Admissions
Learn more about the eligibility criteria, application process, fees, regular qualifier path, JEE-based entry path, and international student examination options for the IIT Madras Aerospace Engineering program.
Important Dates
Key calendar deadlines for the upcoming admissions batch and qualifier exam cycle. The schedule below is automatically synchronized with the official academic office feed.
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Mandatory Requirements to Enroll and Learn
Before applying, ensure you satisfy the baseline hardware, network, and in-person attendance prerequisites necessary to participate fully in the coursework and invigilated exams.
Device & Internet Access
Access to a good internet connection as well as a laptop/desktop device will be a key requirement to learn effectively from our courses and complete weekly assignments.
In-Person Exam Center Travel
Learners must be able to travel to assigned physical exam centres for invigilated quizzes and end-term examinations each term. Exam centres are located in 150+ cities across India and select global hubs.
On-Campus Physical Labs
Students will have to travel to IIT Madras for some of the lab courses at the Diploma and Degree Level for specialized hands-on aerospace engineering training.
Eligibility to Apply
IIT Madras opens higher education to learners with mathematics and physics background without standard entrance rank bottlenecks.
Who can apply for admission?
Passed Class 12 with Physics & Mathematics
Anyone who has passed Class 12 or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics can apply irrespective of age or academic stream background. Candidates who qualify through the process can join the foundation program immediately.
Class 11 Final Exam Students
School students who have appeared for their Class 11 final exams can apply. Those who qualify can secure their qualification and formally join the program after passing Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics.
NIOS & Equivalent Subject Passing: Students who have passed Maths and Physics separately through NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) or any other equivalent organization are permitted to apply to the BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology program, having fulfilled the minimum eligibility requirement.
Application Process & Fee Structure
Begin your admission by completing the online application form, uploading supporting identity & educational documents, and paying the category application fee.
Qualifier Applications for September 2026 Batch are Open
Applications close on September 27, 2026. Qualifier exam will be conducted on November 15, 2026.
Application Fee Breakdown
One-time non-refundable fee for registration, 4-week coursework access, and the in-person qualifier exam.
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General Category / OBC / EWS Applicant | ₹3,000 |
| SC / ST Category / PwD (≥ 40% disability) Applicant | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST Category Applicant who is ALSO PwD (≥ 40% disability) | ₹750 |
Note on International Exam Centers: An additional exam facilitation fee (₹2,000 for Middle East / Sri Lanka; ₹3,000 for other countries) will apply for learners opting to write the Qualifier Exam outside India.
Document Submission Requirement: Applications are considered valid only when, after payment, the applicant also fills in further details and submits for formal verification. Applications without details & documents, even if paid, will not be considered valid.
Admission to the Foundation Level
IIT Madras offers two distinct admission entry channels to qualify and register for Foundation Level courses in Aerospace Engineering.
Regular Entry
All eligible candidates, irrespective of their backgrounds, can earn direct admission to the Foundation Level by participating in 4 weeks of structured coursework and successfully passing the in-person Qualifier Exam.
JEE-based Entry
Candidates qualified to appear for JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026 bypass the qualifier coursework and exam, gaining direct admission to register for Foundation Level courses.
1. Regular Entry Pathway
Detailed breakdown of the 4-week qualifier coursework, weekly assignment qualification cutoffs, qualifier exam passing criteria, score validity, course registration limits, and re-attempt rules.
Qualifier Preparation (4 Weeks Coursework)
The qualifier process includes 4 weeks of comprehensive online learning via lecture videos, weekly graded assignments, discussion forums, and live doubt-clearing sessions across four foundational courses:
English I
Math for Electronics I
Electronic Systems Thinking
Introduction to C Programming
Every week, an online graded assignment must be submitted in each of the 4 courses by the stipulated weekly deadline.
Eligibility to Appear for the Qualifier Exam
In each course, the average of the best 2 out of the first 3 assignment scores will be calculated. Only candidates securing the minimum required average in all 4 courses receive hall tickets for the Qualifier Exam.
| Learner Category | Min. Required Average Assignment Score in Each Course |
|---|---|
| General Learner | 40% |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 35% |
| SC / ST / PwD with ≥ 40% disability | 30% |
| PwD with ≥ 40% disability & SC / ST | 30% |
*Note: Relaxations in pass criteria indicated for various categories of learners are applicable ONLY for the qualifier process. There will be no relaxations in terms of grades / pass criteria once registered into the degree program.
Qualifier Exam and Passing Criteria
The in-person Qualifier Exam conducted at the end of the 4 weeks of study is 4 hours in duration and covers all 4 foundational subjects. To clear the qualifier, candidates must satisfy both the course-specific minimum and total average score criteria.
| Learner Category | Min. Req. Score in Each Course Individually | Min. Req. Average Qualifier Exam Score |
|---|---|---|
| General Learner | 40% | 50% |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 35% | 45% |
| SC / ST / PwD with ≥ 40% disability | 30% | 40% |
| PwD with ≥ 40% disability & SC / ST | 30% | 40% |
Validity of Qualifier Exam Results
For candidates who have already cleared Class 12 board exams, the qualifier marks will be valid for the three terms that come after the qualifier exam date for the learner to register to the Foundation level.
For students who attempt the qualifier exam while in school doing Std XI/XII, the qualifier marks will be valid for three terms to continue with the foundation level after passing Class 12.
First Term Course Registration Limits
The number of courses allowed to be registered for in your initial foundation term is governed by your Average Qualifier Exam Score (M):
| Average Qualifier Score (M) | Allowed Courses |
|---|---|
| Minimum required ≤ M < 50% | up to 2 courses |
| 50% ≤ M < 70% | up to 3 courses |
| M ≥ 70% | up to 4 courses |
Re-attempt Qualifier Exam (Same Term)
Learners who were eligible to appear for the qualifier exam, but did not clear it or were absent on exam day, can re-attempt the qualifier exam in the same term without having to repeat weekly assignments.
| Learner Category | Re-attempt Exam Fee |
|---|---|
| General Category / OBC-NCL / EWS Applicant | ₹2,000 |
| SC / ST Category / PwD (≥ 40% disability) Applicant | ₹1,000 |
| SC / ST Category Applicant who is ALSO PwD (≥ 40% disability) | ₹500 |
Next Term Repeat Rules: If an applicant was not eligible to receive the hall ticket for the qualifier exam in the first attempt, they can only attempt in the next term as a fresh candidate, paying full fees and redoing the 4-week coursework and graded assignments.
2. JEE-based Entry Pathway
Direct admission channel for candidates qualified to appear for JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026. Bypass qualifier coursework and start foundation courses directly.
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Candidates who have qualified to attempt JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026 are deemed to have directly qualified and can register for courses in the Foundation level and start the program.
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Such students will first register to the program paying the registration fees of ₹3,000/- (with suitable waivers: ₹1,500 for SC/ST/PwD ≥40% disability, ₹750 for SC/ST+PwD) and then once the documents are verified and registration is approved, proceed to pay fees for courses they register for.
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The registration of students, applying through this category, who do not appear for Quiz 1 AND Quiz 2 in the first term will stand cancelled.
International Students
Are you a learner outside India interested in joining this program? Study from IIT Madras and earn a world-class BS degree from anywhere in the world.
This program is open to learners from all around the globe. You can study from IIT Madras and earn the BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology irrespective of the country you are from.
IIT Madras currently conducts in-person exams in the following global centres:
Students residing in these countries must write exams in the designated exam centres roughly once a month.
Learners residing in any other country apart from those shown above can also enroll and appear for remote proctored exams. If you have questions, please write to ge@study.iitm.ac.in.
Please note that all lab courses are to be done in person at IIT Madras campus and students will have to travel for this.