The Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) entrance examination is conducted by the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology to determine the eligibility of Indian students for PhD programs. Students who are interested in a PhD and an integrated PhD in Physics, Theoretical Computer Science, or Computational Biology.
The JEST examination is conducted annually. Candidates can only apply to the participating universities with the JEST scores within a year of the date of their results.
Students can also have an alternate route to get a PhD degree through an Online DBA program. A Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is an online PhD program for 3 years. Students will get their dream of earning the title of “Dr.” at the end of the program. An online DBA is equivalent to the full-time PhD program, which takes around 3 to 6 years to get the degree.
List of participating institutions
Here is the list of participating institutes where students can apply with their JEST scores-
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Participating Institute |
Courses/Subject Areas Offered |
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ARIES |
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital |
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Bose Institute |
Bose Institute, Kolkata |
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HBNI |
Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai |
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HRI |
Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad |
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ICTS |
International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS)-TIFR, Bangalore |
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IGCAR |
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam |
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IIA |
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore |
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IISc |
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore |
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IISER BHOPAL |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal |
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IISER KOLKATA |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata |
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IISER MOHALI |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali |
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IISER PUNE |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune |
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IISER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram |
Experimental Condensed Matter:
Theory:
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IIST |
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram |
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IMSc |
The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai |
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IOP |
Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar |
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IPR |
Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar |
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IUCAA |
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune |
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JNCASR |
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore |
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NBRC |
National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar |
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NCRA-TIFR |
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)-TIFR, Pune |
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NISER |
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar |
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PRL |
Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad |
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RRCAT |
Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore |
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RRI |
Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore |
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SINP |
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata |
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SNBNCBS |
Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata |
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TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TCIS), Hyderabad |
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TIFR |
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai |
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UGC-DAE CSR |
UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE CSR), Indore |
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VECC |
Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata |
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TIFR-TCIS |
TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TIFR-TCIS), Hyderabad |
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Selection process
After clearing the JEST competitive examination, students need to enrol in their preferred Universities to do a PhD. The selection process of each university is different. Here are a few significant steps for students to consider-
- After getting the scorecard from the official website of JEST, based on their scores, students need to check which university they can apply to for their PhD.
- Students can then apply directly to the university they wish to attend through their website.
- The university then shortlists the applications based on their scores, research experience, and academic records.
- Short-listed candidates are then contacted for an interview. Students need to visit the University for their interview or be told otherwise.
- Students are selected based on their performance at their interview and document verification
Jest interview tips
The candidates must apply to the university based on their JEST scores. The university verifies the eligibility criteria of the candidates and invites the candidates who got the highest JEST scores or who are eligible.
The interview is centred around certain topics, which are -
- The panel will ask questions related to the fundamentals of the course in physics.
- The candidates should read physics textbooks and learn about the most significant topics.
- They must know the concepts and subjects in mechanics.
- The interview questions will be based on technical bachelor's topics and master's level science.
If the candidate is selected in the interview/counseling round, then they are required to submit their required documents for the document verification round.
Documents Required for JEST 2026 Counselling:
These are the required documents for the JEST 2026 counselling round-
- JEST 2026 admit card
- JEST 2026 result
- Class 10th marksheet and certificate
- Class 12th marksheet and certificate
- Transfer certificate
- Domicile certificate
- Passport-sized photograph
- Valid ID proof, etc.
Key takeaways
Here are certain takeaways for the JEST examination that students can consider after their JEST examination-
- Students won’t qualify for any PhD program just based on their JEST scores
- They need to apply to the programs in the participating Universities separately after their JEST scores
- Students must apply to the universities that align with their interests
- There will be a higher chance of getting selected if students have certain research experience.
- To have a better understanding of the specialization, students can attend conferences or seminars
- Applicants get guidance from their seniors regarding the process or a particular specialization.
Advance Your Doctoral Studies with a DBA Program
Students who wish to earn a doctorate without cracking any entrance exams can go for an alternate option of pursuing a PhD through an online DBA program. An online DBA (Doctor in Business Administration) is an online three-year program that holds the same value as the regular full-time PhD.
An online DBA is the most preferred option for students who are working professionals who want to get their doctoral degree without leaving their jobs.
Key features of an Online DBA program-
- An online DBA is a three-year program
- Students will get their dream of earning the “Dr.” title at the end of their program
- The classes will be held online, where the learners can take the classes based on their convenience
- Students will get a chance to do their PhD from globally recognized universities.
- The online DBA program will enhance students’ practical knowledge and management skills
- DBA is considered one of the highest degrees to study business markets, which students can use both in the National and International markets.
- Students will also learn research skills, which they can submit at the end of their program
- On getting their doctoral degree, students will get a wider range of job opportunities, where many top companies will eagerly hire them.
Eligibility-
- Students who completed their bachelor's degree with 5 years of experience
- Master's degree or equivalent in an area related to the topic of research.
Online DBA program
Here is the list of Universities that offer online DBA programs with their specialisation-
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Universities Offering DBA |
Specialization |
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