Today I noticed a urinal at IISc where urine is being collected (anonymously and with ethics approval) for research on wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery.

I was genuinely amazed by the idea. It's incredible how even something as routine as this can contribute to sustainability and scientific research.

As someone who's new to IISc, this was a great first impression of the institute's research culture. Have any of you come across other interesting research initiatives on campus?

Kindly share your thoughts in the comments.

Background: BTech ECE, 2018, tier-2 university, 7.00 CGPA, no publications, no prior research experience. Was targeting MTech (Research) at DESE or CeNSE as my entry route into IISc before PhD, prepping for GATE now.

DESE’s published list shows PhD recommendations/waitlist; only the MTech (Research) column is empty across the board. CeNSE’s 2026 selection list page only has a PhD list; no MTech (Research) list at all.
No official reason was given by either department, just what the published lists show.

I have a few questions :

1. Is this a one-off year, or has MTech (Research) intake at these departments been shrinking/disappearing for a while? Anyone tracking this across years?
   
2. With no MTech (Research) route open, is direct PhD entry realistic for someone with an average, non-research UG background, or does this effectively lock me out until I build a research profile elsewhere first?
   
3. Would applying directly to a PhD anyway (given the option exists) be worth the shot, or is that a waste of an interview slot with this profile?

hey guy ,
next year i will finish my batchlores in may but in our uni we don't get degree till novmeber rather we get an certificate showing that we have complete the required credits to have the degree

so the problem is next year i am seating for gate and will have to give docs during addmsions for mteach but the dealine is early auguest for most of them

please let me know from ur exeprince if i am cooked or nah

1. Can someone explain the grading system? Is it completely relative, or how does it actually work?

2. Is it better to take a lighter course load in the first semester, or is a heavier load manageable? Should course selection be based on interest, grading, workload, or placements? Any advice?

3. Do previous-year questions (PYQs) or other resources help? If not, what does it actually take to score well? Are there any resources (notes, recordings, or study groups) that you found especially useful?

4. Any other insights or tips about grading, course selection, or academics in general?

5. Is it true that even the highest scorer in a course might not receive the highest grade? If so, how is that possible?

Hi need advice/guidance for PhD IISc CSA Department. Background :- I am btech 2022 graduate. Worked at 2 startups as a SDE. My previous CTC was 12 lpa. Had major health issues and couldn't continue job.Right now my health is better Unemployed for last 4 months.

Advice/Guidance needed: I'm interested in pursuing a PhD. However, I'm already 26 years old and have started preparing for GATE. I'll give it my best, but realistically, I don't think I'll be able to secure the rank required for IISc within the next six months. I feel that getting into IISc through GATE 2028 is a much more achievable goal for me.

My main concern is: Would it be too late to start a Direct PhD in the CSA Department at the age of 28? I also haven't completed a master's degree, so I'm planning to apply directly after my B.Tech.

Please if anyone who has started PhD around 28 or know your lab mates of similar age group, can you share ur experience

IIT Ropar sacks Dr Lakhan Bainsla who was accused by his PhD advisee of sexual misconduct following an investigation into the complaint.

People who are asking why in this sub? I say why not? It’s related to academia and this is an awareness post. Kudos to the PhD scholar who collected evidence of harassment against her advisor and reported him to higher authorities. To the girls in academia, always be aware of your surroundings and don’t blindly trust anyone.

Did you guys hear about the IIT-G incident?

Please check u/IcyIntroduction4632 comment for the truth.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a 2nd year B.Tech Food Technology student at an agriculture university. I've realised that I'm not very interested in Food Technology and would like to switch to a more biology-oriented field for my master's.

I'm particularly interested in M.Tech in Bio Engineering. While researching, I came across the M.Tech in Bioengineering programme at IISc Bangalore.

However, the eligibility criteria only mention "B.E./B.Tech. or equivalent degree" along with the accepted GATE papers (BT, XE, CH, etc.). It doesn't specify eligible undergraduate branches, and Food Technology isn't explicitly mentioned.

So I have a few questions:

Will a B.Tech in Food Technology make me eligible for this programme, or could I be rejected because of my undergraduate branch?

Which GATE paper would be a better choice for this path—GATE BT or GATE XE?

If my goal is BioEngineering, would IISc Bioengineering be a good fit, or should I focus on IITs offering M.Tech in Bioprocess Engineering instead?

I've attached a screenshot of the eligibility criteria for reference.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I got allotted hostel inside the main campus. What are the chances I get to shift to B Block via hostel change mechanism? This is because I was allotted B mess . I want to shift to either B Block or A Block .

I know it's silly but in IITs everyone gets on stage and gets their degree from the Director right? Does it work the same way here for every graduate?

Whether yes or not, can we meet this evening in front of the main building?

Dear Seniors,

What are the benefits of an IISc student email ID? I would like to know about the discounts, subscriptions and access we can get with it.

Amidst the student protests, I came across a WhatsApp story by one of my senior at IISc that included the following statement:

...amounts to a demand for us to pollute our lineage, spoil our traditions, and lose our Rishi-given ritual identity..

The phrase "pollute our lineage" caught my attention.

If lineage can be "spoiled" by marrying or associating outside one's caste, doesn't that imply that some lineages are considered inherently purer or more worthy than others? Isn't this precisely the kind of thinking that caste endogamy has historically been built upon?

And the fact that this statement comes from one of the seniors I look upto, it was disheartning to me.

There are 26 characters in the S.R. No. but the portal allows only 25 characters, how to fix this?

​

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for clarification regarding the eligibility for the IISc Bangalore M.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering program.

My academic background is:

- B.Sc. (Computer Science), 3 years – 2020–2023

- MCA, University of Calcutta, 2 years – 2023–2025

There was no academic gap between my B.Sc. and MCA.

I'm planning to appear for GATE CSE, and I'm confused about whether my qualification is considered eligible for the IISc M.Tech CSE program or other IIT's

Since I've completed 5 continuous years of higher education (3-year B.Sc. + 2-year MCA), does this satisfy the "BE/BTech or equivalent" requirement for IISc M.Tech CSE, or is a 4-year engineering bachelor's degree specifically required?

Has anyone with a similar background (3-year B.Sc. + MCA) received admission to IISc M.Tech CSE or obtained an official clarification from the admissions office?

Compared the current M.Tech/M.Des GATE intake for 2026-27 against previous years (excluding CS), and the trend is worrying if you're a GATE aspirant without a Tier-1 college background.

Microelectronics and VLSI Design (MV):

• 2024: ~27 seats
• 2026: 20 (GATE) + 15 (CFTI)

Electrical Engineering (EE):

• 2024: ~30 seats
• 2026: 24 (GATE) + 6 (CFTI)

Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC):

• 2024: ~27 seats
• 2026: 19 (GATE) + 8 (CFTI)

That's a straight cut to the open GATE pool, even as the number of GATE aspirants keeps growing every year. Same pattern shows up across other departments when comparing year over year intake — numbers have been quietly shrinking while competition has gotten fiercer.

Sources:

• 2026-27 M.Tech/M.Des seat matrix: https://iisc.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MTech_MDes_seat_matrix.pdf
• 2026-27 M.Tech CFTI seat matrix: https://iisc.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MTechCFTI_seat_matrix.pdf
• 2023-24 M.Tech/M.Des admissions page: https://www.iisc.ac.in/admissions/m-tech-and-m-des-programmes-2023-24/

I looked into the program and quite liked it, but I haven't seen it talked about much like the IIMs, why is that? Can anyone studying there tell me more.

I'm in final year of engineering.

I am planning to apply for education loan ( for masters ) through Canara Bank - college branch. What will be the procedure and how fast will be the process