Cargill, a US-global food and agriculture corporation, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has announced a full scholarship for students who wish to pursue BS in Data Science Applications at IIT Madras.

The students would be selected based on the eligibility criteria for the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship. About 7,500 new students enter the programme every year, of which between 25% and 30% fall in the category of annual family income of less than Rs 5 lakh.

The Cargill Scholarship will enable over 100 students from this low income background to fulfil their dream of pursuing higher education at IIT Madras.

IIT Madras launched the BS in Data Science and Applications in June 2020. The programme has completed six academic terms and is stepping into its third year. The programme was recently awarded the Silver medal by QS-Wharton Reimagine Education Awards for Best Online programme.

More than 22,000 learners have qualified for the programme so far and about 17,000 are actively studying. While 195 students are at the Degree level, more than 4,500 are at the Diploma level.

The IIT Madras BS Degree in Data Science and Applications is a unique programme designed to offer students multiple entry and exit options where the learner can enter and exit with a certificate, diploma or degree. There are four levels in the IIT Madras Degree programme and to get the BS Degree in Data Science and Applications from IIT Madras, a student has to successfully complete all four levels.

This programme provides flexibility for learners and empowers the students to choose what they want to accomplish through this programme. Unlike the highly competitive Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE), in which very few candidates qualify, this programme is more open and has an inclusive qualifier process which provides learners across the country access to IIT quality education.