Doing IITM BS With a BSc, BA or BCom: How to Make It Work

Yes. The IITM BS in Data Science (DS) is open to any stream, so BSc, BA and BCom students can all join. The only subject rule is that you studied Maths and English in Class 10. Expect about 10 hours of work per course every week. Our advice is to start with 2 courses a term. Electronic Systems (ES) is different: it needs Physics and Maths.

Who already does this

The official Batch 2025 summary lists the other degree of the 545 Data Science students who completed the BSc or 114 credits in 2024:

BE or BTech was the largest group (244), and 110 had no other degree. At the June 2025 convocation, IIT Madras said over 22% of its students come from arts, science or commerce backgrounds.

Which programme can you join?

For DS, the admissions page also expects Maths and English in Class 10. More in who can apply.

The maths question

The DS foundation level has 8 courses: English 1 and 2, Mathematics 1 and 2, Statistics 1 and 2, Computational Thinking, and Introduction to Python. So half of it is maths, statistics and logic.

• BSc students in Maths, Physics, Statistics or Computer Science will find parts of this familiar.
• BA and BCom students without Class 12 maths may find Mathematics 1 the hardest. That is our view, not an official statement.

The qualifier already tests 4 weeks of Mathematics 1, Statistics 1, Computational Thinking and English 1. Treat it as an honest trial run. Our Maths 1 page and the guide on weak maths show what to expect.

How much time it really takes

The DS FAQ says about 10 hours per course per week. Each week, a course releases about 2 to 4 hours of video, plus practice work and a graded assignment.

A sample week with 2 courses (our advice)

That adds up to about 20 hours. On quiz and end term Sundays, move the Sunday work to Saturday.

Fitting it around your college year

• Quizzes come at the end of weeks 4 and 8 of the IITM term, and the end term comes at the end. These dates are fixed for everyone.
• Your college exams will sometimes land close to them. Look at both calendars before you register. Our dual degree guide explains what happens if you miss a quiz or an end term.
• Holidays. If your college has a long summer break, the May term (which starts in June) is a good time to take a third course.
• No credit sharing. The DS FAQ says BS credits cannot be transferred to your college.

Two degrees plus exam preparation

Some students want DS, a BSc or BA and government exam preparation at the same time. Our advice: three big goals at once rarely go well. In your heaviest exam year, drop to 1 course a term.

Do not drop to zero for long, though. If you joined the foundation level from May 2024, you must complete 4 courses in 4 terms, 6 in 6 terms and all 8 in 9 terms. One course every term just meets this, with no room for a failed course. See foundation checkpoints.

What it costs

For students joining from January 2026, the DS foundation level costs Rs 48,000 for its 8 courses. The application fee is Rs 4,000 for General candidates. Waivers of up to 75% based on family income and category apply at the diploma and degree levels.

Common questions

Do my BSc, BA or BCom marks matter for admission?

No. The rules only ask about Class 10 subjects and Class 12 (or its equivalent). Admission to the foundation level depends on the qualifier.

Can a commerce student cope with the foundation level?

Some do: the Batch 2025 list has 8 BCom and 8 BBA students. Maths is usually the tough part. Our advice is to revise school algebra and functions before the qualifier, and take 2 courses in your first term, not 4.

Is there anything in the diplomas for commerce students?

Yes. The Diploma in Data Science includes Business Data Management (BDM), and one project option is a BDM project. See which diploma to do first.

Can I switch to Electronic Systems later?

We found no rule for switching from DS to ES. ES also needs Physics and Maths, so a BA or BCom student would first need to meet that subject rule.