Houses, Clubs and Student Societies in IITM BS

The IITM BS programme has 12 student houses, each named after an Indian forest. Every student belongs to one house. There are also regional groups for different parts of India, and more than 30 student-run clubs and societies. Elected students lead the houses and regions. None of this is part of your courses. It is there so that an online degree has a real student community.

The 12 houses

The official student life page lists these houses:

The page says every student becomes part of one of these houses. It does not explain how students are placed in a house. If you do not know your house, ask the support team.

The page sits on the Data Science website. It does not say whether Electronic Systems, Aeronautics and Management students share the same houses. Ask your programme's support team if you are not sure.

Regions

Houses give you a group across the whole country. Regions give you people nearby. The page lists nine regions and one international region:

• Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi and Hyderabad
• Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Patna
• An International Region for students outside India

Who runs the houses and regions

The page says elected student leaders run them. The roles named are House Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Regional Coordinator. These leaders organise things like study circles, peer mentoring, workshops and community projects. The page does not describe how elections work, who can stand, or how long a term lasts.

Clubs and societies

The page describes more than 30 clubs, societies and student communities. They are run by students. The areas include:

• debates and quizzes
• hackathons and coding
• music, drama and dance
• research and entrepreneurship
• sports and e-sports
• art, film and pop culture

The page lists each society by name with its social media links and contact email. There is no single joining form on the page. To join, open the society's listed contact and follow what it asks.

How to choose and join

1. Read the list on the official student life page. It is the safest place to find real society contacts.
2. Pick one or two that match what you want, such as coding practice or a sport. Two you can keep up with is better than five you drop.
3. Write to the society from its listed contact, or join through the links on the official page.
4. Keep your coursework first. No official source says clubs give credits, and your checkpoints do not pause for club work.

You can also meet other students in person at Paradox, the yearly fest on campus.

Good conduct and staying safe

Houses and societies are student-run. That makes them friendly, but it also means a post from a student leader is not an official notice from IIT Madras. Official rules come from the handbook and the programme office.

A few habits help everyone:

• Keep your login private. No house or club needs your portal password or an OTP.
• Be respectful. Every student must complete the compulsory POSH training, and the programme has its own non academic rules.
• Be careful with money. If an event asks you to pay, ask what the money is for and who collects it. Pay only through a method you can trace.
• Do not use the institute's name for your own papers. The handbook bars students from giving "IIT Madras" as their affiliation on research. The exception is work guided by a faculty member.
• Raise problems the official way. If something goes wrong, raise a ticket on the Student Support Portal and follow the escalation steps. See support tickets and escalation.

Common questions

Can I change my house?

The official page does not mention changing houses. Ask the support team if you have a reason to move.

Do clubs or house activities count towards my grades?

No official source links them to grades or credits. Your grades come only from your courses. Treat clubs as extra.

Can I start a new society?

The official page does not describe how a new society is formed. Ask your house leaders or the support team how new groups are approved.

Is my house the same as my exam city or region?

No. A house is a national group. A region is a local group for students in and around a city. Your exam cities are chosen separately when you register for courses.