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What are the placements like after a BSc in data science from IIT Madras?
IIT Madras is a highly reputed institution in India, and its BSc in data science program offers a plethora of opportunities for students. Graduates of this course get placed in various sectors including finance, healthcare, retail, and technology.
Some of the job roles that graduates can pursue are
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- Business analyst
- Machine learning engineer
- Data engineer
This is a new program by IIT Madras, and the first batch is yet to graduate. Internships are also offered in this course. The top recruiting companies are Tech Mahindra, Nissan Renault, Aditya Birla, etc. IIT Madras provides 8-month internships. Almost 100% of students are placed.
The salary package offered is 5 LPA to 6 LPA. The average salary package offered is 18 LPA.
However, one must bear in mind the fact that these numbers depend on a number of factors such as the student's skills, experience, and the company to which they are applying to. Some highlights related to the course are:
- You have excess to the elaborate alumni network of IIT Madras comprising 45000+ graduates working as reputed firms today
- The program is the right combination of programming and mathematics.
- You get the opportunity to learn Machine Learning from India's Machine learning teacher Prof. Balaram Ravindran.
- The courses offered under this program like Python, Machine Learning, Statistics, Deep Learning, Data Structures, and Algorithms make you a strong candidate for Data Scientist at some of the leading software companies.
- Off-campus placements are better as on campus, BSc students face tough competition with Engineering students who take away all the good roles.
There are many with just an MCA or BCA degree from a normal college working with top Companies like Microsoft. Here we are talking about a degree from the Number 1 Engineering college, IIT Madras; you surely will be offered the best job opportunities as well as the freedom to grow.
Is getting an online degree from IIT Madras worth it while I'm pursuing my own course?
The increasing demand for data science and artificial intelligence has resulted in people preferring a more promising career among fresh graduates and working professionals. This field has created a number of opportunities and everyone is flocking to it.
These courses are seen as a key to a more high-paying job by UG students who end up pursuing them alongside their main course. Owing to its increasing demand, IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta have started offering online degrees in Data Science
IITM offers courses at three levels:
- The foundation level: Comprises a time duration of 8 months to 3 years costing around 32k.
- The Diploma level: Comprises a time duration of 12 months to 3 years and costs 1,10,000.
- The Degree level: Varying from 12 months to 3 years, it costs 1,00,000.
While doing an online course that too from IIT Madras may look like a lucrative option here is the dark side
- The course is extremely expensive
- The long duration is not suitable for graduates or working professionals who want to move forward in their careers.
- Lack of hands-on experience
- No placement of internship assistance at all
- Pre-recorded sessions make the learning boring and uninteresting
- You won’t be allowed to pursue the degree unless you’ve done the diploma.
The IIT tag surely appeals to many and makes your resume look good in front of recruiters however, it does not guarantee that you have a good Data Science career. It might help you get through the first round, but the course does not offer the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this domain. The reasons why this course is not credible are the lack of hands-on projects, pre-recorded sessions, and absence of interaction in the class or doubt-solving sessions.
The alternative for these online courses are programs offered by various platforms like Learn Bay, Skill Slash, UpGrad Great Learning, SimpliLearn, etc. These are
- Cost friendly
- Ace up your knowledge
- Offers a hands-on experience by making you work on real-time industry issues
- Placement assistance
All these make them a more viable option for a career in Data Science than the Online course of IIT Madras.
Which is a better IIT overall: IIT Kanpur or IIT Madras?
Both IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras are renowned academic institutions in India and are ranked amongst the top Engineering institutions as well. The choice between IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras which is better depends on you and other factors like the field of study you opt for, location preference, research opportunities, campus facilities, and your personal choices.
However, IIT Madras has been ranked in 1st position in the category of overall engineering in the year 2023 by NIRF. Whereas IIT Kanpur has been ranked in 4th position by NIRF ranking in the year 2023.
Check the table of comparison to get a better idea:
|
Course Details |
IIT Madras |
IIT Kanpur |
|
Course Fees |
First Year Fees INR 2.14 Lakhs Hostel Fees ?35841 Total Fees INR 8.58 Lakhs (4 Years ) |
First Year Fees INR 19.3 Lakhs Total Fees INr 8.56 Lakhs (4 Years ) |
|
Ranking |
Ranked 3/131 by The Week Engineering Ranks |
Ranked 3/35 by India Today Engineering Ranks |
|
Eligibility |
10+2 with 75% + JEE Advanced |
10+2 with 75% + JEE Advanced |
|
General Course Details |
Duration - 4 Years Course Offered - Full Time Total Seats - 81 Mode - Full Time |
Duration - 4 Years Course Offered - Full Time Total Seats - 103 Mode - Full Time |
|
Highest Package |
INR 19800000 |
INR 19000000 |
Why is M.S. better than M. Tech at IIT Madras?
There are many reasons why MS is a much more preferred program than MTech these days.
Fees: The MTech fees at IIT Madras are more than that of MS thus making MS a much cheaper option.
Placement: MS has better placements than MTech at IIT Madras.
|
Particulars |
MS |
MTech |
|
Highest CTC |
INR 58.80 LPA |
INR 46.08 LPA |
|
Median CTC |
INR 15 LPA |
INR 13.02 LPA |
Stipend: M.S. students receive an average of 1 lakh rupees as stipend whereas MTech students may not get stipend anymore.
International exposure: MS students get enough international exposure through international conferences which is not possible for MTech students.
Selection Procedure: The selection procedure for the MTech program just requires a good GATE score and thus the quality of students is not as good as MS. The selection process of the MS program requires a GATE score, written test heat, and even an interview. The selection criteria being difficult, filters only the best for the course.
Considering the fees, placements, and selection procedure we can safely conclude that MS is a much-preferred option over MTech today.
What is unique about IIT Madras?
A friend of mine is an alumnus of IIT Madras and was a part of the Department of Management Studies (DoMS). This is his input on what makes the institute unique.
- German Connection: It is the third oldest IITs presently built with financial and technical support from Germany.
- Campus: The whole campus is quite green and serene. The endangered blackbuck and the spotted deer roam around free on the campus feeling safe amidst the students.
- Student Activity: An activity club exclusive for students to take part in is present for the students- suitable for their interests.
- No time restriction: The campus doesn't restrict the student's entry and exit time.
- IIT-M research park: The purpose of this research park is to motivate innovation and support startups that come with great infrastructure, R&D support, and an excellent faculty base.
- IIT-M lingo: You would see a unique blend of five languages at IIT-M, which are- Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.
- OAT- Open Air Theatre: The capacity of this OAT is for 7000 students. Every Saturday at 8 PM, these people air movies in English, Hindi, and even regional languages. This hall also hosts various concerts and functions.
- Fastest computing system: With a computing power that encompasses 97 teraflops, the IBM Virgo Supercluster, present at P.G. Senapathy Centre for the Computing Resources, happens to be one of the fastest among all education systems around!.
- 85% mandatory attendance: You have to maintain an attendance record of 85%.
Everything mentioned in the points sums up how IIT Madras is. Take pride in being associated with it.
Is there any future in data science? Is getting a degree of data science from IIT Madras actually helpful? Will it help in the future in any way?
Yes, indeed Data Science is a rapidly growing field with many opportunities for career advancement and personal growth. The steer towards AI has resulted in many product-based companies as well as startups creating Data Science jobs at version levels.
A degree in data science from IIT Madras should be helpful in the future, as it is a well-respected institution with a strong reputation for academic excellence. However, you have to fulfill the requirements below
- You need to get enrolled in another Bachelor's degree that compliments your online degree. Some examples are BE/BTech CSE, EC, BSc Mathematics, statistics, etc.
- Complete your capstone project of the offline Bachelor's degree in ML, AI, and data science.
- Completed some personal projects in data science and related fields
- Your offline degree need not necessarily be Engineering or Mathematics.
You cannot compare this online degree with MOOCs, as it is a degree, and the program outcome is vastly different and superior with more knowledge gained. Also, it's the IIT Madras bachelor's degree we are talking about.
Those who are spreading negative opinions on this degree are not aware of the vast areas it covers like line, and quadratic equations to advance topics like graph theory and SQL. Don’t hesitate much and go for the degree without any worries.
Who is the most friendly professor in IIT Madras? Why?
My brother is an alumnus of IIT Madras. During his time, Professor Kamakoti was one of the friendliest professors at IITM.
Whenever sir caught someone sleeping in the class or coming late for the lecture, he would simply crack a joke and lighten everyone’s mood. He was an absolute master of his subject. The only thing which frustrated him was the lack of interest among students towards lab coursework.
My brother is not sure if sir still teaches at IITM, but he always fondly remembers sir.
How is the Direct PhD program of IIT Madras?
If you are considering pursuing a Ph.D. at IIT-M, you might be interested in knowing about the similarities and differences between a regular Ph.D. and a direct Ph.D. Here's what you need to know:
Selection Procedure:
- All Ph.D. candidates, whether applying for a regular or direct Ph.D., have to clear a written exam followed by an interview at the institute.
Coursework:
- A regular Ph.D. scholar has to complete four courses, while a direct Ph.D. candidate has to complete eight courses.
- If you are interested in a dual degree (i.e., MS by research and Ph.D.), you will need to complete two extra courses.
Comprehensive Exam:
- After completing the coursework (usually taking two semesters), every candidate has to undergo a comprehensive exam consisting of a written test and an interview.
- You will have two chances to clear the comprehensive exam.
- If you fail to clear the comprehensive exam, you can still obtain an MS degree and get placed or join the Ph.D. program later.
- The amount and quality of research work by both kinds of Ph.D. candidates are the same.
Financial Assistance:
- A regular Ph.D. candidate is eligible for financial assistance once to attend any international conference outside India.
- A direct Ph.D. candidate is eligible for financial assistance twice to attend an international conference outside India.
- Both regular and direct Ph.D. candidates can attend any national/international conference within India once every semester with full financial assistance.
Stipend:
- The stipend for regular Ph.D. candidates is up to five years.
- The stipend for direct Ph.D. candidates is up to six years.
Pre-Post Doc Fellowship:
- If you submit your degree within 4.5 years for a regular Ph.D. or 5 years for a direct Ph.D., you are eligible for a pre-postdoc fellowship.
What are some of the problems at IIT Madras?
One of my friends is a student at IIT Madras and according to him, there are some problems that create a lot of difficulties for them. These include -
- All the students are required to maintain an attendance of a minimum of 85% which can be very difficult. IIT Madras focuses more on attendance rather than imparting knowledge to the students. If you are not able to maintain this percentage, then you won't be allowed to sit for the exam.
- Another major problem is the monkeys which creates a lot of problems. They enter the rooms and create a lot of mess.
- If you are a non-tamilian, then you might need to face a lot of problems while communicating both inside and outside of the campus.
- If you are using Auto for your transportation, then it will be very difficult to talk with the drivers, but it will be much easier if you travel through Ola and Uber.
Hence, these are some of the problems which the students might need to face during their graduation days at IIT Madras.
How do I prepare for an MS interview at IIT Madras?
The first round comprises a written test where you will be evaluated on your second and third-year Subject knowledge. The test has both problem-solving as well as memory-based questions. The competition is tough but the preparation is just like GATE.
The interview is usually conducted by the entire faculty pool of your department. They ask questions related to the topic of your choice. Answer the questions confidently and ask for a pen or paper if required for illustrative purposes. Don’t do guesswork as this irritates most of the faculty.
Being a research-oriented program, an MS interview necessarily evaluated your basic knowledge rather than memory-based knowledge. They might additionally question you about your Bachelor's project or any internship you did in the past. They might demand answers to certain questions like
- Why MS?
- Why a low GATE score?
- Why IITM?
- Why department (whichever department you chose)?
- Why that particular field of research?
- What are your goals?
Don’t panic while answering these and show them your research talent so that any shortcomings can be overlooked.
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