JEST 2027, the Joint Entrance Screening Test, is a national computer-based test for PhD and Integrated PhD admission in Physics and Theoretical Computer Science, and MSc in Physics, at about 30 institutes, including IISc and TIFR. The JEST Consortium has not announced it yet; going by 2026, applications should open in February and the exam in April 2027.
JEST 2027
This page covers JEST 2027 dates, how to apply, the fee, eligibility, the exam pattern and the institutes that use JEST scores.
| Full name | Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | JEST Consortium; organizing institute changes yearly (IISER Tirupati for 2026) |
| Courses / Purpose | PhD, Integrated PhD and MSc in Physics; PhD and Integrated PhD in TCS; PhD in Computational Biology |
| Exam date | Expected April 2027 (not announced yet) |
| Application | Expected from February 2027, online only |
| Application fee | Rs 1,200; Rs 600 for SC, ST and PwD (JEST 2026) |
| Eligibility | No criteria to sit the test; each institute sets its own admission criteria |
| Mode | Computer-based test at exam centres |
| Questions and marks | Physics: 40 questions, 100 marks; TCS: 25 MCQs and 9 descriptive questions (2026 pattern) |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Negative marking | Physics: -1/3 in Part A, -1 in Part B, none in Part C; TCS Part A: -1 |
| Official website | jest.org.in |
JEST 2027 Important Dates
JEST 2027 dates are not announced yet, so the table shows expected months based on the 2026 cycle, when the exam was held on 12 April 2026 and results came on 30 April 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| JEST 2027 online application | February 2027 Expected |
| JEST 2027 admit card download | April 2027 Expected |
| JEST 2027 exam | April 2027 Expected |
| Answer key | April 2027 Expected |
| Result | April 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for JEST 2027
You apply online only, through the application portal linked on jest.org.in. The JEST 2027 form is not open yet; in 2026 the portal ran from 26 February to 25 March.
Apply Online for JEST 2027
Applications for JEST 2027 are expected in February 2027.
- Keep a valid personal email ID and mobile number ready. All JEST and institute messages go to that email.
- Open the application portal from jest.org.in and register with your name, email ID and phone number. Click Generate OTP, fill in the captcha and enter the OTP sent to your email and mobile.
- Check your details in the Declaration step. Your User ID and password are generated once you verify.
- Click Go to Application and fill in Personal Details, Educational Details and Exam City. Upload your SC, ST or PwD certificate if it applies.
- Pay the fee online by debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI, then save a copy of the submitted form.
| Category | Application fee (JEST 2026) |
|---|---|
| SC, ST and PwD | Rs 600 |
| All other applicants | Rs 1,200 |
The fee is non-refundable. Date of birth, email and mobile number cannot be edited after you confirm registration; if they are wrong, you must register again with a new email ID, and the earlier fee is not refunded.
Who can apply for JEST 2027?
Anyone can sit for JEST: there is no minimum qualification, no age limit and no limit on attempts. To use the score, you must meet the admission rules of the institute you apply to. A few of the tentative rules listed on the official eligibility page are below.
| Programme | Usual qualification | Institutes (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| PhD in Physics | MSc in Physics; some accept BE or BTech | All participating institutes; BE/BTech at IISc, IMSc, ICTS, IUCAA, NCRA, RRI and others |
| Integrated MSc/MTech-PhD in Physics | BSc in Physics; some accept BE/BTech | IMSc, IISER Pune, ICTS, NCRA, TIFR Hyderabad, SNBNCBS, NISER, IIA, Bose Institute |
| Integrated PhD | BSc in Physics or BE/BTech in any discipline | IISER Kolkata, IISER Thiruvananthapuram |
| MSc | BSc in Physics or BE/BTech in any discipline | HRI |
| PhD / Integrated PhD in TCS | MSc, ME, MTech in CS (PhD); BSc, BE, BTech or MCA in CS (Integrated PhD) | IMSc Chennai |
| PhD in Computational Biology | MSc, ME, MTech or MCA in science or engineering, with good maths (take the Physics paper) | IMSc Chennai |
A JEST score stays valid for two admission cycles: the JEST 2026 score is valid until JEST 2028 results are declared. So even students in an early year of a bachelor’s degree can use a score later for MSc or Integrated PhD admission.
What is the JEST 2027 exam pattern?
The JEST 2027 pattern is not announced yet. JEST changed its Physics pattern for 2026, and that is the latest official scheme: one 3-hour computer-based paper of 100 marks in three parts.
| Part (Physics) | Questions | Marks for correct answer | Wrong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A: multiple choice | 10 | +1 | -1/3 |
| Part B: multiple choice | 20 | +3 | -1 |
| Part C: numerical answer | 10 | +3 | No negative marks |
| Total | 40 | 100 marks in 180 minutes |
The Theoretical Computer Science paper is also 180 minutes. Part A has 25 multiple-choice questions (+3, -1). Part B has 9 questions: the best three of the five 8-mark questions and the best two of the four 13-mark questions are counted, and Part B closes after 105 minutes.
You can take either Physics or TCS in a year, not both. Calculators, phones and books are not allowed. Topics are listed on the JEST 2027 syllabus page.
Which institutes accept JEST 2027 scores?
For JEST 2026, 31 institutes were listed as participating on jest.org.in. They use the score with their own criteria to shortlist candidates. They include:
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, with ICTS Bangalore, NCRA Pune and TIFR Hyderabad
- IISER Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupati
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai: the only institute offering a PhD in TCS
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, SN Bose National Centre, Bose Institute and VECC, Kolkata
- HRI Prayagraj, IIA and RRI Bangalore, IUCAA Pune, PRL and IPR Gujarat, NISER and IOP Bhubaneswar, IIST Thiruvananthapuram, HBNI Mumbai and others
No IIT appears on the official participating list. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF, formerly SERB) recognises JEST as a National Eligibility Test, so fellows in ANRF (SERB) programmes who qualify can get the appropriate fellowship.
How does admission work after JEST 2027?
There is no common JEST counselling. After the JEST 2027 result, you apply to each institute separately, quoting your JEST score. Each institute publishes its own shortlist and holds interviews or tests, then offers admission from its own merit list.
JEST 2027 Official Notices and Downloads
- PDFJEST 2026 Flyer (latest)Official site · jest.org.inOpen
- PDFJEST Physics Syllabus (official PDF)Official site · jest.org.inOpen
- LINKJEST official websiteOfficial site · jest.org.inOpen