IIT Madras introduced two online Data Science degrees: a BS degree in Data Science and Applications (formerly BSc in Programming and Data Science) and a Diploma in Data Science. These programs are open to class 12 graduates (for BS degree) and university graduates (for Diploma). BSc students can also pursue a BS degree. For detailed eligibility criteria, visit the official website.
Admission to IIT Madras online degree programs is based on a qualifier exam. Those who have qualified for the JEE Advanced exam can apply for the BS Data Science program; provided they complete the first 4 weeks of the foundational course and pass in-person quizzes and exams. Check the article to find out more about IIT Madras Data Science courses.
Table of Contents
1.2 Eligibility
1.3 Fee Structure
1.4 Course Structure
1.4.1 Foundation Level
1.4.2 Diploma Level
1.4.3 Degree Level
2.2 Eligibility
2.3 Fee Structure
2.4 Course Structure
IIT Madras BS Degree in Data Science & Applications
The IIT Madras degree program comprises 4 levels – foundation level, diploma level, degree level (BSc), and degree level (BS). The aspirants have the option to exit from any level but to get the IIT Madras BS degree in Data Science & Applications, they need to complete all 4 levels.
The candidates have the option to exit from any of the 4 levels. Depending on the credits earned and courses completed, the candidate can earn the following certificate/degree.
- Exit after foundation level – Foundation Certificate from IITM CODE (Centre for Outreach and Digital Education)
- Exit after diploma level – Diploma in Programming or Diploma in Data Science from IIT Madras
- Exit after degree level (BSc) – BSc degree in Programming & Data Science from IIT Madras
- Exit after degree level (BS) – BS degree in Data Science & Applications from IIT Madras
Also Check:
IIT Madras BS Data Science Registration Dates 2026
IIT Madras has started the registrations for the BS data science program for the May 2026 batch.
| Event | May 2026 Batch |
|---|---|
| Last Date to Apply | May 2026 |
| Qualifier Phase Week 1 | TBA |
| Qualifier Exam | June 06, 2026 |
| Qualifier Results | TBA |
| Registrations for those who clear the Qualifier Exam | TBA |
| Re-attempt Qualifier Registrations | TBA |
| Re-attempt Qualifier Exam | TBA |
| Re-attempt Qualifier Result | TBA |
| Registrations for those who clear the re-attempt Qualifier Exam | TBA |
IIT Madras BSc Data Science: Eligibility
A candidate who has completed 12th class irrespective of the stream and age is eligible to apply for the IIT Madras Data Science degree. Class 11-appearing students can also apply for the same, but they will be able to join the program once they pass the 12th class. Candidates are expected to have studied English and Maths in the 10th class.
The candidates can get admission to the IIT Madras Data Science degree program through a regular entry or JEE advanced-based entry.
Admission via Regular Entry (Qualifier Process)
Candidates applying directly after class 12 need to pass the qualifier exam. To be eligible for the IIT Madras qualifier exam, they need to complete at least 4 weeks of coursework (qualifier process). The best 2 assessment scores out of 3 are considered after every course to decide a cumulative score required to appear for the qualifier exam.
| Candidates | Minimum Assessment Score Required in Each Course |
|---|---|
| General | 40% |
| SC/ST/PwD with 40% disability | 30% |
| PwD with 40% disability who is also SC/ST | 30% |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 35% |
JEE-Advanced based Direct Entry
Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements to appear for the current year’s JEE Advanced Exam can take direct entry to the IIT Madras Data Science program at the foundation level. They need to watch and submit assignments for the first 4 weeks of 4 foundational level courses. They need to appear for an in-person 4-hour quiz. The quiz score will determine the maximum number of courses a student is allowed to register for.
| Average Quiz Score | Courses they can register for |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | 2 |
| 50% – 70% | 3 |
| More than 70% | 4 |
IIT Madras BSc Data Science: Fee Structure
Candidates only need to pay for the number of courses they appear for at each of the 4 levels. The course-wise fee distribution is mentioned below.
| Level | Course Fee |
|---|---|
| Foundation only | INR 32,000 |
| Foundation + 1 diploma | INR 94,500 |
| Foundation + 2 diploma | INR 1,57,000 |
| BSc degree | INR 2,21,000 - 2,27,000 |
| BS degree | INR 3,15,000 - 3,51,000 |
Application Form Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC | INR 3,000 |
| SC/ST/PwD with 40% or more disability | INR 1,500 |
| SC/ST who is also PwD with 40% or more disability | INR 750 |
IIT Madras BSc Data Science: Syllabus
- There are 3 levels in IIT Madras online degree program. Students need to pursue all 3 levels to get a BS degree in Data Science and Applications.
- Although, they have the option to exit at any of the levels. The certification or degree will vary accordingly.
- Students get 3 – 6 years to complete the BS data science degree, with a suggested pace of 10 hours/course/week.
- Every 4 months is called a regular term where students are supposed to complete 12 weeks of coursework (video tutorials and assignments), 3 quizzes, and end-term exams.
- In each term, students are required to pursue up to 4 courses (foundational, skill-enhancement, or other courses). They need to complete all 8 courses of the foundational level before registering for the diploma course; likewise, they need to complete all diploma-level courses to pursue the degree-level course.
- While the video lectures can be completed online or in person, the quizzes and end-term exams are conducted in person across various exam centres in India as well as abroad.
Foundation Level
- The foundation level contains the basics of Mathematics, Statistics, Python Programming, and English.
- Students who qualify for the “qualifier exam” are eligible to complete this level within 1 - 3 years.
- They have the option to exit from the foundation level by getting a “Foundational Certificate” from the Centre for Continuing Education, IIT Madras, or go to the diploma level.
- The fee for this level is INR 32,000.
The list of courses at the foundation level are:
| Mathematics for Data Science I | Statistics for Data Science I |
| Computational Thinking | English I |
| Mathematics for Data Science II | Statistics for Data Science II |
| Programming in Python | English II |
Diploma Level
- The diploma level contains 5 core courses and 1 skill enhancement course each under Diploma in Programming and Diploma in Data Science.
- Students who complete all of the 8 foundational courses are eligible to complete the level within 1 - 3 years.
- They have the option to exit from the diploma level by getting either a diploma in programming or data science or both from IIT Madras or go to the degree level.
- The fee for this level is INR 1,10,000.
The list of courses at the diploma level are:
| Diploma in Programming | |
|---|---|
| Database Management Systems | Programming, Data Structures & Algorithms using Python |
| Modern Application Development I | Programming Concepts using Java |
| Modern Application Development II | System Commands |
| Diploma in Data Science | |
| Machine Learning Foundations | Business Data Management |
| Machine Learning Techniques | Machine Learning Practice |
| Business Analytics | Tools in Data Science |
Degree Level
- To be eligible for degree level, students need to complete 8 foundational courses and 12 diploma courses from the previous levels.
- They need to complete 40 credits (4 from the "Strategies for Professional Growth" course, 8 from core courses, 24 from elective courses, and 4 - 8 credits from the NPTEL platform).
- Upon completion of 40 credits from the degree level, students can exit with a BS degree in Data Science & Applications degree from IIT Madras.
Following are the options available for core courses. Students need to choose any of the pairs to get up to 8 credits.
| Option I | Option II | Option III |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Software Testing | AI: Search Methods for Problem-Solving |
| Computer Architecture | Software Engineering | Deep Learning |
Following are the options available for elective courses. Each course is of 4 credits.
| Operating Systems | Computer Architecture |
| Software Testing | Software Engineering |
| AI: Search Methods for Problem-Solving | Deep Learning |
| Design Thinking | Speech Technology |
| Deep Learning in Practice | Thematic Ideas in Data Science |
| Special Topics in Machine Learning | Computer Vision |
IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science
IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science program is divided into 3 terms of 4 months each. Each term comprises 12 weeks of coursework, 2 in-person quizzes, and end-term exams.
IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science: Application Deadlines
- The qualifier exam will take place on Dec 21, 2025.
- The application fee is INR 6,000 for general/OBC candidates. There are certain concessions for reserved category students.
The following table lists all of the important registration dates for the IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science admission.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date to Apply | March 2025 |
| Qualifier Exam | Dec 21, 2025 |
| Course Registration Date (for those who qualify exam) | Jan 2, 2026 |
| Commencement of Classes | Feb 6, 2026 |
IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science: Eligibility
Candidates need to complete any UG degree or at least 2 years of UG degree through any mode. They need to appear and score the minimum cut-off in the in-person qualifier exam to join the IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science program. The qualifier exam is 4 hours long and consists of questions from English, Programming in Python, Mathematics, and Statistics.
To pass the qualifier exam, the candidate has to get a minimum total qualifier exam score and a minimum qualifier exam score in each subject individually.
| Candidate | Minimum Total Qualifier Exam Score | Minimum Qualifier Exam Score in Each Subject |
|---|---|---|
| General | 50% | 40% |
| SC/ST/PwD | 40% | 30% |
| SC/ST + PwD | 40% | 30% |
| OBC-NCL/EWS | 45% | 35% |
IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science: Fee Structure
| Particulars | Fee Structure |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | INR 6,000 (General/OBC) INR 3,000 (SC/ST/PwD) INR 1,500 (SC/ST who is also PwD) |
| Foundational Level | INR 4,000 per course |
| Skill Enhancement Courses | INR 5,000 per course |
| Other Courses | INR 10,000 per course |
IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science: Syllabus
- The duration of the IIT Madras Diploma in Data Science course is 8 months. Every 4 months is called a regular term where students are supposed to complete 12 weeks of coursework (video tutorials and assignments), 3 quizzes, and end-term exams.
- In each term, students are required to pursue up to 4 courses (foundational, skill-enhancement, or other courses). In the first term, it is mandatory to pursue Mathematics for Data Science II and Statistics for Data Science II.
- While the video lectures can be completed online or in person, the quizzes and end-term exams are conducted in person across various exam centres in India as well as abroad.
- The list of courses available for each term in the IIT Madras diploma in data science program are mentioned below.
| Course | Type of Program |
|---|---|
| Mathematics for Data Science II | Foundational Course |
| Statistics for Data Science II | |
| Machine Learning Foundations | Data Science Course |
| Business Data Management | |
| Machine Learning Techniques | |
| Machine Learning Practice | |
| Business Analytics | |
| Tools in Data Science | Skill Enhancement Course |
IIT Madras Data Science Course: FAQs
Ques. How long will it take to complete the IIT Madras BSc data science degree for a working professional?
Ans. It is estimated that a student/working professional learning part-time will complete the IIT Madras BSc data science degree in 4 to 5 years. Those who opt for a diploma in data science can complete the degree within 8 months to 2 years. The duration of the full program ranges between 3 to 6 years.
Ques. How many courses do students need to study in the different levels of the IIT Madras BSc data science degree?
Ans. The IIT Madras BSc data science degree has three levels with a different number of courses which are as follows:
- Foundation Level - 8 courses.
- Diploma Level - Programming Courses (6) and Data Science Courses (6).
- Degree Level - 11 courses.
Ques. Will the candidates from the backward class get any concessions in the examination score?
Ans. Candidates from backward class (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWD) and PwD will have a lower qualifying score to get admission to the program.
Ques. Is there any place where students can raise their questions or doubts?
Ans. Every course page comes with a discussion forum at the end where students can share their questions. They can interact with the support team or directly with the instructor to get their queries solved.
Ques. Is there any attendance requirement for this program?
Ans. There is no daily attendance requirement, but once you sign up for the course, submitting the weekly assignment counts as attendance. If a student meets the minimal standards for a course's weekly assignments, they will be permitted to take the course's final examination.
Ques. How a general category candidate with EWS can apply for a fee waiver?
Ans. To ensure that a fee waiver is given to deserving candidates, a general category candidate with EWS will be required to submit a Family Income and EWS certificate in the format mentioned on the Fee Structure page. General category candidates should have an annual family income of less than INR 5,00,000 to take benefit of this offer.
Ques. How many days will it take to get the money refunded back on a failed transaction?
Ans. Money will generally get refunded back in 3 to 4 weeks in the case of a failed transaction.
Ques. What are the options a student has if he/she cannot pay the full fees of the foundation course in one go?
Ans. The students do not have to pay the full foundation-level course fee. The exact cost will depend on the number of courses a student has signed up for each term, in proportion to their costs.
Ques. What to do when your city is not listed in the list of examination cities?
Ans. The students can send an email to support@onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in to request an addition to their city of choice. The email needs to have a valid and strong reason for the institute to consider the request. It is to be noted that sending a request email does not guarantee that the city will be added.
Ques. Can students appear in the examination from home with flexible dates?
Ans. There is no provision for examination from home. The students have to appear in the in-person invigilator-inspected examination in the centres across the country. The examination dates are also not flexible. For all students enrolled in the same course throughout a term, the dates of the quiz and final examination are set.
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