IITM BS Data Science Foundation Level: Courses and What to Expect

The foundation level is the first stage of the IITM BS in Data Science. It has 8 courses worth 32 credits in total. Pass all 8 and you get a Foundation level certificate, and you can move on to the diploma level.

The 8 foundation courses

The handbook gives 32 credits for the level as a whole. It does not list a course code or a separate credit value for each foundation course, so check the official course pages if you need those.

The four courses with no prerequisite (Maths 1, Stats 1, English 1 and Computational Thinking) are the same four whose content opens during the qualifier process. Our subject pages for Maths 1 and Computational Thinking cover what they teach.

How the prerequisites work

• Each "2" course needs its "1" course first. Maths 2 needs Maths 1, Stats 2 needs Stats 1, English 2 needs English 1.
• Introduction to Python needs Computational Thinking.
• Statistics 2 also has Maths 2 as a corequisite. Either finish Maths 2 before Stats 2, or take both in the same term. You cannot take Stats 2 without Maths 2 at all.
• You must pass all 8 foundation courses before you can register for any diploma level course.

So in your very first term, only the four courses without a prerequisite are open to you. For the rules at every level, see IITM BS course prerequisites.

How long does the foundation level take?

The handbook's suggested plan for the foundation certificate spreads the 8 courses over 3 terms, which is one year.

The fastest plan in the handbook (its shortest path to the BSc) uses 4 courses every term. At that pace the foundation takes 2 terms. Slower plans in the handbook start with just 1 or 2 courses a term. More on this in IITM BS learning paths.

At the foundation level, CCC (the limit on how many courses you can take) is now only a recommendation for all students. It is not enforced.

Time limits and checkpoints

If you joined the foundation level from May 2024, you must pass at least 4 courses within 4 terms, 6 within 6 terms, and all 8 within 9 terms. If you miss one, you are removed from the programme. The 9 term limit applies to every student. Terms where you paid RKA or dropped all courses still count. Warnings about slow progress start from term 3. Full details are in foundation level checkpoints.

What you get when you finish

• A Foundation level certificate.
• The right to register for diploma level courses.
• If you leave the programme after the foundation level, your status is shown as "FL certified". You do not get alumnus status.

Common questions

Can I take Mathematics 2 and Statistics 2 in the same term?

Yes, as long as you have already passed Maths 1 and Stats 1. Maths 2 is a corequisite of Stats 2, so taking them together is allowed. What you cannot do is take Stats 2 while skipping Maths 2.

Can I start a diploma course while I finish my last foundation course?

No. The handbook says all 8 foundation courses must be completed before you register for any diploma level course. Plan so that your last foundation course is done before the diploma term you have in mind.

Can I improve a foundation grade after I start the diploma level?

No. From the January 2026 term, you can improve grades of a level only while you are still in that level. Once you start the diploma level, foundation improvement is closed and your foundation CGPA is frozen. See grade improvement rules.

Is one year a realistic time for the foundation level?

The handbook's own foundation plan uses 3 terms, which is one year, with 2 or 3 courses a term. You have up to 9 terms, but the 4 and 6 term checkpoints apply if you joined from May 2024.