Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) was set up in 2007 as an Institute of National Importance under the Department of Space (DoS), Government of India. It is recognised by UGC and has NAAC accreditation. The institute is known as the first university in the world built fully for space science, space technology, and space applications.

IIST holds the 61st position in NIRF Engineering 2025 with a score of 52.44. It is one of India’s most focused technical institutes for students who want to study aerospace, avionics, satellite systems, and space technology.

The institute works from a 100-acre campus at Valiamala, near the Western Ghats in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It has 1,431 students enrolled in UG, Dual Degree, PG, and Ph.D. courses, with 94 faculty members.

  • B.Tech is offered in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science)
    • Eligibility: JEE Advanced rank with 75% in Class XII, or 65% for SC/ST/PwD students
    • Entrance: JEE Advanced, followed by IIST counselling held separately from JoSAA
    • Total fees: INR 7.43 Lakhs for the 4-year course
  • Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech or B.Tech + M.S.) is available in Optical Engineering, Earth System Science, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Solid State Physics. The total fee is INR 9.26 Lakhs for 5 years.
  • M.Tech has 13 specialisations, including Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Control Systems, Machine Learning and Computing, Quantum Technology, Geoinformatics, and VLSI and Microsystem. The fee is INR 1.72 Lakhs.
  • M.Sc is offered in Astronomy and Astrophysics with a fee of INR 1.72 Lakhs.
  • Ph.D. is available in Aerospace, Avionics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, and Humanities. The fee range is INR 0.55 to 1.10 Lakhs.

B.Tech students with a CGPA of 7.0 or above can attend a placement interview at ISRO Headquarters. More than 1,498 IIST alumni are working in ISRO and its centres. In 2024, B.Tech graduates received a median package of INR 11.64 LPA, while the highest offer was INR 28 LPA.

Admission Update: IIST admissions for the 2026 academic session are nearing completion. The B.Tech 2026 rank list was issued on 19 June 2026, and IIST counselling rounds were scheduled from July to September 2026. The next admission cycle for 2027 will begin after the JEE Advanced 2027 results, which are expected in June 2027.

IIST Admission Dates 2026

IIST uses JEE Advanced scores for B.Tech admission, but it does not join JoSAA counselling. The institute prepares its own rank list and conducts a separate counselling process for admission to its B.Tech and Dual Degree seats.

EventDate
IIST B.Tech Counselling 2026July to September 2026
IIST Admission Cycle 2027After JEE Advanced 2027 results, expected in June 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

B.Tech intake at IIST is limited to 210 seats per year, so admission is highly competitive. The table below gives the exam route and seat details for each major programme group.

ProgrammeExam AcceptedSeats
B.Tech Aerospace / Avionics / CSE-DSJEE Advanced through IIST counselling210 total, including 75+75+36+24
Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech/M.S.)JEE Advanced through IIST counsellingIncluded in the B.Tech seat count
M.TechGATE scoreAs given in the IIST notification
M.Sc Astronomy and AstrophysicsIIST entrance test / JAMAs given in the IIST notification
Ph.D.IIST Research Entrance Test (RET) and interviewAs given in the IIST notification

IIST Courses and Fees

IIST offers space-focused UG, Dual Degree, PG, and research programmes. The full B.Tech fee is INR 7.43 Lakhs, while the Dual Degree fee is INR 9.26 Lakhs. PG programmes are offered at lower total fees.

CourseFee
B.Tech Aerospace EngineeringINR 7.43 Lakhs
B.Tech Avionics EngineeringINR 7.43 Lakhs
B.Tech CSE (Data Science)INR 7.43 Lakhs
Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech Optical Engg / Earth System Science)INR 9.26 Lakhs
Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.S. Astronomy / Solid State Physics)INR 9.26 Lakhs
M.Tech (all specialisations)INR 1.72 Lakhs
M.Sc (Astronomy and Astrophysics)INR 1.72 Lakhs
Ph.D. (Engineering disciplines)INR 1.10 Lakhs

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

CourseDurationEligibility
B.Tech Aerospace Engineering4 yearsJEE Advanced rank + Class XII 75%
B.Tech Avionics Engineering4 yearsJEE Advanced rank + Class XII 75%
B.Tech CSE (Data Science)4 yearsJEE Advanced rank + Class XII 75%
Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech Optical Engg / Earth System Science)5 yearsJEE Advanced rank + Class XII 75%
Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.S. Astronomy / Solid State Physics)5 yearsJEE Advanced rank + Class XII 75%
M.Tech (all specialisations)2 yearsB.Tech in a relevant field + GATE
M.Sc (Astronomy and Astrophysics)2 yearsBSc Physics / related discipline
Ph.D. (Engineering disciplines)Minimum 3 yearsM.Tech or equivalent + IIST RET

The M.Tech programme includes 13 specialisations: Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Structures and Design, Control Systems, Thermal and Propulsion, Quantum Technology, RF and Microwave Engineering, Machine Learning and Computing, Geoinformatics, Power Electronics, VLSI and Microsystem, Digital Signal Processing, Optical Engineering, and Material Science. Through the Dual Degree option, students can complete a B.Tech along with an M.Tech or M.S. in focused space-science areas.

IIST Admission Process

IIST admits B.Tech students through JEE Advanced only. Students first have to qualify JEE Main, then appear for JEE Advanced, and then register for IIST counselling if they have a valid JEE Advanced rank. The institute handles its own counselling instead of using JoSAA.

B.Tech Admission

  • Eligibility: A valid JEE Advanced rank is needed. Students must also have at least 75% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class XII, while SC/ST/PwD students need 65%. For 2026 admission, the age rule says the student must be born on or after October 1, 2001.
  • Step 1: Take JEE Advanced and secure a valid rank.
  • Step 2: Apply through the IIST counselling portal after the rank list is released.
  • Step 3: Fill programme choices and take part in IIST seat allotment.
  • Step 4: Complete document verification and pay the fee to confirm the seat at the IIST campus in Valiamala.

For B.Tech Aerospace Engineering in the General category, the JEE Advanced closing rank at IIST has usually stayed between 4,000 and 7,000. Avionics and CSE-Data Science have usually needed slightly stronger ranks. Dual Degree courses have their own rank ranges, and category-wise cutoffs for SC/ST/OBC/EWS follow the reservation rules.

M.Tech Admission

M.Tech admission at IIST is based on GATE scores in the relevant subject. Applicants need a B.Tech or B.E. in a related engineering branch with at least 60% marks. After GATE score submission, IIST shortlists candidates and may call them for an interview. GATE-qualified students may receive the AICTE-mandated stipend during the course.

Ph.D. Admission

IIST conducts Ph.D. admission twice a year, for the July and January sessions. Candidates must clear the IIST Research Entrance Test (RET) and then attend an interview. Students who already hold JRF or SRF, or have qualified NET, may get RET exemption under UGC rules. Ph.D. scholars receive ISRO/DoS fellowships during their research period.

IIST Placements and Career Outcomes

For many IIST students, the main career path is ISRO or another Department of Space organisation. B.Tech graduates who have a CGPA of 7.0 or above at the end of the sixth semester can sit for the ISRO recruitment interview. More than 1,498 IIST alumni are now working at ISRO centres such as VSSC, URSC, SAC, NRSC, and ISRO HQ.

Students who choose non-ISRO careers also take part in campus placements. During the 2024 placement season, 89 out of 116 students were placed, giving a placement rate of 76.72%. The median package stood at INR 11.64 LPA. The highest offer was INR 28 LPA for B.Tech students, INR 20 LPA for Dual Degree students, and INR 21.5 LPA for M.Tech students.

Career PathwayOutcomeNotes
ISRO Absorption (B.Tech)Open to students with CGPA 7.0 and aboveInterview conducted by the ISRO Expert Committee
Campus Placement (Private Sector)Median package of INR 11.64 LPA in 2024Highest B.Tech offer: INR 28 LPA
Higher Studies (M.Tech / M.S. abroad)A common choice for strong graduatesResearch work helps in admission
Ph.D. ResearchAvailable at IIST or at IITs/IIScDoS fellowships are available

IIST has a student-faculty ratio of 7:1, and its research links with ISRO centres give students practical project exposure. Graduates are recruited by space startups, defence PSUs, IT companies working in space technology, and global aerospace companies. By 2025, IIST had worked on 144 active research projects and published more than 4,500 papers.

IIST Rankings

IIST appears in the NIRF list every year. In NIRF Engineering 2025, it was placed at 61st rank in India with a score of 52.44. This keeps the institute within the top 70 engineering institutes in the country.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank2024 Rank
NIRFEngineering61 (Score: 52.44)Not disclosed separately

IIST Campus and Infrastructure

The main IIST campus covers 100 acres at Valiamala in Thiruvananthapuram, close to the Western Ghats. Academic blocks, research laboratories, administrative spaces, hostels, a sports complex, and the central library are located on this campus. Male and female students have separate hostels, and the monthly hostel fee ranges from INR 3,000 to INR 10,250.

IIST has research facilities for propulsion, aerodynamics, and materials, matching the work areas needed for ISRO missions. Students also get access to facilities at the nearby Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Coursework and research are supported by the institute’s computer centre, instrumentation labs, and a dedicated space lab where students work on live projects under faculty guidance.

Two more campuses are being developed. The Ponmudi Campus is planned as a research hub in the Kerala hills, while the Magudagiri Campus will focus on aerospace engineering. IIST has also been chosen for participation in NASA’s Axiom Mission 4, showing its international research presence.

IIST vs IIT Madras vs NIT Trichy (Aerospace)

Students who qualify JEE Advanced and want to study aerospace often compare IIST with IIT Madras and NIT Trichy. The table below shows how these three options differ on admission, fees, ranking, placement, and career focus.

ParameterIIST ThiruvananthapuramIIT MadrasNIT Trichy
Established200719591964
TypeIoNI under DoS/ISROIIT (IoNI)NIT (IoNI)
NIRF Engineering 202561Top 3Top 10
AdmissionJEE Advanced with separate counsellingJEE Advanced through JoSAAJEE Advanced through JoSAA
B.Tech Aerospace Total FeesINR 7.43 LakhsINR 8 to 10 LakhsINR 5 to 7 Lakhs
Median Campus PlacementINR 11.64 LPA in 2024INR 20+ LPAINR 12 to 14 LPA
ISRO AbsorptionDirect ISRO interview for CGPA 7.0+Not a primary pathwayNot a primary pathway
Specialisation FocusOnly space and satellite technologyAerospace with wider engineering exposureAerospace within a multi-discipline NIT

IIST is best suited to students who are clear about working with ISRO or in the space sector. Its space-only academic focus, close research connection with ISRO, and direct interview route make it different from other institutes. IIT Madras has stronger overall engineering rankings and a wider alumni network. NIT Trichy offers lower or similar fee levels with a broader placement base. Students who want aerospace academics but also want wider non-ISRO career choices should also consider IIT Madras Aerospace.

IIST FAQs

Ques. Is every IIST B.Tech student placed in ISRO?

Ans. No, ISRO selection is not guaranteed. B.Tech and Dual Degree students need a CGPA of 7.0 or above to become eligible for the placement interview arranged by ISRO Headquarters. Final selection depends on interview performance and available vacancies. At present, more than 1,498 IIST alumni work in ISRO.

Ques. Which JEE Advanced rank range is usually needed for IIST B.Tech Aerospace?

Ans. In past IIST counselling rounds, the General category closing rank for B.Tech Aerospace Engineering has commonly fallen between 4,000 and 7,000. Avionics and CSE-Data Science have usually been a little more competitive. The final cutoff changes each year based on seats and the applicant pool.

Ques. How much does the full B.Tech course cost at IIST?

Ans. The complete 4-year B.Tech fee at IIST is INR 7.43 Lakhs for Aerospace, Avionics, and CSE-Data Science. The 5-year Dual Degree, which combines B.Tech with M.Tech or M.S., has a total fee of INR 9.26 Lakhs. Eligible students can also get ISRO-sponsored scholarships and fellowships.

Ques. Should an aerospace aspirant choose IIST over an IIT?

Ans. The better choice depends on the student’s career plan. IIST is built for space-sector careers and has a direct route to ISRO interviews along with strong space research exposure. IIT Aerospace programmes give wider engineering learning and stronger general placement options. For India’s space programme, IIST is the more direct path. For broader career flexibility, IIT Aerospace may suit better.

Ques. Are hostels available for IIST students?

Ans. Yes. IIST has separate hostel facilities for male and female students at its Valiamala campus. Hostel charges are between INR 3,000 and INR 10,250 per month, depending on the room type. First-year students must stay in the hostel, and hostel accommodation is available through the course.

Ques. What rank did IIST get in NIRF Engineering 2025?

Ans. IIST was ranked 61st in India in NIRF Engineering 2025, with a score of 52.44. This places it among the top 70 engineering institutes in the latest NIRF Engineering list.

Ques. Which M.Tech options are offered at IIST?

Ans. IIST offers M.Tech in 13 specialisations: Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Control Systems, Machine Learning and Computing, Quantum Technology, Thermal and Propulsion, VLSI and Microsystem, Geoinformatics, Optical Engineering, RF and Microwave Engineering, Power Electronics, Structures and Design, Manufacturing Technology, and Material Science and Technology. Admission is based on GATE score, and the total M.Tech fee is INR 1.72 Lakhs.