National Board for Higher Mathematics Scholarships for Master’s and Doctoral studies in Mathematics

The test constitutes the first phase of the two-phase selection process for grant of NBHM Doctoral Scholarship 2023 and NBHM Master’s Scholarship 2022-23.

The second phase of selection shall be an interview. Two separate shortlists shall be drawn up based on the performance in the test, one for each of the scholarships. Candidates on these shortlists shall be invited to appear for an online interview. The final selection for grant of either scholarship shall be based primarily on the performance in both the test and interview, although the selection committee shall be at liberty to take into consideration other aspects of the academic track record.

The test scores are also used for screening of candidates for admissions to certain PhD and Integrated PhD programmes at (i) Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI) (ii) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur (IISER Berhampur) (iii) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali (IISER Mohali) (iv) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune (IISER Pune) (v) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER Thiruvananthapuram) (vi) Kerala School of Mathematics (KSoM) (vii) National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) (viii) The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc).

The Master’s Scholarship is intended to encourage and support talented students to study mathematics at the master’s level. It carries a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000/-, payable during the two-year period. It is sanctioned for one year at a time and is renewable at the end of the year, subject to satisfactory progress. Students who get selected while in the final year of their Master’s programme shall receive the scholarship for only one year. NBHM Master’s Scholarship is not payable at the same time as another master’s scholarship (for example, DST-INSPIRE, KVPY, those offered by the scholar’s institution).

To be offered the Master’s Scholarship one must be selected for the Master’s scholarship, following the test and the subsequent (Master’s) interview & either be currently enrolled in a Master’s programme in Mathematics, or enrol in such a programme for the academic year 2023–24. Selected students who are eligible for the scholarship for the academic year 2022–23 shall receive the entire stipend due for the year as a lump sum.

The Doctoral Scholarship is intended to support pursuit of research leading to the PhD degree in Mathematics. It is initially granted for a term of four years, but needs to be renewed every year, the renewal being subject to satisfactory progress as judged by NBHM. It is extendable by one more year, solely at NBHM’s discretion. It consists of a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000/- for the first two years, to be increased to Rs. 35,000/- for the subsequent years, based upon the recommendation of the committee appointed by the scholar’s institution to monitor the scholar’s progress; and a yearly contingency grant of Rs. 40,000/-. In addition, house rent allowance (HRA) is payable as per central government norms.

To be offered the Doctoral Scholarship, one must be selected for the scholarship, following the test and subsequent (doctoral) interview; enrol by January 2024, or be currently enrolled, in a PhD programme in Mathematics; must not have drawn the (NBHM) Doctoral Scholarship in the past.

The detailed eligibility conditions to appear for the test is given in the detailed Notification at https://www.imsc.res.in/~nbhm/

There is a single test for both scholarships to be held from10.30 am to 1.30 pm on 29.4.2023. It shall be a test of core mathematical skills useful for studying mathematics at the Master’s and Doctoral levels. There is no prescribed syllabus, but question papers from previous editions (2005 onward) along with keys are available at https://www.imsc.res.in/~nbhm/qp/. The pattern and level of difficulty of the test may vary from those of previous editions. Applications are to be submitted at https://www.nbhmexams.in/ latest by 05th April, 2023. Applicant can choose to apply for the Master’s Scholarship only, the Doctoral Scholarship only, or both.

For applications completed by 23:59 hrs on 26th March, 2023, application fee is Rs. 500/- for a single scholarship and Rs. 750/- for both scholarships. For applications submitted after 26th March, the application fee shall be Rs. 750/- for a single scholarship and Rs. 1000/- for both scholarships. Application fee is to be paid online.

For details, visit https://www.nbhmexams.in/