How to Become a Data Scientist after 12th: Career, In India, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Salary 2026

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Ahana Bhaduri

Content Writer | Updated 3+ months ago

To become a Data Scientist after 12, candidates are required to have a bachelor’s degree in data science or a related field like statistics or computer science. A master’s degree is preferred as it offers better career opportunities. Data Scientists are compensated in a good way because of their high demand and the scarcity of qualified professionals. The average annual Salary of a Data Scientist in India is INR 10 LPA with the highest salary being INR 25.4 LPA. The estimated monthly income of a Data Scientist in India ranges between INR 72,177 to INR 73,038. Facebook is one of the top recruiters of Data Scientists in India. The average salary of a Data Scientist at Facebook with an experience of about 4 to 7 years is INR 69 LPA. The basic Qualifications to Become a Data Scientist after 12th include pursuing degrees such as BSc Data Science, BA, BCA, BTech, and MSc in Statistics, Economics and Mathematics. Admissions to these courses are done both on the basis of merit or on the basis of entrance exams such as IIT JAM and JEE Main, JEE Advanced and GATE.

How to Become a Data Scientist after 12th: Quick Facts

Eligibility Pursuing Bachelors in Mathematics, Statistics or Economics
Qualifications BSc/B.Tech/BCA in Data Science
Starting Salary (INR) INR 3.60 LPA
Average Salary (INR) INR 10 LPA
Highest Salary (INR) INR 25.40 LPA
Top Recruiters Facebook, Amazon Web Services, Google, Apple, Visa

Eligibility to Become a Data Scientist after 12th 

The typical eligibility criteria for pursuing a career in data science include.

  • Candidates are required to clear class 12 from a recognised board with a minimum of 50% marks. PCM as main subjects in class 12 is highly recommended
  • After completing class 12, candidates should go for a bachelor’s degree in data science or in a relevant field
  • Candidates should consider going for postgraduate studies as data science is a highly competitive field and employers prefer candidates with higher levels of education. Candidates can opt master’s degree in data science, data analytics or related fields
  • Candidates should look for internships to gain practical experience. They must participate in research projects or industry collaborations to apply their knowledge and gain experience
  • Candidates must develop strong analytical and programming skills, particularly in languages like Python and R as they are very useful in the field.

Steps to Become a Data Scientist after 12th 

The steps to becoming a Data Scientist after class 12 in India are as follows:

  • Complete Class 12: Candidates should clear class 12 from a recognised board. Students from any stream can apply but main subjects as Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) are preferred.
  • Complete a Bachelor’s Degree: Candidates are required to have a bachelor’s degree in Data Science or Data Analytics to apply for entry-level data science jobs. A bachelor’s degree in relevant fields like computer science, mathematics, statistics or engineering can also be pursued.
  • Learn In-Demand Programming Languages: Programming is one of the main expertise that an aspiring data scientist must learn. Python, R, SQL and SAS are some of the top programming languages that must be learned.
  • Learn Skills: Apart from programming languages, candidates must develop skills in machine learning, big data and data visualisation. These skills can be helpful in acquiring data science jobs.
  • Join an Internship: Candidates should apply for internships to learn relevant skills and gain hands-on experience. They should start with small projects and gradually progress to complex tasks involving machine learning and predictive modelling. 
  • Earn Certifications: Data Science certifications are some of the best ways to learn about data science and develop skills. They are available for both beginners and experts and are recognised by most employers. Students can earn certifications via both online and offline modes. 
  • Go for Higher Studies: Candidates must opt for a master’s degree as it provides in-depth knowledge and research opportunities. Candidates with higher degrees and experience have more chances of getting hired in the data science field. 
  • Apply for Data Science Roles: After acquiring the necessary skills and education, candidates can start applying for job opportunities. They have to start with entry-level jobs and with time as experience and expertise will increase, they can receive a promotion or can apply for higher-level jobs. Read More: Job of a Data Scientist

Data Science Courses after 12th 

BSc Data Science is one of the most common courses taken up by students aspiring for a career in Data Science. Other popular courses include BCA and BTech in Data Science and Big Data Analytics. Many students go for postgraduate studies like MSc or MTech in Data Science for better career opportunities. Short-term certificate and diploma courses in data science are also available. The details for the most popular courses are mentioned in the following table.

Degree BSc Data Science BTech Data Science MSc Data Science
Eligibility Class 12 Class 12 with PCM UG degree with 50% marks preferably in Data Science or relevant fields
Entrance Exams CUET, SET, CUCET, NPAT JEE MAIN, JEE ADVANCED, MHT SET, BITSAT, WBJEE CUET PG, BITSAT, NEST, IIT JAM, DUET
Top Colleges St. Stephen’s College, Hindu College, Parul University, Woxen University, Loyola College IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, Sharda University, NMIMS Loyola College, VIT, Fergusson College, Manipal University, Amity University
Course Fees INR 6,00,000 INR 2,00,000 - 3,00,000 INR 2,00,000 - 4,00,000
Average Annual Salary INR 5 L - 7 L INR 10 L INR 6 L - 10 L
Top Recruiters Wipro Ltd., Oracle, Accenture, MuSigma, IBM, Amazon, TEG Analytics, Deloitte, HCL Amazon, Capgemini, Wipro, Infosys, TCS, IBM, HCL Tredence Inc., Wipro Ltd., Oracle, Cartesian Consulting, TEG Analysis, Deloitte, GlobalAnalytics, IBM, Amazon

Entrance Exams

Admissions to data science courses in top colleges and universities are given on the basis of entrance exams like CUET, SET, JEE MAIN, IIT JAM and NPAT. The details for some of the top exams are mentioned in the following table.

Entrance Exam Application Deadlines Exam Dates Result Declaration
JEE Main

Session 1: November – December, 2024

Session 2: January 31 – February, 2025

Session 1: January 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 2025 

Session 2: April 1 – 8, 2025

Session 1: February 10, 2025

Session 2: April 17, 204

JEE Advanced April 23 to May 2, 2025 May 18, 2025 June 2, 2025
GATE August 24 – October 7, 2024 February 1,2, 15 and 16, 2025 March 19, 2025
IIT JAM September 3 – October 18, 2024 February 2, 2025 March 16, 2025

Top Data Science Colleges

Courses in data science and related courses are offered by many colleges in India. Loyola College, MCC, Fergusson Colleges and Christ University are some of the top data science colleges. The details for top colleges are mentioned in the table below.

Name of the Colleges Location Average Fees (INR)
Loyola College Chennai 86,000
Madras Christian College Chennai 24,500
Fergusson College Pune 11,540
Christ University Bangalore 1,37,000
MIT-World Peace University Pune 1,50,000
Kristu Jayanti College Bangalore 85,000
Kishinchand Chellaram College Mumbai 10,735
IIT Madras Chennai 3,15,000
IIT Bombay Mumbai 34,400

Skills Required to Become a Data Scientist After 12th 

Data Scientists possess a combination of technical skills, analytical abilities and domain knowledge.

Some of the top skills that a Data Scientist should have are mentioned in the table below.

Programming Languages Statistics and Mathematics Machine Learning and Data Mining
Data Visualisation Data Wrangling and Cleaning Database and SQL
Big Data Technologies Data Manipulation and Analysis Domain Knowledge

Benefits of Becoming a Data Scientist after 12th 

Becoming a Data Scientist offers numerous benefits both personally and professionally. Some key advantages of pursuing a career in Data Science include:

  • High Demand and Job Opportunities: Being one of the fastest growing domains, the job market for Data Scientists is robust and organisations across various industries actively seek data science professionals.
  • Lucrative Salary: The combination of expertise and statistical knowledge added to the scarcity of talent makes Data Scientists highly valuable and well compensated.
  • Versatile and Transferable Skills: The versatility of the profession with the ability to analyse and interpret data and derive insights is applicable to various sectors.
  • Continuous Learning and Growth: Data Science is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving allowing professionals to learn new things.
  • Data Driven Data Making: Data Scientists play crucial roles by analysing and interpreting data, helping organisations in making sound data-driven decisions.
  • Opportunities for Professional Growth: By working on different projects across various sectors and industry types, Data Scientists develop skills that help them in their professional growth.

Salary of a Data Scientist after 12th 

The average annual salary of a Data Scientist in India is INR 10 LPA. A gradual increase in salary is seen with an increase in experience and expertise. The average starting salary of a Data Scientist is INR 3.6 LPA with the highest salary being INR 25.4 LPA. The salaries for different Data Scientists designations are mentioned in the table below. 

Designations Average Annual Salary (INR)
Data Scientist 10 L
Senior Data Scientist 21.2 L
Data Analyst 4.3 L
Data Engineer 8 L
Senior Data Analyst 8 L
Data Science Manager 30 L
Machine Learning Engineer 6.5 L

How to Become a Data Scientist After 12th: FAQs

Ques. What qualifications do I need to have to become a Data Scientist?

Ans. To become a Data Scientist, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in data science or relevant fields like computer science, statistics and mathematics is typically preferred. 

Ques. What programming languages should I learn to become a Data Scientist?

Ans. It is recommended to have proficiency in Python and R. Both have extensive libraries and frameworks for data manipulation, analysis and machine learning.

Ques. What skills are essential for Data Scientists?

Ans. ML algorithms, data visualisation, SQL, database management, domain knowledge and programming languages are some of the must-have skills for Data Scientists.

Ques. How I can gain practical experience in the process of becoming a Data Scientist?

Ans. You can start by working on personal projects and participating in online competitions like Kaggle. Internships are the best way to learn skills in the data science field.

Ques. Which industries are paying the most to Data Scientists in India?

Ans. Internet, Financial Services, Software Products, Analytics & KPO and IT Services and Consulting are some of the top-paying industries for Data Scientists in India.

Ques. What are the best cities to make money for Data Scientists?

Ans. Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune are some of the best-paying cities for Data Scientists in India.

Ques. How much a Data Scientist is earning per month in India?

Ans. The estimated monthly income of a Data Scientist in India is between INR 72,177 to INR 73,038.

Ques. Which companies are paying the most to Data Scientists in India?

Ans. Facebook, Amazon Web Services, Google, Apple and Visa are top-paying companies for Data Scientists in India.

Ques. What is the duration of a data science course?

Ans. A UG data science generally lasts around 3 to 4 years. PG degrees in data science are 2 years long. Short-term certificate and diploma courses last between some months to a year.

Ques. What is the salary of a Data Scientist in India?

Ans. The average annual salary of a Data Scientist in India is INR 10 LPA.

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