The first and foremost step to enter into the research field after B.Sc in Physics is to pursue a postgraduate course in the relevant stream. After that, the aspirants can appear for the UGC-CSIR NET to obtain the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). They can also pursue a Ph.D course after post graduation so as to perform their research work on a particular area.

Step I: Complete post graduation

As a primary step to get into the research field, one can pursue any of the postgraduate courses given below after B.Sc in Physics course.

• Master of Science in Physics
• Master of Science in Geophysics
• Master of Science in Bio Physics
• Master of Science in Medical Physics
• Master of Science in Engineering Physics
• Master of Science in Applied Physics
• Master of Science in Applied Physics and Ballistics
• Master of Science in Marine Geophysics
• Master of Science in Astronomy
• Master of Science in Astrophysics
• Master of Science in Nuclear Physics

The institutes which offer these courses will conduct their own entrance tests to admit eligible candidates. The candidates who aspire to pursue the postgraduate course should qualify the concerned entrance test. Certain common entrance tests are there for the intake of eligible candidates to this course. IIT Joint Admission Test and BITS Admission Test are the most popular ones among them.

Step II: Qualify UGC-CSIR NET for JRF

Those who are interested to enter into the research field after post graduation should qualify the UGC-CSIR National Eligibility Test (NET) for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducts this test every year for identifying the candidates having exceptional research aptitude. If the candidates get qualified in this test, then they can receive Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) from either Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) or University Grants Commission (UGC). This fellowship will be awarded only if they get admission in any university, national laboratory or institution of higher learning.

There will be three parts for this test that is Part A, Part B and Part C. Out of which; Part A is common to all subjects which includes questions from the areas given below.

• General Science
• Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
• Research Aptitude

Multiple choice questions will be asked in the Part B which cover the subject selected for research. Part C is very crucial as it includes the questions on scientific concepts and its applications. The candidates can score maximum 200 marks by giving right answer for each question. They should give their answers carefully so as to avoid negative marking for wrong answers.

It is possible for the candidates to pursue their research by joining a Ph.D course without fellowship after completing the post graduation. In that case, there is no need to qualify the UGC-CSIR NET. The candidates can join the relevant Ph.D course after qualifying the entrance test conducted by the concerned academic bodies.