From IITM BS to the World: Jobs, MS, and PhD Success Stories

Explore Real life success stories of IITM BS students.

Wed May 14, 2025

Introduction

If you’re wondering whether the IIT Madras BS in Data Science & Applications can actually change your life, you're not alone. Every year, thousands of students—from school kids to working professionals—ask the same thing.Well, here’s the good news: it’s already changing lives. From students landing jobs at top companies to getting into Ivy League universities and cracking competitive exams, the stories coming out of this program are nothing short of inspiring.Let’s walk through the success stories and outcomes that show the real power of this unique online-first IIT degree

1. Jobs & Promotions: Over 2,500 Students Placed So Far

The IITM BS program is doing more than teaching data science—it’s helping students launch real careers. According to official stats, 2,500+ students have already landed jobs or promotions, many of them coming from non-tech or non-traditional backgrounds.During the latest placement season:

222 companies participated
₹10 LPA average CTC
₹25 LPA highest on-campus offer
80+ LPA (off-campus reports from Adobe, IBM, etc.)
60% on-campus placement rate, increasing to 90% with off-campus

📌 Takeaway: Your background doesn’t define your future. Whether you’re a college dropout or a working professional, this degree can lead to solid job offers if you stay consistent and build your skills.

2. Career Pivots: Switching Domains Made Possible

Many students join this program with no tech background—some from biology, commerce, or even hotel management. The flexible design of the IITM BS degree allows you to learn while working or studying, making career switches smoother.🎯

Real Story:

Nandini Kushwah, once a hotel management student, dropped out due to personal challenges. She restarted her journey with IITM BS and is now working as a full-time Data Scientist at WonderBiz Technologies.Her secret? She focused on both theory and practicals. Projects, internships, and strong fundamentals made her job-ready.📌 Takeaway: If you want to pivot into tech or data science, this program gives you all the tools—just add consistency.

3. MS & PhD Dreams : 850+ Students got admits abroad

Another major win? Higher education abroad.More than 850 students from the program have received offers from top global universities like:

Harvard
Columbia
Carnegie Mellon
Georgia Tech
Aalto University (Finland)

🎓 Shreya Singhal’s Journey:
She studied biology in Class XII and couldn’t apply for JEE or traditional BTech. But through the IITM BS program, she:

Got research internships
Became a teaching assistant
Built a strong SOP

She’s now a Teaching Fellow at Harvard’s School of Engineering.📌 Takeaway: With the right projects and internships, this program can help you build a profile strong enough for Ivy League admits—even if you started from a completely different background.

4. Competitive Exam Success: Cracking GATE & More

IITM BS students have also aced national exams like GATE and even secured direct admissions into IIT postgraduate programs.🎯 Rohit Kumar, a BS student, secured an AIR 234 in GATE (Data Analytics) and was admitted to the MS in Data Science at IIT Madras.He credits the BS coursework for giving him:

A head-start in Python and ML
Exposure to real data science problems
Confidence to compete with BTech students

📌 Takeaway: If you’re aiming for MTech, MS, or PhD through GATE, the IITM BS program gives you both content and confidence to succeed.

5. Balancing Passions: Students Who Do More Than Study

One of the coolest parts? Many IITM BS students are managing multiple pursuits—sports, arts, entrepreneurship—while acing the curriculum.🎽 Renee Noronha, just 18, is the youngest Indian woman to complete an IRONMAN triathlon—all while studying in the Foundation Level of this program.

🎤 Aradhana Anand, a Harikatha performer, continues her traditional art while finishing her diploma and degree-level courses.📌 Takeaway: The online and flexible nature of the program allows you to balance academics with any other ambition you have—sports, music, startups, you name it.

6. Fast Graduations & Diverse Cohorts

The program has already had its first graduates:

177 total graduates
10 students finished the full 4-year BS in just 3 years
Others earned Diplomas or BSc degrees based on credit milestones

And the student base? It's as diverse as it gets:

36,000+ enrolled students
418 international students
26% female participation
53% are current college students, 13% are working professionals

📌 Takeaway: You’re part of a global and diverse learning community. Whether you’re in school or already working, there’s a place for you here.

Final Thoughts: Your Story Could Be Next

What sets the IITM BS program apart isn’t just the IIT tag or the curriculum—it’s the way it opens doors for anyone, anywhere, on their own terms. No JEE rank? No problem.
No need to relocate.
Just bring your curiosity—and show up consistently. Whether it's landing a job, cracking top-tier MS/PhD admits, diving into research, or building something of your own, students from this program are already making their mark. And this is just the beginning.

Placement stats ⚠️