In a significant move and for the first time, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras - India’s premier technical institute - has announced the launch of an online undergraduate degree programme for Indian students and professionals around the world.
With more than 700,000 Indians in Qatar, this is being seen as a great opportunity for several of them - students as well as professionals - to get a degree from such a prestigious institute.
A BSc degree course in ‘Programming and Data Science’, claimed to be the first online undergraduate programme on the subject by IIT Madras, is in line with the current trends of education as well as one of the most sought-after education programmes.
Application for the programmes will be opened shortly and the last date for submission of application is tentatively September 15.
There are 23 IITs in India with 11,279 seats in undergraduate programmes. Every year, tens of thousands of students appear for one of the toughest entrance examinations to get into these world-renowned institutes for these many seats and only a small percentage of the topmost make it. Therefore, it is a golden opportunity for the students as well as other professionals to get a degree or diploma from such an institute.
For the first time, anyone can work towards an undergraduate degree or diploma from an IIT regardless of their age or location, and with a wide range of academic backgrounds.
The programme is split into three levels that have to be completed strictly in sequence: Foundational Level (8 courses); Diploma Level (6 Programming courses + 6 Data Science courses) and Degree Level (11 courses).
What makes it more attractive is that it has several exit points as the students can take up the Foundation Level or Diploma Level or complete the three-year programme and get the degree. The IIT Madras Senate approves the diploma and degree and those who complete the degree become alumni of the institute.
“IIT Madras is pioneering a completely online programme to produce graduates who will be employable in the sector that presently has high demand - Programming and Data Science. The programme uses an innovative combination of online learning and in-person assessment and is flexible and affordable. I believe the programme will be a game changer in the field of education in India in the coming years and inspire other top-ranking institutions to launch many such online initiatives,” said Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director of IIT Madras while launching the programme.
The qualifying process is through an online programme to be completed in four weeks. All those who apply will have four weeks of online courses and assignments to be completed. Those who get minimum required scores in weekly assignments in the four weeks will get to write qualifier exam broadly based on the four weeks of content. Those who get the minimum required scores in qualifier exam will register for Foundational Level courses.
The programme can be pursued as a second degree by someone currently in college. Anyone who has dropped out of/completed their bachelor’s degree can also apply.
There is no age or stream or geographical restrictions for the applicants.
