Whether you are in a job and willing to upgrade your
knowledge or you are a fresher from tier-1/tier-2 colleges willing to add more
to your CV, you might have heard about the online degree programs. It has been
recognized for a while in India; now some UG courses along with PG (masters)
courses are also run in online mode. Surprisingly, even IITs are offering such
courses. Here, I am digging deeper about the online M.Tech program offered by
IIT Madras. IIT Madras is among the top technical schools of India and started
online degree programs when they started offering the modular BS program in
Data Science. It is among the pioneering institutes in India offering online
programs. IIT Madras has travelled a long journey from managing NPTEL to
offering online degrees.
I will go through the following points.
- The
program
- Is
it completely online
- Fees
- Flexibility
- Who
should pursue this
- Final verdict
The IIT madras main gate (photo: Wikimedia Commons)
The program
IIT Madras calls this online M.Tech program the Web-Enabled
PG (M.Tech) programs. They are offering multiple programs from different
departments ranging from aerospace to chemical engineering. While going through
their website, I found that IITM is highly encouraging working professionals
for this program. A minimum of 2 years’ work experience is required for
pursuing the M.Tech. If you have less than 2 years’ experience, you can
get admission into the PG Diploma (PGD). For most of the programs company
support is required at the M.Tech stage. This is because the project work
has to be done in the industry where the applicant is working. So even if you
have 2 years’ work experience but are currently not employed, you can get
admission, but you must get the company support before the beginning of the
project. This program is flexible in a way, and gives you the option to exit
with a Post Graduate Diploma after completing the coursework. To enroll,
first you apply and then appear in an entrance exam. No GATE
requirement.
Since the launch of this program in 2020, till now it has
1350 enrolled students. It is becoming popular year by year as suggested by increased
enrollment.
Below are the program names (as listed by the institute):
- Aerospace
Engineering (M.Tech / PGD)
Covers the standard aerospace stack aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, flight mechanics—taught in a way that suits working engineers. - Aerospace
Engineering – Ammunition Technology (M.Tech / PGD)
Adds focused courses on interior, exterior and terminal ballistics and design of ammunition on top of core aerospace fundamentals. - Artificial
Intelligence (M.Tech / PGD)
A math-first treatment with programming practice, machine learning and deep learning, plus hands-on components that keep you close to real problems. - Computer
Science & Engineering – Information Security (M.Tech)
Emphasis on cryptography, secure coding, algorithms and systems with labs that make you implement and test concepts, not just read slides. - Electrical
Engineering – Integrated Circuits & Systems (M.Tech / PGD)
Analog and digital IC design fundamentals with room to touch RF, verification and CAD depending on your elective choices. - Electrical
Engineering – Communication & Signal Processing (M.Tech / PGD)
Signal processing and communication theory with the core topics you’d expect, useful if you sit in comms, radar, audio, or related roles. - Electrical
Engineering – Microelectronics (M.Tech / PGD)
Device modelling, VLSI technology, analog and digital design good for those who want a device-to-IC view rather than only one slice. - Electrical
Engineering – Multimedia (M.Tech / PGD)
Signal processing for images and multimedia with supporting theory. If your day job touches imaging or media pipelines, this is a fit. - Engineering
Design – E-Mobility (M.Tech / PGD)
Electric vehicle systems, machines, power electronics, batteries and charging. Designed for people already close to EV hardware or systems work. - Mechanical
Engineering – Mechanical Design (M.Tech / PGD)
Mechanics of solids, product design, vibrations, reliability and related tools that show up in day-to-day design and analysis work. - Mechanical
Engineering – Automotive Technology (M.Tech / PGD)
Thermal/IC engine focus, measurements, vehicle dynamics and simulation-driven topics that people in auto roles will recognize. - Process
Safety – PG Diploma
A diploma track centered on safety in process industries. Useful for engineers in chemical and allied sectors who want structured training in safety.
All these are taught in evening live classes
(recordings are provided), which is the main reason working professionals can
manage them with their jobs. The M.Tech track includes a project in your
company. For the PGD, employer support is generally not required; E-Mobility
is an exception where support is expected due to the way the lab/project is
structured.
Is it completely online
The answer is no. Coursework will be delivered in
online mode. But the lab experiments have to be performed in the lab.
This is well understood as this is an M.Tech program, not an M.Sc. or
MBA, etc. Also, the evaluation (exams) will be conducted at designated
centers or in controlled online mode, as notified. The project for the M.Tech
is to be executed in your company with proper approvals. So it is “web-enabled”
for teaching and interaction, but labs and exams are kept structured.
Fees
Fees of the M.Tech/PGD are program specific. Fees
vary from program to program. For the M.Tech, the total fees can range anywhere
between ₹8,50,000–₹10,00,000 (indicative range). Fees also depends upon
the total number of credits you took. Considering the resources and the quality
of the program, the fees are justified. It is also intended for working
professionals, and in many cases the institute expects the company to
sponsor the fees . For the PG Diploma, check the current term-wise fees on
the program page before you apply.
Flexibility
The course is flexible in a way that gives you the
option to exit the program with PGD. You can finish the coursework and
opt for exit. You can finish the PGD in about 1.5–2 years, whereas you
can finish the M.Tech in about 2.5–3 years. If you start with the PGD
(because you don’t yet meet the experience requirement), you can upgrade to
M.Tech later once you meet the work-experience criteria or as per the
academic route defined by IITM. Employer support for the M.Tech project is to
be arranged before the project starts, so if you plan to move from PGD
to M.Tech, talk to your manager/HR well in time. For E-Mobility, note
again that even at the PGD level the lab/project structure expects company
support.
Evening live class slots make it practical: people
can attend after work hours, and recordings are there to catch up when office
work spills over. Lab scheduling is announced in advance, so you can plan
leaves or travel if required.
Who should pursue this
As clearly mentioned, this program is specifically made for working
professionals. IITM is considering that you are already working in a
related industry and familiar with the basics. IITM also assumes that your
company has enough resources to complete your project work. So, in my opinion,
I recommend this to working professionals who are willing to upgrade
their knowledge without quitting their job. If you work in aerospace, auto, EV
systems, IC design, comm-DSP, information security, data/AI, process
industries, or a nearby area, these tracks map quite naturally to daily work.
Even though PGD programs are open for freshers, I do not
recommend this to freshers who think that IITM will help them to land a job.
The whole structure is built assuming participants are already working and do
not need placement services. Think of it as formalizing your skills and
signalling depth, not as a placement-driven route. If you are a fresher who
wants the content, you can still do the PGD for the learning and the
credential, and then upgrade later once you have relevant experience.
Because most participants will be working professionals,
it is also a good platform to collaborate and network. People bring live
problems from their teams and industries; the discussions in class and labs
become very practical. That peer group is often as valuable as the course
itself.
Also, since this program is coming from IIT Madras,
there is no doubt regarding the quality of its contents or curriculum. The
departments are running these with their own course lists and lab components.
The entrance exam keeps a basic bar in place. There is no GATE
requirement, which is helpful for people already in jobs who want to re-enter
structured learning without preparing for a national test.
A few simple checks to decide faster:
- If
you can secure employer support for a company-hosted project
(M.Tech), go for the M.Tech route.
- If
you don’t have two years’ experience yet, start with the PGD
and plan the upgrade path.
- If
your role is far from any of the listed areas and you cannot spare
time for labs/exams, this will be hard to justify.
- If you only want to add a name to your CV without doing labs or a project, this is not that kind of program.
Final verdict
If you are already working and can align your manager and HR
for the project stage, the IIT Madras web-enabled M.Tech is a solid way
to study further without quitting your job. Teaching is online in the evenings
with recordings, which is the main practical enabler. Labs and exams keep the
rigor. The PG Diploma exit is a sensible safety net: you can finish the
coursework, get the diploma, and come back for the M.Tech once your company
support and experience are in place.
For freshers, the honest advice is to treat the PGD as
learning and not as a placement route. Build your base, take projects that
show skill, and then move to the M.Tech when you’re inside the industry.
For people already in the industry especially in aerospace,
automotive, EV systems, IC/VLSI, comm-DSP, information security, AI/data, and
process safety-this is exactly the kind of structured upskilling that fits into
a normal workweek. The content is aligned with what industry actually expects,
and the project brings your coursework back into your company’s context.
Also, It seems very good platform for networking with people from different industries and can help people in long run.
You can know more about these programs at this link (https://code.iitm.ac.in/webmtech)
Please let me know in the comments, if you have any questions or you want me to further analyze any specific web enabled M.Tech program in details.
0 Comments