The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru is a public deemed research university founded in 1909.[1] It had 5,678 students on roll on 31 January 2026, of whom 2,522 were PhD students and 1,267 M.Tech students.[2] It is ranked 221st in the QS World University Rankings 2027, tied with IIT Kanpur.[3]
For 2026/27, annual tuition for General, OBC and EWS students is INR 200,000 for the B.Tech, INR 80,000 for the BS (Research), INR 20,000 for the PhD and INR 15,000 for the M.Tech.[4] International and OCI/PIO (F) students on the B.Tech and BS (Research) pay the General-category fees.[5][6]
Key facts
| Official name | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) |
| Location | Bengaluru (Bangalore), Karnataka, postal code 560 012[7] |
| Type | Public deemed research university; Institute of Eminence since 2018[1] |
| Founded | 1909, with support from Jamsetji Tata and Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV; vesting order signed 27 May 1909[1] |
| Students on roll | 5,678 on 31 January 2026 (PhD 2,522, M.Tech 1,267)[2] |
| Faculty | 490 members on roll (31 January 2026)[2] |
| Structure | Seven academic divisions including the Tata IISc Medical School; more than 40 departments[8] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 221st, tied with IIT Kanpur[3] |
| NIRF 2025 (India’s national ranking) | 2nd overall; 1st among universities[9] |
| Tuition 2026/27, B.Tech | INR 200,000 per year (General, OBC, EWS); INR 220,800 in total in the first year including refundable deposits[10] |
| Tuition 2026/27, other programmes | BS (Research) INR 80,000; M.Mgt INR 200,000; M.Sc INR 16,000; PhD INR 20,000; M.Tech and M.Des INR 15,000[4] |
| Stipend for PhD students | INR 37,000 per month for the first two years, INR 42,000 from year 3 to year 5[11] |
| Language | English is the medium of instruction; research applicants’ bachelor’s degree must have been taught in English[12][5] |
| Official website | iisc.ac.in |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About the Indian Institute of Science
According to Wikipedia, IISc was established with support from Jamsetji Tata and Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, and the vesting order was signed on 27 May 1909. It was granted deemed-university status in 1958 and recognised as an Institute of Eminence in 2018.[1]
The institute lists seven academic divisions: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Electrical, Electronics and Computer Sciences, Interdisciplinary Sciences, Mechanical Sciences, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and the Tata IISc Medical School. It says it started with two departments and today has over 40.[8] On 31 January 2026 it counted 490 faculty members and 363 postdoctoral fellows.[2]
Wikipedia describes the institute’s undergraduate offer as a four-year BS (Research) launched in 2011 and B.Tech programmes since 2023, with aerospace engineering and materials science added in 2026.[1]
How is IISc ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, IISc Bengaluru is 221st in the world, tied with IIT Kanpur. Among Indian institutions it follows IIT Delhi (118th), IIT Bombay (134th) and IIT Madras (170th).[3]
In India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of September 2025, IISc is 2nd overall and 1st in the universities category.[9] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at IISc?
Wikipedia lists these programme types:[1]
- Undergraduate: four-year BS (Research) and B.Tech.
- Postgraduate coursework: two-year M.Tech, Master of Management (M.Mgt), Master of Design (M.Des) and M.Sc.
- Research: M.Tech (Research), PhD in about 40 disciplines and an Integrated PhD.
IISc’s office for international relations names the programmes open to international applicants as the BS (Research), the M.Tech, M.Des and M.Mgt course programmes, and the PhD and M.Tech (Research) programmes.[11]
How much does IISc cost in 2026/27?
| Programme | Annual tuition 2026/27 (INR), General, OBC, EWS |
|---|---|
| B.Tech | 200,000 |
| BS (Research) | 80,000 |
| M.Mgt | 200,000 |
| M.Sc (Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physics) | 16,000 |
| PhD | 20,000 |
| M.Tech (Research), Integrated PhD, M.Tech, M.Des | 15,000 |
These are the annual tuition amounts on IISc’s fees page, which carries no date.[4] The institute’s fee circular of 2 April 2026 sets the structure for students joining from 2026–27 with effect from 1 August 2026.[7] For the B.Tech, the annual fee table adds INR 1,800 gymkhana fee, INR 3,700 other academic fees and INR 300 student emergency fund, plus INR 15,000 in refundable deposits in the first year, for a first-year total of INR 220,800.[10]
Do international students pay more?
On the B.Tech and the BS (Research), international and OCI/PIO (F) students pay the General-category fees.[5][6] For research programmes the international office says fees are similar to those for Indian citizens.[12] Its pages quote approximate yearly totals that differ from the circular and from each other: about INR 29,200 for the M.Tech course and INR 37,000 for the M.Tech (Research) or PhD excluding hostel on one page,[11] and PhD tuition of about INR 50,000 per year on another.[12] We therefore give the circular-based tuition above and advise you to confirm the total for your programme with the institute.
Hostel and stipend
Hostel is optional. The FAQ page asks for INR 45,000 on arrival (INR 20,000 refundable deposit and INR 25,000 advance mess and room rent for five months),[11] while the PhD page names INR 55,000.[12] Admitted M.Tech course students receive a stipend of INR 12,400 per month; PhD students receive INR 37,000 per month for the first two years and INR 42,000 from year 3 to year 5, subject to passing the comprehensive exam.[11]
For living costs in Bengaluru, see our India guide.
How do international students apply to IISc?
IISc has a separate route for foreign nationals, and the rules depend on the programme.
- B.Tech: admission is conducted exclusively through JoSAA. Foreign nationals do not need JEE (Main) and may register for JEE (Advanced) 2026 directly. For 2026–27 the page lists foreign-national supernumerary seats in Mathematics and Computing (5), Aerospace Engineering (3), Materials Science and Engineering (3) and Mechanics and Computing (3). Foreign nationals get no reservation benefits, and IISc runs no separate entrance exam for the B.Tech.[5]
- BS (Research): there are 5 seats for international students, including OCI/PIO (F) cardholders. Mode 1 uses SAT or ACT scores and an online personal interview; Mode 2 uses IAT or JEE (Advanced) rank without an interview. There is no application fee for international students.[6]
- PhD and M.Tech (Research): foreign nationals with a foreign passport can apply. The degree must be equivalent to a B.E./B.Tech. (four years) or an M.Sc. (two years after a three-year bachelor’s). Shortlisting is based on qualifications, followed by an interview. A GATE, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL score is preferred but not mandatory.[12]
- M.Tech course: the FAQ says the M.Tech course requires standard test scores (GRE, GRE Subject or GATE) and suggests applying for the research programme if you have none.[11]
OCI cardholders fall into categories depending on when the card was issued: a card issued on or after 4 March 2021 means applying only for foreign-national supernumerary seats.[12] We give no deadlines because they change every year; see the admissions portal of the institute before you start.
Which English level do you need?
The B.Tech page says the medium of instruction is English and names no English test or score.[5] For research programmes, the bachelor’s degree must have been taught in English; a standard test score (GATE, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL) is preferred but not mandatory.[12] The FAQ answers “No” to whether TOEFL or IELTS is required but asks you to add a valid score to the application. For undergraduate applications the Class 12 (or equivalent) medium of instruction should have been English.[11]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the tuition at IISc in 2026/27?
Annual tuition for General, OBC and EWS students is INR 200,000 for the B.Tech, INR 80,000 for the BS (Research), INR 20,000 for the PhD and INR 15,000 for the M.Tech.[4]
Do international students pay different fees at IISc?
How is IISc ranked in the QS ranking?
It is 221st in the QS World University Rankings 2027, tied with IIT Kanpur.[3]
How many international students does IISc admit to the B.Tech?
The 2026–27 page lists foreign-national supernumerary seats in four programmes: Mathematics and Computing (5), Aerospace Engineering (3), Materials Science and Engineering (3) and Mechanics and Computing (3).[5]
Do PhD students at IISc receive a stipend?
Yes. The international office quotes INR 37,000 per month for the first two years and INR 42,000 per month from year 3 to year 5, subject to passing the comprehensive exam.[11]
More about studying in India
- India: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in India
- Amity University (Noida)
- Anna University
- Banaras Hindu University
- BITS Pilani
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Indore
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Jadavpur University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- University of Delhi
- University of Hyderabad
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: Indian Institute of Science (history and status; secondary source)
[2] IISc: IISc in numbers (data of 31 Jan 2026)
[3] Business Today: QS World University Rankings 2027, 12 IITs lead India’s 20 best universities (article of 18 Jun 2026; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[4] IISc: Fee structure and scholarships/fellowships (page without a date)
[5] IISc Office of International Relations: B.Tech program 2026–2027 (page without a date; header shows the viewing date)
[6] IISc Office of International Relations: BS (Research) program 2026–2027 (page without a date; header shows the viewing date)
[7] IISc: Fee circular for academic year 2026–27 (PDF) (circular dated 2 Apr 2026, effective 1 Aug 2026)
[8] IISc: About (page without a date)
[9] India TV News: NIRF 2025 rankings, IIT Madras retains top rank (article of 4 Sep 2025; another report of the same day (The News Minute/IANS) lists a different overall order, and we follow this full top-10 list)
[10] IISc B.Tech: Fee structure (page without a date; AY 2026–27)
[11] IISc Office of International Relations: FAQs (page without a date; header shows the viewing date)
[12] IISc Office of International Relations: PhD and M.Tech (Research) admission (page without a date; header shows the viewing date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.