Admission for August 2027
Everything you need to apply: who can apply to which programme, the dates to plan around, each step from creating an account to your first day, and what it costs.
Key dates
These dates apply to the integrated degree and both master's programmes. The Doctoral School admits twice a year; its dates are in the PhD pathway.
- Deadline or key event:
The admissions portal opens for the August 2027 intake.
Open Campus Day in Bengaluru, and online information sessions for international applicants.
- Deadline or key event:
Early-round deadline. Early applicants receive their Selection Day invitation first and results by mid-March.
SIAT admit cards are released on the portal.
- Deadline or key event:
SIAC Aptitude Test (SIAT), in 60 Indian cities and online for applicants abroad.
- Deadline or key event:
Regular deadline for all applications and documents.
SIAT scores published and Selection Day invitations sent.
Selection Days, on the Kaveri Campus or online.
Offers and scholarship decisions released.
- Deadline or key event:
Deadline to accept your offer and pay the seat deposit.
Residence hall applications close; visa letters issued to international students.
- Deadline or key event:
Genesis Week, the orientation week, begins. Classes start on 9 August.
Who can apply
Choose the pathway that matches your current studies. Each has its own eligibility rules and tests, but you apply through the same portal.
- Places
- 480
- Duration
- 5 years
- Entry test
- SIAT
Academic requirements
- Class 12 (CBSE, CISCE, a state board, IB Diploma, A-levels or equivalent), completed in 2026 or to be completed in 2027.
- Physics and Mathematics, plus one of Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology or Electronics.
- At least 75% aggregate in Class 12, or 70% for applicants from reserved categories. IB applicants need 32 points with Mathematics Analysis & Approaches HL; A-level applicants need A*AA including Mathematics.
- Born on or after 1 October 2006. Five years of relaxation apply to applicants with disabilities.
Tests accepted
All Indian applicants sit the SIAC Aptitude Test. A JEE Main percentile of 97 or higher exempts you from SIAT and takes you straight to Selection Day. International applicants may submit an SAT score (1450+) or sit SIAT online.
No programming experience is required. Year 1 starts from first principles.
- Places
- 60
- Duration
- 2 years
- Entry test
- GATE or SGA
Academic requirements
- A four-year bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics or physics, with a CGPA of 7.0/10 or 65% aggregate.
- Final-year students may apply; your degree must be completed by 31 July 2027.
- Demonstrated programming ability in Python and a working knowledge of linear algebra, probability and optimisation.
Tests accepted
A valid GATE score in CS, DA, EC, MA or EE (2025, 2026 or 2027), or the online SIAC Graduate Assessment (SGA) for applicants without GATE. International applicants may submit a GRE General score instead.
What else you submit
A statement of purpose (up to 1,000 words), two academic references, and a link to one technical project you built, such as a repository, paper or report.
SIAC students in year 3 of the integrated degree apply internally for years 4–5 of this programme; they do not use this pathway.
- Places
- 45
- Duration
- 2 years
- Entry test
- GMAT, GRE or SGA
Academic requirements
- A bachelor's degree in any discipline with a CGPA of 6.5/10 or 60% aggregate, including at least one course in mathematics or statistics.
- Work experience is not required, but about half of each cohort has one to five years of it.
Tests accepted
A GMAT (645+ Focus Edition), GRE (315+) or CAT (90th percentile+) score, or the online SIAC Graduate Assessment.
What else you submit
A statement of purpose, a CV and two references, one of which may be professional. Shortlisted applicants complete a short case analysis before their interview.
- Intakes
- January and August
- Duration
- 3–4 years
- Funding
- ₹85,000 / month
Academic requirements
- A master's degree in a relevant field with a CGPA of 7.5/10, or an outstanding four-year bachelor's degree (CGPA 8.5+) for direct entry.
- A valid GATE score or UGC-NET/CSIR-NET fellowship is recommended but not required.
- SIAC integrated-degree students with top results may join the Direct PhD Track after year 4.
How doctoral admission differs
Contact a potential supervisor from one of our 14 research centres before you apply. Your application includes a four-page research proposal. Shortlisted applicants give a 20-minute research talk to a faculty panel, online or in person.
Deadlines: 30 September for January entry; 31 March for August entry.
How to apply, step by step
The process is the same for every programme; only the test and supporting documents change. Expand each step for the details.
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Check your eligibility
Before OctoberRead the requirements for your pathway and make sure you meet them, or will by July 2027. If your qualification isn't listed, email the admissions office with a copy of your transcript and we will confirm within five working days.
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Create your portal account
From 1 October 2026Register on the SIAC Admissions Portal with your own email address and mobile number. You will use this account to track your application, download your SIAT admit card, book your Selection Day and receive your offer.
Tips for registering
Use an email address you will keep for the next year; school email accounts often close after graduation. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Class 10 certificate or passport. Parents and guardians can be added as secondary contacts but cannot submit the application for you.
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Complete the form, upload documents and pay the fee
By 15 Dec or 31 JanThe form takes about 45 minutes and saves as you go. You'll give your personal details, academic history and programme preferences, write two short essays, and upload the documents on the checklist. The application fee is ₹2,500 (US$60 for international applicants).
The two essays
Something you built or figured out (up to 400 words). Describe a project, experiment or problem you worked on outside the classroom, what went wrong, and what you would do differently. It doesn't need to involve computers.
Why SIAC (up to 250 words). Tell us what you hope to study or build here. Master's applicants replace both essays with their statement of purpose.
Fee waivers
The fee is waived automatically for applicants with a family income below ₹8 lakh a year, applicants with disabilities, and children of serving armed forces personnel. Tick the waiver box in the form and upload the supporting certificate; you won't be asked to pay.
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Take the entrance test
18 January 2027Integrated-degree applicants sit the SIAC Aptitude Test, unless exempt through JEE Main or SAT. Master's applicants upload their GATE, GRE, GMAT or CAT score, or book the online SIAC Graduate Assessment, which runs every Saturday from November to January.
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Attend Selection Day
March – early AprilAbout 1,600 integrated-degree applicants and 300 master's applicants are invited to a Selection Day: a conversation with two faculty members and a team exercise in our design studio. You book your slot on the portal, on campus or online.
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Receive and accept your offer
15 April – 15 MayDecisions and scholarship awards are published on the portal on 15 April. To secure your place, accept the offer and pay the seat deposit of ₹50,000 by 15 May. The deposit is deducted from your first-semester fees.
Waitlist and conditional offers
Offers to Class 12 students are conditional on final board results; upload your marksheet as soon as it is published. Waitlisted applicants hear by 15 June as places are released. If you withdraw before 30 June, the deposit is refunded in full minus a ₹5,000 processing charge.
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Enrol and join Genesis Week
2 August 2027Complete online enrolment in July: verify your original documents, pay the first-semester fees, and submit your medical form and residence preferences. Genesis Week introduces you to the campus, your mentors and the first-year hackathon, Genesis. See after your offer.
The SIAC Aptitude Test (SIAT)
SIAT measures how you reason, not how much you memorised. It is a three-hour, computer-based test held in 60 Indian cities, with an online proctored version for applicants living outside India.
| Section | What it tests | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Class 11–12 algebra, calculus, vectors, probability and combinatorics | 70 min | 120 |
| Computational reasoning | Patterns, logic puzzles, reading and tracing simple algorithms written in plain language | 50 min | 90 |
| Physical sciences | Applied physics and data interpretation from experiments | 35 min | 60 |
| Written problem | An open-ended design problem answered in a short structured essay | 25 min | 30 |
Total 300 marks. Multiple-choice questions carry a penalty of one quarter of a mark for wrong answers; numerical-answer questions carry none.
Preparing. Two full past papers and a practice test in the real interface are available on the portal once you register. A calculator is built into the test screen. The fee covers one attempt; you may choose your city when you apply and change it until 20 December.
Selection Day
Selection Day lasts about four hours. It is not a test of what you already know; we want to see how you think, how you work with others and what you care about.
Interview, 25 minutes
A conversation with two faculty members about your essays, a project you described and one short problem you solve out loud. There is no penalty for not finishing it.
Studio exercise, 2 hours
In teams of five, you receive a real design brief from one of our partner companies and present a proposal to a panel. Master's applicants replace this with a technical or case discussion.
Campus tour
Current students show you the residence halls, labs and the makerspace. Parents are welcome on the tour but not in the assessments.
Travel support. Applicants travelling more than 300 km to Bengaluru who qualify for a fee waiver receive a train fare reimbursement and a night in a guest residence. Online Selection Days follow the same format by video.
How we decide
Every application is read by two members of the admissions committee. For the integrated degree, final ranking combines these elements:
- SIAT score (or equivalent)45%
- Selection Day interview25%
- Studio exercise10%
- Class 12 results10%
- Essays and activities10%
For master's programmes, the test score counts for 30%, the interview for 35%, academic record for 20% and the statement and references for 15%. PhD admission is decided by the research-centre panel on the proposal and research talk.
Documents checklist
Upload clear PDF scans, each under 5 MB. Tick items off as you go; your progress is kept in this browser only.
Fees for 2027–28
Fees are fixed for your first two years and rise by at most 5% a year after that. They are paid per semester.
| Per year | Indian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, integrated degree | ₹4,20,000 | US$9,800 |
| Tuition, M.Tech Frontier AI | ₹4,80,000 | US$11,500 |
| Tuition, M.Sc. AI & Business | ₹6,40,000 | US$14,000 |
| Tuition, PhD | Waived | Waived |
| Residence hall (twin room) and meals | ₹1,40,000 | US$2,400 |
| Student services, health cover and lab materials | ₹35,000 | US$650 |
| Semester abroad (year 3) | No extra tuition | No extra tuition |
One-time charges: application fee ₹2,500 (US$60); seat deposit ₹50,000 (US$800), deducted from first-semester fees; refundable caution deposit ₹15,000.
Scholarships
No admitted student should turn down SIAC for financial reasons. About 38% of current students receive some support. You apply for everything with one tick in your application form.
Venkatesh Need-Based Scholarship
For families earning under ₹8 lakh a year: full tuition and residence. Under ₹15 lakh: 50% of tuition.
Up to ₹5,60,000 a year
Founders' Merit Scholarship
For the top 5% of each intake by final ranking, renewed each year with a CGPA of 8.0 or above.
50% of tuition
Women in Deep Tech Fellowship
For women admitted to the VLSI, Quantum or Frontier AI programmes, with mentoring from alumnae.
₹1,50,000 a year
Karnataka Knowledge Mission Award
For students who completed Class 12 in a Karnataka government or aided school.
Full tuition
SIAC Global Scholars
For international students from low- and middle-income countries.
Up to 75% of tuition
Education loans
Partner banks offer collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh for admitted students, with interest subsidy under central schemes.
Arranged by the finance office
International applicants
Students from 41 countries study at SIAC. You follow the same seven steps, with a few differences:
- Tests. Sit SIAT online from home, or submit an SAT (integrated) or GRE (master's) score instead.
- Qualifications. IB, A-levels, the French baccalauréat, the Abitur and most national school-leaving certificates are accepted. We assess equivalence for you; you don't need an AIU certificate to apply.
- Selection Day is held online, scheduled for your time zone.
- Visa. Once you pay the deposit, we issue your admission letter for an Indian student visa within five working days. Apply at least eight weeks before Genesis Week.
- On arrival, the International Office meets you at Kempegowda International Airport and helps you register with the FRRO within 14 days.
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and NRI applicants may choose either the Indian or the international route.
Reserved places and access
SIAC follows Government of India reservation norms for Indian nationals: 15% of places for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 10% for EWS applicants, with 5% horizontal reservation for persons with disabilities across all categories. The minimum Class 12 aggregate is 70% for reserved categories.
Applicants with disabilities can request extra time, a scribe or screen-reader compatible SIAT papers in the application form. All campus buildings and residence halls are step-free, and the Accessibility Office works with each student before they arrive.
After your offer
Accept by 15 May
Accept on the portal and pay the ₹50,000 seat deposit. You'll receive your student number and SIAC email address.
Choose housing by 30 June
All first-year students live on campus. Rank your preferences among the 11 halls; allocations arrive in mid-July.
Enrol in July
Upload final results, pay first-semester fees and submit the medical form. Original documents are checked on arrival.
Genesis Week starts on 2 August 2027. You'll meet your faculty mentor and your senior student buddy, set up your accounts, tour the labs and take part in the Genesis hackathon with your new classmates. Parents are invited to the welcome ceremony on the first morning.
Questions
Can I apply to more than one programme?
Yes. You can list up to two programmes at the same level in one application, for example the M.Tech and the M.Sc., and pay one fee. Integrated-degree applicants choose their specialisation track in year 3, not at admission.
Do I need to know how to code?
Not for the integrated degree. Year 1 teaches Python, C and Rust from the beginning. Master's applicants in Frontier AI need solid Python.
Is the early round more competitive?
No. We apply the same standard in both rounds. Applying early means you hear sooner and get first choice of Selection Day dates.
Can I retake SIAT?
SIAT is held once a year. If you are not admitted, you may apply again the following year; your earlier application does not count against you.
Will my board results affect my offer?
Offers to Class 12 students are conditional on reaching the 75% aggregate (70% for reserved categories). Above that threshold, board results count for 10% of the ranking.
Are the degrees recognised abroad?
Yes. The integrated degree is 300 ECTS-equivalent under the Bologna framework and recognised through the Washington Accord. Master's graduates receive a dual degree with a partner university.
Who do I contact if something goes wrong with my application?
Write to admissions@siac-bengaluru.example with your application number, or call +91 80 0000 4242, Monday to Saturday, 9:00–18:00 IST. We reply within two working days.
Ready to apply?
The portal opens on 1 October 2026. Early-round deadline: 15 December.