The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), established in 2007, is a Deemed to be University under the Department of Space, Government of India, located at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It holds the distinction of being Asia's first university dedicated entirely to space science and technology education. IIST is ranked 61st in NIRF Engineering 2025 (score 52.44), improving to rank 48 in NIRF 2023 and rank 51 in NIRF 2024. The institute completed its NAAC Cycle 2 peer review in February 2025 and received NAAC Grade A+ accreditation, with the certificate published on the institute's official website in October 2025.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established | 2007 |
| Type | Deemed University (Department of Space, Government of India) |
| Location | Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| NIRF Engineering 2025 | Rank 61 (score 52.44) |
| NIRF Engineering 2024 | Rank 51 (score 53.13) |
| NIRF Engineering 2023 | Rank 48 (score 52.04) |
| NAAC | Grade A+ (Cycle 2, March 2025) |
| Admissions | JEE Advanced (independent process, not JoSAA) |
| B.Tech seats (2026) | About 174 (across 4 programmes) |
| Fee per semester | About Rs 67,950 (about 0.68 lakh) |
| Campus | Main campus Valiamala + Ponmudi (20 acres) + Magudagiri |
| Hostels | 11 halls of residence (8 boys, 3 girls); about 800 residents |
| Programme | Degree | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | B.Tech | 4 years |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (Avionics) | B.Tech | 4 years |
| Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science) | B.Tech | 4 years |
| Engineering Physics + MS or M.Tech (Astronomy, Earth System Science, Solid State Physics, Optical Engineering) | Dual Degree | 5 years |
| Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Thermal and Propulsion | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Structures and Design | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Manufacturing Technology | M.Tech | 2 years |
| VLSI and Microsystems | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Digital Signal Processing | M.Tech | 2 years |
| RF and Microwave Engineering | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Control Systems | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Power Electronics | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Machine Learning and Computing | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Geoinformatics | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Earth System Science | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Materials Science and Technology | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Optical Engineering | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Quantum Technology | M.Tech | 2 years |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | M.Sc | 2 years |
| Solid State Physics | M.Sc | 2 years |
| Ph.D (all departments) | Ph.D | Variable |
IIST provides income-based tuition remission: full tuition waiver for students with parental income below Rs 1 lakh per year; reduced fees for students with income between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. SC, ST, and PwD students receive full tuition waivers irrespective of income.
All central government scholarship schemes on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) are accessible to eligible students. Students who qualify for ISRO absorption after graduation and serve the mandatory period (typically five years) may benefit from sponsored higher education thereafter. Kerala domicile students may additionally apply for state scholarship schemes administered by the Kerala Social Justice Department.
| Framework | Category | Rank | Score | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Engineering | 61 | 52.44 | 2025 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 51 | 53.13 | 2024 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 48 | 52.04 | 2023 |
| NAAC | -- | Grade A+ | -- | 2025 (Cycle 2) |
IIST's NIRF Engineering rank has trended from 48 (2023) to 51 (2024) to 61 (2025). The absolute NIRF score has stayed relatively stable (52.04 to 53.13), suggesting the rank decline reflects peer institutions improving faster rather than IIST declining in absolute terms. IIST's strongest NIRF sub-parameter is typically Teaching, Learning and Resources, consistent with its focus on space-domain curriculum and research infrastructure.
Sources: nirfindia.org/Rankings/2025/EngineeringRanking.html, /2024/EngineeringRanking.html, /2023/EngineeringRanking.html
Admission to B.Tech programmes is based solely on JEE (Advanced) merit. IIST runs its own independent admissions process and is not part of JoSAA counselling. For 2026, the approved intake across four programmes is approximately 174 seats: Aerospace Engineering (63), Electronics and Communication Engineering or Avionics (63), Computer Science and Engineering in Data Science (24), and Dual Degree in Engineering Physics (24). The fee per semester is approximately Rs 67,950 (about 0.68 lakh) for students with parental income above Rs 5 lakh; tuition is waived for SC/ST/PwD students and reduced on a sliding scale for lower-income students. Students may additionally apply for merit-based institutional scholarships and central government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Asia's first space university; curriculum designed around ISRO's domain requirements across aerospace, avionics, earth sciences, and physics.
Direct collaboration with ISRO centres; undergraduate graduates are eligible for ISRO absorption subject to vacancy; more than 1,498 alumni work at ISRO.
144 active research projects, 4,500+ publications, and a Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (STIIC) supporting deep-tech startups.
15+ M.Tech specialisations including Quantum Technology, VLSI, Geoinformatics, Aerodynamics, and RF and Microwave Engineering.
Fee structure under Rs 1 lakh per semester; income-based tuition waivers; merit scholarships for top JEE Advanced rankers.
Honest caveat: IIST's industry placement coverage is narrow by design. In the 2023-25 batch, 57 of 106 students available for placement secured industry roles (53.8%); many opt for higher studies or ISRO absorption, which is not counted in the placement rate. NIRF Engineering rank has declined from 48 (2023) to 51 (2024) to 61 (2025), though IIST's absolute scores stay consistent at 52 to 53 -- the decline reflects peer institutions improving faster. Admissions are entirely through JEE Advanced with a separate application; students who miss the JoSAA window must track IIST deadlines independently. Recruiter company names are not publicly listed on the official placement page.
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Engineering | 2025 | #61 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 2024 | #51 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 2023 | #48 |
IIST operates 11 named halls of residence at the Valiamala campus, housing approximately 800 students. Boys' hostels (8) and girls' hostels (3) are equipped with reading rooms, 24-hour power backup, Wi-Fi, safe drinking water, and laundry facilities. The Student Activities Board organises Conscientia (tech fest), Dhanak (cultural fest), and an annual sports meet. Student clubs include the Aero Club, Astronomy Club, Robotics Club, IEEE Chapter, Quantum Technology Club, Photography Club, Drama Club, and several others. The Ponmudi campus (20 acres) and Magudagiri campus serve as extended research and sports venues.
27 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
1-year placement history, latest data from 2023.
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
