In a significant move to bridge the gap between academia and industry, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has announced a major overhaul of its undergraduate academic structure. The revised framework will allow students enrolled in BTech, BS, and dual degree programs to dedicate an entire semester to internships, starting from the next academic year.
Core Changes to the Academic Framework
The cornerstone of the new policy is the liberation of the sixth semester. According to the revised curriculum, the sixth semester will be kept largely free from regular classroom instruction. Professor Prathap Haridoss, the Dean of Academic Courses at IIT Madras, explained that students will have only four elective courses in that semester. To accommodate this, learners will need to adjust their course load and complete compulsory credits in other semesters.
Complementing this flexibility, the institute has also taken a step to reduce academic pressure. The minimum credit requirement per semester has been slashed from 66 credits to 50 credits. This reduction is designed to give students more breathing room to focus on quality learning and experiential opportunities.
Unlocking Global and Extended Internship Opportunities
This structural shift is poised to solve a long-standing challenge for students seeking international experience. Professor Haridoss pointed out that students previously found it difficult to pursue international internships during the short summer break, as it often clashed with academic schedules. The new system, with its semester-long duration, provides the flexibility needed for such global engagements.
Students from the 2024 batch will be the first to exercise this option in their sixth semester, which falls in December 2026. Beyond traditional internships, the semester can be utilized for industry projects, research work, and other approved professional engagements. The institute envisions that by allowing internships to run for several months, students will gain a much deeper and more meaningful understanding of real-world work environments.
Expected Impact on Careers and Industry Ties
The benefits of this initiative are multifaceted. Professor Haridoss emphasized that long-duration internships give students a comprehensive idea about workplace culture and company operations. This immersive experience is expected to directly enhance graduate preparedness and significantly increase the number of pre-placement offers (PPOs) extended to IIT Madras students.
Furthermore, the policy aims to strengthen the collaboration between academia and industry by creating a more seamless pipeline for talent and practical problem-solving. With the addition of winter and summer breaks, a student can potentially utilize up to eight months for an extended internship, making them highly attractive to future employers. However, students must secure necessary approvals from academic authorities while planning their internships.
This strategic reform by IIT Madras marks a progressive step in Indian higher education, aligning student learning more closely with the dynamic demands of the global industry and fostering a generation of work-ready engineers and scientists.
