NEST 2025: Complete Admissions Guide to NISER Bhubaneshwar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai

This article gives information about the National Entrance Screening Test, popularly known as the NEST exam. Additionally, this article gives information about the two universities which accept marks of the NEST exam, along with seat intake, eligibility criteria, courses offered and exam dates.

May 23, 2025, 18:48 IST

NEST 2025 Complete Admissions Guide to NISER Bhubaneshwar and UM DAE CEBS Mumbai

Admission to the five-year Integrated Master of Science program in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics requires passing the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) at the University of Bhubaneswar's National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the University of Mumbai, Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE, CEBS)

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, founded both NISER and UM-DAE CEBS as independent organisations in 2007. These institutions were established to offer top-notch instruction in the fundamental sciences by a faculty to develops a national pool of scientists prepared to take on research challenges on the frontiers of basic and applied sciences, as well as to embed eminent experts in a dynamic research environment.

Latest Updates:-

The registration for the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2025 opened on February 17, 2025 and concluded on May 13, 2025. The admit card for the exam will be available for download on June 5, 2025, and the NEST 2025 exam will be conducted on June 22, 2025.

The selected applicants are eligible to receive a Rs 60,000 scholarship each year through the Department of Atomic Energy's DISHA program, which is run by the Government of India. Additionally, a payment of Rs 20,000/-per year is given to the scholarship awardees for summer internships. Candidates selected by DST for the INSPIRE-SHE program are approved by NISER and UM-DAE CEBS for the INSPIRE scholarship.

Colleges that Accept NEST Scores for Admission

The primary colleges that accept admissions to their integrated Master of Science program and Ph.D programs through the scores of National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) are as follows:-

National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar
University of Mumbai- Department of Atomic Energy, Centre of Excellence in Basic Sciences.

There is one more institutes which accept the NEST scores, offering admissions to their undergraduate program:-

Visva Bharati University

NISER Bhubaneshwar

The Department of Atomic Energy founded NISER intending to become a teaching and research bastion for the basic sciences and related fields. The National Institute of Science Education and Research offers an integrated Master of Science degree and a Ph.D degree in biological, chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences. According to government regulations, there are 200 seats available this year, including reserved seats for SC, ST, OBC, and Dibyangjan candidates.

There are various courses offered at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar. These courses by the NISER are offered under different schools.

Below is the list of some of the courses offered by the National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar, along with the schools they are offered in:-

Schools	Courses Offered
School of Biological Sciences	Doctoral Program Post-Doctoral Program 5-Year Integrated Master of Science Integrated MSc-PhD Program
School of Physical Sciences	Integrated Master of Science Program Integrated MSc-PhD Program Ph.D Program in Physics
School of Chemical Sciences	Integrated Master of Science Program Ph.D Program Post-Doctoral Program Integrated MSc-PhD Program

University of Mumbai-DAE, CEBS

Mumbai is home to the independent Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences run by the Government of India's Department of Atomic Energy. The centre offers an integrated Master of Science degree and Ph.D degree in biological, chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences. According to government regulations, there are tentatively 57 seats with reservations this year.

The University of Mumbai's Department of Atomic Energy, Centre of Excellence in Basic Sciences, offers a variety of courses. These courses by the UM-DAE, CEBS are offered under different schools.

Below is the list of some of the courses offered by the University of Mumbai-Department of Atomic Energy, Centre of Excellence in Basic Sciences, along with the schools they are offered in:-

Schools	Courses Offered
School of Chemical Sciences	Integrated Master of Science Program Ph.D program in Chemical Sciences
School of Biological Sciences	Integrated Master of Science Program Ph.D program in Biological Sciences
School of Physical Sciences	Integrated Master of Science Program Ph.D program in Physical Sciences
School of Mathematical Sciences	Integrated Master of Science Program Ph.D program in Mathematical

Eligibility Criteria for Admissions to Courses Offered by NEST

The official authority conducting the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) has provided a set of eligibility criteria for aspiring candidates seeking admission to the courses offered by the renowned universities. The candidate has to qualify for the three criteria put forth by the official authority to be eligible to seek admission to the integrated master of Science and Ph.D programs.

Below is the list of the eligibility criteria required for admission to the integrated master’s courses and Ph.D programs of the two universities:-

A candidate must have passed class 12th in related disciplines from a recognised university.
A candidate who belongs to the unreserved category must have at least scored 60% marks in class 12th in the related subjects from a recognised board.
A candidate who belongs to the reserved category must have at least scored 55% marks in class 12th in the related subjects from a recognised board.
An applicant must get a position on the NEST merit list.
There is no upper age limit to seek admission to the programs offered through the NEST exam.

Also, check:-

Seat Intake Proposed for NISER and CEBS for 2025-2030

The NEST conducting authority has proposed the seat intake category-wise for the National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar and the University of Mumbai-Department of Atomic Energy, Centre of Excellence for Basic Sciences.

Below is the breakdown of the seat intake, which is proposed for both universities accepting the NEST-2025 scores to offer admission to their integrated master’s and Ph.D programs:-

Category	UM-DAE CEBS	NISER
General – EWS	6	0
General	23	101
Divyangjan	5% seats in each category	5% seats in each category
OBC – NCL	15	54
Scheduled Tribe	4	15
Scheduled Caste	9	30
Total Intake	57	200

(For eligible candidates from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, two supernumerary seats are reserved at both NISER and CEBS following current government regulations.)