JEST 2020 Exam - Dates, Application Form (Out), Syllabus, Results

What is JEST?

Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is conducted jontly by several premier research institutes in the country. JEST 2020 is conducted to offer admission to aspirants in PhD / Integrated PhD courses offered in courses such as Physics, Theoretical Computer Science, Neuroscience and Computational Biology.

JEST 2020 score will be valid for one year duration only.

There is no cap on taking JEST exam, aspirants can appear for it any number of times. Aspirants are informed that securing a rank in JEST does not confirm admission in any college accepting the exam scores for admission. After qualifying JEST exam, candidates need to fulfill the eligibility criteria as listed by individual colleges.

JEST is considered to be a National Eligibility Test (NET) by Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB). Aspirants who are seeking admission in PhD or Integrated PhD programmes in Physics or Theoretical Computer Science or Neuroscience or Computational Biology need to give JEST exam.

The official website of JEST states: “The Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) (statutory body established through an Act of Parliament) recognizes JEST as a National Eligibility Test (NET) in their office Memo vide OM No.SB/S9/Z-01/2015.  Fellows working in SERB programmes and qualified in NET are eligible to get enhanced fellowship”. 

Latest Updates:

• Last date to fill JEST application form 2020 is December 14
• JEST 2020 application forms out
• JEST 2020 exam dates out

JEST Exam Highlights

Important JEST 2020 Exam Dates

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria

Listed below is general JEST 2020 eligibility criteria for MSc, PhD and Integrated/MSc/MTech - PhD programmes. To view detailed eligibility criteria for admission in programmes offered at colleges accepting JEST scores for admission, candidates are advised to visit the official website of the respective colleges/institutes.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for PhD programme in Physics

The eligibility criteria to take JEST exam for PhD course in Physics varies from college to college.

• MSc in Physics (in all participating Institutes).
• MSc in Mathematics / Applied Physics / Applied Mathematics / Optics and Photonics / Instrumentation / Electronics will also be considered at Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore.
• BE or BTech will be considered at IISc, IMSc, ICTS-TIFR, IUCAA, JNCASR, NCRA-TIFR, TIFR-TCIS, RRI, IISER Mohali, IISER Pune, IISER Thiruvananthapuram.
• MSc in Physics / Electronics / Astronomy / Applied Mathematics will be considered at IUCAA.
• MSc in Physics, Engineering Physics or Applied Physics will also be considered at IPR.
• MSc in Physics, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, Biophysics or Biochemistry will be considered at SNBNCBS.
• BTech Eng Phys will be considered at TIFR.
• ME/MTech in Applied Physics will be considered at NISER.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for PhD programme in Theoretical Computer Science at IMSc

• MSc/ME/MTech.in Computer Science and related disciplines, and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Neuroscience at NBRC

• MSc (Physics/ Mathematics), BE/BTech/MCA in Computer Science

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Computational Biology at IMSc

• MSc/ME/MTech?/MCA in any engineering or science discipline, with good mathematical skills and strong interest in biological problems.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated MSc/MTech - PhD Programme (Physics)

• BSc (Physics/Mathematics) will be considered at SNBNCBS.
• BSc (Physics) will be considered at IMSc.
• BSc (Physics/Mathematics/BE/BTech in Electrical/Instrumentation/Engineering Physics/Electronics and Communications/Computer Science and Engineering/Optics and Photonics will be considered in IIA.
• BSc (Physics) or BE/BTech in Engineering Physics, with a minimum of first class marks, will be considered at NISER.
• BSc (Physics) will be considered at IISER-Pune, ICTS-TIFR, NCRA-TIFR, and TIFR-TCIS.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated PhD Programme in Theoretical Computer Science at IMSc

• BSc/BE/BTech/MCA in Computer Science or related disciplines and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated MTech - PhD Programme at IIA

• MSc (Physics/Applied Physics/Post-BSc (Hons) in Optics and Optoelectronics / Radio Physics and Electronics.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated PhD Programme at IISER Thiruvananthapuram

• BSc (Physics) or BE/BTech in any discipline.

JEST 2020 Eligibility Criteria for MSc Programme at HRI

• BSc (Physics) or BE/BTech degree in any discipline.
• HRI is starting a new MSc programme in Physics from 2020. The Integrated PhD programme in Physics at HRI is discontinued from 2020.

Age Limit: There is no age restriction for appearing in JEST exam.

JEST 2020 Courses on Offer

Courses in which aspirants can secure admission based on their JEST result are as mentioned below:

JEST 2020: List of Colleges accepting Scores

JEST exam is a means through which aspirants can secure admission in PhD and integrated PhD programmes. Go through the list of JEST participating colleges below.

Read more: List of colleges & courses for JEST admission.

JEST 2020 Admission Process

Candidates need to go through the below mentioned steps to take part in JEST admission process successfully.

Step 1: Fill JEST Application Form

Candidates can only fill JEST 2020 application form online. Once they have duly filled the application form they need to pay the application fee which can be done online using credit/debit card or even net banking. Application fee payment will only be accepted online. No other mode would be accepted.

Step 2: Get JEST Admit Card

Aspirants need to download JEST 2020 admit card from the official website of the exam. The official website informs: “Admit cards will Not be sent by post/email. Bring a print-out of the downloaded Admit Card and one of your photo-ids to the examination center”.

Step 3: Give Joint Entrance Screening Test

Aspirants need to appear for JEST 2020 exam according to the date, time and venue mentioned on their admit card. JEST exam is of three hours duration and would be conducted on the exam date from 10 am to 1 pm.

Step 4: Check JEST Result

Candidates can check their JEST 2020 result by filling in details, such as, their roll number and date of birth on the official website of the exam.

Step 5: Contact Colleges Accepting JEST Scores

After aspirants qualify JEST 2020 exam they need to contact colleges that accept JEST scores for admission and further fulfill the admission criteria as listed by them. 

JEST 2020 Exam Centres

JEST 2020 test centres have not been shared yet. However, for reference candidates can go through last year's test centres for JEST exam in the table below: