Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University, Silchar is a short-term, full-time certificate programme offered exclusively for foreign students by the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre (BCBC), which operates under the School of Life Sciences with full financial support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The programme spans 6 months (one semester) and is designed to provide foundational and applied training in bioinformatics, with a special focus on Computer Aided Drug Designing. With an intake of 25 seats, the programme is compact and highly specialised, making it an attractive option for international students seeking short-term academic exposure in bioinformatics at a Central University in India. The centre is one of only 3 DBT-supported Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centres in the entire North East India, and has been ranked among the top centres nationally for research publications.

Admissions for the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics (for Foreign Students) are conducted annually as part of the PG/Diploma/Certificate course admission cycle at Assam University. Based on the 2026-27 admission cycle, applications were invited around May-July 2026. The next admission cycle (2027-28) is expected to open around May-July 2027. Interested foreign students are advised to monitor the official Assam University website (www.aus.ac.in) and the Bioinformatics Centre website (www.bioinfoaus.ac.in) for notifications.

Key Points

Exclusively designed for foreign students seeking short-term bioinformatics training in India.
Offered by the DBT-funded Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre (BCBC), one of only 3 such centres in North East India.
Duration: 6 months (1 semester), making it ideal for international students on short-term academic visits.
The centre has been ranked 1st nationally (2014) and 5th nationally (2015) for publications in Bioinformatics among all DBT-BIF centres in India.
Special focus on Computer Aided Drug Designing, a high-demand area in pharmaceutical and biotech research.
Access to DBT's e-Library Consortium (DeLCON) with 1,135 high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
Classes are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, allowing flexibility for students enrolled in other programmes simultaneously.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Assam University Certificate Bioinformatics Fees

The Certificate Course in Bioinformatics (for Foreign Students) at Assam University is a self-financing, add-on course with a total fee of Rs. 40,000 for the entire 6-month programme. This is a highly affordable fee for an internationally recognised bioinformatics programme at a Central University in India. The fee covers tuition and institutional charges for the one-semester programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Course/Tuition Fee (total for 6 months)	40,000
Total Fees	40,000

The above fee is the total programme fee for the 6-month Certificate Course in Bioinformatics for Foreign Students.
Additional charges such as examination fees, library fees, and other institutional charges may apply as per university norms.
Hostel facility is available on the Assam University campus at approximately Rs. 50,000 per year (optional, not mandatory).
Fee payment details and exact breakup should be confirmed from the official admission notification at www.aus.ac.in or by contacting the Bioinformatics Centre directly at aunivsilchar.btisnet@nic.in.

Assam University Certificate Bioinformatics Admission 2026

Admissions to the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics (for Foreign Students) are conducted as part of the annual PG/Diploma/Certificate course admission cycle at Assam University. The process is merit-based and applications are invited through the Assam University Samarth Admission Portal. Foreign students are required to apply through the university's international student admission process.

Admission Dates

Event	Dates (2026-27 Tentative)
Release of Admission Notification for PG/Diploma/Certificate Courses	May 2026
Opening of Online Application Portal	May 2026
Last Date to Apply	June 2026
Display of Merit List / Eligible Candidates	June/July 2026
Admission and Fee Payment	July 2026
Commencement of Classes	August 2026

Note: Candidates are advised to regularly check www.aus.ac.in/courses-admission and www.bioinfoaus.ac.in for official notifications. The department has also conducted special drives for vacant seats in the past.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

The course is exclusively for foreign students (international students from outside India).
Candidates must be graduates in any Science subject from a recognised university, OR graduates in Engineering, Technology, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Fishery Science, Medicine, or Agriculture.
Candidates appearing for their final year degree examination in the above subjects are also eligible to apply.
No minimum percentage is specified; however, a strong academic background in life sciences or related fields is expected.

Entrance Exams

No national entrance exam is required for admission to the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics (for Foreign Students). Admission is based on academic merit and the university's selection process for foreign students.

Admission Process

Step 1: Foreign students must apply online through the Assam University Samarth Admission Portal (ausadm.samarth.edu.in) when the notification is released.
Step 2: Submit all required documents including proof of foreign nationality, academic transcripts, and passport copy.
Step 3: Merit list is prepared based on academic qualifications and displayed on the university portal.
Step 4: Selected candidates must complete admission formalities and pay the course fee within the stipulated deadline.
Step 5: For queries, contact the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre directly at aunivsilchar.btisnet@nic.in or visit www.bioinfoaus.ac.in.

Reservation and relaxation norms for foreign students are as per Assam University's international student admission policy.

Assam University Certificate Bioinformatics Scholarships 2026

As a course exclusively for foreign students, the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University may have limited access to standard Indian government scholarship schemes. However, international students may explore the following scholarship and fellowship options.

Foreign students pursuing studies in India can benefit from several Government of India scholarship programmes. The ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and MHRD scholarships are the most relevant for international students at Indian universities. The following table summarises the key options available.

Scholarship Options

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Application
ICCR Scholarship (Indian Council for Cultural Relations)	Foreign nationals from eligible countries pursuing full-time courses in India	Covers tuition fees, monthly stipend, and accommodation allowance	Apply through ICCR's online portal (a2a.iccr.gov.in) or the Indian Embassy in the student's home country
Study in India Programme (SII)	Foreign students from eligible countries admitted to Indian institutions	Fee waiver of 25% to 100% depending on the country and merit	Apply through the Study in India portal (studyinindia.gov.in)
DBT Bioinformatics Fellowships	Students and researchers in bioinformatics at DBT-funded centres	Project-based fellowships; amount varies	Contact the Bioinformatics Centre directly at aunivsilchar.btisnet@nic.in
Home Country Scholarships	Varies by country	Varies	Contact the student's home country government or university

Indian government scholarships such as Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC) are not applicable to foreign students.
Foreign students are advised to check with the Assam University International Relations Cell and the ICCR for the latest scholarship opportunities.
The Study in India programme is particularly relevant for students from South Asian, African, and ASEAN countries.
Application deadlines for ICCR and Study in India scholarships are typically between January and March each year for the upcoming academic session.

Assam University Certificate Bioinformatics FAQs

Ques. Is the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University open to Indian students?

Ans. No. The Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University is exclusively designed for foreign students (international students from outside India). Indian students who wish to study bioinformatics at Assam University should apply for the Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics (PGDBI), which is a 1-year (2-semester) programme open to Indian graduates in science, engineering, pharmacy, medicine, and related fields.

Ques. What is the duration and mode of the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University?

Ans. The Certificate Course in Bioinformatics is a 6-month (1 semester) full-time programme. Classes are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, which allows students to pursue the course simultaneously with other academic programmes or research work at the university. This flexible schedule makes it particularly convenient for foreign students who may be enrolled in other courses or research programmes at Assam University.

Ques. What is the total fee for the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University?

Ans. The total fee for the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics (for Foreign Students) is Rs. 40,000 for the entire 6-month programme. This is a self-financing, add-on course and the fee is payable at the time of admission. Additional charges such as examination fees and hostel fees (if applicable) are separate.

Ques. What is the research focus of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre at Assam University?

Ans. The Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre (BCBC) at Assam University has a primary research focus on Computer Aided Drug Designing. The centre has developed a database of anti-diabetic phytochemicals called DiaBank and has published extensively in the field of bioinformatics. It has been ranked 1st nationally (2014) and 5th nationally (2015) for publications among all DBT-BIF centres in India. The centre also has access to 1,135 high-impact journals through DBT's e-Library Consortium (DeLCON).

Ques. Can a foreign student pursue the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics alongside another programme at Assam University?

Ans. Yes. Since classes are conducted only on Saturdays and Sundays, foreign students who are enrolled in other PG, M.Phil., or Ph.D. programmes at Assam University can pursue this certificate course simultaneously with their regular course of study. This is one of the key features of the programme, making it an attractive add-on qualification for international research scholars at the university.

Ques. How can foreign students apply for the Certificate Course in Bioinformatics at Assam University?

Ans. Foreign students can apply through the Assam University Samarth Admission Portal (ausadm.samarth.edu.in) when the annual admission notification is released (typically around May-July each year). Students should also contact the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Centre directly at aunivsilchar.btisnet@nic.in or visit www.bioinfoaus.ac.in for programme-specific details. International students may also explore the ICCR scholarship and Study in India programme for financial support.