Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai

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1. WHAT IS IT: A deemed university, also a premier institute which offers post graduate programs in pure sciences.
2. PROGRAMS: MSc.Biology, MSc.Chemistry, MSc.Mathematics, MSc.Physics, MSc.Computer & Systems Science
3. ADMISSIONS: Through an entrance exam conducted by TIFR, followed by an interview.
4. PROGRAM COST: Education at TIFR is subsidised. There are scholarships available for students from financially weak background. The Fees ranges from 7000 – 10,000 per annum
5. ACCOMMODATION: On campus only for Phd. students
6. LOCATION: Mumbai & Bangalore
7. ADDRESS: University Cell, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, Ph:(022)22782875, www.tifr.res.in

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a premier institute which offers programs in pure sciences and mathematics. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) was established in 1945 at the initiative of Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha. The Institute is proud to have produced many of the finest scientists of India who have been involved in seminal research in fields ranging from Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics and Science Education as well as some aspects of Public Health.

There are at present about 400 scientists in the Institute working in various disciplines grouped into three major schools: the School of Mathematics, the School of Natural Sciences and the School of Technology and Computer Science. The Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education at Deonar, Bombay; The National Centre for Radio Astrophysics at Pune and The National Centre for Biological Sciences at Bangalore also form a part of TIFR activities.

The School of Mathematics has research interests in areas like Algebra, Algebraic Geometry, Lie Groups, Lie Algebras, Algebraic Groups, Representation Theory and Quantum Groups, Theory of Numbers, Combinatorics, Differential Geometry and Topology, Real and Complex Analysis, Ergodic Theory, Probability Theory on Groups and Mathematical Physics.

The School of Mathematics has a Centre in Bangalore dedicated to the study of Applied Mathematics where mathematicians work in the fields of Differential Equations, Harmonic Analysis, Numerical Analysis and Probability Theory.

Scientists in the School of Natural Sciences work mainly in the fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemical Sciences, Condensed Matter Physics, High Energy Physics, Molecular Biology, Nuclear & Atomic Physics, Radio Astronomy and Theoretical Physics. The Institute is also actively involved in the field of educational research with a special emphasis on school level education as well as some aspects of public health.

For Ph.D. and Integrated Ph.D. programmes, the academic year starts from August 1, every year.  The academic year for M.Sc. programme begins from July 1, every year.

Entering students at TIFR have to go through a Graduate Programme, by taking courses offered in their area (or in multiple areas, if they intend to do interdisciplinary work).

The academic year consists of two semesters, which roughly run from mid-August to mid-December and then mid-January to mid-May of the following calendar year.

For the M.S. programme, the course requirements form a large fraction of the work required to obtain the degree. There may be additional requirements such as an expository thesis.

For Ph.D. students, the course requirements are a step to be completed before embarking on the research activity that will form the subject matter of the thesis. After completing the required courses, Ph.D. students are assigned to a guide and a research programme, and may register for their degree. Thereafter they carry out their research work and submit a Ph.D. thesis at the end. The entire process
typically takes five years, though there is some flexibility to complete it earlier or later than this, depending on the individual student.

The admissions procedure (in all subjects except Science Education) consists of a written test at one of several nationwide centres followed by interviews. All interviews will be held during end-February to early-April, 2009.  Exact dates would be announced later. The list of students short-listed and the exact dates of interviews will be announced at an appropriate time. At present, TIFR admits students for a Master’s Degree programme only in the area of Biology.