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IIT Madras has launched an online BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology. Open to Class 12 pass students without JEE, the course offers flexible learning and internship support.
IIT Madras launches online BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology, open to Class 12 pass students without JEE.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched a new undergraduate programme, BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology. The skill-based course will be offered in online mode and aims to train students in analysis and design related to aeronautics, space systems and allied sectors.
The programme was launched on campus on February 9 in the presence of IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, with Dr. D.K. Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Dr. V. Sumantran, former chairman of IndiGo, joining virtually.
The course has been introduced to address the growing demand for trained professionals in sectors such as unmanned aerial vehicles, civil aviation and space technology. IIT Madras said internship and placement support will be provided through its Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE).
The programme is open to anyone who has passed Class 12 or equivalent, including diploma holders. There is no cap on enrolment and students do not need to qualify IIT-JEE to apply. Learners can study at a flexible pace within defined timelines, making it suitable for working professionals and students pursuing another degree. Examinations will be held on Sundays, with both centre-based and online proctored assessments.
Announcing the launch, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Aeronautics and space technology are exponentially growing sectors that need specialised man power for employment. This BS program is yet another effort taken by IIT Madras to democratise opportunity to all to enter these sectors.”
Graduates are expected to find opportunities in public sector units, global aerospace companies, start-ups and engineering firms. Potential recruiters include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, GE Aerospace, Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Ansys and Siemens. The course will also prepare students for GATE and higher studies at IITs and IISc.
Course coordinator Prof. HSN Murthy from the Department of Aerospace Engineering said, “We are confident that this programme will fulfil the demand for good quality engineering graduates in aeronautics, space technology and energy sectors, who will propel India towards becoming a developed nation through their innovation.”
Prof. Sriram Rengarajan, another course coordinator, added, “These graduates will be well trained in critical skills which will enable our nation to develop indigenous technology for our internal consumption as well as for the export market, thereby driving economic growth.”
The programme will combine theory and practical learning. Core theory subjects will be taught through recorded lectures and supported by live tutorial sessions and online discussions. Laboratory courses conducted at the IIT Madras campus will provide exposure to facilities such as wind tunnels and mechanical testing.
Following the National Education Policy, the course offers multiple exit options at the foundation, diploma and BS degree levels. Diploma-level students will work on projects using tools like Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Method, along with internship opportunities through industry partnerships.
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At the BS level, students will complete a capstone project involving the design of an aircraft or spacecraft. Top performers at the diploma stage may be invited to transition to on-campus study, and high achievers may join MS programmes at IIT Madras without a GATE score, subject to prescribed criteria.
The institute said the programme is aligned with India’s plans to expand aircraft manufacturing and defence and space exports. Fee waivers of up to 75 per cent will be available for eligible low-income students.
February 09, 2026, 15:10 IST
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