IIT Madras: Over 800 students in BS Data Science programme awarded diplomas, degrees

NEW DELHI: Over 860 students from the first batch to join Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras’ online BS in Data Science and Applications programme were awarded diploma or degree certificates on May 27. IIT Madras had launched the BS Data Science programme with multiple exits in 2020 and it currently has 16,500 students enrolled.

Of the total 867 students awarded, 275 had completed the foundation level and two diplomas and 531 had completed the foundation level with one diploma. 18 students had completed all requirements for the first-level degree – the three-year BSc Data Science – in 2.5 years and were awarded degrees. They will continue in the programme, working toward the BS degree.

IIT Madras awarded 41 students special certificates for academic achievements. This included certificates of academic excellence for students with the highest CGPA, certificates of academic distinction for students with a CGPA greater than 9.5 and certificates of merit for students with a CGPA between 9 and 9.5.

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IIT Madras: BS Data Science

Students who have completed the foundation level and two diplomas are now eligible for completing a degree in this programme. Further, 43 students who had been directly admitted to the diploma programmes were also awarded certificates. 164 students enrolled in IIT Madras received financial support from the institute of whom 150 received fully-funded CSR support.

The official notice states that the present cohort includes students from diverse backgrounds and across age groups – one is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). The ages of award winners for 2023-24 ranged from 24 to 55.

To join this course, aspirants need to qualify through an in-built four-weeks based evaluation process and obtain minimum marks. There are unlimited seats for the programme. The coursework includes online lectures, and in-person quizzes and examinations which are conducted in over 150 cities across India.

Andrew Thangaraj, professor in-charge of BS in data science and applications at IIT Madras, said, “The program also provides placement assistance to eligible students. The Industry Interaction Cell (IIC) serves as the internship and placement cell for the BS Program where the objective is to prepare students with industry-specific skills and appropriate training, enabling them to leverage the best employment opportunities available in various industries.”

Ayushi Sharad Gang, an IIT Madras BS degree student, shared her experience, “What I like most about the program is the comprehensive video lectures that are easy to understand and the assignments designed to test your application and knowledge of concepts which help reinforce our understanding of the material. I also appreciate the flexibility in course selection which allows me to choose the courses that are relevant to my interests and career goals.”