Which is the best IISER in India?

One of the best IISERs, based on students' reviews on Shiksha.com, and so, according to the NIRF Ranking 2025, is the IISER Pune campus. The college is considered to be the best based on course structure and affiliations with foreign universities.

Every science student who plans to specialise in the Research & Development (R&D) aims to get admission into the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). In India, seven IISERs are operating under the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). Each one of the seven IISERs is located at Kolkata,  Mohali, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhopal, Tirupati and  Berhampur. Each IISER is best in its own right. Hence, naming one particular IISER institute as the best is not possible.

Factors Determining Best IISER

Some of the factors to determine the best IISER institutes are as follows:

Academics: Check for the specialisations offered, course curriculum, library, laboratory, and other infrastructural resources at the campus.

Faculty: Check the faculty list of the institute in terms of their experience and trajectories in terms of colleges or universities attended, research papers submitted or topics of obtaining a PhD, awards won, etc.

NIRF Ranking: The National Institute and Ranking Framework is conducted by the Ministry of Education (MoE), and is considered one of the most credible rankings. As per NIRF Ranking 2025, IISER Pune is the top-ranked IISER institute with an All India Rank 55 in the Research Institutes category, followed by IISER Kolkata with 67 rank.

Student Reviews: Check student reviews on social media platforms to know the most authentic and genuine feedback.

Other factors: A few other factors include the location, alumni network, and placements, among others.

Which is the best IISER?

One of the best IISERs, based on students' reviews on Shiksha.com, is the Pune campus. The college is considered to be the best based on course structure and affiliations with foreign universities. However, IISER Pune, Mohali, and Kolkata are among the top three choices for students planning to venture into R&D. These institutes offer five-year dual-degree courses(BS-MS) to the eligible candidates. One of the problems that these institutes face is the lack of recognition. These institutes are relatively new in the education industry, which is why people are not very aware of these institutions.

NIRF Ranking Comparison Between IISERs

Below is the list of IISERs that are located in India:

Departments at IISER Pune

Candidates can look into the broad aspects of various departments at IISER Pune:

Biology:

Research involves a range of contemporary and frontier areas relevant to biological systems. We represent a broad swathe of focus areas, involving both molecular as well as a systems-level understanding of biological systems. We encourage collaborative and cross-disciplinary research that integrates physical and engineering principles to answer key biological questions.

Chemistry:

It has become increasingly interdisciplinary as the fundamental queries of sciences focus on the chemical nature of matter. By cultivating both strong academic relations between our students and faculty, and successful connection between course and research programmes, students at IISER Pune can succeed at the frontiers of research in chemistry and chemical biology.

Data Science:

The development of data science as a distinct field of research and education has been propelled by the exponential growth in both quantity and complexity of data, not just in the sciences, but in all domains of life. Even as the exact nature or definition of data science continues to evolve, the novel techniques originating in the field have already begun to make a deep impact in natural sciences ranging from single-cell biology to astronomy, in social sciences, in public health, as well as in industrial applications.

The department envisions a synthesis of the three foundations of data science: (i) statistics and probability, (ii) applied mathematics, and (iii) computer science. It naturally builds on the existing core strengths of IISER Pune in basic sciences and humanities. The department focuses on a three-tiered strategy of education, research, and innovation in all domains of data science. These include theoretical underpinnings, development of new methods, and a variety of applications. The department seeks to cultivate collaborations with other departments in the institute as well as other academic and industry researchers. 

Earth and Climate Sciences:

An approach to consider the Earth as a single integrated system is emerging as a powerful tool. This integrative approach helps to understand this slowly evolving system that has been in dynamic equilibrium for billions of years, cycling matter and energy through its subsystems, providing a resource for the survival of its habitat.

We are especially interested in understanding the interaction between the subsystems of the dynamic Earth, such as the solid Earth, water, atmosphere, and life through time using a modern analytical and computational approach. Our research goals try to address the challenging questions in Earth and Climate Science and are diverse, spanning from the deep-earth to the clouds.

Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)

Department at IISER Pune plays a multifaceted role to further the mandate of the institute. The faculty members of the department offer courses and conduct research in fundamental humanities and social sciences disciplines as well as interdisciplinary areas that cut across different social and natural sciences. The department generates scholarship in disciplines including history, architecture, literature, film and media studies, development studies, economics, political science and sociology. At the same time, the department is engaged in exploring the critical societal interface between the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Through such interfaces, the members of the department expand the horizons of their own disciplines, generate interdisciplinary knowledge and pedagogic content, shape social and environmental policy, and catalyse community-level social change. The department has a doctoral programme through which advanced research is carried out by candidates in areas that can be supervised by our faculty. Prospective PhD applicants can write to individual faculty members for informal queries and apply through the PhD application portal.

Department of Science Education (DSE)

This department was established in 2021 at IISER Pune with the belief that critical interventions are required in the yet-underdeveloped field of science education in India. Science education straddles two interrelated areas: conceptual aspects relevant to science disciplines and the pedagogic (learning-teaching) aspects employed to develop and convey these concepts in formal and informal settings, combining educational theory and practice. Science education deals with the development of effective and interesting teaching methods and resources. Factors such as cognitive, psychological, and social elements are taken into consideration. It also strives to create methods of testing, evaluation, and assessment. It also teaches about the nature of science, the philosophy and sociology of science teaching, among others. 

Placements of IISERs

IISERs are usually considered as the IITs for the science students who want to pursue their career in Biological, Mathematical, Physical, Chemical, Earth Science and other fields of Sciences. They have their presence and provide high-quality academics and good placements. As these institutes are young in the educational industry, most of the people do not have proper awareness regarding them. It is also rumoured that the career prospects of IISER graduates are limited. However, this is not correct. These institutes offer bright career prospects of IISER, both the private and public sector organisations.

The kind of training students receive from IISERs make them equipped to work in different areas like Research and Development, Science related industries, etc. IISER prepares its students to be at the level for a Scientist position than focusing on making them engineers or doctors. But the flexibility in the educational system makes it possible for an IISER graduate to become an engineer after completing their studies from any of this premier institutes. Reputed organizations like GE healthcare, L'oreal, Ranbaxy, Unilever etc. are hiring students from these institutes.

Let us take a look at some of the career options IISER graduates can try out :

Research

One of the major career options for IISER graduates is Research. Post the BS-MS course and a Ph.D., the graduates can join any research labs or CSIR labs to grow better in their career path.

Teaching

Often regarded as one of the most secure and stable jobs, IISER graduates can definitely give this a shot. After qualifying competitive exams like NET or UPSC, they can apply for a teaching job at a College or University.

Research and Development

After finishing the studies, one can work as a Scientist in the Research and Development department of any organization. The only thing needed for this is to ensure that you have done an internship or a project in these industries.

Government Services

Government jobs are another most sought after thing in the current job market. Graduates can apply for multiple positions in government services. They can also try attempting the civil services exams too as the government recognizes IISER degrees.

So, the career options for IISER graduates are plentiful. It is often considered that Research and Development would be the best career option for an IISER pass out. Nowadays, there are plenty of resources to know about the types of courses, colleges, career options. Shiksha.com is an online platform to know about the courses, colleges, fee structures, and career prospects. I would suggest going through such websites would be insightful for a career aspirant.

Salary Packages After IISER (BS-MS or Integrated PhD)

Graduating from an IISER (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research) typically leads to strong career prospects, especially in research, academia, and STEM industries. However, salary packages after IISER depend heavily on the path a student takes after graduation.

Courses offered at IISER Pune

Students can go through the list of courses offered at IISER Pune in the table below:

IISER Admission Process (For UG courses)

The admisison to IISER is based on the IAT exam. This is a computer-based test conducted once a year. Candidates who qualify in the entrace exam are enrolled in BS-MS dual degree/ BS degree (IISER Bhopal) programmes offered by IISER institutions in India. IISER admissions for the academic session 2026-2027 have not started yet. The IAT 2026 exam will be conducted tentatively in May 2026, at various exam centres across the nation. 

Candidates have to register online to appear for the IISER 2026 exam. The qualifying students need to participate in the counselling process for admission. IISER rank will be considered for admission.

Candidates can check out the IISER 2026 upcoming dates from here:

Also Read: IISER 2026 Marks vs Rank: Check IAT 2026 Expected Closing Rank Here 

List of IISER in India

Here is the list of IISER Colleges in India. 

Read More: 

• List of IISERs in India – Courses, Fee, Admission Process, Placements & Cutoffs
• IISER Entrance Exam Participating Institutes 2026

• List of ICARs in India- Courses, Fee, Admission Process

• Top Agricultural Universities in India - Rank, Offered Courses