Are there any specific JEST 2026 eligibility criteria for different participating institutes?
Yes, some participating institutes in JEST 2026 have specific eligibility criteria in addition to the basic criteria. For instance, IISc, IMSc, ICTS-TIFR, IUCAA, JNCASR, NCRA-TIFR, TIFR-TCIS, RRI, IISER Mohali, IISER Pune, and IISER Thiruvananthapuram require BE or B.Tech graduates in Physics or a related field with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PH candidates).
It is recommended to check the detailed JEST eligibility criteria 2026 for each participating institute of interest on the official JEST website.
To be eligible for JEST 2026, students must have a valid qualifying degree in Physics or a related field with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PH candidates). Students who have completed their qualifying degree by August 2025 will also be eligible to apply.
There is no upper age limit for JEST 2026. However, students must have completed their Master's degree by the time of admission to the Ph.D. program.
To be eligible for JEST 2026, students must have a Master's degree in Arts, Science, or Commerce from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). Students appearing for the final year of their Master's degree in Arts, Science, or Commerce (semester-based system) or having completed their Master's degree in Arts, Science, or Commerce (annual system) are also eligible to apply.