• Duration

    Duration

    2 Years

  • Last date to apply

    Early Application Deadline

    14 July’ 2025

  • fees

    Trimester Fee

    INR 35,000
    Easy EMI option

  • Graduation

    Eligibility

    UG Degree with
    Math/Statistics

  • Degree

    Type of Program

    Degree

M.Sc. in Data Science and AI - An Overview

Your launchpad to leadership in the age of Artificial Intelligence

The world runs on data and those who can decode it are already shaping what comes next. Whether it's predicting climate trends, personalizing patient care, or building smarter financial systems, Data Science and AI are more than career options—they're forces redefining the world around us.

As the digital world accelerates transformation, there’s a growing need for professionals who can do more than just understand AI — we need people who can apply it meaningfully, ethically, and creatively across fields. Whether you're a recent STEM graduate or a working professional ready for your next leap, this is your moment.

The M.Sc. in Data Science & AI from BITS Pilani is designed to help you step confidently into that future. It’s more than a degree — it’s a launchpad to specialize with purpose, build with real-world precision, and lead with clarity in a field that’s shaping tomorrow.

Choosing this path isn’t just about advancing your career — it’s about stepping into a role where you can make a real impact, spark innovation, and be part of the change the world is waiting for.

DATA SCIENCE AND AI:
DRIVING INNOVATION ACROSS INDUSTRIES

Data science and AI are transforming many industries and sectors such as:

  • AI activity in India alone has witnessed a 2.7 times growth
  • Generative AI (GenAI) has recorded an extraordinary 9 times surge, with 34 percent of enterprises launching GenAI-based products or services, 31 percent forming collaborations and partnerships, and 23 percent embedding GenAI into their enterprise strategy
  • India’s AI market is projected to reach 17 billion dollars by 2027, with an expected annual growth rate of 25 to 35 percent.
  • A critical talent gap between 60 to 73 percent in AI roles, creating extraordinary opportunities for those with the right skills

MULTIPLE PROJECTS. MANY LEVELS. ONE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

This program stands out for its large number of multi-level and multi-dimension projects across key milestones, enabling hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving.

Why this program?

A future-ready Master’s degree program, designed with industry experts to help you lead in the world of Data Science and AI.

Curriculum Co-Designed with Industry Experts

This program has been created hand-in-hand with experienced professionals from leading global tech and AI-driven companies. These experts helped shape a curriculum that goes beyond theory—bringing you face-to-face with real-world challenges that companies are solving right now.

PROPEL – Professional Excellence Portfolio

PROPEL is more than a project list—it’s your personal, structured career story. It highlights how you’ve grown, what you’ve learned, and how you’ve applied it throughout the program.

Horizontal Specializations

These are perfect for those building scalable AI solutions across sectors:

● Cloud & SaaS for AI – Learn how to design, deploy, and scale AI applications using cloud-native platforms and services.
● AI in Software Engineering – Use AI for software development optimization, quality assurance, and automation across the SDLC.
● Intelligent Interfaces & XR – Develop skills in Conversational AI, AR/VR systems, and multimodal interfaces powered by LLMs.
● AI Product & Business Strategy – Equip yourself with the tools to build, scale, and lead AI product initiatives — from ethics and monetization to design and delivery.

Industry-Grade Projects with Real-World Data

You won’t just tackle textbook problems—you’ll get to work on real, industry-grade projects created with BITS Pilani’s partners. These projects unfold in a sandbox environment that mirrors real-world data pipelines and workflows, giving you practical, hands-on experience.

Progressive, Project-Integrated Learning Tracks

Learning here isn’t just step-by-step—it’s layered and connected. Each course ends with a project, and most trimesters include Advanced Apex Projects. You’ll also have the freedom to choose from lab projects, design challenges, or even define your own thesis based on what excites you most.

Learn from Eminent Professors & Industry Practitioners

Your learning is led by BITS Pilani’s respected faculty, with support from adjunct professors and AI experts who bring insights straight from top companies into the classroom.

Specialize for Impact

To make sure your learning is not just thorough but also truly relevant, the M.Sc. in Data Science & AI from BITS Pilani lets you specialize in a way that fits your career goals. You can shape your journey by diving deep into specific industries or by developing advanced skills that cut across technologies and domains.

Vertical Specializations

These specializations are ideal for learners who want to apply AI within a specific industry context.

● Retail & eCommerce – Understand consumer behavior, optimize supply chains, and leverage predictive analytics for personalized experiences.
● BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance) – Master risk analytics, fraud detection, investment intelligence, and financial modeling using AI.
● Healthcare – Explore AI-driven diagnostics, intelligent clinical systems, community health analytics, and next-gen medical applications.

Work-Study Internship with Mentorship

The optional Work-Study Internship lets final-year students step into real businesses and work on actual AI projects—turning what you’ve learned into real-world impact.

A program made for you

What you can be after this program

Ready to open the door to exciting tech careers?

What will you learn

This is where excellence becomes yours with a learning journey spanning six trimesters of guided growth and self-driven discovery.

Total Credits: 72

Year

Trimester 1

Trimester 2

Trimester 3

1

Course Title
Credits
Course Title
Credits
Course Title
Credits
Statistical Modelling & Inferencing 3 Machine Learning 3 Big Data Platforms & Analytics 3
Data Pre-processing 2 Artificial Neural Networks 3 Deep Learning 3
Feature Engineering 2 ML Model Engineering 3 Natural Language Processing & Understanding 3
Data Visualization & Storytelling 3 Specialization (Vertical): Mandatory Course 3 Specialization (Vertical): Mandatory Course 3
Data Stores & Pipelines 3 OR Elective OR Elective
Advanced Apex Project I 2 Advanced Apex Project II 2 Advanced Apex Project III 2
Total 13 to 15 Total 12 to 14 Total 12 to 14

Year

Trimester 4

Trimester 5

Trimester 6

2

Course Title
Credits
Course Title
Credits
Course Title
Credits
Elective 3 MDS Capstone Project
OR
MDS Thesis
12 0-4 Electives AND/OR MDS Internship
OR
MDS Thesis
12
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Total 12 Total 12 Total 12

Pool of Electives

Disclaimer: Elective offerings are subject to the institution’s discretion and will depend on a sufficient number of students opting for each course to form an optimal batch. The final decision on the availability and allocation of electives rests solely with the institution.

FEE STRUCTURE

Application Fees (one time)

INR 1,500

Total Fees (including admission fees & trimester fees)

INR 2,26,500

Admission Fees (one time)

INR 16,500

Trimester Fees (per trimester)

INR 35,000

Fee Breakdown
Year Qualification Eearned Trimesters Fee per Trimester Total Trimester Fees for Year Cumulative Trimester Fees
Year 1 Certificate in Data Science Trimester 1, 2, 3 INR 1,05,000 INR 35,000 x 3 = INR 1,05,000 INR 1,05,000
Year 2 Diploma in Data Science Trimester 4, 5, 6 INR 1,05,000 INR 35,000 x 3 = INR 1,05,000 INR 1,05,000
Application Fees (one time)

USD 20

Total Fees (including admission fees & trimester fees)

USD 2,915

M.Sc. in Data Science & AI
Admission Fees (one time)

USD 215

Trimester Fees (per trimester)

USD 450

Fee Breakdown
Year Qualification Eearned Trimesters Fee per Trimester Total Trimester Fees for Year Cumulative Trimester Fees
Year 1 - Trimester 1, 2, 3 USD 450 USD 450 x 3 = USD 1,350 USD 1,350
Year 2 M.Sc. in Data Science & AI Trimester 4, 5, 6 USD 450 USD 450 x 3 = USD 1,350 USD 2,700
Application Fees (one time)

USD 20

Total Fees (including admission fees & trimester fees)

USD 4,375

M.Sc. in Data Science & AI
Admission Fees (one time)

USD 325

Trimester Fees (per trimester)

USD 675

Fee Breakdown
Year Qualification Eearned Trimesters Fee per Trimester Total Trimester Fees for Year Cumulative Trimester Fees
Year 1 - Trimester 1, 2, 3 USD 675 USD 675 x 3 = USD 2,025 USD 2,025
Year 2 M.Sc. in Data Science & AI Trimester 4, 5, 6 USD 675 USD 675 x 3 = USD 2,025 USD 4,050
Key Fee and Payment Information for Applicants
Trimester Break Policy and Continuity Fee
Fee payment by easy-EMIs with 0% interest. Click here to learn more.

Eligibility

Educational background

You must have a bachelors degree with Math or Statistics as one of your subjects, and an overall score of 60% or above.

Currently enrolled in a STEM program?

If you’re pursuing a postgraduate degree in science or engineering that includes Math, that works too. You can apply while you're still studying.

Age Requirement

There’s no age limit — if you’re ready to learn, we’re ready for you.

English Proficiency

Since the program is taught in English, you’ll need to be comfortable with the language.

Work Experience

You don’t need any prior work experience to apply. Just bring your curiosity and commitment.

Educational Background

You must have a 3-year college degree with Math as a subject, from a recognised university. A minimum 60% marks or 6.0 CGPA overall aggregate is required. If your degree is from outside India, an equivalence certificate from AIU, UGC, or a similar Indian body is needed.

Age Requirement

There’s no age limit — if you’re ready to learn, we’re ready for you.

English Proficiency

Since the program is taught in English, you’ll need to be comfortable with the language.

Work Experience

You don’t need any prior work experience to apply. Just bring your curiosity and commitment.

Learning Methodology & Time commitment

Examination Mode Designed for Academic
Integrity and Accessibility

At the end of every course in the trimester, students are required to appear for a trimester end exams to demonstrate their learning. The mode of examination is determined by the student's country of residence.

Exam Hall

Students residing in India will take their exams in person at one of BITS Pilani’s officially designated examination centres.

Exam Format & Schedule

  • Trimester end exams for each course are typically scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. For each course, students can choose between two available date and time options for trimester end exams—making it easier to plan around personal and professional commitments.
  • Students must adhere to the published exam schedule, rules, and guidelines announced prior to each exam.

Designated Exam Centres

Choose from 24 centres spread across major cities in four zones:

South Zone – Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada

North Zone – Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Jammu, Lucknow, Pilani, Srinagar

West Zone – Ahmedabad, Goa, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune

East Zone – Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Ranchi, Silchar

Students may update their preferred exam centre each trimester, subject to availability.

Exam Hall

Students residing outside India will take their exams in an online proctored format from their country of residence.

Exam Format & Requirements

  • Exams are conducted with remote proctoring to ensure academic integrity.
  • Students must ensure access to:
  • A computer/laptop meeting prescribed specifications
  • High-speed, stable internet
  • A quiet, private space free from disruptions during the exam period

All requirements and technical guidelines will be shared in advance to ensure readiness.

Continuous Assessments & Project Evaluations
Regulatory Approval

The most asked questions

This is a fully online M.Sc. from BITS Pilani — designed for fresh STEM grads, working professionals, and career switchers aiming to lead in AI, ML, and data roles. You’ll learn through projects, live sessions, and mentor guidance.

Unlike short-term upskilling, this gives you academic credibility, hands-on depth, and long-term career leverage — with a globally recognized Master’s degree.

Yes. BITS Pilani has been bestowed the status of Institution of Eminence (loE) Deemed to be University by the Ministry of Education, Government of India vide their Notification dated 14, October 2020. As an Institution of Eminence, BITS Pilani is empowered to offer degree programmes in online mode. For further details on regulatory provisions click here https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/Notice_Online-Course-With-Annexure_27-Nov-2024.pdf

Beyond content, it offers an ecosystem — hands-on projects, mentorship, Apex & Capstone/Thesis/Internship tracks, specializations, and the PROPEL career portfolio.

You’ll master Statistical Modeling, ML, DL, NLP, GenAI, MLOps, Big Data, Cloud AI, and more. Tools include PyTorch, LangChain, Hugging Face, Spark, AWS, Docker, Tableau, etc.

Core subjects + specialization electives, practical projects in every course, Advanced Apex Projects, and a final-year Capstone, Thesis, or Internship. Finish in 2 years or stretch to 4.

Expect weekly video modules, live faculty sessions, peer and mentor support, and real-world datasets. Every project builds into your PROPEL portfolio — a recruiter-ready showcase of your work.