Can You Do Two IITM BS Degrees at Once, Like DS and ES?

No, you cannot do the IITM BS in Data Science (DS) and the BS in Electronic Systems (ES) at the same time. The official ES FAQ says the ES exam dates line up with the DS exam dates, so doing both programmes together is not possible. If you want topics from the other programme, the practical route is a minor inside your own BS.

Why DS and ES cannot be combined

• Same exam days. Both handbooks list the same quiz and end term dates for DS and ES in every term from 2026 to 2030. For example, in the September 2026 term, Quiz 1 is on 15 November 2026, Quiz 2 on 5 December 2026 and the end term on 10 January 2027 in both.
• Clashes are your problem. Both handbooks say exams of IITM's non-campus BS programmes, web-enabled MTech programmes and some NPTEL courses can fall on the same day. Avoiding clashes is your job, and no special arrangements will be made.
• Missed exams hurt. A missed quiz counts as 0, with no make-up quiz. A missed end term means a make-up exam later or repeating the course.

More on this in what happens when two exams clash.

What about Aeronautics or Management?

IIT Madras now also runs a BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology and a BS in Management and Data Science. We found no official rule on combining either of them with DS or ES.

The Management launch press release says learners can take it alongside another academic programme or a job, and that its exams are held on Sundays. It does not say whether "another academic programme" includes a second IITM BS. Since the DS and ES dates are shared, ask the support team in writing before you pay for two IITM programmes.

Getting ES topics inside DS: minors

A minor is a set of three courses. It counts inside the 142 credits of your BS, and IIT Madras gives a separate document when you finish it. Your transcript and degree certificate do not change. You can earn a minor only with the BS degree.

From 4 September 2026, the DS handbook lists three minors that come from ES:

The ES handbook works the other way too. ES students can take a minor in Application Development or in Machine Learning, both built from DS courses. The full lists are in IITM BS minors and ES minors.

Switching instead of doubling

The ES handbook has a process for some ES batches to switch to Aeronautics. See switching from ES to Aeronautics. We found no rule for switching between DS and ES.

Common questions

Can I finish DS first and then start ES?

The handbooks do not cover doing a second IITM BS after the first. Nothing we found forbids it, but nothing confirms it either. Ask support before you plan on it.

Can I do NPTEL courses alongside my IITM BS?

Yes. The handbook even lets you credit some NPTEL courses to the BS. But some NPTEL exams fall on the same day as BS exams, and avoiding that clash is your responsibility.

Does a minor count as a second degree?

No. You get a separate document saying you completed the minor. Your BS degree certificate and transcript stay the same.

Which programme should I pick if I like both?

Compare the courses, costs and lab visits first. Our DS vs ES comparison sets them side by side.