Does the IITM BS Certificate or Marksheet Say Online?

For Electronic Systems (ES), the answer is written down: the ES FAQ says a mode such as online or distance is not mentioned on the marksheet. For Data Science (DS), IIT Madras has no written statement like that. The sample DS certificates on the official website show no mode, but they are samples. One more detail: the Foundation certificate is issued by IITM's Centre for Outreach and Digital Education, and that name is printed on it.

What each official source shows

We looked at the sample certificates on the DS and ES academics pages in September 2026. The real certificate is made for you only after Senate approval, so check the current samples before you rely on them.

What the DS sample certificates look like

• BS: Indian Institute of Technology Madras confers the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Data Science and Applications. It is given under the seal of the institute, with signature lines for the Registrar, the Director and the Chairman of the Board of Governors. It also has a photo, an ID number and a QR code.
• BSc: the same layout, for a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Programming and Data Science.
• Diploma: the same layout, for the Diploma in Programming or the Diploma in Data Science.
• Foundation: a different design. The header reads Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Centre for Outreach and Digital Education. It says you completed the Foundational Level in Programming and Data Science. It is signed by the Programme Coordinator, the Director and the Chairman of CODE.

The IITM handbooks say the design of the original certificates has not changed. For the full list of awards, see certificates at each level.

Grade cards and transcripts

The handbooks list what the progress card shows: course code, course name, level and the grade in each attempt. The grade card shows each course once, with your best result. Mode of study is not in either list.

A Dean (Academic Courses) letter of 14 June 2024 adds more:

• Only cumulative grade cards are issued. Term-wise grade cards are not issued, as a matter of policy.
• No class, division or rank is awarded.
• The Senate-approved conversion is percentage = CGPA x 10.
• English is the medium of instruction in all IIT Madras BS programmes.

The handbooks also describe a term-wise progress card that is made available automatically. If an employer or university asks for semester marksheets, share the Dean's letter along with your grade card. The request steps are in academic documents for IITM BS students.

Your name on the certificate

A letter of 12 August 2025 sets the rule. The name printed on your degree or diploma follows your Class 10 certificate, or a name change published in the Gazette. Requests to use the name on Aadhaar, PAN or a passport are not accepted. Initials are not expanded and the name order is not changed. Once the certificate is made, the name cannot be changed.

Credit completion letters

Since the January 2026 term, you get a credit completion letter signed by the programme coordinators when you finish a level. The handbook shows a sample, but we could not check its wording, so we cannot say what it states about mode. More in credit completion letters vs provisional certificates.

If someone asks whether your degree was online

Do not hide it. The accurate answer comes from the IITM support desk: it is a hybrid programme where learning happens online and assessments are held in person at exam centres. ES students also attend labs on campus. For the legal status of the degree, see is it a real IIT Madras degree.

Common questions

Will my BS certificate look like a campus IIT Madras degree?

IIT Madras has not published a side by side comparison, so we cannot say. What we can say is that the sample BS certificate is issued in the name of Indian Institute of Technology Madras under the institute seal.

Does the DS FAQ say anything about mode on documents?

We did not find a DS statement on this. The clear written answer is in the ES FAQ. DS students who need certainty should raise a support ticket.

Is a credit completion letter enough for a job?

The handbooks say the letter is accepted by companies and academic institutions. That is IIT Madras's statement. The final decision belongs to the employer.