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Branch Change

IIT Gandhinagar allows eligible BTech students to change their branch based on academic performance and institute norms. The policy is periodically updated; the latest norms (as of March 2025) are detailed below.

Branch Change Policy

For Students Admitted from AY 2025-26

  • Timing: Branch change applications are accepted only once, at the end of the first semester and before the start of the second semester.
  • Eligibility: Students must have a CPI (Cumulative Performance Index) of 6.50 or higher and no fail grades or backlogs to be eligible.
    • Fail grades/backlogs include:
      • First semester BTech courses dropped before the end of the semester
      • Prescribed courses not registered for
      • Fail grades in zero-credit courses (e.g., Physical Education)
      • Fail grades in Pass/Fail courses (e.g., General Education)
  • CPI Calculation: Only prescribed courses for the first semester are considered for CPI calculation. Any additional courses taken beyond the prescribed curriculum are not counted.
  • Order of Merit: Applications are processed in order of merit determined by CPI.
  • Seat Restrictions:
    • The strength of any branch after branch change must not exceed 110% of its sanctioned strength for that year.
    • The strength of any branch after branch change must not fall below 50% of its sanctioned strength for that year.
  • Unrestricted Change: Students with a CPI of 9.50 or higher may change branch without being subject to the above seat restrictions.
  • Frequency: Branch change is permitted only once, after the first semester.

Example Scenarios

  • Example 1: If the sanctioned strength of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is 40, after branch change, the total number of students in CSE cannot exceed 44 (10% above 40). If 3 students from other branches wish to move to CSE, only 4 can be accommodated in total, including any existing overflows.
  • Example 2: If Mechanical Engineering (ME) has a sanctioned strength of 40, at least 20 students must remain in ME after branch change (50% of 40). If 25 students wish to leave ME, only 20 can actually do so; the rest will not be permitted to change out.
  • Example 3: If a student with a CPI of 9.60 applies for a branch change, they can move to any branch of their choice, even if the destination branch exceeds 110% of its sanctioned strength or the source branch falls below 50%, as these restrictions do not apply to students with CPI ≥ 9.50.
  • Example 4: If a student dropped a prescribed first semester course before the semester ended, or did not register for a required course, or failed a zero-credit/Pass-Fail course, they are not eligible for branch change.

For Students Admitted Before AY 2025-26

  • Unrestricted Change: Students with a CPI of 9.50 or higher can change their branch without any seat restrictions.
  • General Eligibility: Other students may apply if they have a CPI of 6.50 or higher and no fail grades or backlogs (including dropped/unregistered/zero-credit/Pass-Fail courses as above).
  • Order of Merit: Applications are processed in order of merit determined by CPI.
  • Seat Restrictions:
    • The strength of the destination branch must not exceed 110% of its sanctioned strength.
    • The strength of the source branch must not fall below 50% of its sanctioned strength.
  • Timing: Branch change is permitted only once, at the beginning of the second academic year (after the second semester).

Example Scenarios

  • Example 1: If Electrical Engineering (EE) has a sanctioned strength of 50, after branch change, the number of students in EE cannot exceed 55. If 7 students from other branches want to move to EE, only 5 can be accommodated.
  • Example 2: If Chemical Engineering (ChE) has a sanctioned strength of 40, at least 20 students must remain in ChE after branch change. If 25 students want to leave, only 20 can do so.
  • Example 3: If a student with a CPI of 9.60 applies for a branch change, they can move to any branch of their choice, regardless of the above seat restrictions.
  • Example 4: If a student dropped a prescribed first-year course before the semester ended, or did not register for a required course, or failed a zero-credit/Pass-Fail course, they are not eligible for branch change.

Additional Guidelines

  • Fail Grades/Backlogs: For the purpose of branch change, fail grades/backlogs include:
    • Courses dropped before the end of the semester
    • Prescribed courses not registered for
    • Fail grades in zero-credit courses (e.g., Physical Education)
    • Fail grades in Pass/Fail courses (e.g., General Education)
  • Frequency: Branch change is permitted only once per student, as per the above timelines.
  • No Mid-Year Applications: No applications for branch change will be accepted during subsequent academic years.
  • Reconsideration: If another student transfers to a branch, requests may be reconsidered in order of merit, provided seat restrictions are not violated.

Summary Table

Feature AY 2025-26 & Later Before AY 2025-26
Timing End of 1st semester Beginning of 2nd year
Minimum CPI 6.50 (no fail/backlogs) 6.50 (no fail/backlogs)
Unrestricted Change CPI ≥ 9.50 CPI ≥ 9.50
Strength (max) 110% of sanctioned 110% of sanctioned
Strength (min) 50% of sanctioned 50% of sanctioned
CPI Calculation Prescribed courses only Prescribed courses only
Fail/Backlog Definition Includes dropped/unregistered/zero-credit/Pass-Fail courses Same as left
Frequency Once, after 1st semester Once, after 2nd semester

Degree Change

BTech to MTech (Sliding Mode)

Students pursuing BTech at IIT Gandhinagar (joined in 2013 or later) can apply for conversion to the BTech-MTech dual degree programme (sliding mode) after completing four semesters, but no later than the end of six semesters.

  • Minimum CPI: 6.0 out of 10 at the time of application.
  • Eligible Disciplines: Students may apply to any discipline with a regular MTech programme, provided they meet the discipline’s eligibility criteria (announced in advance).
  • Selection Process: Recommendations for conversion are made by a selection committee set up by the discipline in which the student wishes to pursue their MTech.
  • Additional Requirements: If the MTech discipline is different from the BTech discipline, additional courses may be required as specified by the second discipline.
  • Credit Requirements:
  • At least 72 credits for the MTech component (24 through courses, 32 through thesis units), in addition to BTech requirements.
  • For students admitted from 2022-23, up to two open electives from the BTech programme may count towards MTech coursework if they qualify.
  • Graduation: Both BTech and MTech degrees are awarded after completing all requirements for both.
  • CPI Calculation: A single CPI is maintained until completion of both degrees; two separate CPIs (BTech and MTech) are shown in the final transcript.
  • Honours/Minors: Students may also pursue Honours in the same discipline and/or Minors in other disciplines as part of their BTech degree.
  • Pass/Fail Conversion: Allowed for only two courses during the entire dual degree period.
  • Other Norms: All other academic norms (e.g., course substitution) apply separately for BTech and MTech requirements.
  • Exit Option: Students may request to opt out of the dual degree at any point with valid reasons (subject to approval); they will then be treated as BTech students.
  • Conversion to BTech: If a student does not maintain a CPI above 6.0 or secures more than two U (or F) grades in MTech thesis units, they will be converted to the BTech programme (sliding mode only).

BTech-MTech Dual Degree (Direct Admission Mode)

Note: Direct admission to BTech-MTech dual degree is discontinued from AY 2025-26.

  • Branch/Programme Change: Students admitted through direct admission may request a one-time change of programme/branch at the beginning of the second year, governed by the same branch change policies as BTech programmes.
    • The direct admission BTech-MTech dual degree is considered equivalent to a branch of a regular BTech programme for this purpose.
    • Example: A student in BTech-MTech Dual Degree (CSE) may switch to BTech (Chemical Engineering), BTech (CSE), or BTech-MTech Dual Degree (EE), and vice versa.
  • Programme Change within Discipline: After the branch change round, students in a direct admission dual degree may request a change of programme within the discipline before the second year, based on merit, provided the number of students in the dual degree does not fall below 50% of its sanctioned strength.
    • Merit at the end of the first year is considered (no fail grades/backlogs).
    • Change from BTech-MTech dual degree to regular BTech is allowed only once at the beginning of the second year.

Reference

Adapted from:
- Academic Affairs Advisory 11 (Version 1.2, March 2025)
- Academic Affairs Advisory 39 (Version 2.4, March 2025)