IIT Madras admission without JEE Advanced: Cracking the IIT entrance is often considered the ultimate test of perseverance for engineering aspirants in India. The grueling JEE Advanced exam serves as a formidable gatekeeper, admitting only the best of the best. But is JEE Advanced the only way in? No. IIT Madras has now made this a reality. In a move to make courses more accessible to deserving candidates, the institute has introduced a new admission pathway that allows students to secure a seat without going through the conventional exam system.
What is IIT Madras’s new ScOpE admission scheme?
Starting from the 2025-26 academic session, IIT Madras will offer admission to students excelling in National and International Olympiads through a newly established process called ‘Science Olympiad Excellence’ (ScOpE). This initiative aims to recognize academic excellence beyond conventional entrance exams and provide opportunities to students who demonstrate outstanding performance in specific subjects.
New scheme allows for supernumerary seats and gender inclusivity
Under this scheme, IIT Madras will introduce two supernumerary seats per undergraduate program. Of these, one seat will be exclusively reserved for female students, promoting greater gender inclusivity in technical education.
IIT Madras admission without JEE Advanced: Selection process
Candidates will be admitted based on the ScOpE Rank List (SRL), which will assess their achievements in five major Olympiads:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Informatics
- Biology
Unlike regular admissions through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA), ScOpE admissions will be managed through a dedicated portal: https://jeeadv.iitm.ac.in/scope. The application process for the first batch will commence on June 3, 2025.
IIT Madras admission without JEE Advanced: Eligibility criteria
To qualify for admission through ScOpE, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must have passed Class 12 and meet the same age requirements as JEE Advanced for that academic year.
- Should not have been previously admitted to any IIT.
- Must be an Indian national (by birth or naturalization) or an OCI/PIO candidate whose card was issued before March 4, 2021.
Additionally, in the last four years, the candidate should have participated in at least one of the following training camps:
- Mathematics: International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camps (IMOTC) by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE)
- Physics, Chemistry, and Biology: Orientation-cum-Selection Camps (OCSCs) organized by HBCSE
- Informatics: International Olympiad for Informatics Training Camp (IOITC) by the Indian Association for Research in Computer Science (IARCS)
Which academic programs being offered under ScOpE?
Students admitted through this process will have access to a range of undergraduate programs, including:
For more details, aspirants can check the official notice here.
