Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has announced a suite of new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for the academic year 2025-26, aimed at equipping students with future-ready skills for careers in industry and academia.

Among the key introductions are a four-year BS in Chemistry and an MTech in Electric Vehicles, reflecting the institute's focus on cutting-edge, interdisciplinary education. Two new BTech programmes — in Computational Engineering and Mechanics (CEM) and Instrumentation and Biomedical Engineering (iBME) — have also been launched under the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering.

Admission to the BS (Chemistry) will be through the IISER Aptitude Test, while the MTech in Electric Vehicles will admit students via GATE. The two BTech programmes will be accessible through JEE.

These offerings are part of a broader push by IIT Madras to diversify student admissions and foster talent beyond conventional academic streams. The institute has also introduced unique admission avenues — 'Fine Arts and Culture Excellence' (FACE) and 'Sports Excellence Admission' (SEA) — with two seats per programme (one female-only and one gender-neutral) reserved under each.

“These new courses are aligned with industry trends and student aspirations,” said Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras.

The MTech in Electric Vehicles features a multidisciplinary curriculum combining hands-on lab work, internships, and industry-oriented training. Meanwhile, the BS (Chemistry) programme offers flexible learning with options for minor degrees and research collaborations.

Both new BTech courses are designed to nurture innovation in AI-driven engineering and healthcare, with students eligible to upgrade to dual degree programmes in emerging fields like Complex Systems and Dynamics.