ISI New Delhi MS Quantitative Economics: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Q: Does ISI conducts separate exam for Delhi and Kolkata campus for MSQE course?

One of my friends graduated from ISI, Delhi Campus. So I might be able to give you some information about it. For the Kolkata and Delhi campuses, I don’t believe there are separate MSQE exams. When filling out the application, you must choose between Kolkata and Delhi. If nothing has changed since 2009, which I assume it has, you will only have to take one exam and select your campus on the application form. However, in Delhi and Kolkata, interviews are performed at the relevant locations. That is, students who are chosen in a Delhi interview are admitted to ISI Delhi, and vice versa.

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The Master of Science in Quantitative Economics [MS (QE)] at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi Centre is a prestigious 2-year postgraduate program that provides advanced training in economics, quantitative methods, and econometrics. The program is offered at both ISI Delhi (35 seats) and ISI Kolkata (21 seats), with a total of 56 seats across both centres. There is no tuition fee for non-sponsored students; instead, all admitted students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000 along with an annual contingency grant of Rs. 8,000. The program is highly popular among students aspiring to careers in finance, banking, consulting, data analytics, and research, as well as those aiming for PhD programs in economics at top global universities. Admission is through the ISI Admission Test held annually in May, followed by an interview.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are currently open. The online application portal opened on February 12, 2026, and the last date to apply is March 26, 2026. The ISI Admission Test is scheduled for May 10, 2026. Admit cards will be available from April 17, 2026. Candidates who qualify the written test will be called for an interview, after which final selections will be made.

Key Points

One of India's most competitive and prestigious Master's programs in Economics, with only 35 seats at ISI Delhi
Fully funded: no tuition fee, monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000, and annual contingency grant of Rs. 8,000 for all admitted students
Curriculum covers advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, game theory, mathematical economics, and statistical methods
ISI Delhi MSQE placement statistics (2023-24): Maximum CTC Rs. 40 LPA, Mean CTC Rs. 30 LPA, Median CTC Rs. 28 LPA
Small batch size (29 students at ISI Delhi) ensures a 3:1 student-teacher ratio and personalized learning
Strong pathway to PhD programs at top global universities; many alumni have pursued doctoral studies at MIT, Princeton, Minnesota, Maryland, Boston, and Toronto

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
FAQs

ISI MS(QE) Fees

The MS (Quantitative Economics) program at ISI Delhi is fully funded for all non-sponsored students. There is no tuition fee; instead, students receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 8,000 and an annual contingency grant of Rs. 8,000. Hostel accommodation is available at ISI Delhi at nominal rent, with students paying food charges separately. The only upfront cost is the application fee at the time of applying.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	Nil (No tuition fee for non-sponsored students)
Other Academic Fees	Nominal (as applicable)
Hostel Rent	Nominal (students pay food charges separately)
Application Fee (General Male)	1,500 (one-time, at application stage)
Total Fees (Tuition)	Nil

Full tuition waiver is available for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Income-based fee remission: 100% for family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year; 66.67% for income between Rs. 1-5 lakh/year.
Monthly stipend: Rs. 8,000 per month, granted semester-wise subject to satisfactory progress.
Annual contingency grant: Rs. 8,000 per year.
Application fee: Rs. 1,500 (General male), Rs. 1,000 (General female), Rs. 750 (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS/PwBD).
Hostel accommodation is available at ISI Delhi at nominal rent; food charges are paid separately by students.

ISI MS(QE) Admission 2026

Admissions to the MS (Quantitative Economics) program at ISI Delhi are conducted annually through the ISI Admission Test. The selection process involves a written test (MCQ and descriptive in Mathematics and Economics) followed by an interview. The 2026-27 application window is currently open, with the admission test scheduled for May 10, 2026. Candidates are shortlisted based on written test performance and then called for interviews.

ISI Admission Key Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Opens	February 12, 2026
Online Application Closes	March 26, 2026
Admit Card Release	April 17, 2026
ISI Admission Test	May 10, 2026 (Sunday)
Interview (Tentative)	June 2026 (to be announced)
Result / Selection (Tentative)	June-July 2026
Programme Commencement (Tentative)	July-August 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Date	Remarks
ISI Admission Test 2026	May 10, 2026	Mandatory for MS (QE) admission; conducted by ISI

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Bachelor's degree of three or more years' duration in any discipline
Candidates should have knowledge of Economics and Mathematics at the B.A./B.Sc. pass level
B.Stat. degree holders from ISI and engineering graduates are also eligible to apply
No minimum percentage cut-off for appearing in the examination

Admission Process:

Apply online at https://admission.isical.ac.in/ before March 26, 2026
Pay the application fee online (Rs. 1,500 for General male; Rs. 750 for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD)
Download admit card from April 17, 2026 onwards
Appear for the ISI Admission Test on May 10, 2026 (two sessions: MEI and MEII, comprising MCQ and descriptive questions in Economics and Mathematics)
Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview
Final selection is based on written test performance, interview, and academic record
Seats are distributed across ISI Delhi (35 seats) and ISI Kolkata (21 seats); candidates may be assigned to either centre

ISI New Delhi: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 6 Reviews

The college admission process is straightforward, requiring candidates to pass an entrance exam and undergo a counseling round and interview for branch allocation. Admission decisions are based on entrance test scores and graduation marks, without issuing a merit list. Faculty members are highly qualified, many holding Ph.D. degrees and bringing expertise from prestigious universities, particularly in the IT sector. The annual fee is approximately Rs 20,000, totaling around Rs 40,000 for the course, making it an affordable professional program.

The placement record is exceptional, with nearly 100% of seniors placed, with salaries ranging from 12 lakh to 33 lakh per annum. Half of the students received internships with stipends between 25,000 and 60,000. A placement cell, comprising one faculty and three student representatives, ensures efficient and transparent operations. Despite the strong job opportunities, some students feel additional placement support could be advantageous.

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ISI MS(QE) Scholarships 2026

All admitted students in the MS (Quantitative Economics) program at ISI Delhi automatically receive a monthly stipend and annual contingency grant. No separate scholarship application is required. Additional fee waivers are available based on category and family income.

Fellowship and Scholarship Details

Fellowship / Scholarship	Amount	Eligibility
Monthly Stipend	Rs. 8,000/month	All admitted non-sponsored students
Annual Contingency Grant	Rs. 8,000/year	All admitted non-sponsored students
Tuition Fee Waiver	Full waiver	SC/ST/PwBD students
Income-based Fee Remission	100% (income < Rs. 1 lakh/year); 66.67% (Rs. 1-5 lakh/year)	Based on family income

Stipend is granted semester-wise, subject to satisfactory academic progress.
No separate scholarship application is needed; all admitted students automatically receive the stipend.
Sponsored candidates (if any) do not receive the stipend and pay tuition fees as applicable.

ISI MS(QE) Placement 2026

The MS (Quantitative Economics) program at ISI Delhi has an exceptional placement record, with graduates securing high-paying roles in finance, banking, consulting, and analytics. The 2023-24 placement statistics for ISI Delhi MSQE reflect the strong industry demand for graduates of this program. The small batch size (29 students) and a 3:1 student-teacher ratio ensure that each student receives personalized career guidance and placement support.

ISI Delhi MSQE Placement Statistics (2023-24)

Placement Metric	ISI Delhi MSQE (2023-24)
Maximum CTC	Rs. 40 LPA
Mean CTC	Rs. 30 LPA
Median CTC	Rs. 28 LPA
Highest Internship Stipend	Rs. 3 Lakhs (for 2 months)
Average Internship Stipend	Rs. 2 Lakhs (for 2 months)
Top Internship Domains	Data Analysis (27.3%), Risk & Compliance (27.3%), Model Validation (9.1%)

Top Recruiters: JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Amazon, KPMG, Deloitte, Bain & Company, Wells Fargo, HDFC Bank, and others.

ISI MS(QE) FAQs

Ques. Is the ISI MS (QE) program only for Economics graduates, or can students from other backgrounds apply?

Ans. The MS (QE) program is open to graduates from any discipline with a 3-year bachelor's degree. Candidates should have knowledge of Economics and Mathematics at the B.A./B.Sc. pass level. Engineering graduates and B.Stat. holders from ISI are also eligible. The written test (MEI and MEII) tests both Economics and Mathematics, so candidates from non-economics backgrounds need to prepare Economics from scratch.

Ques. What is the difference between ISI Delhi and ISI Kolkata for the MS (QE) program?

Ans. Both centres offer the same MS (QE) program with the same curriculum and degree. ISI Delhi has 35 seats and ISI Kolkata has 21 seats. ISI Delhi's 2023-24 placement statistics show a higher median CTC (Rs. 28 LPA vs Rs. 23 LPA at Kolkata) and a higher maximum CTC (Rs. 40 LPA vs Rs. 34 LPA). Both centres have strong placement records. Candidates can indicate their centre preference during the application, but final allocation is at ISI's discretion.

Ques. How difficult is the ISI Admission Test for MS (QE)? What level of preparation is needed?

Ans. The ISI Admission Test for MS (QE) is highly competitive. The written test (MEI and MEII) covers Mathematics at the Honours level and Economics at the postgraduate level. Topics include real analysis, linear algebra, probability, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Most successful candidates prepare for 6-12 months using standard textbooks (Varian's Microeconomics, Romer's Advanced Macroeconomics, etc.) and previous year question papers.

Ques. Can MS (QE) graduates from ISI Delhi directly get into PhD programs abroad?

Ans. Yes, ISI MS (QE) is highly regarded internationally. Alumni have pursued PhD programs at MIT, Princeton, University of Minnesota, University of Maryland, Boston University, University of Toronto, and other top global universities. The rigorous quantitative training at ISI makes graduates competitive for top PhD programs worldwide.

Ques. What is the stipend amount, and is it enough to cover living expenses in Delhi?

Ans. The monthly stipend is Rs. 8,000 per month, plus an annual contingency grant of Rs. 8,000. ISI Delhi also provides hostel accommodation at nominal rent. While the stipend alone may not cover all living expenses in Delhi, the subsidized hostel and food facilities at ISI make it manageable for most students. Many students also earn additional income through internships (average stipend Rs. 2 Lakhs for 2 months).

Ques. After completing MS (QE) from ISI Delhi, can I directly apply for the PhD (QE) program at ISI?

Ans. Yes. ISI MS (QE) graduates with a strong academic record (minimum 75% aggregate, at least 45% in each course, no back/repeat papers) and a qualifying national exam score (CSIR-UGC NET/NBHM) are eligible for direct admission to the JRF (PhD) program through the ISI Master Students Channel, bypassing the written test. Selection is based on an interview only. This is a significant advantage for ISI MS (QE) students who wish to pursue a PhD at ISI.

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ISI New Delhi: 1 Answered Question

Does ISI conducts separate exam for Delhi and Kolkata campus for MSQE course?

Rahul GuptaMSQE from Indian Statistical Institute (2019)

One of my friends graduated from ISI, Delhi Campus. So I might be able to give you some information about it.

For the Kolkata and Delhi campuses, I don’t believe there are separate MSQE exams.
When filling out the application, you must choose between Kolkata and Delhi.
If nothing has changed since 2009, which I assume it has, you will only have to take one exam and select your campus on the application form.

However, in Delhi and Kolkata, interviews are performed at the relevant locations. That is, students who are chosen in a Delhi interview are admitted to ISI Delhi, and vice versa.