IIT Delhi to Offer Cross-Branch MTech Pathways from 3rd Year

• Tech students can pursue MTech in any field from 3rd year.
• New UG and PG programs in Design, Chemistry, and Photonics.
• AI-integrated programming courses and industry-linked projects added.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi will implement increased flexibility throughout its academic departments as part of a complete curriculum update, an official stated on Tuesday. With the new framework, undergraduate students will have the opportunity to apply for an MTech degree in any offered programme at IIT-Delhi after their third year, irrespective of their BTech specialization.

Shouri Chatterjee, assistant dean (curriculum) said, “So essentially, a BTech student from a particular branch can opt for an MTech in a completely different branch at the end of their third year. This will allow a student to graduate with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years,” said

The revision encompasses undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs, and will be implemented starting in the academic year 2025–26.

“Each course in every programme was reviewed, revamped, and approved by the Senate, which is IIT-Delhi’s highest academic body. IIT-Delhi reviews its curriculum periodically, approximately every 10 years. The current process began in early 2022 and included extensive feedback from students, alumni, and industry experts,” Chatterjee said.

A significant advancement in the updated curriculum is the incorporation of AI-driven code generators into the introductory programming course.

Narayanan Kurur, dean of academics stated, “Students will be taught how to use AI responsibly to write better programmes for more complex problems in less time. This innovation will future-proof the graduates of the next decade across disciplines by nurturing them in the mode of programming that is taking over the world. This course will be mandatory for all UG students.”

Also Read: IIT Delhi Revamps Syllabus After 12 Years, Effective in 2025

Alongside these modifications, three new academic programs will be introduced starting from the next academic year. These programs comprise a BTech in Design, for which admission is based on the JEE (Advanced) and success in the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED); a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry, also contingent on JEE (Advanced); and a Master of Technology (MTech) in Photonics, necessitating qualification via the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).

An official from IIT stated that the updated undergraduate curriculum focuses on essential themes: adaptability, experiential learning, awareness of environmental and sustainability issues, creative expression, ethical reasoning, and alignment with new technological developments.

IIT-Delhi will maintain its policy that permits students admitted via JEE (Advanced) to change academic programs at the conclusion of their first year, depending on merit. “Some of the older IITs have done away with the system, but we will continue allowing that based on student feedback,” Chatterjee mentioned.

Further improvements encompass options to seek a minor degree or specialisation in conjunction with the main degree, the establishment of an honors programme as an addition to the BTech, and increased focus on experiential learning.

“All programmes will see a modest reduction in total credits, with a more focused core. Many branches are now offering a flexible core curriculum. Laboratory and tutorial components in most departmental courses allow students to engage with faculty in a deep and meaningful manner,” said Chatterjee.

At the postgraduate level, the curricula for MTech and MS (Research) will adopt an outcomes-focused framework, featuring enhanced industry collaboration and project-oriented learning. As stated by an official, two essential elements - a capstone project centered on teamwork in problem-solving, and a summer internship aimed at external involvement - are designed to enhance students' readiness for the industry