IITM BS Student Handbook and Brochure: Where to Find Them

The IITM BS student handbook is not a fixed PDF. It is a published Google Doc that IIT Madras keeps editing, with one version for Data Science and a separate one for Electronic Systems. The current brochure is a 16-page PDF made in April 2026 and hosted on IIT Madras's code.iitm.ac.in site. The handbook holds the rules. The brochure is an introduction for students and parents. When the two seem to differ, go by the handbook and the official website.

Where to find the official documents

For Management and Data Science, the FAQ says you receive the handbook once you enrol. We did not find a public handbook link for Management or Aeronautics, so ask support after you join.

Why the date on the handbook can mislead you

The DS handbook's title still says "Updated 02072026", which is 2 July 2026. But the document also says it updates automatically every 5 minutes, and many sections carry their own, later dates. For example:

• The mandatory submissions section (POSH, medical certificate, profile update) says it was updated on 24 July 2026.
• The advice on meeting diploma milestones was updated on 7 September 2026.
• A list of Electronic Systems minors open to DS students was updated on 4 September 2026.

So always read the date next to the section you need, not the date in the title. The handbook itself warns that policies can change without notice. A screenshot or PDF shared in a group may already be out of date. Share the link, not a copy.

What is inside the DS handbook

Use this as a map. Section numbers are from the DS handbook as of September 2026.

The ES handbook covers the same ground, but some section numbers differ, and it adds ES topics such as the lab kit and the rules for registering labs. For short forms like CCC and RKA, see the IITM BS glossary.

What the brochure covers

The PDF's own title is "IIT Madras BS Common Brochure for Parents". It covers:

• All four programmes: Data Science, Electronic Systems, Aeronautics and Space Technology, and Management and Data Science.
• The level structure and what you earn at each level.
• The two ways in: the 4-week qualifier, or JEE Advanced.
• A short note on fee support, student houses, clubs, meetups and the Paradox fest.
• Progress numbers marked "as of March 2026", and placement and higher studies tables.

It is a good starting point for parents, but it is not a rulebook. For what the placement numbers cover, read the full Career Choices report on the Important Documents page. Our guide for parents covers the questions families usually ask.

Brochures that are not the right one

• The IAT brochure on ugadmissions.iitm.ac.in. It is for the campus B.S. programmes in Medical Sciences and Engineering and in Chemistry, through IAT 2026. Those are separate residential programmes. See IIT Madras BS through IAT vs the online BS.
• The 2020 brochure on the old onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in site. It says "Brochure Last Updated: 2nd November 2020" and was written for the first batch in January 2021. It describes three quizzes a term. Fees and rules have changed a lot since.
• PDFs from coaching sites or Telegram channels. They are not official, and many are old.

Other official documents worth bookmarking

• The exam instructions document, "Important Instructions for Exams", linked from the exam centre policy in the DS handbook. It lists what to carry to the exam centre.
• The grading document for each term. The handbook says your total course score is worked out as defined in that term's grading document.
• The syllabus of the BS in Data Science, on the Important Documents page. The handbook calls it the DS Course Booklet.
• The Ordinances and Regulations, the original rulebook from 2020. Many details have changed since.

Common questions

Is there a PDF of the handbook I can download?

The handbook is published as a Google Doc, which is why it can update every few minutes. Read it online. If you save a copy, write the date on it and check the live version before you act on it.

Do DS and ES students read the same handbook?

No. There are two separate handbooks. Many rules match, but numbers such as fees, credits and checkpoints differ. Always use your own programme's handbook.

What if the handbook and the website say different things?

It happens. For example, the DS handbook sets the course pass mark at 40 out of 100 while the DS academics page says 50. Read is the pass mark 40 or 50 and confirm with support when it matters.

Is there a separate brochure for each programme?

The current 2026 brochure is one common document for all four programmes. Each programme also has its own pages on study.iitm.ac.in.