Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is calling for applications for the next batch of the Online Data Science Program.

It provides a unique opportunity to study from IIT Madras without having to go through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Students can pursue the Diploma in Programming and Data Science along with their on-campus courses. This fits well into the National Education Policy (NEP) that provides students with an opportunity to pursue multidisciplinary learning. 

Owing to its relevance and uniqueness, more than 70 CEOs, Founders and several State officials have been part of the early batches of this course. The last date to apply for the next batch is 30th August 2021. 

Interested students can apply through the website – https://onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in.

As a part of the application process, all the applicants will go through a qualifier process, wherein IIT Madras provides four weeks of online training through video lectures, assignments, and live interactions with the course instructors. Upon completion of the online assignments, students are eligible to appear for the qualifier exam. Learners who clear the same will be offered admission to the foundation level.

The program aims to make a Data Scientist out of anyone who has cleared Class XII and studied English and Maths in Class X, regardless of their geographic location, academic background, and profession. The classes for the next qualifier batch will commence in September 2021.

“With this program, IIT Madras is delivering the highest quality learning opportunity to a very large number of learners, without compromising the rigour of the process. The combination of online classes and in-person invigilated exams accomplishes this. At each stage, students will have the freedom to exit from the program and receive a Certificate, Diploma or a Degree, from IIT Madras,” said Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, Professor In-Charge, Data Science Program, IIT Madras.

The first-of-its-kind initiative was launched in 2020.