Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) was formed as a result of the Government intervention through the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and are meant to reach the prestigious stages in the world setting where IISc, IITs and IIMs currently operate. In India there are five IISERs whereby Pune and Kolkata started operating in 2006 whereas Mohali started in 2007. In August there were two more entrants in the names of Bhopal and Thiruvanthapuram which began their sessions in August 2008. Each of these institutions offers its own degrees since they are autonomous. What the IISER aims at is to integrate education with research so that everything is carried out as one entity. Normally the students are encouraged to carry out their research work during their vacation in the first four years of their study in all the IISER institutes. In their final year of study that is in the fifth year all students are required to participate in a research seminar and also are required to carry out a research project in which a thesis has to be written by all candidate students.

There are some qualifications for one to join the IISER which is a must for anyone. Those students who pass this test will automatically qualify for admission and fellowship in IISER, Kolkata. The student must pass the Indian National Olympiad-2007. Class eight students who clear the Indian National Olympiad in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and are eligible of attending the Training Camps which is normally organized by Homi Bhabha centre for science teaching in 2007. Another similar qualification is that the students must have been selected for KVPY program. Teaching in these institutions is based on a semester system that is accompanied by intense teacher-student research, seminars, journal clubs and so on. There is continuous student assessment of their performance both in the lab and by theory. When the semester is coming to an end there is an examination for each end session which is held in December and April.

The students are required to part with a total of Rs 6000/- each semester and other charges that the institution may deem necessary. This fee is payable at the time of registration whereby a separate receipt is issued depending on what you are paying for. The fees may be paid in DD and addressed to the Director, IISER, Kolkata or any Indian overseas bank.