Academics
Details about the overall course & assessment structure, fee structure, and curriculum of the two standalone Direct Entry Diploma Programs offered by IIT Madras — Diploma in Programming and Diploma in Data Science.
Term Structure
Flexible, high-rigor trimesters designed for working professionals and university students.
Every year is divided into three terms of four months each — January Term, May Term and September Term.
Each term of four months has 12 weeks of coursework (video lectures and weekly graded assignments), 2 in-person invigilated Quizzes, and End Term Exams.
Each diploma is 32 credits and can be completed in as fast as 8 months (2 terms) by registering for 4 courses per term, or paced flexibly over up to 3 years.
Course Registrations
Guidelines on registration limits, mandatory foundational prerequisites, and embedded capstone projects.
Term Course Limits
In each term, a learner may register for up to 4 courses depending on their time commitment. Full-time learners typically take 4 courses per term, while working professionals take 2 or 3 courses.
Foundational Courses
Learners must register for the two Foundational courses in their first term. Additionally, the candidate may choose to register for one or two more courses in the first term:
- Programming: Computational Thinking & Programming in Python
- Data Science: Mathematics for DS II & Statistics for DS II
Projects (2 Credits Each)
Two courses have a project component of 2 credits each. Learners registering for these courses will automatically be registered for the respective projects. Projects can be completed alongside theory courses or in a later term:
- Programming: MAD I - Project & MAD II - Project
- Data Science: BDM - Project (or DL & GenAI Project) & ML Practice - Project
Assessments
A continuous, multi-tiered evaluation framework combining weekly online problem solving with rigorous in-person invigilated exams.
Weekly Online Assignments
Released weekly with video lecture content; completed online to ensure continuous mastery and build qualification score.
Monthly In-Person Quizzes
Two invigilated quizzes conducted physically on designated Sunday exam dates at exam centres across India and abroad.
In-Person End Term Exam
Comprehensive in-person invigilated final examination administered at the end of the 12-week trimester.
Additional Assessment Modes: Depending on the course curriculum, assessments may also include hands-on programming exams, capstone project submissions, code walk-throughs, and oral vivas.
Exam Cities
Invigilated Quizzes and End Term examinations are conducted across 150+ physical exam centres in India and designated international centres.
Students Residing or Present in India
All students residing in India or physically present in India on the day of an in-centre exam must write exams at one of our designated exam centres in India.
Learners Based Outside India
We conduct in-person invigilated exams in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and UAE. Learners based out of other countries are permitted to take up remote proctored internet-based exams (students will be required to pin their physical location on exam day).
*Note: Additional exam facilitation fees apply for all learners opting to write exams outside India.
If you reside outside India and cannot find a centre in your city / country, please contact ge@study.iitm.ac.in for assistance.
Fee Structure & Socio-Economic Waivers
Transparent pay-as-you-go term fees with up to 75% need-based fee waivers for eligible learners.
Each term, pay only for the courses you register for in that specific term.
For details about application and direct qualifier fees, please visit the Application Process on the Admissions page.
₹6,000 / course
Foundational Courses
Prog: Computational Thinking, Python
DS: Math for DS II, Stats for DS II
₹9,000 / course
Skill Enhancement
Prog: System Commands
DS: Tools in Data Science
₹12,000 / course
Core Diploma Courses
All standard 4-credit core theory courses in Programming and Data Science
₹6,000 / project
Project Courses
Prog: MAD I & II Projects
DS: BDM, DL & GenAI, ML Practice Projects
Total Estimated Program Cost (Without Waiver)
₹55,000 – ₹62,500 per single Diploma | ₹1,10,000 – ₹1,25,000 for both Diplomas
Socio-Economic Fee Waivers & Concessions
Fee waivers are provided based on the family income and socio-economic category of the candidate.
| Category | Family Income > 5 LPA | Family Income > 1 LPA & ≤ 5 LPA | Family Income ≤ 1 LPA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | Docs Required | Fees | Docs Required | Fees | Docs Required | |
| General | Full Fee | NIL | 50% waiver | EWS + Family Income | 75% waiver | EWS + Family Income |
| OBC | Full Fee | NIL | 50% waiver | OBC-NCL + Family Income | 75% waiver | OBC-NCL + Family Income |
| SC / ST | 50% waiver | SC / ST | 50% waiver | SC / ST | 75% waiver | SC / ST + Family Income |
| PwD (≥40%) | 50% waiver | PwD | 50% waiver | PwD | 75% waiver | PwD + EWS / OBC-NCL + Family Income |
| SC / ST + PwD | 75% waiver | SC / ST + PwD | 75% waiver | SC / ST + PwD | 75% waiver | SC / ST + PwD |
*Fee waiver is not applicable for International students.
Official Certificate Templates & Instructions
The term family income includes the income of the candidate, parents, spouse, and dependent siblings/children under 18. Family income certificate is not required during qualifier application, but is required at the time of course registration to avail fee waivers.
Diploma in Programming 10 Courses Total
Curriculum comprising 2 Foundational courses (8 cr), 1 Skill Enhancement course (2 cr), 5 Core Programming courses (20 cr), and 2 Full-Stack Projects (4 cr).
| Course Name | Type | Credits | Code | Prerequisites / Corequisites | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational | 4 cr | BSCS1001 | None | ||
| Foundational | 4 cr | BSCS1002 | None | ||
| Programming Core | 4 cr | BSCS2001 | None | ||
| Programming Core | 4 cr | BSCS2002 | None | ||
| Programming Core | 4 cr | BSCS2003 | Co: BSCS2001 | ||
| Project | 2 cr | BSCS2003P | Co: BSCS2003 | ||
| Programming Core | 4 cr | BSCS2005 | None | ||
| Programming Core | 4 cr | BSCS2006 | Pre: BSCS2003 | ||
| Project | 2 cr | BSCS2006P |
Pre: BSCS2003P
Co: BSCS2006 |
||
| Skill Enhancement | 2 cr | BSSE2001 | None |
Diploma in Data Science Option 1 & Option 2 Pathways
Curriculum comprising 2 Foundational courses (8 cr), 1 Skill Enhancement course (2 cr), Core Data Science courses, and Project courses. Learners may choose between Business Analytics track (Option 1) or Deep Learning & Generative AI track (Option 2).
| Course Name | Track Option | Credits | Code | Prerequisites / Corequisites | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational | 4 cr | BSMA1003 | None | ||
| Foundational | 4 cr | BSMA1004 | None | ||
| Common Core | 4 cr | BSCS2004 | None | ||
| Common Core | 4 cr | BSMS2001 | None | ||
| OPTION 1 | 2 cr | BSMS2001P | Co: BSMS2001 | ||
| Common Core | 4 cr | BSCS2007 | Co: BSCS2004 | ||
| Common Core | 4 cr | BSCS2008 | Pre: BSCS2004, BSCS2007 | ||
| Common Core | 2 cr | BSCS2008P | Co: BSCS2008 | ||
| OPTION 1 | 4 cr | BSMS2002 | Pre: BSMS2001 | ||
| Skill Enhancement | 2 cr | BSSE2002 | Co: BSCS2004 | ||
| OPTION 2 | 4 cr | BSDA2001 | Co: BSCS2008 | ||
| OPTION 2 | 2 cr | BSDA2001P |
Pre: BSCS2007
Co: BSCS2008, BSDA2001 |