Thousands of students who cleared JEE Main have started receiving a special admission message from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, opening the door to an extra IIT degree alongside their regular engineering studies. The institute is inviting eligible candidates to enroll in flexible BS programmes in fast-growing fields like Artificial Intelligence, data science, semiconductors, management, and space technology, without asking them to leave their current college plans behind.In a fresh video outreach, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti personally addressed students who cleared JEE Main and are eligible for JEE Advanced. He described the initiative as a major step toward making top-quality IIT education more accessible and future-focused for engineering aspirants across India.
IIT Madras sends direct admission emails to students
The institute has already sent emails to eligible students, offering them a chance to join one of four off-campus BS degree programmes. The biggest attraction is that students do not need to appear for another entrance exam or go through a separate long admission process.
The available programmes include:
- BS in Data Science and Applications
- BS in Electronic Systems
- BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology
- BS in Management
The courses are designed in a flexible online format, allowing students to continue their regular college degree while simultaneously pursuing an IIT Madras qualification. While classes are conducted online, examinations will take place at designated centres across the country.
Students can now pursue two degrees together
The initiative aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which encourages multidisciplinary learning and flexible higher education pathways. With approval from AICTE and UGC, students are now allowed to pursue two academic programmes simultaneously under specific guidelines.Speaking in the video message, Prof. Kamakoti explained that the structure is designed to give students the freedom of online learning while maintaining academic rigor through offline examinations.
The model is expected to particularly benefit students who may not secure a traditional IIT seat but still want access to IIT-level education and emerging technology domains.
Every year, lakhs of students clear JEE Main, but only a fraction eventually enter IITs through JEE Advanced. Many others join private or state engineering colleges despite having strong technical potential.
IIT Madras believes this parallel BS pathway can help bridge that gap by allowing students to gain expertise in future-ready industries while continuing their main degree.
With sectors like AI, semiconductor manufacturing, analytics, and space technology expected to create major employment opportunities in the coming years, the institute sees these programmes as a way to prepare students for rapidly changing job markets.
How students can apply
Students and parents have been advised to check their registered email inboxes for the admission communication. Further details about eligibility, programme structure, fees, and enrollment are available on the official IIT Madras study portal.
For many JEE Main qualifiers, the offer could become an unexpected second chance to earn an IIT qualification while building skills in some of the country’s most in-demand technology sectors.
