Admissions

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The School of Technology and Computer Science (STCS) at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, welcomes applications for its post graduate programme. STCS has a world class PhD programme that prepares motivated and bright students for research careers in academia as well as for industrial R&D. For students who would like to explore research opportunities without committing to a PhD, the programme has an exit option in two years with a Master's degree.

Faculty at STCS work in a variety of areas, including Algorithms and Complexity, Communications, Financial Mathematics, Formal Verification Methods, Game Theory, Information Theory, Machine Learning, Optimization, Probability and Applications, and Quantum Computing. The PhD programme at STCS is a unique offering in India that combines foundational course work and research in quantitative and conceptual aspects of computer science and electrical engineering. Students at STCS avail of excellent infrastructure and facilities for research, including opportunities to present their research at national and international fora. We have a vibrant visitor's programme and our students get the opportunity to routinely interact with leading experts and young researchers from around the world.

The activities of TIFR are distributed over several centres and field stations around the country. STCS is scenically located in TIFR's campus in south Mumbai on the Arabian sea, and offers many opportunities for academic as well as cultural growth. There are at present around 400 faculty/scientists in three major schools: Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and the Technology and Computer Science. The Institute is equipped with one of the finest libraries in India, and has a flourishing international visitor's programme. We are proud to have produced many of the finest scientists of India, including in diverse areas such as Science Education and Public Health. TIFR is also known for producing the first digital computer in India, and for its role in the establishment of CDOT, BARC, ISRO and C-DAC.

Admission procedure

Admissions to PhD programmes are via a TIFR Entrance Exam (see below for admissions based on GATE score) followed by an on-campus interview. To facilitate the entry of students from varying backgrounds, the school offers entrance exams in the following two streams; a student may choose the stream that best suits their background and interests:

• Computer Science: Based on the undergraduate CS curriculum with a focus on theoretical aspects.
• Learning, Information and Data Sciences (formerly Systems Sciences): Suitable for students with backgrounds in ECE/EE/Math/Statistics and related fields. The exam is also suitable for students with backgrounds in other fields and a strong quantitative aptitude.

Exam instructions and syllabus Old question papers

Eligibility

We admit students with a prior undergraduate or graduate degree in most related branches (e.g., Computer Science, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics). For the precise eligibility criterion, please visit the TIFR University Cell webpage.

GATE score based admission to Learning, Information and Data Sciences (LIDS): Engineering students with exceptional performance in GATE examination in the preceding three years in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Mathematics may apply for the PhD programme without appearing for the TIFR Entrance Test. In case a student who has taken the LIDS TIFR Entrance Test also submits a GATE score based application, the better of the two performances will be considered. Please note that a GATE score in Computer Science cannot be used for admission. The deadline for GATE score based applications is usually two weeks after the announcements of GATE scores.