FAQs

General

Computational Natural Sciences Dual Degree Programme (CND)

Answers

General

Q1: I have received admission in IITs. Why should I consider joining IIIT Hyderabad?
IIIT Hyderabad UG programme is unique in the country.
(1) It provides research opportunities, even to a UG student, not available anywhere else in the country. Many UG students are able to publish papers in international conferences. Some students even work abroad with partner research groups, while still a UG student.
(2) It has a modern and flexible curriculum which allows a student to tailor it to his/her requirements.
(3) Infrastructure is extremely good in academics as well as in hostels and student life.
So, if you want to achieve your dreams, of creating new technologies or do cutting edge research, come to IIIT Hyderabad.

Q2: Why should I join the dual degree programme? In the 4-year programme, I finish early.
Dual degree programmes prepare you for research. Jobs in your area of interest are likely to come up in large numbers as more R&D companies start their operations. They also prepare you for higher studies, if you wish to pursue PhD in India or abroad.

Q3: What are some of the areas in which UG students can do research?
Robotics, wireless communication, speech processing, machine translation, search engines, computer vision, pattern recognition, databases, data mining, VLSI, embedded systems, bio-informatics. More information here.

Q4: What is the eligiblity to get into any of the above programs?
The procedural information required for the admission process in any of the above programs can be found here.

Q5: Is branch change allowed?
Branch change is allowed between CSE and ECE after 1st year, subject to the condition that the total numbers in each branch are within 10% (plus or minus) of sanctioned strength.

Change from dual degree to 4 year degree is not permitted, the vice versa however, is possible.

Q6: IIIT fee is higher than the fee at IITs or NITs. Why?
IIIT offers high quality infrastructure. It has modern well-kept living facilities. It also has one of the highest bandwidth availability per student. It has a highly qualified research oriented faculty with research centres. All this costs money. Most importantly IIIT does not run on annual Government grants. This allows complete autonomy and high academic standards, but does result in a slightly higher fee. However, financial assistance is available.

Q7: I am not able to pay the fee. Is any financial assistance available?
A number of sources are there for providing assistance.

(1) Many banks sanction educational loans with easy repayment terms after you graduate. Loan which might seem large at this point in time is actually very small when you start earning. Placement record shows that you can repay the loan very easily.

(2) There are merit-cum-means scholarships offered by the State Governments such as Pratibha Scholarship by the AP Government. These are available to IIIT students who come from AP and whose parent’s annual income is within one lakh. Check for similar scholarships with your own state Government or other similar sources.

Q8: How are the on campus placement opportunities?
A detailed report on placements can be found here.

Q9: Is there a hostel facility on campus? What about the other facilities?
Yes,IIIT-H is a residential Institute and it is compulsory for all students to stay on-campus. Separate hostels for boys and girls are available on-campus with basic facilities. Hostels are completely networked with Internet facility. UG1 students are not provided network facility in their hostel rooms. However, they have access to internet in common labs during day time.

You can read about the institute’s infrastructure here.

Q10: How is Hyderabad climate?
Hyderabad has a pleasant salubrious climate. It is dry, so even when it is hot under the sun, it is pleasant under the shade. It has two hot months (April and May) and even in those months there is no loo (hot wind), and evenings become pleasant. As soon as the monsoons arrive (approximately 7th June) Hyderabad becomes like an “air conditioned” city and not hot and muggy like other cities. Winters are mild with temperature rarely going below 12 degrees Centigrade at night. (Hyderabad is at an altitude of 500m, its climate is different from rest of the Andhra climate)

Q11: What kind of city is Hyderabad? What does it have to offer?
Hyderabad is a large metropolis (5th largest city of India) with the old world charm. It is a favoured destination of software industry in India and a large cosmopolitan city with interesting eating places, shopping areas, theatres, visibly present film industries, etc. However, it retains a personal touch of a small town. People are helpful and laid back, and surprisingly autorickshaw drivers do not “take you for a ride” unnecessarily. Culturally it is active with heritage walks, monuments that invite you, painting exhibitions, Hindustani and Carnatic music.

Q12: Where is IIIT-H located in Hyderabad? What facilities are available in its vicinity?
IIIT is located in Gachibowli with a largely self contained campus. Most of your needs will be satisfied within the campus: hostel, mess, canteen, stationery shop, etc. There is a nearby market within a kilometre from campus where items of personal need are available. IIIT is about 15 km from centre of the city but well connected with buses and shared minitaxies (tempos). Gachibowli is a fast developing area where several new software companies including Infosys, Wipro, Microsoft and others, are building their campuses . As a result, many new facilities are coming up in the area.

Q13: Do I have to fill or buy IIIT Hyderabad form for admission?
The admission to IIIT is through institute portals. Kindly check here for the details of filling application form and paying the application fees.

Q14: Is IIIT, Hyderabad participating in JEE (Main) -2015?
International Institute of Information Technology,Hyderabad is not participating in CSAB counseling (JEE (Main) -2015). IIIT, Hyderabad offers B.Tech. admissions through Institute portal using JEE (Main) 2015 Marks.

Q15: I have heard all the students in the first year will be required to purchase laptop in the first year. Should I purchase now?
No, you do not need to purchase a laptop in your first year. You will get access to a workspace equipped with computers.

Q16: Is there a Dual Degree Program for ECE students?
Yes, we have a Dual Degree Program named ECD (B.Tech and MS by Research in Electronics and Communication Engineering) for ECE students. It has the same characteristics as any Dual Degree Program in terms of requirements and objectives. More information can be found here.

Q17: How is the Dual Degree Program different from the B.Tech one?
A detailed information can be found here.

Q18: What is it in there for me in the Dual Degree Program?
Lot of fun in doing cutting edge research in a specific stream. Opportunities to do internships in best of places. Ability to join Research Exchange Program. A detailed information can be found here.

Q19: When does one have to choose the field of specialization for the Dual Degree Program?
At the end of second year.

Q20: What are Trans-disciplinary dual-degree programmes? Should I join them?
Institute offers trans-disciplinary programmes leading to dual-degrees:

B.Tech in Computer Science and MS in ‘X’, where ‘X’ stands for one of the following:

Computational Natural Science

Computational Linguistics, or

Exact Humanities.

This will allow students to pursue new areas along with a strong computational background. Major breakthroughs in research are likely to come from such trans-disciplinary research.

Please ask your bank if amount is deducted from your credit card / debit card account. If amount is deducted, then the payment was successful. If you do not click anywhere on the screen while the bank website is redirecting to IIIT website after successful online payment, then you will see confirmation message on screen and you would also receive email with payment successful message. In case you have not received an email but the amount is deducted from your account, please send an email to ‘ugadmissions@iiit.ac.in’ with transaction ID, Bank account no., Date/Time of transaction, Transaction amount, your name, email address, etc. details. We will try to confirm within 7 working days whether we have received the payment.

If you have specified correct email address in application form for Phase-I, then you should receive email confirmation about registration. We also send confirmation to all applicants who have filled application Phase-I form through post.

Please leave the fields blank where 12th marks details are asked in phase I form if your results are not yet announced. You can fill these details in Phase-II form.

Please check SPAM folder or bulk email folder for the confirmation email. Since such emails are generated automatically they very often go to SPAM or bulk mail folders. In case you can’t find the email and the amount got deducted from your debit/credit card account then please send an email to ugadmissions@iiit.ac.in with transaction ID, Bank account no., Date/Time of transaction, Transaction amount, your name, email address, etc. and we will reply to you within 7 working days.

No, there is no SC/ST/OBC, women, physically challenged etc. quota or reservation of any kind for IIIT admissions. All admissions are strictly merit based and in open category.

No, we only consider JEE (Mains) marks for regular admissions. There is however, a provision for admissions based on Olympiads, NTSE or KVPY etc. Further, for students from Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities with Mathematics there are opportunities to pursue Dual Degree Computational Linguistics or Exact Humanities. Please read here for more information on admissions based on these criteria.

Yes, please send us the receipt number or transaction ID of transaction made for registration fee to ugadmissons@iiit.ac.in. Refund will be made on verification of the receipt.

- There will be no internal sliding after you join the institute. For B.Tech/Dual degree programs in CSE and ECE, a branch change is possible according to institute rules after first year.

- For other dual degree programs in Computational Natural Sciences, Computational Linguistics, Exact Humanities, and Building Science & Engineering as they are special programs, no branch change is allowed. So you should opt for these programs only if you are really interested in them. Your opting for programs, without a serious intent to join them, deprives another candidate of the seat, since there would be no more rounds.

Dual degree research program is for more than 4 years. Students who would like to do research would generally prefer this program. However, some students whose first preference is 4 year program may also opt for dual degree program and get the seat. In further rounds, he/she may slide to 4-year program based on the vacancies which will create a vacant seat in dual degree program.

Yes, you can. If you are given another program previous seat allotment is cancelled and is made available for other candidates. If you are not allotted any of your choices, the existing allotment remains. So, unless you are really sure that you want another program do not opt for it, as you will not be able change it back to your existing allotment.

Programmes	Opening Marks	Closing Marks
B.Tech CSE	340	263
B.Tech CSD	264	252
B.Tech ECE	262	245
B.Tech ECD	248	234
B.Tech BSD	232	220
B.Tech CND	250	234

1. Science with Mathematics
2. Social Sciences with Mathematics (for example, Economics with Mathematics)
3. Any Arts (like Dance, Drama, Music) with Mathematics

In case large number of applicants are short listed, applicants will be called for written test and interview.

Proportion of CS and CNS courses is equal. However, CND is primarily a Science programme.

You may need to reconsider your choice in either case. Knowledge of both the fields would be essential for your research.
As mentioned in Q1, the proportion of both the courses is same. Keep that in mind. Go through this link about the curriculum followed. You will be studying all the courses mentioned in the curriculum. 

No, there is no such distinction. The performance in placements depends on individual efforts.

In the summer after second year, students are expected to stay back for a summer project for a duration of about 8 weeks.

• Computational Chemistry
  • Biomolecular Simulations
  • Statistical Mechanics
• Bioinformatics
• Nanomaterials
• Metabolomics
• Quantum Computing
• Systems Biology
• Cognitive Sciences
• Photochemistry

Once selected for the interview, all candidates are even leveled. The final outcome of admission depends on the performance in the interview. 

This will not be a technical interview, as in you will not be tested on your ability in Computer science. There is no set guideline on how you should attempt the interview. A candid advice would be to keep your responses brutally honest and firm. You are expected to have minimum idea about the program, why you’d want to come here and such things. 

No, under no circumstances will there be change in branch. 

All of us here faced these questions. No one knew what research they would do, if they would want to do research in the first place. It took us a while to understand what Exact humanities is, how research in Computer Science and Exact Humanities is cutting edge in the academic sphere today. By personal insight, It could be said that while coming to a place like IIIT-H where research is at the core of any academic side; one must keep a very open and flexible mind. Its alright if you don’t know what exactly would happen as long as you seem to show a non-trivial aptitude in the curriculum. The very fact you have been thought worthy by the interview panel to find a seat in the program is a very strong indication that you shall pull through the amazing work faculty could make happen with your effort. If you still have questions, please use the forum feature to ask about the issues which need clarification. 

Placements are at par with other courses. IIIT does not have a branch wise placement feature. You shall get to apply to the same companies as the other students in your batch. 

Yes, Though B.Tech would be awarded only after completing the M.S ( which is normally after the 5th year).

• CSE & CSIS – top 60 students (based on GATE Rank) among the whole get stipend.
• Bio Info – All the GATE qualified students.
• CASE – All the GATE qualified students.
• VLSI – All the GATE qualified students.

Amount of 12400 rs. is given as stipend by AICTE.

No. They don’t get stipend initially, but after finishing the 1st semester, a student can take TAship and get the stipend.

Please refer to this link.

Please refer to this link.

If you have interest in reserch in some specific field, you should surely take MS, but if you are not sure about the research area, than you are advised to opt for M.Tech.

Refer to this link for statistics.
Yes, mostly all the companies come for both M.Tech and B.Tech, but it depends on the company requirements.

There are a total of 5 hostels – 3 boys and 2 girls hostels. MS and M.Tech people get accommodation in different hostels. MS people are provided with single occupancy while M.Tech people get 2 person shared rooms during the first year.
Yes, staying in campus is compulsory for all the full time students.

Bringing your laptops is necessary for every PG course. Make sure your RAM is capable enough to bear heavy programs.

• CSE ,VLSI, BioInfo: Prepare any 2-3 subjects, and project. If you were doing job after your bachelors, then prepare your answers about the projects you have done during job time. Keep your resume with you, mention your projects in your resume, take your project report with you if possible.
• CASE : For the interview just brush up your basics for structural engineering , RCC and steel structure design but most importantly prepare your B.Tech project which you have done.

Results will be announced around last week of June.

This will mostly depend upon your interview and the preference you gave while filling up the form. Also the seats for MS are less as compared so competition will be tough. You can further convert your M.Tech programme after an year to MS depending upon your performance in 1st year.

Number of students vary year to year as in 2013 batch, there were 84 students but in 2014 batch, there were 64 students in CSE. Approx. selection is as following:

• CSE: 60-70
• BioInfo: ~20
• VLSI: 20-25
• CASE: 20-25

Please refer to this link.

Yes. You need really good domain knowledge and good grades to convert your course from M.Tech to MS.

Flexible (Minimum: 3 semesters; Maximum: 6 semesters for regular and 8 semesters for part-time). Typical duration varies from 2 to 3 years, depends on the time a student takes to complete the project and thesis work assigned.