Opportunities for Physics Graduates

The current pace of advance­ment of technology needs a coherent back up of ba­sic science education and research. An indicative list of educational opportunities for physics graduates is outlined.  Certain courses and opportunities in Physics are now being offered to those who have a degree in engineering and technology but have an aptitude for scientific research.

Joint Admission Test to M.Sc. (JAM): From the Academic Session 2004-2005, Indian Insti­tutes of Technology have started conducting a Joint Admission Test to M.Sc. (JAM) for admission to M.Sc. and other post-B.Sc. programmes at the IITs. The main objective of JAM is to revive and consoli­date ‘Science’ as a career option for bright students from across the country and provide them a single step opportunity for admission to some of the postgraduate programmes offered at the IITs and NITs. In due course, JAM is also expected to become a benchmark for normal­izing undergraduate level science education in the country. The Master of Science and other post-B.Sc. programmes at the IITs offer high quality post-gradu­ate education in respective disciplines, comparable to the best in the world. 

Integrated Ph.D. (post B.Sc) Programmes:  Centre for High Energy Physics of IISc, Bangalore offers integrated research degree for Physics graduates. Jawahar Lal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore offers integrated (M.Sc. plus Ph.D.) research degree in materials science. Students with Bachelor degree in any branch of science and graduate engineers with an aptitude towards scientific research are eligible. Selected students are awarded suitable fellowships. Post B.Sc. integrated doctoral programme in science is also offered by newlyy established Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISERs) at Kolkata, Pune and Mohali.
Indian Institute of Astrophysics has launched an integrated M.Sc-Ph.D Programme in Physics and Astrophysics in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. The programme will admit bright, highly motivated students with Bachelor's degree in Science/Engineering, selected on an all-India basis.  TIFR and HRI also conduct an integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D. program in physics.

M.Tech. Programmes: IITs and some other institutes offer M.Tech. in Physics on the basis of GATE. M.Tech. in Energy Management is offered at Devi Ahilya University. Indian institute of Space Technology offers M.Tech. in Applied and Adaptive Optics. GuruGobind Singh Indraprastha University offers M.Tech. in Engineering Physics.

Conventional  Ph. D. (post M.Sc.)  Programmes                

(i)                 Joint entrance screening test (JEST) is conducted annually throughout India at several centres  for admissions to doctoral programme in physics in various premier research institutes.  Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai,  National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) Pune, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) Pune, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneshwar, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Ahmedabad, Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bangalore, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) Mumbai, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata and Aryabhatta Research Institute of  Observational Sciences (ARIES) Nainital are among the institutes which admit scholars through JEST.

(ii)               Admissions to research programmes of IITs are based on GATE/NET. Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science admits scholars on the basis of interview.

Job oriented programmes for Physics graduates/post graduates

(i)                  DAE has initiated a one year orientation course for engineering graduates and science post graduates (OCES).

(ii)                The other newly launched programme of DAE is  a two year graduate fellowship scheme (DGFS) for engineering graduates and  post graduates in physics for joining M.Tech. in specific specializations. The diploma or degree after successful completion of OCES & DGFS will be awarded by Homi Bhabha National University (HBNI) and the candidates are absorbed as trainee scientific officers.

(iii)                Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research of DAE also provides 25 fellowships to engineering graduates and science post graduates.

(iv)              One Year Post M.Sc. Diploma in Radiological Physics. Radiological Physics and advisory division BARC Mumbai has been conducting the one year post M.Sc. Diploma course in Radiological Physics since 1962. The course starts from September and the applications are invited in June every year. The course is primarily meant to train the candidates as Medical Physicists to work in cancer hospitals.

(v)                 M.Sc. In Medical Physics is offered by Kalasalingam University of Tamilnadu.

(vi)              Physics graduates are eligible for writing BEE’s Energy Manager’s exam and being accredited as Energy auditor/manager

Post-doctoral Programme: Post doctoral programme in various fields tenable for a period of one to two years is offered at The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar,  Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science and UGC DAE CSR Indore, Mumbai & Kolkata centres.

Summer Research Fellowship: IUCAA, Pune and Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore provides summer fellowships for Students and Teachers.