Admissions
Learn more about the eligibility criteria, application process, fees, Direct Diploma Qualifier Exam, qualifying criteria, and international student examination options for the Direct Entry Diploma Programs from IIT Madras.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply for direct entry into the IIT Madras Diploma Programs?
Educational Criteria
To apply for the Direct Entry Diploma Programs, candidates must have:
Completed UG Degree
Completed any undergraduate (UG) degree in any discipline through any recognized mode (regular, distance, online).
Enrolled College Students
Completed at least two years of any undergraduate (UG) degree through any mode before September 2026.
Open Across All Disciplines: There is no stream restriction — students and graduates from Engineering, Science, Arts, Commerce, Management, Medicine, or Law are welcome to apply.
Mandatory Requirements to Enroll and Learn
Baseline hardware, internet connectivity, and exam attendance expectations.
Access to Laptop / Desktop & Internet
Access to a good internet connection as well as a personal laptop/desktop device is a key requirement to learn effectively from our courses and complete weekly graded programming assignments and quizzes.
In-Person Exam Centre Travel
Learners must be able to travel to assigned physical exam centres for in-person invigilated quizzes and end term exams each term. Centres are located across 150+ cities in India and select international hubs.
Application Process & Fees
Step-by-step instructions on applying for the Direct Diploma Qualifier Exam.
Direct Diploma Qualifier Applications for May 2026 Batch are Open
Applications close on September 27, 2026. The in-person Direct Qualifier Exam will be conducted on November 15, 2026.
Anyone who is eligible may apply by filling in the online application form, uploading , and paying the non-refundable application fee.
| Applicant Category | Single Diploma | Both Diplomas (Prog + DS) |
|---|---|---|
| General Category / OBC Applicant | ₹6,000 | ₹12,000 |
| SC / ST Category / PwD (≥ 40% disability) Applicant | ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
| SC / ST Category Applicant who is ALSO PwD (≥ 40% disability) | ₹1,500 | ₹3,000 |
Within India
Exams are conducted in designated centres in 110+ cities across India in an invigilated manner that candidates must attend in person.
Outside India
Applicants opting to write the Qualifier Exam outside India must pay an additional exam fee. In countries where we have physical centres (UAE, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Oman, Kuwait), exams are in person; else candidates appear for remote proctored exams.
Direct Diploma Qualifier Exam
Structure, syllabus, subjects, duration, and reference material for the in-person direct entry qualifier exam.
Qualifier Exam for Diploma in Programming
Subjects: English, Aptitude, and Basic Mathematics
Duration: 3 hours
Exam Mode: In-person invigilated at designated test centres.
Qualifier Exam for Diploma in Data Science
Subjects: English, Programming in Python, Mathematics, and Statistics
Duration: 4 hours
Exam Mode: In-person invigilated at designated test centres.
Qualifying Criteria
Minimum score thresholds to pass the Direct Diploma Qualifier Exam and gain admission.
To pass the Diploma Qualifier Exam, the learner has to obtain a minimum Total Qualifier Exam Score and a minimum Qualifier Exam Score in each subject individually:
| Learner Category | Min. Req. Total Qualifier Exam Score | Min. Req. Score in Each Subject Individually |
|---|---|---|
| General Learner | 50% | 40% |
| OBC-NCL / EWS* | 45% | 35% |
| SC / ST / PwD* (≥ 40% disability) | 40% | 30% |
| SC / ST + PwD* | 40% | 30% |
*Note on Relaxations: Relaxations in pass criteria indicated for various categories of learners are applicable ONLY for the qualifier exam. There will be no relaxations in terms of grades / pass criteria once registered into the diploma program.
Admission Guarantee: Only those who pass the Qualifier Exam will be eligible to register for the respective Diploma Program.
Term Joining Rule: Learners who pass the Diploma Qualifier Exam on November 15, 2026 will be eligible to register and join the program in the September 2026 term only.
International Students
Learn from IIT Madras and earn a diploma in Programming or Data Science from anywhere in the world.
Global Learning & Assessment Modalities
This program is open to learners from all around the globe. You can study online from IIT Madras and earn an official Diploma in Programming or Data Science irrespective of the country you are in.
In-Person Physical Exam Centres
IIT Madras currently conducts in-person invigilated exams in the following international hubs:
- UAE: Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
- Sri Lanka: Colombo, Jaffna
- Bahrain: Manama
- Oman & Kuwait
Students residing in these countries must appear for in-person exams at the designated centres roughly once a month.
Remote Proctored Exams
Learners residing in any other country, apart from those listed above, can enroll for this program and appear for remote proctored internet-based exams with AI and live invigilation.
For international queries, contact: ge@study.iitm.ac.in.
Global Impact