IIT Madras Begins BS Data Science Qualifier Applications from January 1, Exam on March 15; Check Details Here

IIT Madras has announced the schedule for its BS in Data Science and Applications Qualifier cycle for the January 2026 batch, with applications set to begin on January 1 and close on January 31, 2026. The first Qualifier Exam is scheduled for March 15, 2026, giving applicants over two months to prepare. The institute has also released a detailed timeline for both the January and May batches, covering coursework, exams, reattempts, and result dates.

IIT Madras BS Data Science Qualifier for January & May 2026 Batches Schedule

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The IIT Madras BS Data Science program has open eligibility, allowing anyone who has passed Class 12 or even Class 11 students from any stream or board to apply. Learners are expected to have studied Mathematics and English in Class 10, and no other criteria are required for the Qualifier Process.

During the four-week preparation phase, students study English I, Mathematics for Data Science I, Statistics for Data Science I, and Computational Thinking, along with weekly assignments. To get the hall ticket for the in-person Qualifier Exam, learners must achieve the minimum assignment score in each course, 40% for General, 35% for OBC-NCL/EWS, and 30% for SC/ST/PwD.

The exam is four hours long and covers all four subjects, and to pass, candidates must meet both the minimum score in each course and the overall Average Qualifier Exam Score, which is 50% for General, 45% for OBC-NCL/EWS, and 40% for SC/ST/PwD.

Those who qualify can then register for up to four Foundation Level courses, depending on their average score in the Qualifier Exam.

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