Terms of Service - IIT Madras Degree Program

Applications Open now for January 2025 Batch | Applications Close: January 02, 2025 | Exam: February 23, 2025

Effective Date: 15/06/2020

Welcome to IIT Madras Online Degree Programme.

Please read these Terms of Service ("TOS") and Honor Code prior to registering for an account on http://onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in/ or using any portion of the online degree website or mobile applications (collectively, the "IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site," which consists of all content and pages located within the onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in web domain and all IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE mobile applications), including accessing any course material, chat rooms, or other electronic services.

These TOS and the Honor Code are agreements (the "Agreements") between you and IIT Madras. By using the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, you accept and agree to be legally bound by the Agreements, whether or not you are a registered user.

Please also read the Privacy Policy for the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site before you use any portion of this Site. The Privacy Policy describes how your personal data is collected and processed when you use this Site. If you do not understand or do not wish to be bound by the terms of the Agreements or Privacy Policy, you should not use the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site.

IIT Madras reserves the right to modify these TOS at any time without advance notice. Any changes to these TOS will be effective immediately upon posting on this page, with an updated effective date. By accessing the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site after any changes have been made, you signify your agreement on a prospective basis to the modified TOS and all of the changes. Be sure to return to this page periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version of these TOS.

Any version of these TOS in a language other than English is provided for convenience and you understand and agree that the English language version will control if there is any conflict.

Rules for Online Conduct

You agree that you are responsible for your own use of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site and for your User Postings. “User Postings” means all content submitted, posted, published, or distributed on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site by you or other users of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, including but not limited to all forum posts, wiki edits, notes, questions, comments, videos, and file uploads. You agree that you will use the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site in compliance with these Agreements, and all applicable local, state, national and international laws, rules and regulations, including copyright laws, any laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from your country of residence, and applicable laws.

As a condition of your use of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, you will not use the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site in any manner intended to damage, disable, overburden, or impair any IIT Madras server or the network(s) connected to any IIT Madras server or to interfere with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site. You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, other accounts, computer systems, or networks connected to any IIT Madras server through hacking, password mining, or any other means. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information stored on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, its servers, or associated computers through any means not intentionally made available through the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site. If you are a registered user, you will not share your password or let anyone else access or compromise your account.

Furthermore, you agree not to scrape, or otherwise download in bulk, any IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site content, including but not limited to a list or directory of users on the system, User Postings or user information, online textbooks, course materials, or trademarks and logos. You agree not to misrepresent or attempt to misrepresent your identity while using the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site (although you are welcome and encouraged to use an anonymous username in the forums and to act in a manner that keeps your identity concealed).

Strictly Prohibited Items

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED ON THE IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site:

Content that defames, harasses or threatens others;
Content that discusses illegal activities with the intent to commit them;
Content that infringes another’s intellectual property, including, but not limited to, copyrights or trademarks;
Profane, pornographic, obscene, indecent or unlawful content;
Advertising or any form of commercial solicitation;
Content related to partisan political activities;
Viruses, trojan horses, worms, time bombs, corrupted files, malware, spyware, or any other similar software that may damage the operation of another’s computer or property; and
Content that contains intentionally inaccurate information or that is posted with the intent of misleading others (this list, collectively, “Strictly Prohibited Items”).

You may not submit, post, publish, share, or otherwise distribute any of the above Strictly Prohibited Items on or via the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site.

User Accounts

In order to create a user account, you must provide your full name, and an email address. You agree that you will never divulge or share access or access information for your user account with any third party for any reason. In accessing specific courses inside the portal, you may be prompted to enter additional optional information (e.g., your age group, your current role, etc.). You represent that all information provided by you is accurate and current. You agree to maintain and update your information to keep it accurate and current.

You also understand and agree that your profile details will be shared with the IIT Madras Online Degree Programme course instructors.

Apart from the information provided online you may be required to provide in application forms or as required from time to time hard copies of certificates, identity cards or any other details as deemed necessary. You may also be required to produce the originals at any point for verification during the programme. You agree to provide all such information in an accurate and true manner.

We care about the confidentiality and security of your personal information. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about the collection and use of data on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site.

Entry Criteria

IIT Madras may have qualifier exams and other entry criteria at its sole discretion. IIT Madras Online Degree Programme’s criteria for Eligibility to Apply will be as stated in our website.

IIT Madras may require the candidates to produce relevant certificates as proof of eligibility, at any point of time during the tenure of the candidate’s participation in the programme. If it is found at any time that the information provided is false or certificates as requested have not been provided, IITM at its sole discretion may terminate the candidate from the programme or restrict the candidate from accessing the material or providing the examination or may not issue the certificate for the programme. Candidates are hereby understanding, agreeing and acknowledging this. The rules and regulations relating to the programme will also be posted at the website at onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in. If there is any forgery or misrepresentation, IIT Madras may take independent action.

Your Right to use Content on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site

Unless indicated as being in the public domain, the content on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site is protected by Indian and foreign copyright laws. Unless otherwise expressly stated on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, the texts, exams, videos, images, and other instructional materials provided with the courses and programs offered on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site are for your personal use in connection with those courses and programs only. Certain reference documents, digital textbooks, articles, and other information on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site are used with the permission of third parties, and use of that information is subject to certain rules and conditions, which will be posted along with the information. By using the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, you agree to abide by all such rules and conditions. You agree to retain all copyright and other notices on any content you obtain from the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site. All rights in the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site and its content, if not expressly granted, are reserved.

Use for Personalization and Pedagogical Improvements

Our goal is to provide current and future visitors to the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site with the best possible educational experience. To further this goal, we sometimes present different users with different versions of course materials and software. We do this to personalize the experience to the individual learner (to assess the learner’s level of ability and learning style, and present materials best suited to the learner), to improve our understanding of the learning process, and to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our course materials, payment models, platform features, and offerings. We may publish or otherwise publicize results from this process, but, unless otherwise permitted under the Privacy Policy, those publications or public disclosures will not include your personal information.

User Postings

User Postings Representations and Warranties

By submitting or distributing your User Postings, you affirm, represent, and warrant (1) that you have the necessary rights, licenses, consents, and/or permissions to reproduce and publish the User Postings and to authorize IIT Madras and its users to reproduce, modify, publish, and otherwise use and distribute your User Postings in a manner consistent with the licenses granted by you below, and (2) that neither your submission of your User Postings nor the exercise of the licenses granted below will infringe or violate the rights of any third party. You, and not IIT Madras, are solely responsible for your User Postings and the consequences of posting or publishing them.

License Grant to IIT Madras

By submitting or distributing your User Postings, you hereby grant to IIT Madras (as described below) a worldwide, non-exclusive, transferable, assignable, sub licensable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to host, transfer, display, perform, reproduce, modify, distribute, redistribute, relicense, and otherwise use, make available, and exploit your User Postings, in whole or in part, in any form and in any media formats and through any media channels (now known or hereafter developed)

Certificates / Degrees and Other Products & Services

General

From time to time, IIT Madras Online Degree Programme may offer services and products for a fee (for example, course certificates, degree) based on the eligibility criteria that IITM may determine from time to time. For anything that you choose to purchase on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, you agree to pay all applicable fees when due. As described in the Privacy Policy, the processing of your payment information is done by a third-party payment vendor, and you will be routed to a secure payment flow controlled by that vendor to complete the payment transaction. Once your payment transaction is completed, confirmation will be displayed on an IIT Madras Online Degree page, and you will receive a confirmation email with your name, order number, and the payment amount. Please retain this email for your records as this information will be required if you seek a refund from IIT Madras.

Certificates

IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site may offer Verified Certificates of Achievement for courses (a “Certificate”) or certificates for programs (for example, a Foundational Level or Diploma Level certificate or a Degree Certificate) for learners who, in IIT Madras’s judgment, have satisfactorily demonstrated mastery of the course or programme material. Certificates will be issued by IIT Madras Online Degree Programme and the decision whether a certificate will be awarded to a given learner will be solely within the discretion of IIT Madras.

Subject to the foregoing, you will be required to pay a fee and complete the ID verification process for Verified Certificates.

In order to authenticate your identity for a Verified Certificate, you may be prompted to take a photo of yourself, as well as a photo of an acceptable form of photo ID, and upload your digital signature. Although these items are collected by IIT Madras in accordance with these TOS and the Privacy Policy, you should be aware that the actual authentication of your identity is performed by an IIT Madras third-party service provider and this information will be used only for the purpose of verifying your identity. Acceptable forms of photo ID’s are:

Government or State-issued driver’s license
Passport
National ID card
State or Province ID card (including cards issued by motor vehicle agencies)

In order to be accepted by IIT Madras, your photo ID must:

Contain your full name exactly (excluding hyphens, accents, and spaces);
Contain a relatively current photograph of yourself;
Be an original document; photocopied documents cannot be accepted; and
Be current and valid; expired documents cannot be accepted.

If you do not possess a photo ID meeting the criteria described above, IIT Madras will be unable to provide you with a Verified Certificate.

No Other Enrollment

Solely as a result of enrolling in or completing a course or program provided by IIT Madras you will not be entitled to use any of the resources beyond the online courses or programs provided on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site and will not be eligible to receive student privileges or benefits provided to students enrolled in other degree or other credit- or credential-bearing programs of the IIT Madras.

Trademarks

Use of IIT Madras, IIT Names, Trademarks, and Service Marks

The “IIT Madras,” “IIT” names, logos and seals are trademarks (“Trademarks”) of the respective entities. Likewise, the names, logos, and seals are Trademarks owned by IIT Madras. You may not use any of these Trademarks, or any variations thereof, without the owner’s prior written consent. You may not use any of these Trademarks, or any variations thereof, for promotional purposes, or in any way that deliberately or inadvertently claims, suggests or, in the owner’s sole judgment, gives the appearance or impression of a relationship with or endorsement by the owner.

All Trademarks not owned by IIT Madras that appear on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site or on or through the services made available on or through the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, if any, are the property of their respective owners.

Nothing contained on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any Trademark displayed on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site without the written permission of the owner of the applicable Trademark.

Copyright owners who believe their material has been infringed on the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site should contact IIT Madras’s designated copyright agent at support@onlinedgree.iitm.ac.in or at --Address of Copyright Agent-- Attention: IIT Madras DMCA Agent/General Counsel.

Communication must include:

Identification of the copyrighted work, or, in the case of multiple works at the same location, a representative list of such works at that site.
Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity. You must include sufficient information for us to locate the material (e.g., URL, IP address, computer name).
Information for us to be able to contact the complaining party (e.g., email address, phone number).
A statement that the complaining party believes that the use of the material has not been authorized by the copyright owner or an authorized agent.
A statement that the information in the notification is accurate and that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

Disclaimers of Warranty / Limitations of Liabilities

THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE AND ANY INFORMATION, CONTENT OR SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND (EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, EXCEPT IN SO FAR AS ANY SUCH IMPLIED WARRANTIES MAY NOT BE DISCLAIMED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. IIT MADRAS DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE WILL OPERATE IN AN UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE MANNER, THAT THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT THE COURSES OR CONTENT PROVIDED WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS. IIT MADRAS ALSO MAKES NO WARRANTY ABOUT THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, OR QUALITY OF THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE OR ANY COURSES OR CONTENT, OR THAT ANY PARTICULAR COURSES OR CONTENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE. USE OF THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE, AND THE CONTENT AND SERVICES OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE, IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOUR ACCESS TO OR DOWNLOAD OF INFORMATION, MATERIALS, OR DATA THROUGH THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE OR ANY REFERENCE SITES IS AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK, AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY (INCLUDING YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM) OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OR USE OF SUCH MATERIAL OR DATA, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE PRIVACY POLICY. IIT Madras does it its best to ensure that all information on the Website is accurate. If you find any inaccuracies on the website, please let IIT Madras know by sending an email to support@onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in and we will take steps to look into the matter and correct, where we agree, as soon as practicable.

Third-Party Services; Links to Other Websites

The IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site and individual courses may be integrated with third-party services or include hyperlinks to websites maintained or controlled by third parties. IIT Madras and the IIT Madras Participants are not responsible for and do not routinely screen, approve, review or endorse the contents of or use of any of the products or services that may be offered by such third parties. If you decide to access any third-party services or linked third-party websites, you do so at your own risk.

Non-Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AGREE THAT NEITHER IIT MADRAS NOR ANY OF THE IIT MADRAS PARTICIPANTS WILL BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES, EITHER ACTUAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, OR YOUR (OR ANY THIRD PARTY’S) USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE, OR YOUR PLACEMENT OF CONTENT ON THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE Site, OR YOUR RELIANCE UPON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE IIT MADRAS ONLINE DEGREE SITE, WHETHER YOUR CLAIM IS BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STATUTORY OR OTHER LAW. IN PARTICULAR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER IIT MADRAS NOR ANY OF THE IIT MADRAS PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR UNFORESEEABLE AND WHETHER OR NOT IIT MADRAS OR ANY OF THE IIT MADRAS PARTICIPANTS HAS BEEN NEGLIGENT OR OTHERWISE AT FAULT (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION, ERRORS, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, OR INTERRUPTION IN AVAILABILITY OF DATA).

CERTAIN LAWS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY TO YOU, SOME OR ALL OF THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS, EXCLUSIONS, OR LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, hold harmless, and indemnify IIT Madras and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, faculty, students, fellows, governing board members, agents and employees from and against any third-party claims, actions, or demands arising out of, resulting from or in any way related to your use of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, including any liability or expense arising from any and all claims, losses, damages (actual and consequential), suits, judgments, litigation costs, and attorneys’ fees, of every kind and nature. In such a case, IIT Madras or the applicable IIT Madras Participant will provide you with written notice of such claim, suit, or action.

Additional Terms

Termination Rights; Discontinuation of Courses and Content.

You agree that IIT Madras, in its sole discretion, may terminate your use of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site or your participation in it, for any reason or no reason, upon notice to you. It is IIT Madras’s policy to terminate in appropriate circumstances the accounts of users of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site who are repeat copyright infringers. IIT Madras and the IIT Madras Participants reserve the right at any time in their sole discretion to cancel, delay, reschedule or alter the format of any course offered through IIT Madras, or to cease providing any part or all of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site content or related services, and you agree that neither IIT Madras nor any of the IIT Madras Participants will have any liability to you for such an action. If you no longer desire to participate in the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, you may terminate your participation at any time. The rights granted to you hereunder will terminate upon any termination of your right to use the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, but the other provisions of the Agreements will survive any such termination.

Entire Agreement

The Agreements constitute the entire agreement between you and IIT Madras with respect to your use of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site, superseding any prior agreements between you and IIT Madras regarding your use of the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site.

Waiver and Severability

The failure of IIT Madras to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Agreements shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the Agreements is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision and the other provisions of the Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.

Choice of Law/Forum Selection

You agree that the Agreements and any claim or dispute arising out of or relating to the Agreements or any content or service obtained from or through the IIT Madras ONLINE DEGREE Site will be governed by the laws of the Union of India, excluding its conflicts of law provisions. You agree that all such claims and disputes will be heard and resolved exclusively in the state high court located in and serving Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts over you for this purpose, and you waive and agree not to assert any objection to such proceedings in those courts (including any defense or objection of lack of proper jurisdiction or venue or inconvenience of forum).