IISc Bangalore's Review & Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Upon entering the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), you might feel like stepping into the ‘Hogwarts of India’, as it lands you in a magical world of research. Popularly known as IISc Bangalore, it is located in the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, Bengaluru. The 400-acre lush green residential campus comprises well-maintained vintage architecture and modern facilities. 

IISc Bangalore is famous for offering research-based courses in science and technology. It was founded to offer postgraduate and doctoral courses such as M.Tech, M.Sc, M.Des, M.Mgt and PhD. However, IISc Bangalore courses are also offered at the UG level: B.Sc (Research) and B.Tech (Mathematics and Computing). Moreover, its robust academia, top-notch research facilities, highly experienced faculty and ample exposure opportunities are a testament to its being the top university in India by NIRF. 

IISc Bangalore is considered the least controversial, ragging-free and politics-free university as per student reviews. The impressive ratio of 7:93 for the students hailing from Bangalore to other states of India shows the popularity of the university. IISc Bangalore is the first choice for science students aspiring to pursue higher studies in research in India. However, the atmosphere of IISc can make students lonely and stressful as it demands rigorous dedication and focus. 

IISc Bangalore NIRF Ranking: On the top!

IISc Bangalore has been ranked the top university in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023 Rankings. It also featured in the 2nd position under the overall category in the rankings. Also, it has successfully maintained constant rankings for more than 3 years. That’s really impressive!

IISc NIRF Ranking: University

IISc Overall Ranking:

Our Take:

Maintaining 1st position in university category and 2nd position in overall category of NIRF ranking for three consecutive years is a remarkable achievement for the university. This is a testament to the high-quality education and research facilities it offers to the students. 

IISc Bangalore Academia & Batch Size

The university opens doors for students into the field of research and discovery! IISc Bangalore offers a robust curriculum and courses under 6 departments, Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Electronics and Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Sciences, Mechanical Sciences, Physical and Mathematical Sciences and various centres and societies. 

Based on students’ reviews, IISc Bangalore’s curriculum is a perfect blend of theoretical and applied approaches. Students are given multi-disciplinary education in the initial semesters and project work in the final semester. It follows a credit system which requires students to obtain certain credits divided into assignments, practicals, projects and internships. Moreover, the university has an 80% strict attendance policy. 

Students have praised IISc Bangalore credit and audit facility that provides academic freedom to them to find their interests. Also, the flexible research timings allow students to pursue research at their own pace and convenience. As the university offers a broad scope for academia, it ensures the pursuit of academic excellence by the students. However, sometimes students may feel intimidated by the level of dedication IISc requires!

IISc Bangalore Batch Size

According to the NIRF report 2023, the batch size of 2021-22 was 1661 which is not so large. 

Our Take:

Overall, the curriculum of IISc Bangalore is diverse and holistic. The robust curriculum, academic freedom and flexible timings provided by the university demand high dedication from students in return. This relates to the famous dialogue of Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibilities”.

IISc Bangalore Infrastructure

Classroom: IISc Bangalore has spacious classrooms with a seating capacity of 100-200 students. The classrooms are well-furnished and have AC facilities. 

Labs and Research Facilities: The university has state-of-the-art research and lab facilities. Centre for Nanoscience, Supercomputer, MEMS lab, Systems Engineering lab, Wind Tunnel facility, Centre for Cryogenic Technology, and Laser Centre are some of the top lab and research facilities at IISc. 

Auditorium/ Seminar Halls: IISc Bangalore has an impressive National Science Seminar Complex (NSSC) which has JN Tata Auditorium with a seating capacity of 750 people and more than 3 seminar halls. 

Library: The Indian Institute of Science library is one of the oldest and most academically rich libraries in India. Based on student reviews on various platforms, the library has a wide collection of books and research materials and it is open 18 hours a day. However, remotely, it is accessible 24/7. 

Internet: Without a doubt! IISc provides free and fast Wi-Fi connectivity across the campus. 

Hostel: IISc offers on-campus hostels with all the required facilities. Students are allotted single rooms and provided internet access, laundry, security, medical facilities, recreational facilities and mouth-savouring mess food. There are no wardens or restrictions in the hostel which leverages utter freedom for students. One gets the best hostel experience at IISc! 

Girls' Hostel:

Hostel Room:

Activities: IISc Bangalore’s Gymkhana, which is the centre of all the cultural and extra-curricular activities, conducts regular indoor and outdoor activities. Also, there are different active student clubs and groups such as the Cycling Comrades Group, Rhythmic Music Club and Rangmanch Dramatics Club. 

Furthermore, frequent guest lectures of eminent speakers and special guest lectures from Nobel Laureates, and members of the Royal Society are organised. It also hosts ‘Pravega’ an undergraduate fest and a few other annual tech fests.

Cafe/ Hang-out: Various cafe joints are available across the campus such as Nesara, Tea Kiosk, Gym Café, Kabini and Hoysala. The food is available at reasonable prices and some cafes are open till 3 am. 

Outlets like Pizza Hut, Subway, Fudge, etc are located at a distance of 10 minutes from the campus. Also, there are numerous hangouts near the campus to explore on weekends. Places like Wonderla Amusement Park, Lal Baugh Garden, Bannerghatta Park, Mantri Mall, Orion Mall, and museums and treks are some of the off-campus hang-out options for students. 

Our Take:

The university offers world-class infrastructure and facilities comprising vintage architecture, advanced research facilities, a well-stocked library, amazing hostel facilities and all-round activities. IISc Bangalore can be proudly called the "Hogwarts of India”! 

IISc Bangalore Internships and Placements 

IISc Bangalore Internships

IISc Bangalore provides ample internship opportunities to its students. In 2023, the highest stipend offered on campus for batch 2022-23 was INR 1.5 LPA and the average stipend was INR 72,000 per month. Almost all students speak highly of the internship opportunities at IISc Bangalore. 

IISc Bangalore Placement 2022-23

According to IISc officials, the highest package offered at IISc Bangalore in 2023 was INR 86 LPA. The average package stands at INR 28 LPA. 

IISc Bangalore Placement 2021-22

We connected with a lot of students and all commended the IISc Bangalore placement numbers and packages offered. Leading recruiters such as Amazon, Cisco, SAP, AMD, Dell, Sony, Pay U and Nvidia recruit students across the courses. 

Our Take

It is evident that IISc Bangalore offers promising internship and placement opportunities to students. The high stipend and salary packages reflect IISc’s class and standard of education. Along with placements, the university also gives equal importance to internships. However, placement is the second priority for students here. 

IISc Bangalore Diversity & Demographics

The diverse student body of IISc Bangalore consists of 93% of students hailing from outside Karnataka. However, the gender ratio at IISc leans heavily towards males (85%) vs females (15%), resulting in 17:3, as per NIRF Report 2023.  Let’s inspect the IISc Bangalore's demographics in detail. 

Home State vs Other State Students

Male vs Female Students

Our Take:

It is evident from the report that IISc Bangalore stands apart. Though the presence of international students is small but adds to the diversity of the student body. On the other hand, the dearth of a balanced gender ratio can be paid attention to. The male students outnumber the female student population across all courses but this isn't a matter of concern for the potential students looking to get enrolled here. 

IISc Bangalore Faculty/College Administration & Management

IISc Bangalore has one of the most experienced and dedicated faculty in India. They are highly praised for their knowledge and commitment towards education and students’ growth. There are 482 faculty members according to the NIRF 2023 report.

The faculty of IISc Bangalore is highly knowledgeable, passionate and experts in their fields. They motivate students to ask questions and gain in-depth knowledge. Additionally, the faculty,  administration and management are extremely student-friendly. They listen to student queries and behave professionally. 

Our Take:

Faculty is the stem of any educational institution and IISc has one of the best! The faculty is always there to help students and solve their queries. This is the reason why the best research scholars in India are produced by IISc Bangalore. 

IISc Bangalore Location

The Indian Institute of Science is located at CV Raman Avenue, Bengaluru, Karnataka. First-time visitors can reach the IISc campus by public transport using its popular name in the city, Tata Institute. The nearest bus stop to the campus is the APSRTC Bus stand. The City Railway Station is the nearest railway station around 7 km from the campus. The nearest airport, Kempegowda International Airport, is about 40 km from the university which is only an hour's drive. However, no matter what the distance is, Bengaluru’s traffic will stretch it further. 

IISc Bangalore: Expectation vs Reality CLD Verdict!

IISc Bangalore totally meets and exceeds the expectations of the students. Any student who is a hard-core lover of academics and research can choose the university without a doubt. However, if you are not really interested in research, you should not choose IISc just because it’s the best. The university demands dedication, high level of passion and motivation to pursue academics. Hence, producing the desired result can be much more difficult than getting in!