IIT Madras students can soon complete part of master’s degree in the UK

IIT Madras
The University of Birmingham and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras have signed a partnership agreement to launch several joint master’s programmes. Source: Arun Sankar/AFP

The University of Birmingham and IIT Madras have signed a collaborative Statement of Intent to launch several joint master’s programmes that will help students to save money and time. 

This partnership agreement — the first education partnership on a master’s level between any IIT and a Russell Group uni — was reached during a visit to Chennai by Professor Adam Tickell. This deal would allow Indian students to study in Birmingham and Chennai before receiving a master’s degree awarded by both universities. 

The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in February 2022, where both institutions declared their intention to enhance their partnership. 

These joint programmes will include study areas such as data science, energy systems and biomedical engineering. The first joint programme will launch in 2023. 

iit madras

UOB’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Tickell (pictured on the left) with Professor Koshy Varghese, Director In-Charge, IIT Madras. Source: UOB

“These innovative joint postgraduate programmes between IIT Madras and the University of Birmingham will offer students the opportunity to pursue a world-class education at globally leading institutions in two countries, and to have their educational achievements recognised by both,” said Tickle in a press release.

Echoing Professor Tickell is Professor Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement) at IIT Madras: “This is a great beginning for what we hope will be a long and fruitful association with [the] University of Birmingham, hitting several high notes.”

iit madras

Students in these programmes graduate with a degree and experience they gained from two institutions. Source: Narinder Nanu/AFP

IIT Madras bringing UK and India closer

UOB has several significant partnerships in India, underpinned by its India Institute, which aims to increase the visibility, impact and coherence of Birmingham’s engagement in the country.

Established in January 2018, the institute aims to bring Birmingham and India closer together to deliver impactful research on the dynamic transformation of three Indian cities (Shimla, Jalandhar and Nashik) and the causes, sources and effects of poor air quality in India and across the globe.

Together, UOB and IIT Madras have created a supportive network for academics, research councils, institutions, government offices, commercial partners who are interested in building transnational education partnerships with India.

It builds upon the University’s relationship with India, which started in 1909 with the first cohort of Indian students attending UOB to study for degrees in mining and commerce. Since then, UOB has provided education to more than 1,000 Indian graduates, including high-ranking government officials.