Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much GPA / % is required to
get admission into the VSRP program?
There is no cut-off GPA / % that is needed for
the VSRP program. We look at the overall profile while making a
decision. This includes academic performance as evinced by
grades/GPA, referee reports, your write up, etc.
2. Who can apply? / What is the eligibility criteria for students to
apply?
The common eligibility
criteria for students to apply for the VSRP program are:
a) Two years of undergraduate study in an academic institution
.
b) Must not have been selected for the VSRP program before.
Based on the above criteria, students in the final year of a three
year undergraduate program (e.g B.Sc.) or pre-final year of a four year
degree program (e.g . BTech) or in a post-graduate/Masters program
are eligible to apply.
Students finishing two years of undergraduate study before the
commencement date of the program are also eligible to apply.
Students who have applied to the VSRP program
before but NOT selected can also apply.
3. I`m a Ph.D. student at XXXX
university. Can I apply for the VSRP program?
The VSRP program is primarily aimed at providing a research
experience to pre-doctoral (undergraduate, masters) students. Thus,
Ph.D. students are not eligible for the VSRP program.
4. I
will be having my engineering 6th semester exams sometime in
June due to which there might be a clash with the research program
schedule. could you please clarify as to whether this clash could be
avoided. If you can reschedule your program, then the
clash can be avoided ?
The VSRP is an VERY INTENSIVE program, and we do not allow students
to take off in the middle, or reschedule the timings. If you are NOT
free for the ENTIRE period, please do NOT apply for the VSRP
program.
5. It is not clear
if any program is available for XXXX Engg. related research or if
pre-final year XXXX Engg. student is eligible for a VSRP project in
the YYYY department.
Anyone with any eligible degree is free to apply to any department.
We do not restrict students from exploring projects in other areas
if they demonstrate a keen interest and competency. Your research
write up, recommendations etc. are all important, not just the
degree / GPA.
6. I am doing my MSc physics at
IIT-X. Actually i wanted to know how many students do you take from
IITX ?
We
have no fixed number of students that we take from any one
institution. However, as we take typically ~50 students from all
over India, very often, only one or two students are taken from a
single institution, though this depends primarily on the merit of
the student.
7. I am doing MSc in Physics. I am super
interested in going for a summer project on the topic "Spin
injection through different g-factor heterointerfaces using negative
trions....." Please mail me more information about the project
as soon as possible so that I can apply for .......
The students do not
decide the project topic as a rule. Depending on your interest and
competency, the department will assign you a project guide (if you
are selected), and you will together decide on the details of the
project. If you would really like to work in a very particular area
please mention your interests on the VSRP application form.
8. I am from India, but I am currently pursuing my undergraduate
studies in the US. I am interested in applying to VSRP.
At present, the VSRP program admits only those students pursuing
their studies at institutions within India. We however would
encourage you to visit TIFR and interact with members in your area
of interest when you visit India.
9. Is it compulsory to have a
detailed knowledge about the particular research topic of interest ?
While no specialized knowledge is necessary,
we would expect you to have a very thorough understanding of what is
typically taught at the Pre-Final year level.
10. Are we to undertake a project
on the research topic and finish it in the two month visiting time
or is it a chance to read and enhance my knowledge on the particular
topic.
You will be working on a
focused research project.
11. Will I
have to compulsorily stay at TIFR during the full duration of the
program ?
No, but given the intensity of the project it
will be very difficult for you to work on it if you do not stay
somewhere close enough. Participants are paid a a stipend of Rs 7000/-
for ~4.5 week programme (Maths) and Rs 14000/- for ~9 week programme
(NSF/STCS), 1.33 times return railway fare by second class (sleeper
class for travel beyond 500 km) and are
provided with shared hostel accommodation.
