IIT Madras introduces degree in BS programming and data science; JEE not required

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has introduced an option for a four-year BS degree in data science and applications in the institute's BSc in programming and data science course. As per the changes introduced, an 8-month apprenticeship or project with companies or research institutes can be done. The last date to apply for the programme for the September 2022 term is August 19, 2022. Interested candidates can apply on the IITM website -- onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in.

Through this course, IIT Madras is enabling students to study from the institute without attending the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). The programme is hence regarded as beneficial to students from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who may find attending JEE coaching classes difficult. The programme also offers scholarships for deserving students.

IIT Madras claims that the programme facilitates multiple entry and exit options for the students, where they can earn a certificate, diploma or degree, hence providing flexibility. New subjects such as reinforcement learning, data visualization design, industry 4.0, and algorithmic thinking in bioinformatics have been introduced to the course. According to IIT Madras, students who complete the course will be eligible to appear for the GATE exam and also pursue an MTech in India or apply for postgraduate degrees abroad.

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Students pursuing their school education in Class 12 in any stream can apply for the programme. IIT Madras said in a statement. Such students can start attending classes for the programme after completing Class 12. No age limit has been set for learning this course. As per the eligibility criteria of the programme, anyone who has studied English and mathematics in Class 10 is eligible to apply for the IIT Madras BSc in programming and data science course. The classes for this course will be held online.

Over 13,000 students are enrolled in the IIT Madras BSc programming and data science course presently. Most students enrolled on this programme are from Tamil Nadu, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The exams for this course will be held in as many as 116 examination centres across 111 cities in India and other examination centres in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka.

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“IIT Madras is happy to offer this well-designed, contemporary BS in Data Science and Applications degree, which provides access to IIT quality education in an inclusive manner to learners across the country. Data Science is one of the emerging topics. This is a highly employment-oriented program in a domain where the demand is high for skilled resources,” said V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras.