Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology B.Tech Review By Priyanshu Kumar

The Institute is a good platform for students who are looking forward to build a career in space sector. There are several opportunities available to pursue research & project work in space applications, either through faculty collaborations, ISRO Centers, or IIST-ISRO Small Spacecraft Systems & Payload Centre (SSPACE), where students work on actual small satellite & rocket development. The close relationship of institute with ISRO offers opportunity to do internships at ISRO Centers, or work on ISRO-sponsored faculty projects. Students are given the freedom to pitch their own R&D ideas, propose missions, and work to that end. This is what drew me to IIST, and I think anyone seeking exposure to space R&D at the undergraduate level should definitely consider IIST as an option.

IIST has seven departments, namely, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Avionics, Earth & Space Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Humanities & Social Sciences. Degrees offered included B.Tech, dual degree (B.Tech+M.Tech/M.Sc.), M.Tech, and PhD. Admissions to M.Tech/Ph.D are based on GATE/JEST scores and interviews, while B.Tech admits are taken based on scores in Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced. Counseling is separate from JoSAA: an IIST Rank List is prepared based on JEE scores of applicants, followed by multiple rounds of selection. The primary motivation of most of the people joining IIST, especially at the undergraduate level, is to secure a job at ISRO/upcoming space companies, or pursue research & higher studies.

The IIST faculty consists of highly qualified and research-oriented individuals working in theoretical as well as practical domains of Science & Engineering, especially for space applications. Most of the professors hold a PhD from one of the IITs or IISTc and have worked at foreign universities for postdoctoral positions. Some professors prefer the chalk-&-talk approach, while others use ICT tools and presentations more frequently. The overall teaching quality is good, with good-quality practice & graded assignments provided for sufficient absorption of theoretical concepts. Examinations & grading are generally on the tougher side to bring the best out of students. Most faculty members are keen to take undergraduate onboard research projects and actively encourage students to conduct quality research, make conference presentations, apply for patents and publish their work in reputed journals to strengthen students' research profiles.

IIST has a primarily student-run centre for Career Guidance & Placements (CCGP), working towards attracting the top companies in the space sector, such as Skyroot Aerospace, Dhruva Space, Agnikul Cosmos, and beyond (Accenture, Texas Instruments) to recruit talented IISTians. Till B.Tech./Dual Degree batch of 2020-24, IIST used to have a bond that students would sign at the time of admission. The bond mandated students, securing a CGPA > 7.5/10 after program completion, to work at an ISRO/DoS Centre or Unit for a minimum period of 3 years, failing which a fine of ₹10,00,000/- would have to paid. Now, that bond has been removed, and recruitment to ISRO would be through an interview subject to securing CGPA > 7.5. Joining ISRO is not mandatory.

IIST is fully residential, with triple-sharing accommodation for first-years and double occupancy rooms from the second year onwards. The hostels are on the newer side, and the rooms are properly furnished & fresh-looking - any issues are addressed immediately upon informing. Clean Western-style toilets, bath & shower stalls, and clean water-dispensing coolers are available in each hostel. The environment is generally lively.

IIST has five four academic blocks (Aerospace Block, Avionics Block, Science Block, and the Interdisciplinary Block). Each block has spacious, well-furnished classrooms, well-equipped labs, faculty offices, washrooms, staircases, and lifts & ramps for accessibility. Other buildings include the Administrative Block, the Library, and the Space Technology Innovation & Incubation Centre (STIIC). An on-campus cafeteria provides food; snacks, stationery and toiletries, and shops & eateries are plenty near the campus. IIST also has a football & cricket ground, a volleyball court, an open gym, a basketball court, cricket nets, and multiple badminton courts. There is a dedicated Student Activities Centre (SAC), with an Open Amphitheatre (OAT), a Multipurpose Hall (MPH), badminton courts, gymnasium, table tennis, carom, billiards, and chess facilities, along with the Students' Mess, which offers clean & hygienic food at nominal rates. IIST also has its own student-run satellite & rocketry programmes, supported by the IIST-ISRO Small Spacecraft Systems & Payload Centre, with a dedicated lab and a satellite ground station, and access to ISRO infrastructure based on demand. IIST also has a telescope of its own for observing the night sky, and an observatory located 50 km away in Ponmudi, jointly operated with ISRO.

The campus is mostly calm & serene, with beautiful scenery and photogenic spots. A large variety of flora and fauna can be seen on the campus. The general atmosphere is peaceful due to the low population, academic environment, and distance from the main city of Thiruvananthapuram. However, the two fests induce a healthy & lively atmosphere: Dhanak, the cultural fest in Spring, and Conscientia, the astronomical & tech fest in fall. Konchords is organized as a musical extravaganza in the fall semester to lighten the mood. Apart from fests, the institute has many clubs: almost all of them are student-run & student-led, e.g., the Aero Club, JeevYantra: the Robotics Club, Celestials: the Astronomy Club, Neptunes: the Music Club, The Astoun: the Dance Club, Nirmaan: the Social Welfare & Outreach Club, Sarovar: the Literature Club, and more. SSPACE functions as the nodal agency for space-related activities, and several prestigious organizations like the IEEE have branch chapters in IIST, with some faculty members in global leadership positions of the same.