IIT Madras Introduces Special UG Admissions for Science Olympiad Achievers

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 10 March 2025, 02:51:42 PM IST

IIT Madras Introduces Special UG Admissions for Science Olympiad Achievers
The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), announced a groundbreaking new admission initiative on Monday, creating a unique pathway for students excelling in national and international science Olympiads. The initiative, termed 'Science Olympiad Excellence' (ScOpE), will allow these high-achieving students to secure admission to undergraduate programmes outside the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced framework, starting from the academic year 2025-2026.
Under this initiative, each undergraduate programme at IIT Madras will have two supernumerary seats, with one seat exclusively reserved for women candidates. This model is similar to the institute’s existing Sports Excellence Admissions and Fine Arts Excellence admissions.
To be eligible, candidates must be Indian nationals or OCI/PIO holders whose cards were issued before March 4, 2021. They must have participated in specific training camps over the past four years, including the International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camps (IMOTC) for mathematics, Orientation-cum-Selection Camps (OCSCs) for physics, chemistry, and biology, or the International Olympiad for Informatics Training Camp (IOITC) for informatics. Additionally, candidates must meet the same Class 12 and age requirements as those appearing for JEE Advanced and must not have been admitted to an IIT in previous years.
The admission process will be handled through a dedicated portal (https://jeeadv.iitm.ac.in/scope) and not through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) portal. The ScOpE Rank List (SRL) will determine seat allocation, considering the candidates’ performance and achievements in the relevant Olympiads. Detailed guidelines and business rules for the admission process will be available on the official website (ugadmissions.iitm.ac.in/scope).
Applications for the first batch will open on June 3, 2025. Aspiring candidates can find detailed information about the application process and eligibility criteria on the official ScOpE portal.
Speaking about the new initiative, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, shared his vision: “The world's grandest puzzles aren't solved by memorizing textbooks, but by those who dare to dismantle them, piece by piece, and create new wonders for future generations. With this vision, IIT Madras embarks on yet another new journey by offering admission to her much coveted undergraduate programmes for candidates with demonstrated excellence in science Olympiads”.
He further added, “To those who've proven their brilliance on the international stage of science Olympiads, we don't just offer admission; we offer a sanctuary where their insatiable curiosity will find its most fertile ground amongst the blissful IITM flora and fauna”.
This new initiative marks a significant step in recognizing and nurturing scientific talent at the grassroots level, reinforcing IIT Madras' commitment to academic excellence and innovation. By opening its doors to Olympiad achievers, the institute is fostering an environment where young minds with exceptional problem-solving skills and intellectual curiosity can thrive and contribute to the advancement of science and technology.
With ScOpE, IIT Madras not only acknowledges the dedication and perseverance of Olympiad participants but also encourages the pursuit of knowledge beyond conventional academic boundaries. The initiative promises to be a game-changer, empowering the next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders to make their mark on the world.

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