Admission Process for MSc. Neuroscience Program in NBRC

National Brain Research Centre is the only institute in India dedicated to neuroscience research and education. Scientists and students of NBRC come from diverse academic backgrounds, including biological, computational, mathematical, physical, engineering and medical sciences, and use multidisciplinary approaches to understand the brain.

Located in the foothills of the Aravali range in Manesar, Haryana, NBRC is an autonomous institute funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and is also a Deemed University.

Eligibility:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any branch of Science such as Life Sciences / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer applications / Pharmacy / Veterinary Science / Psychology / Engineering / Technology / Medicine from a recognized Institute / University.

Candidates appearing for final year of the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply

Candidates with at least 55% (50% for SC / ST / PH candidates) marks or equivalent grade from secondary (10th) examination onwards will be considered. Candidates should calculate their percentage up to two decimal points to determine their eligibility.

NBRC Important Dates:

Application Opens: January

Deadline: Mid April

http://14.139.62.11/admissions/impdates.php

 Requirement:

1. Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Science (JGEEBILS)
2. Interview intimation by: April / May

Interviews held: May / June

 NBRC Application Procedure

http://14.139.62.11/admissions/app_jgeebils.php

You will require the reference code for JGEEBILS examination while applying to NBRC, which you will receive on applying to JGEEBILS examination

Important Dates for JGEEBILS

Application form will be available from	September
Last Date for getting the application form online	October
Examination’s Date	December
Result will be declared on	January

Test Timing

Date of Test – December

Morning Session: 09:30 am to 12:30 pm

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Computer & Systems Sciences

Afternoon Session: 02.30 pm to 04:30 pm

• Mathematics
• Biology (PhD, Int.PhD and M.Sc by Research)

 Examination Centers

https://www.ncbs.res.in/academic/admissions-examination-centres

Application Fee (Non-refundable)

For Male Applicants – Rs.600/- for applications submitted online and Rs.650/- for applications sent manually by post

For Female Applicants – Rs.100/- for applications submitted online as well as for applications sent manually by post (Please see the walk-ins section on this website)

Application Fee can be paid online by Net banking/Debit/Credit Card or through DD. After successful payment transaction, please login to your account on our website by using your reference code as your user id and check the payment status of your application

Normally, online payments are received within 2 working days and an auto email is sent by the system acknowledging the payment. If your transaction has been successful and your account has been debited and you do not receive the acknowledgement email within 7 days and your payment status is not updated in your account, you may write to the email ids as given in the “contact us” section

Demand Draft: DD should be drawn on State Bank of India in favour of National Centre for Biological Science payable at Bangalore

Instructions for downloading/printing of hall tickets will be intimated by email only after receipt of application fee/approval of fee waiver

 Preparation for JGEEBILS:

All applicants are required to appear for the written test conducted at different centers nationally. The test will cover basic topics in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.

https://www.ncbs.res.in/academic/admissions-JGEEBILS

Question papers from past years are hosted at the TIFR site:

http://univ.tifr.res.in/gs2018/Prev_QP/Prev_QP.htm

 Syllabus:

http://univ.tifr.res.in/gs2018/Syllabus/Syllabus.htm

 Exam Preparation Tips:

• You need to be very good at the basic sciences that you have been studying until the 10+2 levels. The thorough conceptual study of the NCERT books for PCMB shall surely help you in this context. Conceptual study because, hardly they shall ask you about theory.
• The exam shall have four sections – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology. Each section carries 15 questions of which 10 questions of 1 marks each and 5 questions for 2 marks each. Every wrong answer  costs you -0.5 marks.
• Coming to the type of questions, all you are asked is different numericals to be solved in Physics and Chemistry section, Basic Geometry, Trigonometry, Basic Calculus, Statistics, Probablity (Permutation and Combination) and other 12th Grade Algebra in Mathematics. When it comes to biology the questions range from easy and logical to a bit tough and analytical.
• Biology section shall have questions based on Genetics (Pedigree analysis, Linkage determination, Population Genetics etc.) , Experimental Design and Data Sufficiency, Analytical questions shall involve studying a given experimental situation or set of multiple hypothesis and answer the questions based on them.

Interview

Overall interview is divided into two phases.

Phase 1: this round includes a panel of three faculties and it can go on for 20–30 mins depending on your performance. The question includes basic physics, chemistry and biology. Brief whereabouts of your last project could also be asked.

Phase 2: If you qualify first round, then only you will be called for second round. It happens right after the day of round 1. This includes a panel of around 18–19 faculties and it can go on for 30 mins to 1 hour. They can ask anything from your field or basic neuroscience. Also be prepared for the lab options. They might ask your preference on that note. Why you are interested in this field might interest them too.

P.S: for basic neuroscience, read fundamentals of neuroscience by Eric Kandel 5th edition.