NEW DELHI: In a major student-friendly move, IIT Madras has announced that BTech students will now have the option to exit the programme after three years with a BSc degree. The reform is inspired by the flexibility promoted under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and represents a progressive step toward transforming India’s higher education system. Under the new system, students who complete 250 out of 400 credits within three years can opt for a BSc degree instead of continuing for the full four-year BTech programme. This option will be available to students admitted from the 2024 batch, with implementation beginning in 2027.
The institute is also exploring ways to extend this option to senior batches, ensuring that those who have already spent considerable time and effort in the course can benefit too. Each department at IIT Madras will define the number of core credits required for specialisation under the BSc programme.
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Professor Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras, explained that the BSc degree will be particularly useful for students who wish to pursue higher studies, management, or civil services after three years of engineering education. “This BSc degree will enable students to pursue higher studies such as an MBA and prepare for civil service examinations. Those who exit can also later join our online BS degrees as well,” he said. This reform is aimed at addressing a long-standing issue, students who struggle to complete their BTech courses due to lack of interest, academic pressure, or a change in career goals. Many students leave midway to pursue business, startups, or other professional paths, and this new option ensures that their learning is still recognised with a valid degree.
To further ease the academic load, IIT Madras has also reduced the minimum credit requirement per semester by 10 per cent, lowering it from 66 to 50 credits. “A student can easily get 66 credits in one semester. But we have lowered the number of minimum credits required to 50 credits to ease the pressure. Students with higher CGPA will be allowed to take more credits in a semester,” Professor Haridoss added.
In addition to the exit option, IIT Madras is also introducing greater academic flexibility. Up to 40% of the BTech courses can now be taken as electives, allowing students to choose subjects they are genuinely interested in. The institute has also added dual degree and minor degree options to encourage interdisciplinary learning.
These changes reflect the broader goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multi-entry and multi-exit pathways in higher education. The idea is to ensure that every stage of learning is valued and certified, rather than forcing students to conform to rigid four-year structures.
