JEST Exam Eligibility: Qualifications, Age Limit & Important Instructions

Students who want to appear in the JEST exam should meet certain eligibility criteria to attend the JEST 2026 examination. The student should have an appropriate age, qualification, marks required in the MSc programme.

To appear for the Ph.D in physics or other related programme students should have a MSc degree in maths/applied maths/applied physics and many other related degrees (any of these). 

Before applying for the JEST 2026 examination students are advised to mention their accomplishment as per the criteria. If any student does not meet the requirement then their JEST application form will not be accepted. Read this Shiksha Article to understand the qualifications, age limit, and important instructions.

JEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The JEST full form is Joint Entrance Screening Test. Here students can check the JEST 2026 eligibility criteria of their preferred institute that they have opted for in this table. 

List of Expected Participating Colleges JEST 2026 

Here is the list of expected JEST participating institutes 2026:

• Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital
• Bose Institute, Kolkata
• Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai
• Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad
• International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)-TIFR, Bangalore
• Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore
• Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram
• Indian Institute of Space Science  and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram
• The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai
• Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar
• Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar
• Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore
• National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar
• National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)-TIFR, Pune
• National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar
• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
• Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore
• Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore
• Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata
• Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata
• TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TCIS), Hyderabad
• Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai
• UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE CSR), Indore
• Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata
• TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TIFR-TCIS), Hyderabad

JEST Eligibility Important Instructions

JEST eligibility depends on the program opted by the student. Here are some of the specific eligibility criteria for the students: 

1. Students must have a qualifying degree in relevant subjects like MSc in Physics and other related fields. 
2. Final Year students in BSc or MSc degrees can also apply for the JEST entrance exam 2026.
3. There is no (specific) age restriction to appear for the JEST exam.
4. Students should bring their JEST 2026 admit card with a valid photo ID proof at the exam center.
5. Application fee is required, with a different fee for many categories. 

Note: The fee is fully waived for female students in SC/ST category. For more updates students are advised to go through JEST official website.

JEST Entrance Exam (Total Number of Attempts)

Students should know that there is no limitation on the number of attempts for the JEST entrance exam. Students can appear for the exam many times without any restriction.

But the JEST score is valid for one year only. So, students need to give the exam again in a particular year.

JEST 2026 Age Limit Criteria

No age limit for the JEST 2026 exam, as the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) does not have any upper age criteria for students to appear in the exam.

But some of the participating institutes have their own specific eligibility criteria, which students must clear to take admission in the specific PhD and integrated PhD programs.