The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has announced a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics and Space Technology that allows students to study from anywhere while earning an official IIT Madras qualification. The program, introduced through IIT Madras’ Centre for Outreach and Digital Education, combines online coursework with in-person exams and campus-based labs.
Applications for the qualifier phase open on February 9, 2026, with the first qualifier exam scheduled for July 19, 2026 (Apply Here). The initiative aims to widen access to aerospace education at a time when India’s aviation, defense, and space sectors are expanding faster than the supply of trained engineers.
Unlike traditional IIT programs that rely fully on campus-based instruction and highly competitive entrance exams, this degree follows a flexible, layered structure. Students can progress at their own pace, choose how many courses to take each term, and even exit early with a certificate or diploma if their goals change.
Why IIT Madras is introducing this program now
India’s aerospace and space industries have grown steadily over the past decade. Private launch startups, drone manufacturers, and defense suppliers now operate alongside long-established public sector units. Government policy has also shifted toward domestic design and manufacturing, especially in unmanned aerial systems and space technology.
“The demand is much more than the supply for well-trained, good-quality engineers in aeronautics and space technology sectors,” said IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti.
IIT Madras, which has worked closely with ISRO since its early years and now serves as one of five regional centers funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to promote UAV technology, sees this program as part of a broader national push aligned with the National Education Policy.
The institute believes that an online-first model, backed by in-person assessments and labs, can reach students who would otherwise never consider an IIT degree due to location, age, or professional commitments.
Who can apply and how selection works
Eligibility rules are intentionally broad. Anyone who has completed Class 12 with physics and mathematics can apply, regardless of age, career stage, or location. Students who have completed Class 11 exams with physics and mathematics may also apply and join the program after passing Class 12 if they qualify.
Admission begins with a qualifier process. Applicants receive four weeks of preparatory course content. To proceed, they must score the required minimum marks in weekly assignments. Those who clear this stage can sit for an in-person qualifier exam based on the same content. Candidates who meet the cutoff continue into the foundation level of the program. Others may reattempt the qualifier in a later cycle.
Students who have qualified for JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026 receive direct entry into the foundation level without appearing for the qualifier exam.
A three-level structure with multiple exit options
The BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology follows a three-stage academic structure designed to balance depth with flexibility.
The foundation level carries 32 credits across eight theory courses. It builds core skills in mathematics, programming, electronics, mechanics, English communication, and an introduction to aerospace systems. Students typically take one to three years to complete this stage, depending on pace.
The diploma level adds 52 credits and introduces core aerospace subjects. These include thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, strength of materials, aerodynamics, gas dynamics, flight dynamics, and propulsion. Students also learn solid modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and finite element analysis. Two labs and two applied design projects are part of this stage. Learners can exit here with a diploma in aeronautics from IIT Madras.
The degree level completes the program with 58 credits. It includes advanced courses in structures, dynamics, propulsion, control systems, vibrations, and a design project focused on micro and unmanned aerial vehicles. Students also choose electives from aerospace, management, humanities, and open categories.
In total, students must earn 142 credits to receive the BS degree. Depending on pace and performance, completion can take between four and eight years.
Online learning with in-person accountability
All lecture content, tutorials, assignments, and doubt-clearing sessions take place online. Each 12-week course includes video lessons, practice questions, transcripts, and graded weekly assignments. Students are expected to spend about 10 hours per course each week.
Assessment follows a mixed model. Weekly assignments are online, but quizzes and end-term exams are held in person at designated centers. This system aims to maintain academic standards while allowing remote learning.
Laboratory courses are conducted on the IIT Madras campus on pre-announced dates. Students must travel to Chennai for these sessions, which are mandatory at both diploma and degree levels.
Exam centres across India and abroad
IIT Madras has listed a wide network of exam cities across nearly every Indian state and union territory, including major and mid-sized cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolhapur, Guwahati, Patna, and Srinagar.
International exam centers are planned in countries such as the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, subject to sufficient student numbers. Learners outside these locations may take remotely proctored exams, though additional exam fees apply.
Fees and financial support
The program follows a pay-per-course model. Students pay only for the courses they register for in a given term.
The foundation level costs ₹60,000 in total. The diploma level costs ₹2,04,000, and the degree level costs ₹3,48,000. The full BS degree costs ₹6,12,000 without fee waivers.
Fee waivers are available for eligible Indian students from SC, ST, PwD, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories based on family income. Depending on category and income, waivers range from 50 percent to 75 percent. These waivers do not apply to learners based outside India.
Option to move on campus after diploma
One feature that sets this program apart is the chance to switch to full on-campus study. After completing the diploma level, students who meet CGPA requirements can apply for an on-campus option. IIT Madras will select a limited number based on a test and interview.
Selected students will attend all remaining degree-level courses in person at IIT Madras. Hostel accommodation will not be provided, and students must arrange their own housing. Those not selected, or unable to relocate, can continue in hybrid mode and still earn the same degree.
What students actually study
The curriculum spans the full range of aeronautics and space technology topics taught in conventional aerospace programs.
Early courses focus on mathematics, electronics, mechanics, and computing. Diploma-level courses cover aerodynamics, gas dynamics, thermodynamics, materials, flight mechanics, and propulsion. Students also gain hands-on exposure to CFD and FEA through labs and design projects.
Degree-level courses push into advanced structures, vibrations, aeroelasticity, aircraft and spacecraft dynamics, gas turbine engines, rocket propulsion, and control systems. A major design project brings these strands together in the context of real aerial vehicles.
Electives allow students to branch into management, humanities, or other technical areas. Limited credit transfer is allowed from approved institutes and NPTEL courses.
Why this matters for students and industry
For students, the program lowers long-standing barriers to IIT education. There is no age limit, no requirement to pause a job, and no need to relocate at the start. Learners can move forward step by step, reassessing their goals at each level.
For industry, the model creates a steady pipeline of graduates trained in commonly used aerospace analysis and design tools. Many sectors now seek engineers who can work across software, simulation, and physical systems, rather than narrow specializations.
The program also opens a route for students from non-aerospace backgrounds to transition into aviation and space roles through structured training.