IISER Mohali institutional profile: quick facts you need now

IISER Mohali was established in 2007 and is an institute of national importance spread over 125 acres , ranked 70 in NIRF overall (2025). This profile collects the numbers and dates you must use while planning your BS‑MS application and IAT 2026 schedule.

Quick snapshot: What students should know at a glance

• Institute type: Government institute of national importance. Faculty strength: 119 .
• Five‑year UG student pool: 1,139 students (male 684 , female 455 ).
• Most students are from outside the state: 1,073 (94.21%). International UG students: 9 .
• IISER Mohali BS‑MS seats: 275 (out of 2,043 total seats across IISERs). Alumni count: 3,028 .

Why this snapshot matters: the scale of faculty, the small campus seat share and the strong preference among students for higher studies (noted in placement stats) shape how competitive admissions and campus life feel. If you want research exposure and a science‑focused environment, these numbers show where Mohali stands.

Courses, majors and how the BS–MS programme works

IISER Mohali offers the five‑year integrated BS–MS dual degree. Core majors include:

• Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth & Environmental Sciences.

You can pick interdisciplinary minors and electives such as Data Science, Astronomy, Earth & Environmental Sciences, and options from Humanities & Social Sciences. The programme follows a typical trajectory:

• Foundation years with broad core courses across physics, chemistry, maths and biology.
• Major declaration after initial years, when you start discipline‑specific advanced courses.
• Research project or thesis in the final year, often supervised by faculty involved in active research.

This structure suits students who want early lab exposure and a pathway into MSc/PhD or research roles after the BS–MS.

Admissions simplified: eligibility, channels and selection criteria

Eligibility basics you must know before applying:

• You must have completed 10+2 in the science stream (current or previous year).
• Minimum Class XII marks: 60% for GEN/EWS/OBC‑NCL and 55% for SC/ST/PwD.
• Appearing in the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is mandatory.

Mode of selection:

• Admissions are decided using your board score and performance in the IAT. The IAT is a computer‑based test covering Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

What documents to keep ready:

• Class XII mark sheet or provisional certificate (to prove eligibility percentage).
• Category certificate if applicable (OBC‑NCL, SC/ST/EWS), valid and issued by competent authority.
• PwD certificate if claiming PwD reservation.
• Special category proofs if applicable (for example, Kashmiri migrant documentation where relevant).

You will need these during the application and the document upload window, so scan them early in the format required by the admissions portal.

IAT 2026: exam pattern, marking scheme and important dates

The IAT exam pattern and schedule are crucial for your preparation plan:

Tactical notes on timing and negative marking:

• With 60 questions in 180 minutes, you have roughly 3 minutes per question on average. Practice timed sections to avoid last‑minute rush.
• Negative marking means random guessing hurts. Use elimination to convert uncertain options into informed attempts.

Important dates to calendar (IAT 2026):

Make these dates part of a checklist. Missing the application or document upload window can remove you from contention regardless of your IAT performance.

Seats, seat matrix and reservation: where Mohali fits in

IISER Mohali has 275 BS‑MS seats. Across all IISERs, total BS‑MS seats are 2,043 .

Seat matrix snapshot (selected institutes and seats):

Reservation rules you should plan for:

• SC: 15% ; ST: 7.5% ; OBC‑NCL: 27% ; EWS: up to 10% .
• PwD: 5% horizontal reservation within each category.
• Each IISER also typically reserves 3 seats for Kashmiri Migrants/Pandits.

How to interpret cutoffs

• Mohali’s listed highest category ranks (guide to how far competition can go) include Unreserved highest rank 4,939 , OBC‑NCL 3,680 , SC 1,186 , EWS 1,114 , ST 557 . Use these as rough benchmarks when setting target IAT scores and fallback options.

Note: highest cutoff ranks vary each year with candidate pool and seat allocation. Treat these ranks as historical guides, not promises.

Fees and upfront costs for new BS–MS students (2025–26)

First semester cost breakdown at IISER Mohali for BS‑MS (session 2025–26):

Budgeting tips for your first semester

• Expect additional monthly costs for food, books, local travel and personal items. If you live off campus, factor in higher rent and transport.
• Hostels often require a refundable deposit and modest mess charges—confirm these after admission since they vary by hostel.
• Many students find an initial buffer of ₹20,000–30,000 beyond the first semester fees helps cover books, laptop accessories and incidental travel.

Scholarships and fee waivers

• IISERs offer fee concessions and scholarships; exact eligibility rules change, so check the official admissions notification for waiver criteria. If you plan to apply for EWS/OBC/PwD concessions, ensure certificates are current and correctly dated.

Placements and career outcomes: realistic view from NIRF data

Placement numbers at IISER Mohali reflect a strong tilt toward higher studies:

• Intake 2023–24: 225 . Admitted: 197 . Graduated: 157 .
• Placed (2023–24): 3 ; Higher studies: 115 .
• Median salary for placed students 2023–24: ₹11.4 LPA (up from ₹8.67 LPA in 2022–23 and ₹8 LPA in 2021–22).

What these figures mean for you

• The very low number of students placed compared with those going to higher studies indicates most graduates pursue MSc/PhD or research roles soon after the BS‑MS.
• If your career plan is industry entry after a bachelor, you must actively seek internships, industry projects and placement training during the programme. The median salary is good for those who accept industry offers, but the sample size is small.

How to improve your placement chances while at IISER Mohali

• Aim for research internships (summer projects) and publishable work if possible—research experience is valued both by labs and industry R&D.
• Take interdisciplinary electives in Data Science or Computational subjects if you target analytics or product roles.
• Use the summers for internships in industry or national labs to build role‑specific experience.

Student profile and campus life essentials

Demographics and what they imply:

• Gender split among UG five‑year students: roughly 60% male and 40% female.
• Out‑of‑state students dominate: 94.21% . Only 5.79% are from Punjab.
• International UG students: 9 .

Campus atmosphere to expect

• Academic intensity and research focus are the norm. Expect heavy theory work in early years and lab/research emphasis later.
• Clubs and student activities exist, but campus life is typically shaped around seminars, group projects and lab schedules rather than a party culture.

Practical tips for incoming out‑of‑state students

• Arrange travel to Mohali and temporary accommodation before the document upload window; rows at arrival times can be long during admission season.
• Keep scanned copies of all certificates in standard file formats and have physical originals handy for verification.
• Reach out to the campus student office for mentorship and counselling—peer help groups often form on campus social platforms to assist new students.

Preparation checklist and exam‑day plan for IAT 2026

Study priorities by subject

• IAT equally weights Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics (15 questions each). Balance your preparation across subjects.
• If you are strong in some subjects, spend extra time improving weaker areas—no subject is optional.

Mock tests and practice strategy

• Take full‑length timed mocks to build stamina for the 180‑minute exam window.
• Practice sectional timing: aim to answer easier questions first, mark doubtful ones for review and avoid blind guessing because of negative marking.

After the exam: answer key and objections

• Official answer key is released on the exam day. You can raise objections during the window ( June 9–13, 2026 ). Keep screenshots and reasoned explanations ready if you plan to challenge any key entries.

Exam day essentials

• Hall ticket will be released on May 24, 2026 —download and print it.
• Carry a valid photo ID and the printed hall ticket as required by the exam rules. Confirm the required ID type on the official IISER admission portal.

Correction‑window tips

• Use the correction window ( April 16–18, 2026 ) to fix any mistakes in your application. Do not assume you can change category or upload missing documents later—some edits are restricted.

How to interpret cutoffs and build a personalised admission target

Use the highest category ranks as a benchmark, not a guarantee. For Mohali, historical highest ranks include Unreserved 4,939 and OBC‑NCL 3,680 . These ranks reflect how far the merit list extended in a past cycle.

Setting realistic goals

• Translate target rank into an IAT score goal using previous years’ mark‑vs‑rank trends (consult historical IAT data). If you aim for Mohali specifically, set your score target higher than the historical highest rank threshold to be safer.

Backup plan suggestions

• If your IAT rank falls short for Mohali, consider other IISERs with different seat profiles. Also keep BSc and BTech options ready as alternate pathways into science and engineering.
• Remember that many institutes besides IISERs value strong foundation knowledge; a BSc + MSc or a good BTech can also lead to strong research or industry outcomes.

Action plan: timeline from registration to document upload (concise student checklist)

Document preparation checklist

• Scanned Class X and XII mark sheets, certificate of passing, photo ID, category certificate, PwD certificate if applicable and passport size photo.
• Ensure category certificates are valid for the admission year; older/expired certificates are often rejected.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Uploading old version of EWS or OBC certificate when the notification asks for the current year’s certificate. If you do this, correct it during the correction window.
• Missing the document upload window—late uploads are generally not accepted.

Where students can get verified updates and helplines

• Bookmark and check the official IISER admissions portal and the IISER Mohali website for notifications and circulars. Official portals list exact file formats, helpline numbers and email contacts for queries.
• Campus student office and the admission cell publish contact emails and phone numbers for technical or document issues—use those for verified responses.
• Peer groups and student communities can help with practical tips, but always verify policy or deadline details against the official admissions portal before acting.

FAQs

Q: What is IISER Mohali established year?

A: IISER Mohali was established in 2007 .

Q: What is IAT exam date 2026?

A: The IAT exam date is June 7, 2026 .

Q: How many questions are in IAT 2026 and subject distribution?

A: There are 60 questions in total, with 15 questions each from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

Q: What is the duration and maximum marks for IAT 2026?

A: Duration is 180 minutes and the test is out of 240 marks .

Q: Is there negative marking in IAT?

A: Yes. The negative marking is −1 for each incorrect answer.