CHENNAI: After suspending branch change option for 2020-21 undergraduate students, IIT-Madras says only a small percent of students avail that option every year whereas a large number of students upgrade to interdisciplinary dual degree programmes in emerging areas, including data science, bio-medical engineering, computational engineering and robotics.

Students were allowed to upgrade their B Tech degree into dual degree in whatever areas they are interested. Students would generally prefer to join only in three branches — computer science, electrical and mechanical through branch change options.

“This year, nearly 200 students upgraded to specialisations which is a large number when compared with branch change students,” Kumar said.

IIT-Madras suspended the branch change option to students in view of Covid-19 pandemic. Usually, the option would be available for the students who score more than eight CGPA at the end of first semester. Citing that all IITs are giving that option for the students, aspirants and their parents urged the IIT Madras to reconsider its decision.

In a release, the IIT Madras said it offers one of the best academic curriculum in the world and the academic flexibility is unrivalled, even among IITs.

“In IIT-Madras, students have the freedom to choose nearly 50% of the courses that they will be studying, with only some restrictions. Out of the electives, students are free to choose about eight courses (called ‘free electives’) from any of the 16 departments of IIT-Madras as well as other approved institutions. The students can get 72 credits from pursuing courses as diverse as history of India, psychology and economics to artificial intelligence and machine learning,” the institute said.

If they finish four courses in a specific area during B Tech, they will get a minor in that area. For example, if a student chooses four courses in economics, IIT-Madras will confer a minor in economics to that student.

IIT-Madras students have the academic flexibility to pursue one entire semester in any foreign university that the institute has a memorandum of understanding.