IIT Madras Zanzibar Admissions, Courses, Eligibility, Fees, Placement
Keen to study at the new IIT campus in Zanzibar? This article provides complete information about the IITM Zanzibar campus in Tanzania, set up through a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITM), India. Details of the current undergraduate and postgraduate programs, course fees, the entrance test for admission, and the application procedure have been provided.
Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITM) has opened the doors to the first ever IIT campus abroad in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Earlier this month admissions, including for Indian students, had been ongoing for the first batch of students whose academic year will begin in October this year. The Office of Global Engagement of IITM conducted the admission process, which included a screening test of about two hours that was developed by faculty experts at IIT Madras, followed by an interview. In case you missed out on admissions this year, you can definitely apply next year!
Overview of IITM Zanzibar
IITM Zanzibar is headed by Preeti Aghalayam, Dean of the School of Science & Engineering, IIT Madras. The institute's first department is the School of Engineering and Science which offers two programs - the 4-year UG program of the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and the 2-year PG program of the Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Students will learn from faculty who are on deputation from IITM and, later, local faculty members are going to be recruited as well. The curriculum of both programs has been developed keeping in mind current industry relevance, and there will be both theoretical and practical learning modules.
IITM Zanzibar has entered into collaboration with four globally reputed international educational institutions for exciting academic experiences through study abroad programs, staff exchange, research opportunities, etc. The four are-
The African School of Economics
Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM)
Deakin University, Australia
University of Birmingham, UK
Learn about the Joint Master's Program in Data Science and AI offered by IIT Madras and University of Birmingham
It is interesting to know that not only are meritorious students eligible for scholarships, with a possibility of a tuition fee waiver of up to 80%, but also that IITM Zanzibar has an award system that rewards the top five performers in the 2023 screening test with cash rewards. Secondly, a wonderful gesture from the alumni of IITM is to fund 50% of the tuition fees for the first year of the first batch of deserving students (up to 8 students can bag this Alumni sponsorship award). These students will get the opportunity to interact with the sponsoring alumni online for mentorship.IITM Zanzibar Campus
The IITM Zanzibar campus is currently under construction. Spread over 200 acres, the upcoming campus will have classrooms, separate labs for science subjects and computer labs, a library, an auditorium, a seminar hall, hostel rooms, a dining hall, innovation centres, research facilities, sports facilities, etc. As of now, students of IITM Zanzibar will be studying at a temporary campus in Bweleo District, Zanzibar which has the requisite infrastructure and facilities, including classrooms, auditoriums, dorms for students, and administrative offices.IIT Madras Zanzibar Programs As stated earlier, currently IITM Zanzibar is offering one undergraduate program and one postgraduate program. Let's get a glimpse into the program curriculum, and know the program fee and eligibility criteria for each-
BS in Data Science & AI program
The Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence program is a 4-year program with 50 seats. Total Credits of the program is 433.
What you will learn: The curriculum combines the concepts of foundational science and mathematics with specialised subjects from the field of Data Science & AI (DSAI). You will gain expertise in analyzing data, language processing, machine learning, and the like, and will be encouraged to nurture and develop the entrepreneurial spirit. You will be required to take up a summer internship between the sixth and seventh semesters, work on projects, and take up Electives in the last two semesters.
The career scope of BS in Data Science & AI is plentiful, with opportunities to work as a specialist in AI or Machine Learning Engineering fields, crunching data as a scientist, or even launching your very own start-up.
BS in DSAI Course Fee: USD 12000 p.a.BS in DSAI Eligibility criteria
Any of these academic qualifications are accepted-
M.Tech. in Data Science & AI program
The Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is a 2-year (four semesters) program with 20 seats. Total credits of the program is190.
What you will learn: You will be diving deep into Big Data analytics, Machine Learning, and other aspects of data analysis that will provide you with expertise in the techniques and methodologies towards successfully solving complex data-based issues.
Like the UG program, the career scope of M.Tech. in Data Science & AI is vast, whether it is as a Big Data analyst or a Business Intelligence analyst, an AI scientist, or an AI researcher.
M.Tech. in DSAI Course Fee: USD 4000 p.a.M.Tech. in DSAI Eligibility criteria
You should have either an Undergraduate Degree through a 4-year course with a specialization in Engineering or Technology or if you have obtained the Degree through a 3-year undergraduate course, then you should have a Master's Degree in Science.
Additional notes for both programs: Check the official website for fees towards hostel admission, meals, Wi-Fi facility, etc. As for IITM Zanzibar campus placements, that will possibly be on the cards for students who complete the courses here. IITM itself has an excellent Placement Cell, after all, and, as mentioned earlier, with excellent international collaborations, you are bound to sooner or later bag an employment opportunity. IITM Zanzibar Application procedure You need to first create an account at the official IITM Zanzibar website
Fill in the online application form with details of your academic background, work experience if any, curricular and co-curricular achievements if any, and any other information that is required, and upload the required documents. The online registration fee (for 2023 the registration fee was INR1500) is not refundable.
The online application will be rejected only if incomplete information is given or you do not fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria. The admissions team will regularly communicate with you throughout the admission process.
Admission process for both programs: Applicants are required to first appear for the online computer-based IITM Zanzibarscreening test (IITMZST) at a designated test center in various countries, and shortlisted candidates will subsequently be called for an interview by an expert faculty panel. The screening test will be similar to the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). The 2023 Test for the BS DSAI program had four sections- English and Comprehension, Analytical ability, Maths, and Chemistry & Physics, and the one for the M.Tech. DSAI program had two sections – Technical Aptitude, and General Aptitude.Contact information
IITM Zanzibar Campus Address (temporary): Bweleo, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Contact No.: (+91) 9043338564 (WhatsApp)
Email: iitm_zanzibar@ge.iitm.ac.in
Website: https://zanzibar.iitm.ac.in/
An ending note- Keep in mind that a career in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science is not restricted to science & tech sectors, but have got immense applications in healthcare, education, finance, online retail, etc. Then there's always the option to pursue an online course in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to enhance your knowledge and skills.
By the way, IIT Delhi will be setting up a campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and IIT Kharagpur will set up a campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Exciting, isn't it, to see global campuses of IITs abroad!