Overall Structure

The program comprises three levels and a learner has to successfully complete all three levels to get the BS Degree from IIT Madras.

There is flexibility to exit at any level. Depending on the courses completed and credits earned, the learner can receive a Foundation Certificate from IITM CODE (Centre for Outreach and Digital Education) or Diploma in Aeronautics from IIT Madras or BS Degree in Aeronautics and Space Technology from IIT Madras.

Courses and Credits in Each Level:

Foundation Level: 32 credits | 8 theory courses

Diploma level: 52 credits | 13 courses + 2 labs + 2 Projects

Degree Level: 58 credits | 9 core courses + 1 lab (37 credits core + lab) + 7 electives (21 credits electives)

Credits required to be earned to exit with:

Foundation Certificate in Aeronautics: 32 credits

Diploma in Aeronautics: 84 credits

BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology: 142 credits

Completion time for the BS degree: 4 - 8 years

Time period is based on the learner’s preferred pace and performance in assessments. Expected learner engagement will be approximately 10 hours/course/week.

Fees:

Pay only for courses you register in each term! Refer Fee Structure.

Online Courses & Assignments:

Duration of each course: 12 weeks – Each week comprises 2–3 hours of videos, practice questions, text transcripts, and graded assignments – everything made available online.

Quizzes and Exams:

In-person invigilated quizzes and exams for all courses. Additional assessments as per the grading pattern defined for each course.

Labs:

Students will have to travel to IIT Madras for some of the lab courses at the Diploma and Degree Level for hands-on experience.

Course Registrations

In each term, a learner may register for a maximum of four theory courses and corresponding lab courses depending on the time they can dedicate to the program. A student doing this program full time is recommended to take 4 courses per term while working professionals and students pursuing any other academic program can take 2 or 3 courses.

Assessments

✓ There are 3 types of assessments for each course:
- Weekly Assignments which are online
- Monthly in-person Quizzes
- in-person End Term Exam
✓ Students will have to travel to IIT Madras for some of the lab courses at the Diploma and Degree Level.
✓ In addition, assessments may include programming exams, mini projects, vivas, take home assignments, etc.

Exam Cities

✓ The Invigilated Quizzes and End Term exams are conducted in a number of cities spread across India.
✓ Exams are also conducted in centres in some countries such as UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Singapore and Sri Lanka if there are enough students in these places. Learners based out of other countries will be allowed to take up remote proctored exams. Additional Exam Fee will apply for all learners opting to write exams outside India.
✓ The map shows our current Exam Cities List. View List
✓ If you reside outside India and cannot find a centre in your city / country, Please write to ge@study.iitm.ac.in for assistance.

Fee Structure

Level	Fee per Credit	Number of Credits	Fees to be paid at each level (without any Fee Waiver)*	Total Fees per Level
Foundation	₹ 1500	8	₹ 12,000	₹ 60,000
Foundation	₹ 2000	24	₹ 48,000	₹ 60,000
Diploma	₹ 4000	48	₹ 1,92,000	₹ 2,04,000
Diploma	₹ 3000	4	₹ 12,000	₹ 2,04,000
BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology	₹ 6000	58	₹ 3,48,000	₹ 3,48,000
Total Fee for the Entire Program (without any Fee Waiver)*				₹ 6,12,000

*Fee waivers do not apply to students based outside of India.

Category of Student	Institution Fee Advance
SC or ST or PwD with >40% disability certificate	50%
EWS or OBC-NCL category with annual family income between 1-5 LPA	50%
SC or ST and PwD with >40% disability certificate	75%
SC or ST or PwD with >40% disability certificate or EWS or OBC-NCL category AND annual family income less than 1 LPA	75%

✓ For candidates who are outside India and studying in the program: For candidates writing exams overseas, there will be facilitation fee for exams in addition to the above. The fee will be revisited periodically and revised if necessary.
✓ The term family income for the purpose of availing fee waivers includes the income of the candidate, the income of his/her parents and spouse, also the income of his/her siblings and children below the age of 18 years.
Family income certificate is not required while applying for the Degree program, but will be required to avail fee waiver when joining the program. Download Family Income Certificate format
✓ OBC-NCL / EWS certificate, if applicable, need to be obtained in following format while applying:
Download OBC-NCL Certificate format
Download EWS Certificate format

Foundation Level

These courses have been chosen to ensure that the learner who passes these successfully is well prepared to proceed to the Diploma level courses.

Requirements for Registration

Learners who clear the Qualifier Exam are eligible for course registration.

Exemption for JEE-qualified: A learner who has qualified for JEE Advanced 2025 and 2026 need not appear for the qualifier exam and can directly register for courses in the foundation level of the BS in AE program.

Learners have the following two options when they successfully complete all 8 Foundation level courses:

Exit: The option to exit earlier with
- ●Foundation in Aeronautics.
Proceed to next level: The learner can join the Diploma Level.

8 Theory courses
32 credits

1 - 3 years
10 hrs/course/week

₹ 60,000*
*Refer Fee Structure

Courses

Foundation level comprises the following:

Course Name	Credits	Code	Prerequisites	Corequisites
English I	4	BSHS1101	None	None	›
Math for Electronics I	4	BSMA1101	None	None	›
Introduction to C Programming	4	BSCS1101	None	None	›
Electronic Systems Thinking and Circuits	4	BSEE1101	None	None	›
English II	4	BSHS1102	BSHS1101	None	›
Math for Electronics II	4	BSMA2101	BSMA1101	None	›
Introduction to Aerospace Systems	4	BSAS1000	None	None	›
Engineering Mechanics	4	BSAS1001	BSMA1101	None	›

Diploma in Aeronautics

Diploma in Aeronautics (52 credits): Includes courses that provide foundational knowledge in mechanics (both fluid and solid) and thermodynamics, along with essential core concepts and basic analytical tools used in aerospace engineering.

Learners have the following options based on the courses completed in this level:

Option 1: Learners who complete all the courses and labs in the foundation and diploma levels with an overall CGPA >=6.0 and a CGPA >=7.0 for the projects can choose to continue to the degree level of the program.
Option 2: Learners may choose to exit with the Diploma in Aeronautics from IIT Madras if their learning goal has been achieved.
Important: Learners who do not meet these CGPA requirements at the end of the Diploma level will not be allowed to continue to the degree level.

Upgrade to On-Campus: After Diploma, based on tests and interviews conducted, a selected number of students who applied will be offered the option of attending all degree level courses on campus at IIT Madras in person.

13 Theory courses
2 Laboratories
2 Projects
52 credits

Standard Duration
Typically 2 - 3 years

₹2,04,000
*Refer Fee Structure

Courses

Diploma level comprises the following:

Course Name	Credits	Code	Prerequisites
Thermodynamics for Aerospace Engineers	4	BSAS2000	Foundation	›
Fluid Mechanics	4	BSAS2001	Foundation	›
Basic Strength of Materials	4	BSAS2002	Foundation	›
Math for Aeronautical Engineering	4	BSMA2102	Foundation	›
Signals and Systems	4	BSEE2101	Foundation	›
Materials & Manufacture for Aeronautical Engineers	4	BSAS2003	Foundation	›
Solid Modeling of Aircraft & Spacecraft Systems	2	BSAS2011	Foundation	›
Machine Learning Foundations	4	BSCS2004	Foundation	›
Aerodynamics	4	BSAS3001	BSAS2001	›
Gas Dynamics	4	BSAS3002	BSAS2000, BSAS2001	›
Flight Dynamics I	4	BSAS3003	BSAS3001	›
Aerodynamics Lab	1	BSAS3011	BSAS3001	›
Flight Dynamics and Simulation Lab	1	BSAS3012	BSAS3003	›
Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)	2	BSAS3004	BSAS3001, BSAS3002	›
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)	2	BSAS3005	BSAS2002	›
Project 1: Aerodynamic Design of Aircraft and Spacecraft using CFD	2	BSAS3013	BSAS3004	›
Project 2: Design of Aircraft and Spacecraft Structures using FEA	2	BSAS3014	BSAS3005	›

BS Degree Level

Only those who finish the Diploma in Aeronautics (32+52 = 84 credits) and meet the required CGPA criteria can continue towards getting the BS degree in Aeronautics and Space Technology. There are two options to pursue the courses in the degree level:

In-person on IITM campus: Students who are eligible to enter the degree level can apply for the on-campus option. Based on tests and interviews conducted, a selected number of students who applied will be offered this option of attending all degree level courses on campus at IIT Madras in person. Hostel accommodation will not be provided and students have to make their own arrangements for stay.
Non-Campus mode: Students who cannot come to campus and continue their BS degree or those not selected for the on-campus option can continue in a hybrid mode.

Once the learner successfully completes 142 credits and the course requirements, they will be awarded a BS Degree in Aeronautics & Space Technology from IIT Madras.

9 core courses + 1 lab (37 credits)
7 electives (21 credits)

₹3,48,000
*Refer Fee Structure

Core Courses

These are the core courses in the degree level. It is mandatory for the learner to complete all core courses.

Course Name	Credits	Code	Prerequisites
Advanced Structural Mechanics	4	BSAS4001	Diploma	›
Aircraft and Spacecraft Dynamics	4	BSAS4002	Diploma	›
Gas Turbine Propulsion	4	BSAS4003	Diploma	›
Vibrations and Aero-Elasticity	4	BSAS4004	Diploma	›
Rocket Propulsion for Space Applications	4	BSAS4005	Diploma	›
Aircraft Structures	4	BSAS4006	Diploma	›
Structures Lab	1	BSAS4011	BSAS4001, BSAS4006	›
Aerospace Systems Control and Estimation	4	BSAS4007	BSAS4002	›
Managerial Economics	4	BSMS3033	Diploma	›
Design project: Design of MAVs and UAVs	4	BSAS4012	BSAS4002	›

Electives

For BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology, students need to earn a total of 21 credits from given baskets of department and non-department electives. 9 credits should be from department electives. At least 3 of 21 credits should be from Management or Humanities. The remaining 9 credits are open electives. One of the department electives and one non-department elective can be taken through NPTEL and the same will be credited towards the degree.

Course Name	Credits	Prerequisites
Management/ Humanities Elective	3	Foundation	›
Department Electives 1, 2 & 3	9	As per respective courses	›
Open Electives 1, 2 & 3	9	As per respective courses	›

Total non-CGPA credits that can be transferred

A maximum of 24 credits is permitted in this category, which includes courses taken in person at other institutes approved by the program, credits earned through NPTEL courses (open electives: up to maximum 8 credits out of which HS/MG can be maximum 4 credits)