Address: Valiamala P.O., 695547 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Earth and Space Sciences
Space education in India gained a dedicated degree-granting institution when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) under the Department of Space. The institute was formally inaugurated on 14 September 2007 and was first housed on the premises of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre before moving to its permanent campus at Valiamala, near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, in 2010.
IIST is an autonomous body under the Department of Space, Government of India, and is a deemed university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Teaching is organised in seven departments: Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Physics.
Undergraduate admission leads to a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering or Avionics, or to a five-year dual degree that joins a B.Tech in Engineering Physics with a master’s specialisation. Postgraduate programmes (M.Tech and M.Sc), doctoral studies and a postdoctoral programme complete the offer. Beyond the Valiamala campus, the institute operates an observatory at Ponmudi, in the hills of Kerala.
Domains taught:
Aerospace, AI and Machine Learning, Astroscience, Engineering, Materials, Physics, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Asia’s first Space University. Offers programs tailored to the needs of the Indian space program. Graduates may be absorbed into ISRO.
Research:
Research focused on space science and technology, including launch vehicle technology, satellite systems, remote sensing, astronomy, and astrophysics.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
200
Current students***:
1000
Foreign students***:
0%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Direct pathway for careers in ISRO, specialized curriculum in space science and technology, strong research collaboration with ISRO.
Cons
Highly specialized focus, very competitive admissions, curriculum is geared towards ISRO’s requirements.
Best For
Students aspiring to careers in the Indian space program (ISRO), with a strong interest in aerospace engineering, avionics, or space sciences.
National Institute of Technology Calicut, in Kerala, the same state as the space institute, teaches engineering, computer science and architecture.
National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar in Odisha focuses on biological, chemical and physical sciences.
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bengaluru works on materials science, neuroscience and molecular biology.
National Institute of Technology Rourkela, in Odisha, is strong in metallurgical and materials engineering as well as computer science.
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu offers engineering, computer science and architecture.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach in the United States combines aerospace engineering with pilot training.
ISAE-SUPAERO in France concentrates on aerospace and aeronautical engineering.
Cranfield University in the United Kingdom lists aerospace, engineering and management.
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial in Spain works on aerospace systems, aeronautics and space.
Universität Stuttgart in Germany is known for automotive, aerospace and mechanical engineering.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Which organisation created IIST, and when did it open?
The Indian Space Research Organisation set it up under the Department of Space. It was formally inaugurated on 14 September 2007 and used space at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre until the permanent campus was ready.
Where is the main campus?
The main campus is at Valiamala near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, which opened in 2010. A separate research site, an observatory, is in the Ponmudi hills.
Which departments does the institute have?
There are seven: Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Physics. Aerospace Engineering and Avionics provide the two B.Tech streams.
Which degrees can students earn?
Options include the B.Tech, a five-year dual degree built on Engineering Physics, M.Tech and M.Sc programmes, doctorates and postdoctoral research. The mix of basic sciences and engineering reflects the institute's focus on space science and technology.
Is IIST a university or a government laboratory?
It holds deemed-university status under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, and works as an autonomous body of the Department of Space. It therefore awards its own degrees while remaining linked to the national space programme.
Where can current admission rules be checked?
Entry routes and cut-offs change from year to year and differ between undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. The admissions section of the official institute website carries the up-to-date brochures and schedules.
Aerospace, Astrophysics, Engineering, Space, Space Exploration, User-Centered Design
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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