IITM BS in Management and Data Science: What We Know
By Editorial TeamLast reviewed
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IIT Madras launched a BS in Management and Data Science on 21 February 2026. The first batch started in June 2026. It is open to students from any stream who have passed Class 12. Content is online, and exams are held on Sundays. The official academics page lists a total fee of Rs 3,82,000 to Rs 4,46,000 before waivers. The programme is only a few months old, so there is no outcome data yet.
At a glance
| Item | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Launched | 21 February 2026, first batch from June 2026 |
| Levels and credits | Foundation 32, Diploma 60, BS 50, total 142 |
| Exits | Foundation Certificate, Diploma in Data Analytics for Business, BS in Management and Data Science |
| Who can apply | Class 12 in any stream, with English and Maths in Class 10 |
| Total fee | Rs 3,82,000 to Rs 4,46,000 before waivers |
| Time | Up to 8 years, three terms a year (January, May, September) |
Who can apply
- The landing page asks for Class 12 (or equivalent) in any year with English, and Class 10 with English and Maths.
- The press release says diploma holders can apply too, with no age limit and no seat limit.
- Class 11 students who have written their finals can apply, but join only after passing Class 12.
The qualifier
The Management qualifier uses the same four courses as the Data Science qualifier: English I, Mathematics for Data Science I, Statistics for Data Science I and Computational Thinking. The rules on the admissions page also match Data Science.
- To get a hall ticket: a weekly assignment average of 40% (General), 35% (OBC-NCL, EWS) or 30% (SC, ST, PwD) in each course.
- To pass: 40% in each course and 50% on average for General candidates. It is 35% and 45% for OBC-NCL and EWS, and 30% and 40% for SC, ST and PwD.
- Application fee: Rs 4,000, Rs 2,000 or Rs 1,000 by category.
- Validity: 3 terms if you have passed Class 12, or 6 terms if you are still in Class 12.
- JEE route: candidates who qualified to appear for JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026 can join directly.
For the September 2026 intake, the last date to apply is 27 September 2026. The qualifier weeks start on 2 October 2026 and the qualifier exam is on 15 November 2026. See qualifier passing marks for how the cutoffs work.
What you study
| Level | Credits | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 32 | Maths for Data Science I, Statistics for Data Science I, Computational Thinking, English I, Principles of Economics, Financial Accounting, Business Statistics, Management Thought and Practice |
| Diploma | 60 | 14 courses and 2 projects, such as Python for Data Analytics, Marketing Analytics, HR Analytics, Financial Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics, Corporate Finance and Macroeconomics |
| BS | 50 | 6 core courses (24 credits), such as GenAI for Business, Digital Business and Applied Time Series Analysis, plus 26 credits of electives |
To move to the BS level, you need a CGPA of at least 6.0 overall and at least 7.0 in the projects. You must reach this within 15 terms (5 years).
Fees
| Level | Rate | Level fee |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 32 credits at Rs 1,500 | Rs 48,000 |
| Diploma | 60 credits at Rs 3,000 | Rs 1,80,000 |
| BS core | 24 credits at Rs 3,000 or Rs 5,000 | Rs 88,000 |
| BS electives | 26 credits at Rs 3,000 or Rs 5,000 | Rs 66,000 to Rs 1,30,000 |
| Total | 142 credits | Rs 3,82,000 to Rs 4,46,000 |
The range depends on which electives you choose. Waivers of up to 75% are available for eligible SC, ST, PwD, EWS and OBC-NCL students, based on family income. See how IITM BS fee waivers work.
Study time and exams
The academics page expects about 10 hours per course each week at Foundation and about 15 hours at later levels. Each course has weekly online assignments, two quizzes in person in weeks 4 and 8, and a 1.5-hour end term exam on a Sunday.
The sources describe exam mode slightly differently. The press release says that, depending on the course, exams may be at centres in India or online with remote proctoring. The academics page says exams are in person at centres in India and a few countries abroad. Students in other countries use remote proctoring. Check your hall ticket for each exam.
Careers: what is known
The press release lists roles the programme aims at: Business Analyst, Data Scientist, Financial Analyst, Operations Manager, Supply Chain Analyst and Strategy Consultant. These are goals, not results. No placement, internship or salary data exists for this programme yet.
How it differs from Data Science
Both share the same qualifier and Foundation maths, statistics, English and computational thinking. After that, Management adds economics, accounting and business courses, while Data Science goes deeper into programming and machine learning. The DS handbook also has a "DS to MG switch policy" with slides and an FAQ for some DS batches. Compare the two in Data Science vs Management and Data Science, and read the Data Science overview.
Common questions
Can a commerce or arts student apply?
Yes. The programme is open to any stream. You need English in Class 12 and English and Maths in Class 10, according to the landing page.
Is there a BSc exit like in Data Science?
The official pages list three exits: the Foundation Certificate, the Diploma in Data Analytics for Business and the BS. No BSc exit is listed.
Can I do it alongside a job or another degree?
The press release says you can study it as your only degree, alongside another programme, or while working. Exams on Sundays are meant to help working students.
Are there any graduates or placement numbers?
No. The first batch started in June 2026, so no batch has finished the programme and no outcome data has been published.
Official sources
- IIT Madras BS Management and Data Science official website
- IIT Madras BS Management and Data Science admissions page
- IIT Madras BS Management and Data Science academics page
- IIT Madras press release: launch of the BS in Management and Data Science (21 February 2026)
- IIT Madras BS Data Science student handbook
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