IISc Summer Internship 2026: Your Complete Guide

IISc Indian Institute of Science, has some of the most desired research internships in India. The IISc Summer Internship 2026 offers undergraduate and postgraduate students an exceptional experience of having hands-on experience with respect to research, where they will be working directly with some of the most brilliant young scientists and engineers. IISc has a multitrack internship system, unlike other institutions that have one or a consolidated internship program, where students can select the most appropriate internship system depending on their interests and education level.

The article includes all the necessary information, such as their eligibility, routes of application, and stipend, among others.

Overview of IISc Summer Internship 2026

The IISc Summer Internship 2026 is a research-based initiative that targets students who desire to have an experience of working in a particular field of research. The internship is going to last between May and August 2026 and generally between 7 and 12 weeks. The program is held on campus, which means that the students have to be available to be present in person and full-time. IISc has numerous research opportunities available in its various departments and research centres that offer value to interns by offering an opportunity to work on the latest projects in areas such as computer science, nanotechnology, biomedical sciences, and engineering. The amount of stipend is different across programs and departments, and although certain internships are financially supported, others are not.

Types of IISc Summer Internships 2026

IISc provides multiple routes for students to apply for internships. These can be broadly categorized into two main types: national-level fellowship programs and department or centre-specific internships. The most well-known fellowship program for IISc summer internships is the Indian Academy of Sciences Summer Research Fellowship Program (IAS SRFP). This fellowship places selected students with faculty mentors at IISc and other leading research institutions in India. The program is also accessible to outside undergraduates and post-graduates, and the process is competitive and based on merit. A typical summer internship as an intern with IAS SRFP is 2 months with a stipend of ₹8,000/month.

Besides the IAS fellow, there are numerous IISc departments and research centres with their own independent internship programs. These are department-specific internships that are specialized in research areas and usually offer interns the chance to undertake particular projects under the direction of the IISc faculty. Examples include the Centre for Networked Intelligence (CNI) with a 12 week research internship on distributed machine learning, sustainable computing, and the Param Hansa Centre for Computational Oncology (PHCCO) with a 7 week training program in computational oncology and biomedical data analysis. Different departments have individual eligibility requirements, application, and stipend.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility requirements for IISc Summer Internships 2026 vary based on the program and department. Nevertheless, there are certain shared expectations. The majority of IISc internships demand good academic performance in students, usually with a CGPA of 8.0/10 or higher. The applicants should be regular students in a given institution, and they should be students who are currently in school, and should also have an academic background that matches the area of interest in the research. Also, in the majority of cases, internships are full-time, and physical presence is demanded throughout the internship.

In the case of the IAS Summer Research Fellowship, the program is typically open to 2nd or 3rd year undergraduate students and 1st year Master’s students in associated majors. This fellowship is very competitive, and students have to prove their good performance in school and their ability to conduct research. IISc also has department-specific internships that often mandate that students are in their 2nd or 3rd undergraduate year or are pursuing a post-graduate degree. Additional eligibility criteria may exist in each department or research centre, including previous coursework or particular exposure to research.

Duration and Mode

IISc Summer Internships last a different period of time based on the program. The duration of most internships is a period of 7 to 12 weeks, whereas certain department-specific programs might vary. As an example, the IAS Summer Research Fellowship in general takes approximately 8 weeks, whereas the internship at the Centre of Networked Intelligence (CNI) demands a 12-week commitment. The internships are mostly carried out physically within the campus, IISc, since they entail laboratory sessions and practical research. Part-time or off-site involvement is usually not an option, as the research nature involves full-time, on-campus involvement.

Stipend and Facilities

IISc Summer internships do not receive similar financial aid in all programs, and the stipend amount differs based on the internship path. An example is the IAS Summer Research Fellowship, which has a stipend of 8,000 per month over a period of approximately 2 months and the Centre of Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), which has a stipend of 5,000 per month over a 10-week internship. Other internships that are department-based can provide some stipends, although the value is not usually stated. Not all internships, especially those organized by individual faculty members or departments, have a stipend, and students must find their own place to stay and take care of their living costs. Interns are typically not accommodated at IISc, and they will have to find their own accommodation close to campus.

The students who are involved in IISc summer programs are usually given access to the academic facilities of the institute, including libraries, laboratories, and computing resources. The access is however, usually restricted to the internship period.

How to Apply for IISc Summer Internship 2026

There is no single application form for the IISc Summer Internship 2026. The application process differs depending on the route students choose to apply through. For the IAS Summer Research Fellowship, students must visit the official IAS fellowship portal, where they can register, fill in their academic and personal details, and upload the required documents, such as transcripts and a brief academic profile. Applications are submitted through the IAS portal, and shortlisted candidates are selected based on academic performance and research aptitude.

Department-specific internships at IISc require students to monitor announcements from the relevant department or research centre. Each department or centre posts its own internship call with detailed eligibility criteria, application instructions, and deadlines. Applicants must submit their application directly through the department’s portal or as instructed in the internship announcement. In some cases, students can also reach out directly to faculty members with a focused CV and motivation letter if they are interested in specific research projects.

Important Dates for IISc Summer Internship 2026

Each IISc Summer Internship program has its own set of application deadlines. For the IAS Summer Research Fellowship, applications typically close by the end of January, with internships running from May to July. Department-specific internships may have different timelines, with most calls being announced between February and March, and internships generally taking place from May to July.

Conclusion

The IISc Summer Internship 2026 is a good experience that can expose students interested in research to the latest work in the field of science and technology. Regardless of which program they use to apply (IAS Summer research fellowship or department-specific), students should closely consider the eligibility requirements, procedures, and timelines of the internship program they are interested in. An IISc internship has a strict academic qualification and cooperative research atmosphere, which provides invaluable experience to students who hope to establish a career in research and innovation.