IITM BS Alumni Status and Alumni Card: Who Gets It

You get IIT Madras alumni status, and the alumni card that comes with it, only when you complete all the credits for a degree level. In Data Science that means the BSc or the BS. In Electronic Systems it means the BS. Exiting with a diploma does not give you alumni status. The card comes through the IIT Madras Alumni Association (IITMAA) for a one-time fee of Rs 7,080. For degree exits it is mandatory, and your original certificates are processed only after the alumni registration is done.

Who is eligible

Both handbooks answer this directly in their FAQ: a diploma exit does not get alumni status, which is only for BSc or higher. The ES FAQ uses the same "BSc or higher" words, but Electronic Systems has no BSc level. Its alumni section speaks only of the BS level. For ES, read it as the BS degree.

The fee and when you pay it

The two parts of each handbook describe the fee in slightly different ways.

• Exit section: alumni card registration costs Rs 6,000 plus GST. After you submit your exit form, your details are checked and you are sent the alumni registration steps. You must complete them before your original certificates are processed.
• Alumni section: a one-time payment of Rs 7,080 goes to IITMAA as a processing fee. It is collected in two halves: 50% in your first term at the degree level and 50% in the next term.

Rs 7,080 is Rs 6,000 plus 18 percent, the usual GST rate, so the two figures appear to be the same fee. The timing does not quite match: one part links payment to the exit form, the other to your first two degree level terms. Check with support which applies to you. For the other charges in the programme, see other IITM BS fees.

After you register

1. Once your credits are verified, you are told to register on the IITMAA portal.
2. Allow at least 30 days for the alumni card to reach your address.
3. After that, expect 2 to 3 weeks before you can use the IITMAA website.

Your alumni card and original certificates are sent by post or handed over to you. This depends on the delivery method you chose in the exit form. See exit and certificates for the rest of the exit process.

What the card is used for

The card is your official ID as an IIT Madras alumnus. You need it for:

• entry to the IIT Madras campus,
• booking the Taramani Guest House,
• applying for your academic transcript,
• library membership,
• Gymkhana membership,
• swimming pool membership.

Other alumni benefits

The handbooks list these benefits of IITMAA membership:

• Free programmes: acting as a mentor in CLIC (Career and Life Coaching for Students) and YAARI, lifelong learning sessions, WE CARE events, GURU Talks, the Alumni Expert Series and alumni discussion groups.
• Voting: you can vote in IITMAA elections.
• Discounts: from alumni companies, IITMAA business sponsors and the IITM gift shop.
• Job portal: access to the IITMAA job portal.
• Getting involved: volunteer work and membership of the IITMAA Executive Committee.
• Events: IITMAA holidays, reunions on campus and elsewhere, and global chapter events.
• Insurance: group insurance plans you can join.

Discourse forum access

Alumni keep access to the Discourse discussion forum. Change the email on your existing forum account to your alumnus email and carry on using it.

Common questions

I am exiting with a diploma. Can I pay the fee and get the card anyway?

No. Both handbooks say alumni status is only for students who complete the BSc or higher. See IITM BS exit options to compare what each exit gives you.

Is the alumni card optional for BSc and BS graduates?

No. For students exiting with a BSc or BS, the handbook calls the card mandatory. Your original certificates are processed only after the alumni registration is complete.

How long does it take to get the card?

Allow at least 30 days after registration for the card to arrive. Access to the IITMAA website follows about 2 to 3 weeks after that.

Will I lose my forum account when I graduate?

No. You can keep your existing Discourse account by updating its email to your alumnus email.