Introduction
If you’re an IT professional wondering how to add an IIT credential to your resume without quitting your job, IIT Bombay just made that a lot easier. The institute’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) has opened its e-Postgraduate Diploma (ePGD) in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence — a 12-month, fully online program built specifically for working professionals who want IIT-level rigor without relocating to Powai.
This isn’t a MOOC with a certificate at the end. It’s a credit-based diploma, evaluated and delivered directly by IIT Bombay CSE faculty, with in-person examinations and a graduation ceremony on campus.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What the program actually covers
- Who is eligible to apply
- Key dates and deadlines
- Fees and the admission process
- How this diploma compares with other online AI/CS programs
- Common mistakes applicants make — and how to avoid them
Table of Contents
- What Is the IIT Bombay ePGD in CS & AI?
- Why This Program Matters for Working Professionals
- Eligibility Criteria
- Important Dates You Shouldn’t Miss
- Curriculum: What You’ll Actually Study
- Step-by-Step Application Process
- Fees and Financial Planning
- Tips and Best Practices for Applicants
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Latest Trends in IIT Online Diplomas
- Key Takeaways
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is the IIT Bombay ePGD in CS & AI?
The ePGD in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence is offered directly by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay — not through a generic “IIT-affiliated” outreach cell. It’s a 12-month, 36-credit online diploma designed for software engineers, data scientists, IT professionals, and recent graduates who want deeper theoretical grounding alongside applied AI skills.
Unlike many online bootcamps that repackage the same generic modules, this program mirrors IIT Bombay’s on-campus academic standards. Courses are delivered through weekly live sessions by CSE faculty, backed by recorded content, assignments, and in-person end-term exams either on campus or at a designated location.
Great Learning is the edtech delivery partner, but the academic content, evaluation, and diploma itself come entirely from IIT Bombay.
Why This Program Matters for Working Professionals
A few things set this apart from the sea of online AI courses:
- No GATE score required — a major barrier for professionals is removed.
- eAlumni status from IIT Bombay upon graduation, opening access to the institute’s professional network and its Lateral Hiring Group.
- Campus immersion — you’re not just watching videos; you visit IIT Bombay for exams and convocation.
- Real academic credits (36 credits) that can be banked in India’s Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), unlike most certificate courses.
- Faculty-led instruction, not third-party instructors reading off slides.
For someone who already has 2–5 years of coding experience but never got the chance to do a formal postgraduate degree, this bridges that gap without a career break.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the ePGD in CS & AI, candidates generally need one of the following:
- A BE / BTech / BS (4-year degree) in Computer Science or a closely related field, or
- A degree in another engineering discipline, provided additional qualifying criteria are met, or
- A higher qualification (PG or doctoral level) in Computer Science or allied areas, with a working knowledge of mathematics and programming.
Who this program suits best:
- Fresh graduates wanting to deepen their technical foundation
- Software developers and engineers looking to formalize their skills
- Data scientists and ML practitioners who want stronger theoretical grounding
- IT professionals with strong on-the-job experience but no postgraduate degree
There’s no strict minimum work-experience requirement stated for the CSE track (unlike some other executive programs that ask for at least one year of experience), which makes it accessible to both early-career and mid-career applicants — though admission is still selective and includes a screening step.
Important Dates You Shouldn’t Miss
Cohort dates for IIT Bombay’s ePGD programs move fairly often, since admissions close as soon as a batch fills up. As of the most recent update, applications for the current cohort of the ePGD in Computer Science and AI close on 21 August 2026.
Because these programs run on a rolling, batch-limited basis:
- Apply early. Registrations close once the required number of seats for a batch is filled — sometimes weeks before the official deadline.
- Check the official source before applying. Visit the CSE department’s page (cse.iitb.ac.in) or the program’s Great Learning page for the live application window, since dates shift with each new cohort.
- Factor in the screening process. Between submitting your application and getting an offer letter, you’ll go through an online assessment and a screening call — build in a few weeks for this.
Curriculum: What You’ll Actually Study
The 36-credit curriculum is split into two baskets. You need to complete a minimum of two courses from each basket, totaling six courses.
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning basket includes courses like:
- Foundational Mathematics for Data Science
- Reinforcement Learning
- Foundations of Computer Vision
- Generative AI: From Foundations to Autonomous Agents
- Natural Language Processing and Generative AI
Computer Science basket includes courses like:
- The Programmer’s Toolbox (Unix, C/C++, Python, web basics)
- Algorithms and Complexity
- Web and Software Security
- Cryptography and Network Security
- Database and Big Data System Internals
- Introduction to Blockchains
This structure means you’re not just learning to prompt an LLM — you’re studying the mathematical and systems foundations underneath modern AI, alongside core CS topics like distributed databases, cryptography, and complexity theory.
Practical example: A backend developer who takes the Database and Big Data System Internals course alongside Generative AI would come out equipped to design AI-powered applications that also scale properly at the data layer — a combination that’s genuinely hard to find in a single program.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Visit the official CSE department page on IIT Bombay’s website or the program’s admissions portal.
- Go to “Academics” → “Programmes” → “ePGD” to view program details.
- Fill out the online application form with your academic and professional background.
- Take the online screening test that assesses foundational knowledge in math, programming, or related areas.
- Attend a mandatory screening call with the Registration Office.
- Receive your offer letter, if selected.
- Pay the registration fee to lock in your seat.
Fees and Financial Planning
Fee structures for IIT Bombay’s ePGD programs vary by specialization; the related AI & Data Science ePGD, for context, has historically been priced around ₹6,00,000 plus 18% GST. For the exact current fee for the CS & AI ePGD — including any installment options — check the official program page directly, since fees and payment plans are updated per cohort.
Tip: Many professionals get partial or full tuition support through employer learning-and-development budgets. It’s worth checking with your HR or L&D team before self-funding, especially since this is a formal credit-bearing diploma rather than a short certificate.
Tips and Best Practices for Applicants
- Brush up on your math fundamentals — linear algebra, probability, and calculus show up early, especially in the AI/ML basket.
- Block out 10–14 hours a week. Programs like this are designed around evening and weekend sessions, but they still require consistent weekly effort, not last-minute cramming.
- Talk to your manager early about the campus visit requirements for exams and convocation — these typically need a few days of planned leave.
- Pick your course baskets strategically. If your goal is an AI/ML-heavy career shift, prioritize electives like Generative AI and Computer Vision. If you want systems depth, lean into Database Internals and Security.
- Keep your documents ready — degree certificates, mark sheets, and work experience proof are usually needed early in the screening process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the deadline. Since seats close once filled, waiting until the last date listed can mean missing the batch entirely.
- Assuming it’s self-paced. This is a live, faculty-led program with scheduled sessions — it’s not something you can binge over a weekend.
- Ignoring the in-person requirement. Some applicants assume “online” means fully remote. Exams and convocation require a campus visit — plan for travel and leave.
- Underestimating the math prerequisite. The AI/ML basket assumes comfort with linear algebra and statistics; skipping revision here often leads to a rough first term.
- Not verifying current fees and dates. Program details, especially fees and deadlines, change across cohorts — always cross-check with the official IIT Bombay CSE page before paying anything to a third party.
Latest Trends in IIT Online Diplomas
IIT Bombay has been steadily expanding its portfolio of online ePGD programs beyond just AI and Data Science — recent additions include diplomas in Integrated Circuits (IC) Design and the Executive PG Diploma in AI and Data Science through the C-MInDS center. This reflects a broader trend among IITs: moving from short online certificates toward credit-bearing, faculty-led diplomas that carry real academic weight and can be logged in India’s Academic Bank of Credits.
For working professionals, this shift matters — it means online learning from IITs is increasingly treated as equivalent in rigor (if not duration) to on-campus postgraduate education, rather than a lighter, “executive” alternative.
Key Takeaways
- IIT Bombay’s CSE department directly delivers a 12-month, 36-credit online diploma in Computer Science and AI.
- No GATE score is needed, but a screening test and interview are part of admissions.
- Applications for the current cohort close 21 August 2026 — but seats can fill earlier.
- The curriculum blends AI/ML (Generative AI, Computer Vision, RL, NLP) with core CS (algorithms, security, databases, blockchain).
- Graduates receive IIT Bombay eAlumni status and attend an on-campus convocation.
Conclusion
For professionals who’ve built their careers through hands-on coding but never had the bandwidth for a full-time postgraduate degree, IIT Bombay’s ePGD in Computer Science and AI is one of the more credible bridges available right now. It’s rigorous, faculty-led, and backed by a real institutional credential rather than a completion badge. The trade-off is real commitment — weekly live sessions, campus visits, and a demanding six-course curriculum — but for the right candidate, it’s a meaningful career accelerator. Given how quickly seats fill, the smartest move is to check the official CSE admissions page today rather than waiting for the listed deadline.
FAQs
1. Is the IIT Bombay online PG diploma in CS & AI equivalent to a regular IIT degree? It’s a postgraduate diploma, not a master’s degree, but it carries real IIT Bombay academic credits (36 total) and is delivered and evaluated by the same CSE faculty who teach on-campus courses.
2. Do I need a GATE score to apply for this ePGD? No. A GATE score isn’t mandatory for this program, which makes it more accessible to working professionals compared to some traditional postgraduate routes.
3. Is the program fully online, or do I need to visit the campus? It’s primarily online with weekly live sessions, but end-term exams and the graduation ceremony require an in-person visit to IIT Bombay or a designated exam location.
4. What is the eligibility for the IIT Bombay ePGD in Computer Science and AI? You generally need a 4-year BE/BTech/BS in Computer Science or a related field, or an equivalent qualification from another engineering background, subject to additional criteria.
5. How long does the IIT Bombay online CS & AI diploma take to complete? The standard duration is 12 months, with weekly live sessions designed around working professionals’ schedules.
6. What subjects are covered in the curriculum? Six courses across two baskets: AI & Machine Learning (math for data science, reinforcement learning, computer vision, generative AI, NLP) and Computer Science (programming toolbox, algorithms, security, databases, blockchain).
7. When do applications close for the current batch? As of the latest update, applications close on 21 August 2026, though seats can close earlier once the batch fills up — check the official IIT Bombay CSE admissions page for the current status.