

IIST Trivandrum M.E./M.Tech Courses & Fees
- Public/Government University
- Estd. 2007
IIST MTech Eligibility & Highlights 2025
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) offers MTech courses at the postgraduate level, which last for two years. MTech programme is offered across 14 specialisations, including Thermal & Propulsion, Aerodynamics & Flight Mechanics, Structures & Design, etc. The programme is offered in both regular and sponsored mode. Other than the regular degree, IIST also offers a dual degree in BTech + MTech. The dual degree is spread across 10 semesters and lasts for five years. IIST accepts exams like GATE and JEST for admission to its MTech course. Further, MTech admission is based on the 'Admission List' which is prepared on the rank list, an available number of vacancies, and preferences given by the candidate. Selection for the rank list is done based on the valid score of the national exams followed by an online interview. Interested candidates can check below the IIST eligibility criteria for MTech:
Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor's degree with 60% aggregate for General / EWS & OBC category and 55% for SC/ST & PwD category.
Selection Criteria: GATE and JEST(for MTech in Earth System Science & Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics)
Read on for key highlights related to MTech at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
The specific number of students admit into the M.Tech programme at IISTs can vary each year and is subject to change based on the institute's policies and capacity. It is recommended to check the official website or contact the institute directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information on M.Tech admissions and seat availability.
The institute has disclosed the highest package details for BTech, M.Tech and Dual Degree branches passing-out in 2023. The highest package bagged by the BTech batch 2019-23 was INR 16.60 LPA. The highest package for Dual Degree courses stood at INR 13.20 LPA. The table below depicts the IIST the highest package 2023:
| BTech Branch | the highest Package (2023) |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | INR 13.20 LPA |
| ECE in Avionics | INR 16.60 LPA |
| Dual Degree Branch | the highest Package (2023) |
| MTech in Optical Engineering | INR 13.20 LPA |
| MS in Solid State Physics | INR 13.20 LPA |
| MS in Earth System Science | INR 13.20 LPA |
| MS in Astronomy & Astrophysics | INR 13.20 LPA |
In addition to above statistics, tHe M.Tech the highest salary 2023 stood at INR 28 LPA. Take a look at the table below to know the branch-wise M.Tech the highest packages offered during IIST placements 2023:
| MTech Branch | the highest Package (2023) |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | INR 10.50 LPA |
| Avionics | INR 23 LPA |
| Chemistry | INR 10.50 LPA |
| Earth & Space Science | INR 10 LPA |
| Mathematics | INR 29 LPA |
| Physics | INR 9.18 LPA |
The institute has a decent placement record. Non-ISRO placement/ full-time offers for BTech increased from 18 in 2022 to 38 in 2023. The total offers (Intern + full-time) made to M.Tech students increased from 96 in 2022 to 99 in 2023. The table below compares the IIST placements 2023 with 2022:
| Particulars | Placement Statistics (2022) | Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Total students | - BTech: 115 - Dual Degree: 19 | - BTech: 130 - Dual Degree: 18 - MTech: 80 |
| Total no. of students eligible for ISRO absorption | - BTech: 78 - Dual Degree: 7 | - BTech: 81 - Dual Degree: 16 |
| No. of Non-ISRO placement/ full-time offers | - BTech: 18 - Dual Degree: 7 | - BTech: 38 |
| No. of placement/ full-time offers | - MTech: 64 | - MTech: 63 |
| Total offers (Intern + full-time) | - MTech: 96 | - MTech: 99 |
| No. of students available for placement | - MTech: 102 | - MTech: 77 |
| No. of students placed | N/A | - MTech: 51 |
Yes, IIST - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology accepts JEE score for admission to its undergraduate programs. The JEE score is the only criteria for admission to IIST.
Students must qualify the JEE (Advanced) exam and then apply for IIST counseling. Admissions are based on the aggregate marks scored in JEE (Advanced).
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IIST MTech Admission Dates 2025
Candidates seeking admission in the MTech programme at the IIST-Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology must appear for the GATE and JEST exams conducted by the IITs and secure minimum marks as per the institute's cutoff mark for admission. Candidates are therefore required to watch out for important dates related to GATE and JEST. The GATE exam will be conducted in the month of February. Tabulated below are IIST MTech admission dates 2025:
| Dates | Upcoming Events |
|---|---|
May '26 | COAP 2026Tentative |
May '26 | CCMT 2026Tentative |
27 Mar '26 - 31 May '26 | GATE 2026 Scorecard (free download) |
1 Jun '26 - 31 Dec '26 | GATE 2026 Scorecard by paying a fee of INR 500 per test paper |
| Dates | Past Events |
|---|---|
19 Mar '26 | GATE 2026 results |
15 Feb '26 | GATE 2026 Exam - Forenoon (EC) |
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
To be eligible for the IIST programme, candidates have to meet the eligibility criteria as per the institute’s admission guidelines. Also candidates must qualify the selection criteria.
Find below the course-wise eligibility and selection criteria for all the offered cousres at IIST:
Courses | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Criteria |
|---|---|---|
BTech | Class 12 with 75% aggregate | Exam: JEE Main, JEE Advanced |
MTech | Bachelor’s degree | Exam: GATE + written test and interview |
MSc | Bachelor’s degree | Exam: GATE |
PhD | BTech/ BE/ ME/ MTech/ MS pass candidates in the relevant stream | Exam: UGC NET/ CSIR NET/ JEST (or) GATE |
IIST Thiruvananthapuram cutoff 2024 has been concluded for further admissions. The cutoff was released for different categories belonging to the All India category candidates. The institute accepts CCMT scores for admission to the M.Tech specialisations. The cutoff was released for different categories belonging to the All India quota. For the General AI category candidates, the closing scores were between the range of 350 and 461. Candidates can check the branch-wise cutoff in the table below:
IIST Trivandrum cutoff 2024 was released for admission to the M.Tech specialisations on the basis of GATE scores. The last round closing scores varied between 350 and 461 for the General AI category candidates. For the OBC AI category candidates, the cutoff ranks were between 286 and 496. The table given below provides the last round closing ranks for the IIST Trivandrum GATE cutoff for the General AI category candidates:
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology offers M.Tech at postgraduate level for a duration of two years. M.Tech is offered under 14 specialisations. Tabulated below are the M.Tech specialisations along withh their eligibility criteria:
MTech Specialisations | Eligibility Crietria |
|---|---|
Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering |
Structures and Design Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering or Production Engineering |
Thermal and Propulsion Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering |
Control Systems Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Avionics/ Electrical and Electronics /Electronics and Communication/ Electronics and Instrumentation /Instrumentation and Control Engineering |
Digital Signal Processing Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Avionics/ Electronics and Communication /Telecommunication/ Electrical and Electronics Engineering |
RF and Microwave Engineering Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Avionics/ Electronics and Communication/ Electronics Engineering/ Electrical Engineering |
VLSI and Microsystems Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Avionics/ Electronics and Communication/ Electrical Engineering |
Power Electronics Curriculum | - A BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Avionics/ Electrical and Electronics/ Electronics and Communication/ Electronics and Instrumentation/ Instrumentation and Control Engineering |
Materials Science & Technology | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Polymer Science and Technology/ Chemical Engineering/ Rubber Technology/ Metallurgy and Materials Science/ Mechanical Engineering/ Production and Industrial Engineering - MSc/ MS in Chemistry (all branches)/ Physics/ Material Science/ Nanoscience and Technology |
Earth System Sciences | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electronics and Communication, Electrical, Electronics and Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation, Instrumentation and Control, Physical Science, Agricultural, Engineering Science, Instrumentation, Engineering Physics - MSc degree in Physics/ Mathematics |
GeoInformatics Curriculum | - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Computer Science Engineering/ Information Technology/ Electrical and Electronics Engineering/ Electronics and Communication Engineering/ Civil/ Physical Science/ Engineering Sciences/ Geoinformatics/ Agricultural Engineering - MSc degree in Mathematics/ Physics |
Machine Learning and Soft Computing Curriculum | - MSc degree in Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Science - BTech degree or any other degree holding an equivalent value in Electronics and Communication Engineering/ Electrical Engineering/ Information Technology/ Computer Science and Engineering |
IIST MTech Cutoff 2025
IIST GATE CCMT cutoff 2025 for Round 3 is out. The cutoff list has been released. The opening and closing ranks for different categories of students have been out. According to the IIST cutoff 2025, the Round 3 closing ranks range from 368 to 497.
Commonly asked questions On Cutoff
To get a seat at IIST Trivandrum through CCMT, candidate must target a score mentioned in the cutoff list. The cutoff was released for different the categories belonging to the All India quota. Among the General AI category candidates, the target score for different specialisations were at the range of 350 and 528, for different specialisations.
IIST MTech Curriculum
IST-Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology MTech course is offered for a duration of two years. The majority of the course curriculum is centered around core subjects, including Elements of Aerospace Engineering, Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Optimization Techniques, Data Mining, Photogrammetry, Optical Engineering Fundamentals, etc. Find below the detailed curriculum for the IIST MTech course:
| Specialization | Curriculum |
|---|---|
| M.Tech. in Structures and Design | |
| Discontinue (08-apr-2024) M.Tech. in Solid State Technology |
IIST Trivandrum M.E./M.TechIIST MTech Seats 2025
IIST-Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology offers a limited number of seats for its MTech programme. The overall number of MTech seats offered for the regular and dual degree is 260, which is divided among the specialisations. The majority of seats are reserved under the dual degree course BTech in Engineering Physics + MTech course. Find below the seat breakup of MTech at IIST:
Commonly asked questions On Seats
IIST-Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology follows a reservation policy while allotting seats to its students. For the PG course, reservation of seats for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD is applicable as per Government of India Orders. Additionally, if the ST seats are vacant, it will be filled by SC category candidates.Here is a detailed break-up of the seats for the all categories:
Category | Reservation (in %) |
|---|---|
Economically Weaker Sections (EwS) | 10 |
Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15 |
Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5 |
Other Backward Castes (OBC) | 27 |
Persons with Disabilities (PD) | 3 |
IIST MTech Placements
IIST MTech placements 2024 has not been released. During 2023 placements, out of 77 MTech students who appeared for the drive, 51 were placed during IIST placements 2023. The total number of offers made to MTech (including intern and full-time) was 99. The key highlights of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology placements for 2023 and 2022 are tabulated below:
| Particulars | Placement Statistics (2022) | Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Total students |
N/A |
MTech: 80 |
| Highest package | N/A |
MTech: INR 28 LPA |
| No. of placement/ full-time offers | MTech: 64 | MTech: 63 |
| Total offers (Intern + full-time) | MTech: 96 | MTech: 99 |
| No. of students available for placement | MTech: 102 | MTech: 77 |
| No. of students placed | N/A | MTech: 51 |
| No. of internship offers | MTech: 32 | MTech: 36 |
*The median salary mentioned above is the highest amount offered in all the departments.
Insights on Placements
Based on 23 Student ResponsesInternships and industry projects
Students can work with faculty on research projects
Internships and industry projects
Offered in the final year only
Employment opportunities
Many students started their own start-ups
Employment opportunities
Higher in core jobs
Higher studies preferences
Majority opted in outside India
Placement support
Organized & proactive placement process
Alumni network
Strong alumni network that help with placement opportunities
Entrepreneurship cell
Very Active and resourceful, college is also involved
Overall feeling of students
Loved in first year but not in later years
Commonly asked questions On Placements
All the important details related to IIST placements 2023 are mentioned in the table below:
| Particulars | Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|
| Total students | - BTech: 130 - Dual Degree: 18 - MTech: 80 |
| Total no. of students eligible for ISRO absorption | - BTech: 81 - Dual Degree: 16 |
| No. of Non-ISRO placement/ full-time offers | - BTech: 38 |
| the highest package | - BTech: INR 16.60 LPA - Dual Degree: INR 13.20 LPA - MTech: INR 28 LPA |
| Median package* | - BTech: INR 10.50 LPA - Dual Degree: INR 13.20 LPA |
| No. of placement/ full-time offers | - MTech: 63 |
| Total offers (Intern + full-time) | - MTech: 99 |
| No. of students available for placement | - MTech: 77 |
| No. of students placed | - MTech: 51 |
| No. of internship offers | - MTech: 36 |
*The median salary mentioned above is the highest amount offered in all the departments.
According to unofficial online sources, the IIST alumni are primarily working in the Engineering sector with a 39% share. The pie chart below represents the detailed sector-wise distribution of alumni:

Students pursuing the MTech course at IIST are allowed to do short-term internships/ long-term internships (six months to one year), depending upon their course of study. The IIST MTech internship details for the 2021-23 batch are tabulated below:
Particulars | Statistics (MTech Batch 2021-23) |
|---|---|
No. of internship offers | 36 |
Top specialisation | VLSI and Microsystems |
The institute has released the median and highest salary details for the various MTech specialisations. During 2023 placements, Machine Learning and Computing students bagged the highest package of INR 28 LPA. Further, the highest median package stood at INR 18.50 LPA and was also made to Machine Learning and Computing students. The table below mentions the MTech specialisation-wise IIST placement packages 2023:
MTech Specialisation | Median Package (2023) | Highest Package (2023) |
|---|---|---|
Thermal and Propulsion | INR 8.40 LPA | INR 10.50 LPA |
Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics | INR 8.50 LPA | INR 10.50 LPA |
Structure and Design | INR 6.20 LPA | INR 10.50 LPA |
RF and Microwave Engineering | INR 10.50 LPA | INR 15 LPA |
Digital Signal Processing | INR 9.10 LPA | INR 23 LPA |
Control System | INR 10 LPA | INR 15 LPA |
VLSI and Microsystems | INR 15 LPA | INR 15 LPA |
Power Electronics | INR 10 LPA | INR 15 LPA |
Material Science and Technology | INR 7.10 LPA | INR 10.50 LPA |
Geoinformatics | INR 8.50 LPA | INR 10 LPA |
Machine Learning and Computing | INR 18.50 LPA | INR 28 LPA |
Optical Engineering | INR 9.10 LPA | INR 9.18 LPA |
IIST MTech Rankings
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is a private institute located in Thiruvananthapuram established in 1956. IIST is recognised by the UGC and was ranked 40 for Engineering by NIRF 2021 and was ranked among the top 45 engineering institutes of the country according to 2022 NIRF rankings of MHRD with a high score of more than 75% in Teaching, Learning, and Resources, which is relatively superior to many premier institutes in the country. Tabulated below is the IIST ranking for 2023:
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
Yes, IIST - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is one of the best engineering colleges in Thiruvananthapuram. It is a specialised institution for space Science and technology, and it offers several advantages over other engineering colleges in the city. The institute was established in 1956 and is recognised by the UGC. IIST was ranked 40 for Engineering by NIRF 2021 and was ranked among the top 45 engineering institutes of the country according to 2022 NIRF rankings of MHRD with a high score of more than 75% in Teaching, Learning, and Resources, which is relatively superior to many premier institutes in the country. IIST offers undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, and dual degree programs under various departments such as Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Chemistry, Earth & Space Sciences, Humanities, Mathematics, and Physics.
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IIST Trivandrum M.E./M.TechStudents Ratings & Reviews
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IIST MTech Admission FAQs 2025
Yes, you can join IIST - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology- after GATE exam. As per the IIST admission guideines it accepts exams like GATE and JEST for admission to its offered specialisations. M.Tech admission is based on the 'Admission List' which is prepared on the rank list, an available number of vacancies, and preferences given by the candidate. Selection for the rank list is done based on the valid score of the national exams followed by an online interview. Interested candidates can check below the IIST eligibility criteria for BTech:
Eligibility Criteria: Bachelor's degree with 60% aggregate for General / EWS & OBC category and 55% for SC/ST & PwD category.
Selection Criteria: GATE and JEST (for M.Tech in Earth System Science & Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics)
Yes, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology does offer dual degree in BTech and MTech. The dual degree programme is offered for five years covering ten semesters. On successful completion, the students are awarded a BTech degree in Engineering Physics and MTech. degree in one of the following four postgraduate streams:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Science in Solid State Physics
- Earth System Science
- Optical Engineering
IISc Bangalore conducted the GATE 2024 exam on February 3, 4, 10, and 11, 2024. The GATE 2024 application form was released on 24th August 2024 on the official website at gate.iisc.ac.in. The organising institute for GATE 2024 was IISc Bangalore. The exam was conducted online as a computer-based test for 29 papers. Candidates had to solve 65 questions in 180 minutes (3 hours). The GATE 2024 syllabus is based on General Aptitude and Core Discipline, carrying a weightage of 15% and 85% respectively. Check more about GATE 2024 exam here.
GATE 2026 admit card is now available for download on its official website - gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates appearing for GATE this year must download their hall ticket to appear for exam. To download admit card, candidates have to provide their enrollment ID and password at GOAPS portal.
The highest package offered in all the Dual Degree departments was the same in 2023 and the amount stood at INR 13.20 LPA. Take a look at the below table showcasing the IIST placements for the Dual Degree batch 2018-23:
| Dual Degree Department | Total No. of Students (2023) | Total No. of Students Eligible for ISRO Absorption (2023) | Highest Package (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTech in Optical Engineering | 4 | 2 | INR 13.20 LPA |
| MS in Solid State Physics | 5 | 5 | INR 13.20 LPA |
| MS in Earth System Science | 4 | 4 | INR 13.20 LPA |
| MS in Astronomy & Astrophysics | 5 | 5 | INR 13.20 LPA |
The institute has released specialisation-wise placement details for the MTech batch 2021-23. Of all the specialisations, Aerospace Engineering in Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics, Avionics in VLSI and Microsystems and Earth & Space Science Engineering in Geoinformatics recorded a 100% placement rate. The following table represents the specialisation-wise IIST MTech placement data for 2023:
| Specialisation | Placement Rate (2023) | Total Offers (Intern + full-time) 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal and Propulsion | 85% | 11 |
| Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics | 100% | 6 |
| Structure and Design | 66% | 9 |
| RF and Microwave Engineering | 57% | 7 |
| Digital Signal Processing | 66% | 11 |
| Control System | 80% | 6 |
| VLSI and Microsystems | 100% | 14 |
| Power Electronics | 85% | 10 |
| Material Science and Technology | 83% | 6 |
| Geoinformatics | 100% | 5 |
| Machine Learning and Computing | 72% | 13 |
| Optical Engineering | 25% | 1 |
The MTech in Physics Engineering batch 2021-23 comprised 5 students. A total of 1 offer (intern and full-time) was made during 2023 placements. The highest package for MTech PE stood at INR 9.18 LPA. The table below depicts the branch-wise IIST Thiruvananthapuram placement statistics 2023 for MTech:
| MTech Branch | No. of Students Available for Placement (2023) | No. of Students Placed (2023) | Total Offers (Intern + fulltime) (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | 17 | 14 | 26 |
| Avionics | 31 | 24 | 48 |
| Chemistry | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Earth & Space Science | 11 | 2 | 5 |
| Mathematics | 7 | 5 | 13 |
| Physics | 5 | 1 | 1 |
IIST Trivandrum
Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
While application fees for Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology admissions are not clearly mentioned students must pay application fees for the required entrance exams such as JEE Advanced, GATE, etc.
This fee can be paid online through Net Banking while candidates are applying for the re
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 days ago
The documents shown here are required for Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology admissions:
- Entrance Exam score card (JEE Advanced, GATE, etc.).
- Passing certificate of the qualifying exam (either Class 12 and 10 or bachelor's/ master's degree as the case may be).
- Statement of marks at the qu
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 days ago
The mode of application at Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is both online with students able to apply online through the university admissions portal so long as they complete the course eligibility.
Students must apply after they receive the entrance exam scores that is required for
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 days ago
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology conducts its admission process through entrance exam scores such as:
- Valid JEE Advanced for BTech admissions
- While PG admissions require valid GATE scores
Students must also apply through the IIST admission portal after they receive their scores.
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, as the foremost institute for Aerospace Engineering education in India IIST Thiruvananthapuram does live up to the hype with its well-performing graduates being absorbed by ISRO and having 1442+ of its alumni currently working at ISRO.
Further students and researchers of IIST Kerala have collabo
C
Contributor-Level 8
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Updated on Jun 30, 2025
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