Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, is an autonomous research institution and a deemed university of national importance. Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis founded it in 1931. Parliament granted ISI the status of an Institute of National Importance through the ISI Act in 1959. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India, funds the institute, which awards its own degrees under the Act.

ISI Kolkata was placed in the 101-150 band of the NIRF Overall 2025 ranking. Its NIRF Overall position in 2024 was 74. The institute is known for education and research in statistics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics, data science and related fields.

The main campus covers 30 acres in Baranagar, North Kolkata, West Bengal. ISI also operates centres in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Tezpur, where selected programmes are available.

  • B.Stat (Hons) is a 3-year flagship undergraduate course with limited seats and highly selective entry through the ISI Admission Test. Its total fee is INR 6,00,000.
  • BSDS (Hons), or Bachelor of Statistical Data Science, runs for 4 years and has a total fee of INR 8,20,000.
  • M.Stat, M.Maths and MS in Quantitative Economics are 2-year postgraduate courses. Their fees are heavily subsidized, and students receive CSIR or UGC fellowships.
  • M.Tech is offered in Computer Science, Cryptology and Security, and Quality Reliability and Operations Research. Each course lasts 2 years and costs INR 40,000 in total.
  • PGDBA, the Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics, is a 2-year joint programme with IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur. The total fee is INR 27,10,000.
  • PG Diploma in Applied Statistics is a 1-year programme with a fee of INR 4,50,000.
  • Ph.D programmes cover Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Quantitative Economics and related subjects. Fees are minimal, while research scholars receive fellowship stipends.

Monthly merit fellowships are available to B.Stat and M.Stat students. PhD candidates and other research scholars receive CSIR or UGC JRF and SRF stipends during their tenure.

According to NIRF data, 177 students from the 2-year postgraduate cohort were placed in 2025, and the median package was INR 22.47 LPA. PGDBA graduates also receive offers in leading analytics and consulting roles.

Admission Update: Applications for the PGDBA 2027-29 batch are expected to begin in November 2026. Applications for the next ISI Admission Test cycle are expected to open in February 2027.

ISI Kolkata Admission Dates 2027

ISI follows separate application schedules for its regular degree programmes and PGDBA. The expected upcoming windows are listed below along with the relevant admission test.

EventDate
PGDBA 2027-29 applications, with selection through the separate PGDBA Admission TestNovember 2026 (tentative)
B.Stat (Hons) and BSDS (Hons) applications for the ISI Admission Test, which has a written examination and no interviewFebruary to March 2027
M.Stat, M.Maths and MS in Quantitative Economics applications for the ISI Admission Test, followed by an interviewFebruary to March 2027
M.Tech in Computer Science, Cryptology and Security, and QROR applications through GATE or the ISI Admission TestFebruary to March 2027
JRF and PhD applications through the ISI Admission Test or CSIR/UGC NETFebruary to March 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

ISI Kolkata Courses and Fees

ISI Kolkata has a focused set of courses in statistics, mathematics, computer science and quantitative economics. B.Stat and BSDS are its main undergraduate options. Government support keeps the fees for several postgraduate and doctoral programmes low.

CourseDurationEligibilityTotal Fees
B.Stat (Hons)3 years, 6 semesters10+2 with Mathematics and the ISI Admission TestINR 6,00,000
BSDS (Hons)4 years, 8 semesters10+2 with Mathematics and the ISI Admission TestINR 8,20,000
M.Stat2 yearsB.Stat or an equivalent qualification, followed by the ISI Admission Test and interviewHighly subsidized, with a stipend awarded
M.Maths2 yearsB.Math or an equivalent qualification, followed by the ISI Admission Test and interviewHighly subsidized, with a stipend awarded
MS in Quantitative Economics2 yearsA degree involving Economics, Statistics or Mathematics, followed by the ISI Admission Test and interviewHighly subsidized, with a stipend awarded
M.Tech in Computer Science2 yearsBE or B.Tech in Computer Science, or MCA, with GATE or the ISI Admission TestINR 40,000
M.Tech in Cryptology and Security2 yearsBE, B.Tech or M.Sc, with GATE or the ISI Admission TestINR 40,000
M.Tech in QROR2 yearsB.Stat, B.Math, BE or B.Tech, with GATE or the ISI Admission TestINR 40,000
PGDBA2 yearsGraduation with 60% and the PGDBA Admission TestINR 27,10,000
PG Diploma in Applied Statistics1 yearGraduation with Statistics or MathematicsINR 4,50,000
Ph.D in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or EconomicsMinimum 3 to 5 yearsA postgraduate degree with the ISI Admission Test or CSIR/UGC NETMinimal, with a CSIR or UGC stipend awarded

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

PGDBA is jointly taught by ISI, IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur as a major business analytics programme. The Kolkata campus typically admits 30 students to each B.Stat batch. This limited intake makes B.Stat one of India's most selective undergraduate courses in quantitative subjects.

ISI Kolkata Admission Process

Selection depends on the programme. Most applicants take an ISI entrance examination, while some M.Tech candidates may use GATE scores. Shortlisted postgraduate applicants may also have to attend an interview.

B.Stat and BSDS Admission

Admission to B.Stat (Hons) and BSDS (Hons) is based on the written ISI Admission Test. From 2026, these courses do not have an interview stage. Questions test 10+2 Mathematics, including proof-based reasoning and problem-solving skills.

  • Applicants must have completed 10+2 or an equivalent qualification with Mathematics as a subject.
  • Selection normally depends only on the written test score. In exceptional cases, strong performance in a Mathematics Olympiad may lead to direct interview consideration.
  • The Kolkata campus generally has 30 B.Stat seats in each batch.
  • Reservations for SC, ST, OBC and PwD applicants follow Government of India rules.

M.Stat, M.Maths and MS Admission

Applicants first sit for a programme-specific written paper at the required subject level. Those shortlisted through the ISI Admission Test then appear for a personal interview.

  • For M.Stat, applicants need a B.Stat (Hons) from ISI or a 3-year B.Sc with Statistics as the main subject and a first-class result or equivalent grade.
  • For M.Maths, the accepted qualifications are a B.Math (Hons) from ISI or a 3-year B.Sc with Mathematics as the main subject.
  • For MS in Quantitative Economics, applicants need a B.Stat from ISI or a first-class bachelor's degree in Economics, Mathematics or Statistics.

M.Tech Admission

M.Tech applicants can qualify through GATE or the ISI Admission Test. Shortlisted candidates must then attend an interview. The Cryptology and Security course concentrates on the theoretical basis of secure computation, a specialisation available at few Indian institutions.

PGDBA Admission

PGDBA has its own multi-stage selection route. Applicants take a written examination covering Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Communication. Shortlisted candidates then attend a Group Discussion and Personal Interview. ISI, IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur jointly conduct the programme and manage its admissions.

ISI Kolkata Placements and Career Outcomes

Graduates of ISI Kolkata move into industry, finance, academic work and research. NIRF 2025 data records 177 placements from the 2-year postgraduate group at a median package of INR 22.47 LPA. The 1-year postgraduate group had 130 placed students and a median package of INR 15.85 LPA.

CohortStudents Placed (2025)Median Package
PG 2-Year Programmes, including M.Stat, M.Tech and MS-QE177INR 22.47 LPA
PG 1-Year Programmes, including Diploma courses130INR 15.85 LPA

PGDBA students receive opportunities in consulting, finance and product analytics. Among registered candidates in 2024, the highest reported offer was INR 34 LPA and the average was INR 23 LPA. Recruiters come from IT services, investment banking, analytics and public-sector research organisations. Many B.Stat and M.Stat graduates instead continue to doctoral study or academic careers in India and abroad.

Research is also a major career route. PhD graduates take faculty and postdoctoral positions at ISI centres, IITs, IISc and universities outside India. Quantitative economics and statistics graduates are regularly recruited by government statistical and financial bodies such as NSSO, CSO, RBI and NABARD.

ISI Kolkata Rankings

In NIRF Overall 2025, ISI Kolkata was listed in the 101-150 band, compared with rank 74 in 2024. Because it is a specialist research institution, ISI is evaluated in the Overall category. It does not take part in the separate NIRF Engineering or Management categories.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank2024 Rank
NIRFOverall101-150 band74

General rankings place weight on engineering and management output, so they may not fully reflect ISI's specialist role in statistics, mathematics and quantitative science. Within statistics and applied mathematics, ISI is India's main graduate school and supplies academic faculty to institutions such as IITs, IIMs and IISc.

ISI Kolkata Campus and Infrastructure

The Baranagar campus in North Kolkata, West Bengal, extends across 30 acres. It contains academic departments, research centres, residential facilities and a library with a wide collection of periodicals in statistics and mathematics. Two of its active research units are the Computer and Communication Sciences Division and the Physics and Applied Mathematics Unit.

Students can apply for campus hostel accommodation, with separate housing for men and women. Research scholars and PhD candidates generally receive on-campus accommodation as part of their fellowship support. ISI's archives are also based here and preserve Professor P.C. Mahalanobis's papers and correspondence, along with institute records dating from 1931.

ISI Kolkata vs CMI vs IISER Kolkata

Applicants interested in research-based mathematics and statistics courses often compare ISI Kolkata with Chennai Mathematical Institute and IISER Kolkata. These institutes attract Mathematics Olympiad participants and students with strong 10+2 Mathematics skills.

ParameterISI KolkataCMI ChennaiIISER Kolkata
Established193119892006
NIRF Overall 2025101-150 bandNot in NIRF list67
Flagship UGB.Stat (Hons)B.Sc (Hons) Mathematics and Computer ScienceBS-MS, 5 years
UG Fee, totalINR 6,00,000INR 2,70,000INR 2,50,000
Admission TestISI Admission TestCMI Entrance ExamIAT, or IISER Aptitude Test
StrengthStatistics, Quantitative Economics and PGDBAPure Mathematics and Theoretical Computer ScienceBroad Sciences and the BS-MS research track

ISI Kolkata best suits students who want to focus on statistics or data science through programmes such as B.Stat, M.Stat and the PGDBA offered with IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur. CMI is a stronger match for undergraduate study in pure mathematics and theoretical computer science. IISER Kolkata provides a broader 5-year BS-MS course for students who want experience across several sciences before choosing a postgraduate specialisation.

ISI Kolkata FAQs

Ques. Which courses require the ISI Admission Test, and what does the exam assess?

Ans. The ISI Admission Test is the main entrance examination for B.Stat (Hons), BSDS (Hons), M.Stat, M.Maths, MS-QE, M.Tech, JRF and PhD admission at Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata. It is generally conducted in May, while applications usually start in February. The test is intended for students who are comfortable with advanced Mathematics, proofs and problem-solving.

Ques. How much does the complete B.Stat programme at ISI Kolkata cost?

Ans. The 3-year B.Stat (Hons) course costs INR 6,00,000 in total. This equals INR 1,00,000 per semester for 6 semesters. The 4-year BSDS (Hons) programme has a total fee of INR 8,20,000 across 8 semesters. Monthly merit fellowships are offered to deserving students and can partly reduce the financial burden.

Ques. Where does ISI Kolkata stand in the latest NIRF ranking?

Ans. ISI Kolkata falls within the 101-150 band in NIRF Overall 2025. It was ranked 74 in the Overall category in 2024. As a specialist research institution, ISI appears in the NIRF Overall list rather than the Engineering or Management lists.

Ques. What is the total PGDBA fee, and which test is used for admission?

Ans. PGDBA costs INR 27,10,000 for 2 years. ISI Kolkata offers this programme jointly with IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur. Applicants take the separate PGDBA Admission Test instead of the regular ISI Admission Test.

Ques. What placement results has ISI Kolkata reported?

Ans. NIRF 2025 data shows that 177 students from 2-year postgraduate courses were placed at a median salary of INR 22.47 LPA. The 1-year postgraduate group recorded 130 placements with a median of INR 15.85 LPA. In 2024, the highest offer was INR 34 LPA, while the average among registered candidates was INR 23 LPA. Many B.Stat and M.Stat graduates also choose doctoral study or research careers at IITs, IISc and international universities.

Ques. Can students stay in hostels at ISI Kolkata?

Ans. Yes. Hostel accommodation is available on ISI Kolkata's 30-acre Baranagar campus. Men and women have separate residential facilities. PhD students and other research scholars generally receive campus housing through their fellowship support. Applicants should ask the ISI administrative office about current availability and charges.

Ques. Which careers can a student pursue after completing B.Stat at ISI Kolkata?

Ans. B.Stat graduates commonly follow three routes. They may continue to M.Stat at ISI or pursue a master's degree in statistics, data science or economics at an IIT or an international university. They can also enter data analytics, quantitative finance or technology jobs. A third option is research or government service through a CSIR or UGC fellowship or employment with organisations such as NSSO, CSO and RBI.

Ques. Why is ISI Kolkata called an Institute of National Importance?

Ans. Parliament designated ISI Kolkata an Institute of National Importance under the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959. The Act allows ISI to grant its own degrees. The institute receives direct funding from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India.