Indian Institute of Technology - online BSc Degree in Programming and Data Science

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by nyvrem, Aug 22, 2020.

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  1. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

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  2. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Good find. There are many IITs, e.g., IIT Madras, which this post is about, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and others. IIT Madras is no doubt a prestigious university in India.
     
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    They're obviously expecting massive enrolment. From the site: "Applications Close - 2.5 lakh applications or 15th September 2020."
    2.5 lakh = 250,000 apps!
     
  4. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    It seems this program is only for people living in India though.

    "Can learn from anywhere. Note that the exam centres are currently restricted to India."
     
  5. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    I was a TA for a professor who went to one of the IITs for undergrad. I felt like none of the other professors was as proud of their undergrad as this guy. At least some of them have what is among the most insanely competitive admissions anywhere in the world. It's surreal that one of these institutions would have a massive online program like this. It's like if Harvard opened up an undergraduate degree (regular, non-Extension) via Coursera.
     
  6. msganti

    msganti Active Member

    This is really great news. IITs in India have similar brand value (in India) like MIT or Harvard in the USA.
    I wish they are available to those outside India.
     
  7. Smartcard

    Smartcard Member

    I hope if the student can travel to India for the exam they should be able to accept. I sent a message to them asking the same?
     
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  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I guess it would help if you could take a trip, write a year's worth of exams and come back the following year. 3-4 trips might be OK, but if you have to go back and forth more than that - e.g. on a semester basis, it could get really expensive - and wear a person down. Keep taking trips like that and one might not be in the best of mental shape for exams, a day or two following the flight. Me? I wouldn't even consider ONE trip until COVID-19 has gone completely - if it ever does. India has had a real problem with this. Related in part to dense population, likely - well over 1 billion.
     
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  9. Smartcard

    Smartcard Member

    Yes, you're correct. There are exams in every end of the terms, and there are 3 terms in a year, so it is not safe and even economical to travel 3 times are year for 3 years to India for the exams.
     
  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Even in normal times, it's rough going there from North America. I was just listening to my favourite jazz station and coincidentally, the program host described his one-and-only plane trip to India, from here in "mid-town Canada." 7 hours to Paris and a layover. Back on a plane and 11 more hours to India. Fortunately, he wasn't going there to write exams...
     
  11. msganti

    msganti Active Member

    Yes it takes about 18 hours of flying from USA (not including layovers). And it costs about ~USD1,200 two-way in normal situations.
     
  12. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Interesting. The D.C. area has a nonstop flight to New Delhi that's about 14 hours long, It's a bit less than $700 one way, COVID restrictions make it tough to get a round trip price, but even that is a tough ask three times a year though just to sit exams!
     
  13. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    These programs are designed to produce skilled Indians - not for the convenience or money-saving of those in the West. We have perfectly good schools of our own, although, of course, they cost what they cost. It's futile to contemplate numerous flights to and from a school on the other side of the world. A South African or UK doctorate with a couple of trips? OK. There could still be a huge savings there.

    These Indian IIT programs will enable many people to enter the fast-growing middle class in India, that is well over 200-million strong, nowadays. They won't need to take ANY flights to enter that economic class. And if they want more - their skills will enable them, if they wish, to take ONE plane ride - here. Many will do exactly that and have a good chance of earning darn good money for the rest of their lives...who wants a four-year-old Maruti, when they have a chance to get a brand-new Buick?
     
  14. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    imo, it's a new program from a top Uni in India, give it a bit, let them sort themselves out on the administration process. Maybe they might let people living outside of India do the program and have their exams taken at a test center where they're located.
     
  15. Smartcard

    Smartcard Member

    Exam cities are listed here https://www.onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in/academics.html#AC9

    Even there is a form to fill if your city of choice is not on the current list.

    Interestingly the form has a question to mark outside of India too:
     
  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Maybe someday, perhaps, but for now... you can ask ... but ...
    "The Invigilated Quizzes and End Term exams are scheduled to be conducted in a limited number of cities across India. We currently do not have any exam cities outside of India."

    More joy! You get to appear for "Invigilated quizzes" between the exams. (How often? Weekly?) Those will put ALL foreigners on the 'no fly' list for sure!

    "Yes, We Have No Bananas!" Anyone here (besides me) old enough to remember that one? Indians themselves must trust to luck. You have to pick three cities - they give you one - their choice.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2020
  17. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    My definition of distance ed. includes distance exams and tests. Exceptions: limited-residency doctorates and some other limited-residency grad degrees. WE have the technology - so do many, many schools abroad. IIT's - schools of advanced technology - can have it too, if they so choose. Obviously, they don't.
     
  18. Smartcard

    Smartcard Member

    Agree
     

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