Ph 3: 12 Apr 2026 |
Remote Proctored | Shiv Nadar University | Official |
Science Admissions 2027: Frequently Asked Questions
Top path: IISER/NISER/IISc → Integrated MS → PhD. Alternative: B.Sc (Hons) from good university → IIT JAM for M.Sc → CSIR NET/GATE for PhD. IISERs (through IAT/JEE Advanced) offer the most research-intensive undergraduate environment.
IAT is less competitive than JEE Advanced. Around 40,000 students compete for ~2,000 IISER seats. Focus is on conceptual understanding rather than speed. Strong Class 11-12 fundamentals with aptitude for research helps. Consider IAT as parallel option to JEE.
IISER IAT: Registration typically opens in March-April, exam in June. Also accepts JEE Advanced and KVPY/INSPIRE scores. NEST (for NISER/CEBS): Registration in March-April, exam in June. IISc (BS program): Through JEE Main/Advanced or KVPY. Apply to all three simultaneously — the timelines overlap and each gives access to different top science institutes.
CUET covers most central universities for B.Sc admission (DU, JNU, BHU). However, IISERs, NISER, IISc have separate exams (IAT, NEST). Some state universities still use merit. Apply to multiple pathways for best results.
PCM options: B.Sc (Maths/Physics/Statistics), Actuarial Science, Data Science, Architecture (NATA), Merchant Navy, Defence (NDA). PCB options: B.Sc (Biology/Microbiology/Genetics), Agriculture, Nursing, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Forensic Science. Pure Science is a genuine career path — not a fallback.
Integrated M.Sc (5 years) at IISERs/NISER/IISc provides uninterrupted research exposure and saves 1 year. B.Sc (Hons) + M.Sc (3+2) offers flexibility to change fields or institutions. For committed researchers, integrated programs are better.
Well-funded path. After M.Sc/Integrated MS, qualify CSIR NET JRF/GATE/DBT-JRF for ₹31,000-37,000/month fellowship. IISc/IISERs offer direct PhD with fellowship. Science PhDs in India have better financial support than humanities.
For IIT Bombay/Delhi M.Sc Physics/Chemistry: Top 200-300 rank. IISc: Top 100 rank. Other IITs: Top 500-1000 rank. JAM is moderate difficulty with ~55,000 candidates for ~3,000 seats across IITs and IISc. Requires 3-4 months dedicated preparation.
Directly after B.Sc: Lab Technician, Research Assistant, School Teacher (₹3-5L). With further study: M.Sc opens CSIR scientist, DRDO, pharma R&D roles (₹6-10L). Data Science/Analytics with a B.Sc Maths/Statistics background pays ₹5-12L. Government jobs (SSC, state PSC, bank) are also very accessible to science graduates.
Yes, many pathways exist. B.Sc (Hons) from good central or state universities → IIT JAM for M.Sc → CSIR NET/GATE for PhD at top institutes. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), JNCASR, NCBS also recruit from non-IISER backgrounds. Strong research output matters more than the undergraduate institution at PhD level.
Science institute exams follow a steady annual cycle: IISER IAT and NEST (NISER) notifications have typically released between February and April with exams in June, while ISI and CMI admissions open around March–April. Expect the same windows for the 2028 and 2029 cycles. This page is updated with verified dates within days of each official announcement.