Admission

The National Entrance Examination has consistently been held on the 2nd Sunday of December every year. However, this year, given the current COVID-19 pandemic, a delay is preempted. Kindly watch this space for updates on the entrance examination. Thank you

The Masters program is offered once every two years (in even years). Admission to the program is advertised in August-September of the year before the start of the course. Students are selected based on a written test, a detailed application, referee letters and an interview of short-listed candidates. The written test may assess general knowledge, aptitude, English language skills, analytical and quantitative abilities and knowledge of basic biology, ecology and conservation issues. This test is conducted in over 30 centres across India, including most state capitals, in early December.

Eligibility

Indian applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline (including those in the final year of graduation) with a minimum of 50% marks in the core subjects are eligible to apply. Central, South and Southeast Asian nationals with similar qualifications are also eligible to apply.

The next round of admission to the program is usually announced on NCBS / TIFR websites and in leading national dailies, along with admission to other courses in Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The entrance exam is usually held in December, followed by interviews with shortlisted candidates in May.  The course commences in August. This year, however, there is a possibilty of change in this schedule.

For more details, logon to: www.ncbs.res.in

Application procedure for International Candidates:

International applicants to the MSc Wildlife Biology and Conservation program at NCBS will be considered for a maximum of 2 available places in the program.

Interested applicants may apply by writing to the Academic Coordinator, Wildlife Biology and Conservation program at mscwildlife@ncbs.res.in

Applicants with an undergraduate/Bachelor's degree OR an equivalent degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent GPA in the core subjects are eligible to apply. If the applicant is shortlisted based on the above, he/she will be called for interviews, which can be conducted via Video Conference if the candidate is unable to attend the interviews on the campus.

Since all academic activities, including courses, labs and seminars are conducted in English, we expect students to have a reasonable working command of English (both written and oral) and this will be explicitly tested for at the time of the interview.

Course fees and Fellowship

All selected candidates receive a studentship that covers their academic fees and living expenses. Continuation of the studentship depends on satisfactory academic performance and discipline. All students are expected to reside at the institutional hostel facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why apply to this course?

• Support from several leading research institutions.

• Faculty of established scientists and practitioners in wildlife conservation, drawn from institutions in India and abroad.

• A syllabus that covers biological, ecological, socio-economic, legal and governance issues in conservation.

• Studentships that cover fees, course materials and living expenses.

• Excellent campus facilities at the National Center for Biological Sciences, including access to the latest literature, state of the art laboratories and a vibrant research community.

The course is offered once in two years. Students from a wide range of academic background are eligible for admission, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of conservation. The written test would assess the analytical and quantitative abilities, knowledge of basic biology, awareness and interest in current affairs and conservation issues and the ability to communicate in English