IITM BS vs IIT Patna Hybrid BS: How the Two Degrees Differ

The IIT Madras BS and IIT Patna's BS are both 4-year bachelor's degrees from an IIT that you can study without a JEE Advanced rank. They differ most in who can get in and how you are taught. IITM uses its own qualifier with no Class 12 percentage cut-off, recorded lectures and in-person exams. IIT Patna asks for 60% in Class 12 science plus a test score or its own entrance test, and teaches through live online classes in a hybrid mode.

We compare only what each institute's own pages say. IIT Patna facts are from its admissions and programme pages, checked on 25 September 2026.

The two side by side

Getting in

IIT Madras does not look at your Class 12 marks. You study 4 weeks of content in four courses, submit weekly assignments, and then write an in-person exam. A general category student needs a 50% average and at least 40% in each course. If you were eligible to write the current year's JEE Advanced, you can skip the qualifier. See how the qualifier works.

IIT Patna's eligibility page asks for Class 12 in science with at least 60%. You also need one of these: a valid score or rank in a national or state entrance exam, a SAT or BMAT score, or its own IITP-SAT test followed by a virtual interview.

So if you studied commerce or arts, or scored below 60% in Class 12, read IIT Patna's rules carefully. As written, its page asks for science with at least 60%. IIT Madras's Data Science programme has no such rule.

Classes and exams

The two work quite differently day to day.

• IIT Madras: videos and assignments come out every week. The FAQ says each course may have one or two live sessions. You travel to an exam centre for quizzes and end term exams, usually on weekends. Learners outside India use remote proctoring where there is no centre.
• IIT Patna: classes are live and online. The end semester exam carries half the marks. Its page says students may write end semester exams remotely in a proctored safe browser mode, but those who do so cannot join the campus stay.

If you learn better with live classes at fixed times, IIT Patna's model may suit you. If you need to study at odd hours, IITM's recorded model may suit you better. Read how IITM BS classes work for the full picture.

Fees

• IIT Madras: the full Data Science BS costs Rs 3,86,000 to Rs 4,50,000 for students joining from January 2026, before any waiver. You pay per course, each term. Waivers of 50% or 75% exist, based on category and family income. See Data Science fees.
• IIT Patna: its BS page shows Rs 56,400 per semester, including the campus stay fee and the semester exam fee, and an application processing fee of Rs 2,800. We saw no 4-year total on the page, so check the current brochure.

What about placements?

Both pages describe career support. IIT Madras publishes dated batch and career reports for Data Science. We did not find a dated, programme-wise outcome report for the IIT Patna BS on the pages we checked, so we do not compare outcomes. Do not decide on headline salary figures from either side.

Which one fits you

Use your own situation, not the brand:

1. Your Class 12 stream and marks. IIT Patna's stated rule is science with at least 60%. IITM Data Science takes any stream.
2. How you learn. Live classes at fixed times, or recorded lessons at your own pace?
3. Exam travel. Can you reach an IITM exam centre a few times each term?
4. Your subject. Data science and programming, or AI with cyber security?
5. Your budget. Compare the full cost on both official fee pages on the day you decide.

Common questions

Can I do both programmes at the same time?

IIT Madras's FAQs allow its BS alongside another degree, and IIT Patna's page lists dual-degree students as a target group. But both need weekly work and exams. Check both calendars carefully before you commit to two online degrees at once.

Do I need JEE for either?

No. IIT Madras uses its qualifier, with JEE Advanced eligibility as a shortcut. IIT Patna accepts several entrance scores, or its own test and interview.

Is the IIT Patna BS also an IIT degree?

IIT Patna's pages say the programme gives an IIT degree and alumni status, and describe it as IIT Senate approved. Check the exact degree name in its brochure. For IIT Madras, see is the IITM BS a real IIT degree.

Which is better?

No published data allows a fair side-by-side ranking. Pick the one whose entry rules, teaching style and costs match your life. Our checklist in IIT degrees without JEE works for any online IIT programme.