Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, is Asia's first space university and an autonomous institution under the Department of Space, Government of India. The B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering is a 4-year full-time on-campus program with a seat intake of 75 students, covering subjects like aerodynamics, propulsion, flight mechanics, structural analysis, spacecraft design, and orbital mechanics. The total academic fee for the program is approximately Rs. 5.53 Lakhs (excluding hostel), with a per-semester fee of Rs. 67,950. Admission is exclusively through JEE Advanced scores via the IIST Online Admission Portal, making it one of the most prestigious and sought-after aerospace engineering programs in India. The program is particularly popular due to its direct linkage with ISRO, where eligible graduates are recruited as Scientist/Engineer-SC.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are upcoming. JEE Advanced 2026 is scheduled for May 17, 2026, with results on June 1, 2026. IIST online registration for admission is expected from May 27 to June 9, 2026 (tentative, based on 2025 schedule), followed by seat acceptance rounds in June-July 2026 and joining in July 2026.

Key Points

Asia's first space university, established under the Department of Space, Government of India.
Admission is NOT through JoSAA; candidates must separately register on the IIST Online Admission Portal (admission.iist.ac.in) after qualifying JEE Advanced.
Graduates with CGPA of 7.5 or above are eligible for ISRO recruitment as Scientist/Engineer-SC, subject to vacancies and interview.
ISRO typically absorbs 60-70 students per batch, making it one of the best government job opportunities for engineering graduates.
Hostel accommodation is mandatory for all students; shared accommodation is provided on campus.
Students maintaining a semester GPA above 7.5 receive a 50% scholarship on tuition fee; those with GPA above 9.0 may receive additional benefits.
No Management Quota seats; all admissions are purely merit-based through JEE Advanced.
NIRF Ranking 2025: #61 in Engineering (India); #2 in Kerala.

610 Views Last Year

16 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Cutoff
FAQs

IIST Trivandrum Latest Updates & News

15 May, 2026 IIST Trivandrum also announced Fee structure 2026 for B.Tech Aerospace Engineering programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 5.97 Lakhs.

IIST B.Tech Aerospace Engineering Fees

The B.Tech Aerospace Engineering program at IIST is heavily subsidized by the Government of India, making it one of the most affordable premier engineering programs in the country. The per-semester tuition fee is Rs. 62,500, with additional charges for computer, internet, examination, registration, and other facilities. The first semester fee is slightly higher at Rs. 76,950 due to one-time admission and campus development charges. Hostel accommodation is mandatory and costs Rs. 23,750 per semester (excluding vacation mess charges).

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount
Tuition Fee	Rs. 62,500 per semester
Computer Fee	Rs. 750 per semester
Internet Fee	Rs. 1,000 per semester
Examination Fee	Rs. 500 per semester
Registration and Enrollment Fee	Rs. 200 per semester
Association and Cultural Fee	Rs. 500 per semester
Sports Facilitation Fee	Rs. 200 per semester
Medical and Insurance Fee	Rs. 2,000 per semester
Total Semester Fee	Rs. 67,950 per semester
One-Time Fees (Admission + Campus Dev + Alumni + Convocation)	Rs. 4,000 (non-refundable)
Institute and Library Deposit (Refundable)	Rs. 5,000
Total Academic Fee (8 Semesters, excl. hostel)	Rs. 5,52,600
Hostel Establishment + Rent + Electricity + Mess (per semester)	Rs. 23,750 per semester
Total Hostel Fee (8 Semesters)	Rs. 1,90,000
Total Course Fee (Academic + Hostel, 4 Years)	Rs. 7,42,600

Institute and Library Deposit of Rs. 5,000 is refundable at the time of leaving the institute.
Alumni Fee (Rs. 500) and Convocation cum Degree Fee (Rs. 2,000) are collected with the final semester fee.
Tuition fee waivers are available based on parental annual income: NIL for income below Rs. 1 Lakh p.a.; Rs. 20,850 for income between Rs. 1-5 Lakhs p.a. (UR/EWS/OBC-NCL); NIL for SC/ST/PD candidates.
Hostel accommodation is mandatory for all students; vacation mess charges (Rs. 3,000/month) are optional.
Education loan facility is available; the institute cooperates fully with the loan process.

IIST B.Tech Aerospace Engineering Admission 2026

Admissions to B.Tech Aerospace Engineering at IIST are conducted through a separate IIST-specific process, independent of JoSAA. Candidates must qualify JEE Advanced and then separately register on the IIST Online Admission Portal. IIST prepares a category-wise Admission Rank List of eligible registered candidates, followed by multiple rounds of seat allocation with FREEZE and SLIDE options. The 2026 admission process is expected to follow the same timeline as 2025.

IIST Admission Dates

Event	Dates (Tentative)
IIST Online Registration for Admission	May 27, 2026 - June 9, 2026
IIST Rank List Publication	Mid-June 2026
Seat Acceptance Rounds (Multiple Rounds)	June 13, 2026 - July 3, 2026
Joining IIST (Reporting Date)	July 21, 2026

JEE Advanced 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Dates
JEE Advanced 2026 Registration	April 23, 2026 - May 2, 2026
Last Date for Fee Payment (Registered Candidates)	May 4, 2026
JEE Advanced 2026 Admit Card	May 11, 2026
JEE Advanced 2026 Exam	May 17, 2026
JEE Advanced 2026 Answer Key	May 25 - May 26, 2026
JEE Advanced 2026 Result	June 1, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with a minimum of 75% aggregate marks (65% for SC/ST/PD candidates).
Must have a valid JEE Advanced 2026 score.
Candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 qualifiers in JEE Main 2026 to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
Age limit: Born on or after October 1, 2001 (general); October 1, 1996 (SC/ST/PD).

Admission Process

Qualify JEE Main 2026 (Session 1 or Session 2) to become eligible for JEE Advanced.
Register and appear for JEE Advanced 2026 (May 17, 2026).
After JEE Advanced result (June 1, 2026), separately register on the IIST Online Admission Portal (admission.iist.ac.in) - this is mandatory and independent of JoSAA.
Pay the IIST registration fee online to complete registration.
Fill in branch preferences (Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, or Engineering Physics Dual Degree).
IIST publishes category-wise Rank List; participate in seat allocation rounds.
Accept the allotted seat by paying the first semester fee within the specified dates (failure to pay leads to cancellation of seat).
Report to IIST campus on the joining date with all original documents.
Certificate verification is done online; at least one parent must be present (online or in person) during joining.

IIST Trivandrum: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 18 Reviews

Admission to the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is primarily based on JEE Advanced ranks and requires separate applications from those for IITs. The institute offers approximately 150 seats across Aerospace Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, and a dual-degree in Engineering Physics. The admission process is conducted online, with around 7 rounds of seat allocation and document verification at an ISRO center. Eligible candidates must have a minimum of 60% in their +2 MPC exams or good JEE Mains scores.

IIST maintains a favorable faculty-to-student ratio with over 100 Ph.D.-qualified faculty members, creating a supportive learning environment. The academic curriculum is rigorous, with a blend of foundational science and engineering courses. The fee structure is government-subsidized, approximately Rs. 90,000 per semester, covering tuition, hostel, and mess fees. Students maintaining a semester GPA above 7.5 receive a 100% scholarship and a Rs. 3,000 book stipend. Placement prospects are robust, with ISRO hiring 60-70 students per batch, depending on vacancies.

The college's placement record is strong, with ISRO offering government positions with salaries around Rs. 72,000 per month and packages averaging Rs. 12 LPA. Other recruiters include Tata Consultancy Services, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, and various space startups. The highest salary package offered is Rs. 45 LPA, with an average package of Rs. 11 LPA. Students with a CGPA above 7.5 can apply for ISRO placements, subject to an interview. Scholarships and financial aid are generous, with full waivers available based on academic performance and family income.

The college also offers campus jobs, internships, and assistance with education loans. Overall, IIST provides a valuable education with excellent placement outcomes, supported by comprehensive financial assistance and scholarships.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

IIST B.Tech Aerospace Engineering Scholarships 2026

IIST offers a comprehensive scholarship and fee waiver system, making the program accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. Income-based tuition fee waivers are the primary form of financial assistance, supplemented by merit-based scholarships for high-performing students. SC/ST/PD students pay no tuition fee regardless of income. Additionally, national scholarships from the government are available on top of institutional scholarships.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fee Waiver	Eligibility	Amount/Benefit
Income-Based Tuition Fee Waiver (UR/EWS/OBC-NCL, income below Rs. 1 Lakh p.a.)	Parental annual income below Rs. 1 Lakh	Full tuition fee waiver (NIL tuition)
Income-Based Tuition Fee Waiver (UR/EWS/OBC-NCL, income Rs. 1-5 Lakhs p.a.)	Parental annual income Rs. 1-5 Lakhs	Tuition fee reduced to Rs. 20,850 per semester
SC/ST/PD Tuition Fee Waiver	SC/ST/PD category students	Full tuition fee waiver (NIL tuition)
Merit-Based Scholarship (CGPA above 7.5)	Students maintaining CGPA above 7.5	50% waiver on tuition fee
National Scholarship Portal Scholarships	As per government eligibility criteria	As per respective scheme
Book Stipend	Students with high GPA	Rs. 3,000 per semester (as reported by students)

Income-based waivers are applied after verification of parental annual income documents.
Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic performance each semester.
Students can benefit from both income-based and merit-based scholarships simultaneously.
For the latest scholarship details, visit the official IIST website (iist.ac.in).

IIST B.Tech Aerospace Engineering Placement 2024

IIST Aerospace Engineering graduates have a unique placement advantage due to the institute's direct linkage with ISRO. Students with a CGPA of 7.5 or above at the end of the 6th semester are eligible for ISRO recruitment interviews, with posting to ISRO centres across India. In addition to ISRO, private sector companies in aerospace, defence, IT, and consulting also recruit from IIST. The placement record is strong, with the highest package at Rs. 15 LPA and median package at Rs. 8 LPA for the 2024 batch.

Placement Statistics

Placement Statistic	2024 Data
Highest Package	Rs. 15 LPA
Median Package	Rs. 8 LPA
ISRO Absorption (approx.)	60-70 students per batch (subject to vacancies)
Top Recruiters	ISRO, TCS, Mahindra and Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Space Startups
Sectors	Space/Defence, IT, Consulting, Automotive, Research

IIST B.Tech Aerospace Engineering FAQs

Ques. Is IIST admission through JoSAA like IITs? Can I use my JEE Advanced rank for IIST through JoSAA?

Ans. No, IIST admission is NOT through JoSAA. You must separately register on the IIST Online Admission Portal (admission.iist.ac.in) after qualifying JEE Advanced. Many students miss IIST admission because they assume it is part of JoSAA counselling.

Ques. What happens if I get a seat at both IIT and IIST? Can I hold both?

Ans. No, you cannot hold seats at both simultaneously. If you accept a seat at IIST by paying the first semester fee, you are committed to IIST. You should carefully compare your options before accepting. IIST offers a unique ISRO placement pathway that IITs generally do not.

Ques. Is it guaranteed that IIST graduates will get a job at ISRO?

Ans. No, it is not guaranteed. ISRO recruitment from IIST is based on available vacancies, CGPA (minimum 7.5 at end of 6th semester), and performance in an ISRO interview. Typically 60-70 students per batch are absorbed, but this varies by year. Students who do not get ISRO can pursue private sector placements or higher studies.

Ques. Is hostel compulsory at IIST? What are the hostel facilities like?

Ans. Yes, hostel accommodation is mandatory for all students at IIST. The campus has separate hostels for boys and girls with shared accommodation. Facilities include a mess (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, including north Indian options), gymnasium, sports grounds, ATM, bank, health centre, and weekend bus service to Thiruvananthapuram city.

Ques. What is the academic workload like at IIST? Is it as tough as IITs?

Ans. IIST has a rigorous academic curriculum with a strong focus on space science and engineering. The workload is comparable to IITs, with a Choice Based Credit System implemented since 2018. Students have reported that the curriculum is demanding but rewarding, especially for those passionate about space and aerospace. The faculty-to-student ratio is excellent with over 100 PhD-qualified faculty members.

Ques. Can IIST students pursue higher studies abroad after graduation?

Ans. Yes, many IIST graduates pursue M.S. or PhD programs at top universities abroad, including MIT, Caltech, and European space institutes. The strong research environment and ISRO connections at IIST provide excellent recommendations and research experience. However, students who accept ISRO offers are typically bonded for a period of service.

Course Finder

Search from 20K+ Courses and 35+ Streams

IIST Trivandrum B.Tech Aerospace Engineering: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents