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FaQs for the Lost Fresher

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IISER-M ACADEMICS

Q: How is the course structure at IISER Mohali?

A: The course structure is pretty simple. For the first two years, you’ll study all subjects. These include 4 theoretical courses (P, C, M, B), one inter-disciplinary course, one course on humanities and 3 lab courses (P, C, B) EACH SEMESTER (There are two semesters in a year). Third year onward, students study courses linked to their chosen major (A major is a subject students get to choose which they wish to study till their final year. Choices are given from P,C,M,B only) along with some electives. For more information on exactly what courses will be taught, we recommend the Course Structure uploaded on the official IISER-M website under the Academics menu.

Q: I’ve only studied Math or Biology in my higher secondary years. Will the opposite subject be difficult for me in the first two years of college?

A: Do not hesitate to point out your problems to the professors taking your course since they might overlook your high school background if the batch is not responsive. You can arrange for help sessions and regular assignments if you feel stuck at any point. You’ll find your seniors to be quite helpful too.

Q: What’s the grading system in IISER-M?

A: The grading system is largely subjective. Grades are given from A, B, C, D and a fail grade F. However, how the grades will be distributed is on the professor assigned the course. Mostly, relative grading works which is basically grades are decided according to the batch’s performance in the course. Three main exams take place of each course (excluding the labs), Mid Semester 1, Mid Semester 2 and End Semester; the last of which adds up to the grading the most.

2 Admission Procedure

Q: How do I get to IISER-M campus?

A: IISER-M campus (Sector 81) has a very convenient location. It is about 14 km from Chandigarh Railway Station, 1.5 km from Mohali Railway Station, 8 km from Chandigarh Airport nd about 8 km from Sector 43 bus stand. You can get a bus, auto or cab to reach the campus,

Q: What all does the admission day hold for me? How long do my par- ents/guardians need to stay?

A: Well, the first day you come here, you will be busy with registration procedures. Thats quite a lenghthy procedure and can be tiring. Keep yourself hydrated !

you will also be alloted hostels on the first day, and your peer groups too.

We have planned a lot of surprises and fun activities for you guys. You should not needlessly become anxious about the admission day. Just bring whatever things the offer letter asks, and we will be there to help you on every step.

Q: Is it mandatory to stay in campus from 29th onwards ?

A. It is not binding, you can stay with your parents outside the campus as well. But we highly recommend you to be on campus and enjoy the activities and interactions we have planned for you guys.

Hostel Life

Q: I live quite near the campus. Do I still need to apply for a room in the hostels?

A: Sadly, day scholars are not an allowed form to studentship here at IISER-M. Only hostellers.

Q: How are the rooms in the hostels?

A: The rooms were designed to be for single use, but are shared by two people due to hostel crunch. Initially, that may be a bit disappointing, but you will hardly notice it after the first week. Overall the rooms are of good quality. Two twin sized metallic beds (one for each occupant) with mattresses are provided. There’s a window with mosquito nets but no curtains. Only one cupboard is provided, which means you’ll be sharing it with your roommate. There is one top cupboard which you’ll probably use to stuff in your travel bags. Every room has its own balcony, which you’ll grow to adore. A table and a chair are provided for the room. The table holds two shelves on both sides at the top (the one thing each occupant can use with- out sharing) and a drawer and a small cabinet on its lower side. You’ll be sharing a lot of space with your roommate, so it’s wise that you be- friend them and pack as less as you can.

Q: Can my parents come up to set my room up or come visit later?

A: Sure they can! Only remember, fathers can’t go up their daughter’s room.

Q: How far away are the boys’ and girls’ hostels?

A: Surprisingly, they’re not far away. At all. IISER-M hostels are co-ed. That

means the hostels are just divided into two wings; one for each sex. But it’s not allowed for the opposite sex to cross the threshold.

Q: How far away is the mess?

A: Those aren’t far away either! Each hostel has its own mess on the ground level.

Q: How are the rooms divided in the hostels?

A: There are seven floors in each hostel and each floor has a good amount of rooms. The ground floor also has some rooms.

Basic Amenities

Q: Food: What are my options for eating at IISER-M?

A: Well, there is the mess that you’ll be paying for with your admission fee. The mess serves three times: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each of them are served within a time range (which are quite short, so be quick). Messes have a fixed menu for the week, so you can try mess food for a week and see which days and which meals you like. You can also eat at canteens (we have two) which are located in two hostels. They’re open for quite a long time. An eatery in the lecture hall complex is another alternative. Shopping complex has two eating joints you can try. Other than that, you can order food online (the campus is located well within the city) or go out. Bestech Square mall is walking distance from the campus.

Q: Water: How frequently can I find a water cooler in the campus?

A: Water coolers are abundantly placed inside the campus buildings includ- ing the library, lecture hall complex and laboratory blocks. Hostels, however, have water coolers on some specific floors and the ground. The temperature of the water varies but it’s mostly kept cool regardless of the weather.

Q: Toilets: How are the toilets in the hostels?

A: Each floor of the hostels has a total of four washrooms spread through- out. Each washroom has four stalls; two for bathing and two toilets. Boys’ toilets have one urinal. There are two sinks. One of the four bathrooms on the floor has two Western style toilets (with cleaning jets) while the rest are Indian.

Q: Cleanliness: How can I keep my room clean?

A: All hostels are cleaned daily by the cleaning staff. You can always ask

the staff member appointed to your floor to clean your room whenever you feel the need. It’s always advised to keep your room clean by yourself as much as you can as it’ll be easier on the cleaning staff members.

Q: Appliances: What all electronic appliances can I get along with me?

A: Since most electronic appliances take up a lot of electricity, a lot of them aren’t allowed including heaters, coolers, induction cookers, irons and electronic kettles. Sorry!

Q: Laundry: How can I do my laundry?

A: We’ve a common laundry room on the ground floor of every hostel. It’s basically full of automatic washing machines. You can either do the laundering yourself by buying your own detergent and setting up the washing machine or you can get a laundry pass made for 20/- and have laundry staff take care of the laundry. It’s advised that you clean smaller clothing items (like undergarments, handkerchiefs, socks etc.) on your own and not in the washing machines as these get lost pretty quickly in the laundry room and might end up in someone else’s bucket.

Q: Money: Where’s the nearest bank/ATM and how do I get to them?

A: Fret not! A Canara bank ATM is set up right near the hostels for easy access. A Canara bank branch is open right in the campus in the Shopping Complex. You’ll be needed to make an account there during the admission pro- cedure. You’ll be guided through it, don’t worry!

Q: Self – care: Where can I go to groom myself?

A: IISER-M’s shopping complex houses its own unisex salon cum barbershop. It does haircuts, trimming and shaving and even caters to feminine grooming.

Q: Groceries: Where can I get daily groceries to keep in my room or at person?

A: Again, IISER-M shopping complex saves the day! It has its own groceries’ shop which has almost all basic necessities. If it doesn’t fulfil your needs, a Reliance Fresh is in the Bestech Square Mall which is walking distance from the IISER-M campus.

Q: Stationery: Where can I get my stationery from?

A: Yet again, IISER-M shopping complex is equipped with its own stationery shop which has almost all the basic stationery you’ll need. If you need anything more, you can always go to Phase XI on the institute bus. We also have postal services next to our salon open from 12 noon -1 pm

Q: Travel: What are the best ways I can travel outside the campus?

A: Firstly, the Institute runs a daily bus to the nearest marketplace Phase XI starting from 5:15 pm and taking hourly round trips to Phase XI and back till 8:15 pm. It does also pick the students back up from where they were left. The schedule slightly changes on Saturday and completely on Sunday when the bus goes to Sector 17 at 2:30 pm and stays till 5:15 pm and comes back and goes for one round trip to Phase XI. If you wish to go somewhere else, you can always use an Auto (Autos here do not use a meter, so it’s the driver’s word versus your bargaining skills) or book yourself a cab ride to your destination. You can go for the public buses of Chandigarh as well (they’re very safe, don’t worry). It’s advised against using private modes of transport for going to the places the Institute bus will be going to in the week anyway since you’re paying for the bus in your academics fee. Yes, you won’t be paying for the bus every ride.

Q: Health: What are my medical options?

A: We have a health centre here in the campus which will cater to minor in- juries and general illnesses. Serious issues are best tackled in hospitals nearby. If you have some prescribed medicines, it’ll be best if you got them from home with you as the institute currently lacks a pharmacy. You can always go to pharmacies at Phase XI, though.

There is also a qualified counscellor.

Life on Campus

Q: How can I get around campus easily?

A: Walking! The campus is moderately spaced out but the necessary build- ings like the lecture hall complex, laboratory buildings, shopping complex and the library are very close to the hostels so walking around is the best mode of transport!

Q: So... um... will there be ragging/ hazing/ bullying?

A: NOPE! None of that here! NOT AN IOTA OF RAGGING/BULLYING !!!!!!!

Q: I’ve hobbies! How can I pursue them in IISER-M?

A: Well, we put hobbies and extracurricular interests to good use here! IISER- M has a collection of some good clubs which you can join and work together with others with common interests to become the best version of your creative

self.

Q: I’ll be so new to everything! How can I settle down easily?

A: We know how tough it is to adjust to a whole new place, full of new things to learn and new people to meet. That’s why we have ‘peer groups’. These ‘peer groups’ are a set of some senior students of IISER-M heading a bunch of newbies like yourself and these are designed so you can feel more at home. Your seniors in your peer group will call in meetings and tell you all you need to know about the institute’s academic and campus life.

Q: What’s the weather like in IISER-M?

A: It’s extreme in every season. The summers will boil you, the winters will freeze you. It’ll still be pretty warm when you join in August but if you’re not planning to go home in the mid semester break, we advise you bring winter stuff with you.

Q: Does the institute help with living arrangements of my visiting parents?

A: The institute has a Visitors’ Hostel which provides rooms for stay for parents and relatives. But it’s unavailable on the admission days because the number’s too high to manage. Link to Visitor’s Hostel Page Link to Visitor’s Hostel Room Acquisition Form

Q: I’m into sports. What all sports can I play in IISER-M?

A: Well, many! We’ve quite a big grassy field which is big enough for any big-team sports like cricket or football (not the American kind). We’ve a bas- ketball court and also tennis courts in the sports complex. Badminton courts are in the LHC, lab buildings and the community centre. We’ve got a table tennis/ ping-pong table in one of the hostels and in the community centre. If you want to play any of those, better bring in your sports equipment.

Q: I’m into reading. How’s the library like?

A: Well, it’s the biggest in all IISERs. With eight floors, you can almost find any reference book you can think of and if it’s not there, just recommend it since our library is always growing! By reference book, I mean scientific books which can aid your research. We also have a mediocre selection of good fictions; you can find some on the last floor and on the Humanities floor. There is a wider selection of fiction in the H8 library made by students.

Link to IISER Mohali Library

Q: Can online services delive to IISER-M?

A: Yes, definitely! Being right in the middle of a metropolitan city has its perks, you know. Online shopping, online food delivery you name it. There is a parking right outside the hostel area. The man delivering will call you up and call you there to pick your item up since it’s not allowed for them to go up to rooms. Sometimes, they leave your items with the hostel 5 caretaker if you do not respond to their call. So, check with him if your item isn’t delivered.

Q: What’s the internet situation at IISER-M?

A: We have a moderately good WiFi service that the students are provided with. But it’s only permitted to connect only one electronic device to the WiFi. You are advised to connect your laptops/ tablets without SIMs if your mobile is on a cheap data plan already.

Q: Is there a student body council at IISER-M?

A: The SRC (Student Representative Council) is a democratically elected set of students that work for the welfare of students of IISER-M through academic and personal problems. Link to Students Representative Council Website

Q: How can I approach faculty? I don’t even know them!

A: Do not worry. Faculty in IISER-M is super friendly and is willing to hear anything you have to say to them. You’ll even be assigned a faculty mentor early in the admission process whom you and your parents may speak to clear any kind of confusion.