The online application website opens	30 March 2026
Last date for submission of online applications	25 May 2026
Entrance test	14 June 2026
Announcement of Merit List	TBD
Fees payment window for shortlisted candidates	TBD
Announcement of Admission Status	TBD
Registration and document verification at the DA-IICT campus for confirmed candidates (Tentative)	14 July 2026
Orientation Program	15-17 July 2026
Commencement of classes	20 July 2026

The BS–MS Dual Degree in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence is a comprehensive five-year program that builds expertise across the full spectrum of data-driven intelligence: from foundational mathematics to advanced autonomous AI systems.

Progressive Learning Path

The program follows a carefully structured year-wise progression that advances students from foundational understanding to independent innovation:

Year 1 – Foundations

Core grounding in programming, mathematics, and introductory data science. Emphasis on understanding and applying fundamental concepts.

Year 2 – Analytical Depth

Systems-oriented computing and statistical modeling. Students learn to analyze computational and probabilistic methods with greater rigor.

Year 3 – Applied Machine Learning & AI

Machine learning, big data systems, and applied AI. Focus on integrating and evaluating models in practical, real-world settings.

Year 4 – Advanced AI & Deployment

Specialized AI architectures, scalable deployment frameworks, and domain-centric applications. Students begin designing complex AI solutions.

Year 5 – Research, Innovation & Industry Immersion

Thesis or industry internship. Emphasis on independent problem formulation, solution design, evaluation, and development at the highest level of intellectual engagement.

This progression ensures steady development from technical competence to critical thinking, innovation, and leadership in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Beyond Technical Training

Technology does not exist in isolation. The program integrates courses in:

• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Economics of Data and AI
• Product Management
• Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation

Students learn not only how to build AI systems, but how to deploy them responsibly and sustainably in real-world environments.

Experiential and Applied Learning

Graduates are shaped through:

• Industry internships
• Applied laboratory projects
• Interdisciplinary problem-solving
• Research-focused capstone thesis

Students gain hands-on experience in designing, evaluating, and deploying production-grade AI systems that are explainable, scalable, and human-centered.

Detailed program structure can be found here.

The program follows a multi-exit framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), providing academic flexibility and lifelong learning opportunities:

 

• After 3 Years – B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science)
  Strong grounding in programming, statistics, data science, and core machine learning.
• After 4 Years – BS (Bachelor of Science – Honours)
  Advanced specialization in data engineering, AI systems, and applied analytics.
• After 5 Years – MS (Master of Science / Master of Science by Research)
  Expertise in autonomous and trustworthy AI, completed through a research thesis or industry-focused internship.

This multi-exit framework ensures flexibility while maintaining academic rigor, allowing students to align their educational journey with career goals, entrepreneurial ambitions, or higher studies.

Intake: 120

The Institute reserves the right to modify procedural aspects, cut-offs, and seat allocation ceilings prior to commencement of the admission cycle, in compliance with applicable regulatory norms.

1. Eligibility Criteria

1. The candidate must have completed (or be appearing in) Class XII (or equivalent) with Mathematics as a compulsory subject with a minimum aggregate of 60% or its equivalent.
2. All admissions are provisional until documents are successfully verified.

2. Seat Allocation Framework

Admissions shall be conducted through the following channels. The percentages indicated represent maximum ceilings. The actual number of seats filled under a channel may vary depending on the applicant pool and merit.

2.1 DAU Entrance Test — Maximum 30% of Approved Intake

• Admission based on performance in the Institute’s Entrance Test.
• Merit list prepared based on normalised test scores.
• Cut-offs shall be determined annually by the Admission Committee.
• The selection of candidates will be based on the entrance test to be conducted at selected centers all over the country. The tentative list of centers is: DAU Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Benguluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna, Jaipur, Kolkata, New Delhi, Pune, Rajkot, Surat, Udaipur, Bhavnagar, Bhilai, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Jammu, Kochi, Lucknow, Pant Nagar, Porbandar, Ranchi and Vijayawada.

2.2 National-Level Entrance Examinations — Maximum 60% of Approved Intake

Admission based on the Mathematics percentile obtained in:

• Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main), or
• Common University Entrance Test (CUET).

Detailed business rules governing this channel are provided in Appendix A.

2.3 Direct Admission Category — Maximum 5% of Approved Intake

Eligible candidates may be considered under this category if they satisfy any one of the following criteria. The total number of seats is divided equally between the two sub-channels under this category. However, the institute reserves the right to fill any unfilled seat with any other channel or sub-channel.

(A) Exceptional Board Performance

• ≥ 99.5 percentile (or equivalent as determined by the Institute) in the qualifying Board examination.

(B) Recognised Olympiad Achievements (within the last four years)

• Qualified for IMOTC / EGMOTC, or
• Qualified for IOITC, or
• Awarded Gold or Silver Medal at the Indian National Olympiad in Informatics (INOI).

All claims must be supported by verifiable documentary proof. The Admission Committee reserves the right to validate credentials.

2.4 International / NRI Category — Maximum 5% of Approved Intake

International and NRI candidates may apply based on:

• SAT or ACT scores, or
• JEE Main Mathematics percentile.

Unfilled seats under this category may be converted to domestic seats.

3. Inter-Category Reallocation and Additional Evaluation

The percentage allocations specified under each admission channel represent the maximum permissible intake and do not guarantee that all such seats shall be filled.

The Institute reserves the right to:

• Fill fewer seats in any admission category or sub-category.
• Reallocate unfilled seats across categories or sub-categories based on merit, seat availability, and institutional requirements.
• Conduct an interview or additional evaluation process for shortlisted candidates if seats remain unfilled after the initial merit-based rounds.

Where an interview or additional evaluation is conducted:

• Candidates may be shortlisted based on merit from among those who were not offered admission in earlier rounds.
• Interview performance may serve as a qualifying criterion and/or as a tie-breaking mechanism.
• The evaluation process and criteria shall be determined and approved by the Admission Committee prior to implementation.

DAU Entrance Test:

The test will evaluate the candidates on their Mathematical Aptitude, English language proficiency and Quantitative Aptitude.

Exam Duration: 90 minutes

Pattern: Multiple-choice answers.

Negative Marking: For each correct answer a candidate will get +4 and for each incorrect answer there will be a negative mark of -1.

Exam Syllabus:

Quantitative Aptitude: Problem-Solving, Numerical Ability, and Logical Reasoning (15 questions)

English Language Proficiency: (15 questions)

• Reading Comprehension (Passage-based) Skill List: Literal comprehension, Vocabulary (deducing meaning from context), Structural Awareness, Summarizing, Interpretation, Extrapolation
• Other Language Questions:
  • Vocabulary
  • Grammar (prepositions, subject-verb agreement, tenses, syntax, test common grammatical errors)
  • Logical Reasoning Questions

Mathematics: (30 questions)

• Algebra - Matrices, Determinants, Inverse of a matrix, Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Simultaneous Linear/Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic Progressions, Binomial Theorem
• Basic Discrete Mathematics - Functions, Sets and Relations; Permutations and Combinations, Mathematical Induction, and Basic Probability
• Calculus – Limits, Continuity, Differentiability, Application of Derivatives (tangents, normals, maxima/minima), Indefinite & Definite Integrals, and Differential Equations
• Coordinate Geometry: Straight Lines, Circles, and Conic Sections (Parabola, Ellipse, Hyperbola).

Tie breaker for Merit – DAU Entrance Test:

In case of tie, the marks in Mathematics section and English proficiency section in the entrance test will be considered in order to break the tie. If the tie still remains, then the marks in 10+2 and 10th Examination, will be given consideration in order to break the tie.

Notwithstanding the above, the Institute reserves the right to leave any seat vacant if suitable candidates are not available or if filling such seats is not deemed appropriate by the Admission Committee.

Appendix A

This Appendix specifies the business rules applicable to admissions under the National-Level Entrance Examinations Channel for the Academic Year 2026–27.

A1. Eligible National Examinations

Admission under this channel shall be based on performance in one or more of the following:

• Joint Entrance Examination – Main 2026
• Common University Entrance Test (UG) 2026 (Mathematics and English)
• Joint Entrance Examination – Main 2025
• Common University Entrance Test (UG) 2025 (Mathematics and English)

A2. Application Requirements

1. 1. Candidates must provide valid application number(s) for one or more eligible examinations.
2. 2. Only scores declared and available on or before 10 July 2026 shall be considered.
3. 3. Candidates shall be considered for ranking if:
   • At least one valid score is available by the deadline, and
   • At least one available score exceeds the prescribed minimum cutoff.

If no valid percentile score is available by the deadline, the candidate shall not be ranked under this channel.

A3. Seat Allocation Principles

Seats shall be allocated considering:

1. Position in the Merit List.
2. Availability of seats at different admission channels.
3. Other approved business rules.

A4. Merit List Preparation

A4.1 Composite Score (Q)

For each candidate: Q = Maximum of available Mathematics percentiles from:

1. JEE Main 2026
2. CUET (UG) 2026
3. JEE Main 2025
4. CUET (UG) 2025

If none is available, Q is invalid, and the candidate shall not be ranked.

A4.2 Tie-Breaking Rules

If two or more candidates have identical Q:

First Tie-Breaker (T1)

• If Q corresponds to JEE Main 2026 Mathematics percentile →
  T1 = JEE Main 2026 Total Percentile.
• If Q corresponds to CUET (UG) 2026 Mathematics percentile →
  T1 = CUET (UG) 2026 English Percentile.
• If Q corresponds to JEE Main 2025 Mathematics percentile →
  T1 = JEE Main 2025 Total Percentile.
• If Q corresponds to CUET (UG) 2025 Mathematics percentile →
  T1 = CUET (UG) 2025 English Percentile.

Higher T1 ranks higher.

Second Tie-Breaker (T2)

If Q and T1 are identical:

• T2 = Age in days as on 31 May 2026.
• Lower T2 (younger candidate) ranks higher.

A5. Final Ranking Order

Candidates shall be ranked in descending order of:

1. Q
2. T1
3. T2

A6. Cut-Offs and Validity

1. Minimum qualifying percentile shall be determined by the Admission Committee.
2. Meeting the cutoff does not guarantee admission.
3. Official scorecards shall prevail in case of discrepancy.

Age

Only those candidates whose date of birth falls on or after 01 October 2001 are eligible. Date of birth as recorded in the 10th or 12th standard certificate, as issued by the Board/University only, will be taken as authentic. Candidates must produce this certificate in original as proof of their age at the time of counselling.

The Institute reserves the right to interpret and apply these rules in case of ambiguity. Decisions of the Admission Committee shall be final and binding.

For Domestic Students

At the time of counselling, an amount of Rs. 1,75,000 (Rs. 1,50,000/- towards Tuition Fee for the First Semester and Rs. 25,000/- towards a Caution Deposit) - The registration fee is payable at the time of registration and hostel rent on allotment of the hostel room.

Tuition fee	Rs. 1,50,000 per semester
Registration Fee	Rs. 2,500 per Semester
Caution Deposit	Rs. 25,000 (Refundable at the end of the program)
Hostel Rent	To be updated
Food	To be updated

- Subject to revision every Academic Year from 8 to 10%.

For International / NRI Students

At the time of counselling, an amount of US $7,000 (US $6,000/- towards Tuition Fee for the First Semester and US $1,000/- towards a Caution Deposit) - The registration fee is payable at the time of registration and hostel rent on allotment of the hostel room.

Tuition fee	US $6,000 per semester
Registration Fee	US $100 per Semester
Caution Deposit	US $1,000 (Refundable at the end of the program)
Hostel Rent	To be updated
Food	To be updated

- Subject to revision every Academic Year from 8 to 10%.

Education Loan

The Institute will facilitate students in availing educational loans from selected Banks. Bank officials will be on campus at the time of registration for admitted students to provide details on the loan procedures and terms and conditions. The students can also avail a loan from banks of their choice, and in either case, the Institute will extend support in completing the loan documentation process.

Refund Policy

The refund policy for the withdrawing candidates will be in accordance with the UGC rules.

Scholarships at DAU

Financial Support

The Institute provides financial support in the form of scholarships to eligible students. More details of it can be seen here.

• Candidates (except applying under the International / NRI Category) should submit their online applications by clicking on the provided link below. The non-refundable application fee is Rs. 1500/- plus GST at 18% (Total: Rs. 1770/-).
• Candidates applying under the International / NRI Category should submit their online applications by clicking on the provided link below. The non-refundable application fee is (non-refundable) of US $150). Click here to Apply Online
• Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for their application to be considered for final admission.
• A candidate applying under the DAU Entrance Test category is required to appear for the Entrance Test conducted at selected centers nationwide. The online application procedure will guide the steps for application fee payment, entrance test registration, and test center selection.
• A candidate applying under the National-Level Entrance Examinations is required to submit the details and relevant documents through the online application which validate that the candidate fulfils the condition(s).
• A candidate applying under the Direct Admission Category is required choose the appropriate sub-channel under this category and submit the details and relevant documents through the online application which validate that the candidate fulfils the condition(s) under the selected sub-channel.
• A candidate applying under the International / NRI Category is required to submit the details and relevant documents which validate that the candidate fulfils the condition(s). Application fees for candidates applying under International / NRI Category is (non-refundable) of US $150.
• Shortlisted candidates will be offered admission (confirmed/waitlisted) based on merit. Counseling will be conducted online. Applicants are advised to regularly check the website from the date of the announcement of the first merit list to learn about the subsequent steps required to proceed with the counseling process.
• Candidates who accept admission offers must complete registration, document verification, and fee payment. Following this, orientation sessions will be conducted for those granted confirmed admission.

1. What is a BS–MS dual degree program?

A BS–MS dual degree program is an integrated five-year academic pathway that combines undergraduate and postgraduate study in a single structured curriculum. Students progress from foundational coursework to advanced specialisation and graduate-level study without needing to apply separately for a master’s degree.

2. How is a dual degree different from a traditional B.Tech. or B.Sc. program?

Dual degree programs are designed to provide deeper academic specialisation and advanced training. Students move beyond undergraduate foundations to graduate-level courses, research, and industry projects within the same program, preparing them for leadership roles in technology, research, and innovation.

3. What degrees are awarded upon completion?

Students receive both a Bachelor of Science – Honours (BS) degree and a Master of Science (MS) degree upon successful completion of the five-year program.

4. Are there exit options during the program?

Yes. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), the program offers structured exit options:

• After 3 years – Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• After 4 years – Bachelor of Science - Honours (BS)
• After 5 years – Master of Science (MS)

These exits provide flexibility while maintaining academic rigour.

5. What is the duration of the program?

The program is five years (ten semesters) and follows a progressive learning structure that moves from foundational concepts to advanced specialisation and research or industry engagement.

6. What kind of courses will students study?

Students study a balanced curriculum that includes:

• Mathematics and statistics
• Computing and programming
• Data science and artificial intelligence
• Systems and engineering concepts
• Domain applications
• Ethics, governance, and social impact of technology

The program also includes electives, projects, internships, and research opportunities.

7. Are internships and projects part of the program?

Yes. The curriculum includes industry internships, applied projects, seminars, and research-based capstone work, allowing students to gain hands-on experience and industry exposure.

8. What career opportunities are available after completing the program?

Graduates can pursue careers across multiple sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare, energy, digital services, and research organisations. Typical roles include:

• Data Scientist
• Machine Learning Engineer
• AI Engineer
• Data Architect
• Analytics Consultant
• AI Product Manager

Graduates may also pursue Ph.D. programs, research careers, or entrepreneurship.

9. Can students pursue higher studies after completing the program?

Yes. The integrated M.S. degree provides strong preparation for Ph.D. programs and advanced research opportunities at leading universities and research institutions worldwide.

10. Is the program suitable for students interested in research?

Yes. The curriculum emphasises analytical foundations, advanced AI techniques, and research-driven projects. Students can pursue thesis-based research in their final year.

11. Does the university support entrepreneurship?

Yes. Students interested in startups and innovation can access entrepreneurship programs, mentorship, and incubation support through the university’s incubation ecosystem.

12. What facilities support learning and innovation?

Students have access to modern laboratories, computing infrastructure, collaborative learning spaces, and research centres that support advanced work in data science, computing, and AI.

13. What support systems are available for students?

Students benefit from:

• Academic mentoring and advising
• Research supervision and labs
• Career services and internship support
• Innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives
• Access to interdisciplinary learning opportunities

14. What kind of campus activities can students participate in?

Students can participate in technical clubs, hackathons, research groups, innovation challenges, cultural events, and sports, contributing to a vibrant campus experience.

15. When does the application process begin?

The application process typically begins in March each academic year, with the program commencing in July/August. Applicants are encouraged to check the official admissions page regularly for updated timelines.

16. Is mathematics required in Class XII?

Yes. Since the program involves advanced topics in data science, computing, and artificial intelligence, a strong background in mathematics is essential.

17. Are scholarships or financial assistance available?

Yes. The university offers scholarships and financial assistance to eligible students based on academic merit and other criteria. Details are available on the Fee & Scholarships page.

18. Can international students apply?

Yes. International applicants are welcome to apply, provided they meet the university’s academic and admission requirements.

19. How can applicants track their application status?

Applicants can monitor the progress of their application through the online admissions portal of Dhirubhai Ambani University.

20. How can students apply to the program?

Applications can be submitted through the online admission portal of Dhirubhai Ambani University. Detailed eligibility criteria, admission processes, and timelines are available on the program admission page.

Voice Call: 079 69 08 08 08

Email: pg_admissions[at]dau[dot]ac[dot]in