IITM BS Data Science Fees 2026: Full Breakdown

If you join the foundation level of the IITM BS in Data Science from the January 2026 term or later, the full BS degree costs Rs 3,86,000 to Rs 4,50,000. The foundation level alone costs Rs 48,000. These are full fees, before any fee waiver. The exact total depends on the electives you pick at the BSc and BS levels.

These are the revised fees. If you joined in the September 2025 term or earlier, you pay less. That older structure is in the fee guide for students who joined before 2026.

Total fees by where you stop

You pay level by level, so your total depends on how far you go. The handbook gives these running totals:

Fee per credit at each level

You are charged per credit. The rate goes up at higher levels.

Foundation level: Rs 48,000

The foundation level has 32 credits at Rs 1,500 each. That makes Rs 48,000. The handbook says the first year is kept cheap on purpose, so you can try the programme before paying for more.

Diploma level: Rs 81,000 per diploma

Each diploma has 23 theory credits and 4 project credits. Both cost Rs 3,000 per credit. So one diploma costs Rs 81,000. Both diplomas together cost Rs 1,62,000: Rs 1,38,000 for 46 theory credits and Rs 24,000 for 8 project credits.

BSc level: Rs 76,000 to Rs 1,00,000

The BSc level has 28 credits. Five mandatory Level 3 courses give 20 credits and cost Rs 60,000. You choose how to fill the last 8 credits:

BS level: Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,40,000

The BS level also has 28 credits. There are four mandatory Level 4 courses: two BD courses and two BP courses, 8 credits each pair. Each pair costs Rs 40,000, so Rs 80,000 in all. The last 12 credits are your choice:

Two rules sit under this table. First, 4 credits of HS/MG are mandatory at the BS level, taken from NPTEL or from programme electives. HS/MG courses can only be done at the BS level. Second, you can transfer at most 8 NPTEL credits in the whole programme.

A gap in the lowest total

The lowest BS degree figure, Rs 3,86,000, adds the cheapest BSc mix (4 NPTEL credits) to the cheapest BS mix (8 NPTEL credits). That is 12 NPTEL credits. But the same page caps NPTEL at 8 credits for the whole programme. If you keep to 8, the handbook's own rates give a lowest total of about Rs 3,94,000. Ask the support team before you plan around Rs 3,86,000.

The Rs 1,000 per NPTEL credit goes to the BS programme. NPTEL's own exam fee is separate. See the other IITM BS fees for credit transfer charges.

Qualifier fee comes first

Before any course fee, you pay the qualifier exam fee. For Data Science it is Rs 4,000 for general category applicants, with lower fees for SC/ST and PwD candidates. It is not refunded. The full table is in the qualifier application fee guide.

Fee waivers and education loans

Every figure above is the full fee. Depending on your category and family income, you may get 50% or 75% off. Check who gets the IITM BS fee waiver.

The handbook also describes an SBI education loan. Interest starts from 8.10%, with simple interest until the course ends and no collateral. The student borrows with one parent as co-borrower, and both need SBI accounts.

Extra fee if you write exams outside India

At a centre outside India, you pay a facilitation fee on top: Rs 2,000 each for Quiz 1 and Quiz 2, and Rs 2,000 for the end term with one course or Rs 4,000 with more. So 4 courses cost Rs 8,000 extra in that term. See applying from outside India.

Common questions

Do I pay the full Rs 3.86 lakh at the start?

No. You register for courses each term and pay for those courses. So you spend the money slowly, over several years. If you stop after foundation, you have only paid Rs 48,000.

Is the qualifier fee part of the Rs 48,000?

No. The handbook lists the Rs 4,000 qualifier fee as a separate entry fee. The Rs 48,000 is only for the 32 foundation credits.

Why is the BS degree fee a range and not one number?

At the BSc and BS levels you pick your own mix of Level 3 courses, Level 4 and 5 courses, and NPTEL credits. Each has a different rate. Cheaper choices lead to the lower end of the range.

Do the PG Diploma and MTech fees apply to every BS student?

No. They are extra levels after the BS degree. You pay them only if you go on to those levels. The totals in the table include all earlier levels.