Ajay Shispal's Review On Indian Institute Of Science Education And Research - [IISER], Kolkata

I am interested in doing PhD from one of the best university in foreign and for that IISERs are great platform and among IISERs, IISER Kolkata is best. Students after doing their graduation from here easily secure PhD position in foreign universities.

The faculty to student ratio as a whole would be roughly 1:10, and during the final year of BS-MS, a faculty supervises a maximum of 3 students to get the highest research output. The course curriculum is competitive and can often be difficult. The mathematics curriculum is often found to be the hardest, and only the brightest can farewell in them. The course pattern is updated very frequently according to the recent trends in research. In the higher years, many teachers provide term papers to test the research potential of students and also to invoke interest among them in the field. The examinations are carried out in various modules and the overall performance of students throughout the semester matters. Seminars and colloquiums are held regularly with distinguished speakers of India and abroad giving insightful talks. Students are always encouraged to participate in them.

ISER Kolkata is striving to increase the placement options for students, and a placement cell is being formed. IISER Kolkata has an entrepreneurship cell to help young entrepreneurs to bring their ideas into reality. IISER Kolkata students often get good research-oriented internships in India and abroad in universities and research institutes. Some notable places where students of IISER Kolkata have been offered short internships are Princeton University, UCLA, EPFL, Gottingen University, Lund University and many more. Some national level undergraduate research programs where IISER-K students often get selected include VSRP, SRFP, ICTS, SN Bhatt fellowship programme and more. Most of these offer a good stipend and TA.

The most important event hosted by the student community is Inquivesta, the annual fest of IISER K. This is a fest of one of its kind, and many events are held. Being a scientific community, the fest often has a scientific flavour in it with many events testing the intellect of participants. Students from different colleges and universities visit here during this time. Other than that, the Inter IIISER sports meet and Inter IISER cultural meet are organised by one of the IISERs or NISER or IISc each year, and IISER K actively participates in them.

Classrooms are spacious, air-conditioned and equipped with projectors and a computer. The library is still improving, but for an institute of only a decade old, it is faring quite well. There is plenty of variety in sports and games, and one may choose from athletics, football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, cricket, badminton, table tennis and chess to engage oneself. All these games have their playing area and are quite well-equipped. There is a high-end gym. Recently, a swimming pool has been constructed. IISER-K has a medical unit, and a general doctor is available every day except Sunday. A physiotherapist and a psychiatrist also visit the institute from time to time. The institute also has a high-end ambulance service for an emergency. The medical centre can be improved a bit. The staff are often a bit lackadaisical and not well-informed. But all in all, unless one has serious complications, can expect to get treated here.