Study Abroad: IIT Madras BS Data Science Graduates land into these Foreign Universities

Study Abroad Pathways

2,313 students of IIT Madras BS Data Science programme opted for PG programmes within and outside India. Among those, 684 students applied for admissions to foreign universities.

Abroad vs India Admissions (Overall)

The data shows 684 students (about 29.6%) of IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme went to foreign universities, while 1,629 students applied for admissions to Indian institutions for PG programs, making up about 70.4%. This shows how the programme not only strengthens India’s academic ecosystem but also opens up learning pathways across the world.

Level-wise Admissions

What the data says:

• At the Foundation level, 673 students applied for admission to higher education, with 138 in foreign universities and 535 in Indian universities.
• At the Diploma level, the number rose to 1,463 in total, including 453 admissions to foreign universities and 1,010 in Indian universities.
• At the Degree level, there were 117 admissions overall, with 93 admissions outside India and 84 within India.

Note: Almost 29.6% of all admissions for higher education were in foreign universities. This demonstrates the education opportunities across the world after completing the IIT Madras BS Data Science and Applications programme.

Higher Education Admission Insights – India and Abroad

Let us separately break down the admissions for higher education within and outside India.

Abroad Admissions For PG

In May 2024, 16 foundation level students applied for admissions to foreign universities for PG, followed by 83 diploma students, and 18 degree level students, making a total of 117 applicants. In September 2024, there were 14 foundation level students who applied for admission to foreign universities, followed by 67 diploma students, and 15 degree level students, bringing the total to 91 foreign admissions for PG.

By January 2025, the number had increased sharply, with 108 foundation level students, 303 diploma students, and 60 degree level students applied for admissions to foreign universities for higher education.

India Admissions For PG (IITs /IIMs/ IISERs)

The data shows 442 students applied for PG in IITs, IIMs, and IISERs, with 110 students from foundation level, 292 from diploma level, and 40 degree level students.

India Admissions For PG (Other Universities)

This means 1,187 students from across all levels applied for PG in Indian universities other than IITs, IIMs, and IISERs. 425 students from foundation level, 718 from diploma level, and 44 degree level students applied for PG admissions.

Where BS Data Science Graduates Land For Higher Studies?

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme has created higher education opportunities globally. The Batch of 2024 (defined as the group of students who completed a BSc degree in the BS in Data Science and Applications programme in 2023 and were tracked by December 2024) reveals the diverse postgraduate pathways taken by graduates across India and abroad.

Higher Studies Abroad

A select group of IIT Madras Data Science graduates secured postgraduate opportunities at universities abroad. From the United States to Europe and Australia, they are pursuing higher studies in diverse academic environments.

Institutions such as the Georgia Institute of Technology, Stony Brook University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Southern California in the U.S. are the top destinations of BS Data Science graduates. In Europe, graduates took PG admissions to HEC Paris in France and Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Germany. Furthermore, one student joined the University of Sydney in Australia.

Since 8 students from the batch have chosen to continue their academic journey abroad, this highlights the international recognition and credibility of the IIT Madras Data Science and Applications programme.

Higher Studies in India

Apart from international admissions, several graduates of the IIT Madras BS Data Science programme have chosen to pursue higher studies in India. 8 students took admissions for PG to institutions such as CMI, IISc Bangalore, and IITs across Hyderabad, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, and Indore.

One student each joined NIELIT, OP Jindal Global University, Shiv Nadar University in Chennai, and XLRI Jamshedpur. In total, 12 graduates are advancing their studies within India, reflecting the programme’s strong academic foundation and versatility.

Research Opportunities After IIT Madras BS Data Science Programme

The IIM Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme has not only paved the way for employment and higher education but also opened rooms for research opportunities.

Research Opportunities:

• The programme has enabled graduates for cutting-edge research and postgraduate studies abroad. One student who went on to pursue an MS in Computer Science at Stony Brook University now doing research on CT image synthesis using diffusion models for breast cancer detection.
• Another student benefited from the programme, as it helped her in securing a research internship at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in 2023. Further, she was selected for a six-month internship at Mamaearth in 2024.
• The programme has also helped many students get research opportunities, such as Pre Doctoral Research Fellow for Computational Systems Biology Lab; research in the Neuro-AI domain; Mitacs Globlink Research internship in Canada; Post Bacc Research Fellowship at RBCDSAI.

The Bottom Line

The IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications programme has become a launchpad to enter foreign universities for higher education. Between May 2024 and January 2025, 684 students applied for PG in foreign universities, while over 1,600 students applied to Indian universities.

From top U.S. and European universities to IITs, IIMs and IISc, the number of PG admissions show how the IIT Madras BS Data Science programme is opening doors that were once implausible for students outside traditional engineering pathways.