Education News: IIT Madras School Connect Opens for Class 9 Students

The programme is designed to help school students explore different subjects and understand possible career options before making important academic decisions.

IIT Madras School Connect 2026: Important Dates

Registration for the October 2026 batch started on August 24, 2026, and the last date to register is September 30, 2026. Classes will begin on October 5, 2026 and continue until November 27. The final examination is scheduled for December 13, 2026.

Students Can Explore 17 Career Fields

The School Connect programme offers courses in 17 different academic and career areas. These include Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Electronic Systems, Cybersecurity, Aerospace, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Design, Product Design, Law, Economics and Finance, Mathematics and Computing, Game Technology, Digital Humanities and Engineering Biological Systems.

The courses are intended to give students an early understanding of different fields. This can help Class 9 and 10 students think about subject streams for Classes 11 and 12. For senior school students, the programme can provide useful exposure before selecting a college degree or career path.

Eight-Week Online Courses

Each School Connect course runs for eight weeks. The programme uses online learning with recorded lectures, live sessions, assignments and computer-based assessments. Students who successfully complete the required course work and assessments can receive an official e-certificate from IIT Madras CODE.

Courses are available in English and Hindi, making the programme accessible to students from different language backgrounds. IIT Madras is also developing modules in additional Indian languages.

School Partnership Is Required

Students cannot simply enrol independently. According to the official IIT Madras School Connect website, the programme is available to students from partnered schools, and students interested in taking a course should contact their school for the enrolment process.

This means parents and students should first check whether their school is part of the IIT Madras School Connect network.

IIT Madras Plans Wider Expansion

IIT Madras says the programme has already reached more than 1.75 lakh students across 4,900-plus schools, including schools outside India. The institute has also stated its ambition to take School Connect to 25,000 schools across the country.

The expansion to Class 9 is aimed at giving students more time to discover their interests and understand different academic fields before making career-related choices.

The IIT Madras School Connect programme is an educational outreach and certificate programme, not admission to IIT Madras. Students who complete the courses receive certificates from IIT Madras CODE, but participation does not mean admission to an IIT degree programme.