Branch change at IITs: Things to remember

Getting into IITs is not everyone's cup of tea. Only a few get the opportunity to pursue their studies from these premier institutes which are a dream for many. And switching from one branch/department to the other is even tougher. Not only you have to be extremely good at your studies but also complete two semesters of your chosen branch with excellent grades. And this is just one of the things you have to pay attention to, if you wish to change your branch.

An IIT Delhi Alumni and a Quora user who got a department change(dep-c) from Chemical Engineering(CE) to Computer Engineering(CS) said, " From a personal experience, I can talk about IIT Delhi department change. Here department change is totally based on merit, however there is a certain amount of relaxation for reserved categories. The cutoffs are not fixed and vary every year".

"As far as preparation is considered, it's more about being consistent and up to date with what is being taught in class. In the first year, students have an ugly habit of missing classes, or even worse, going and sleeping in the lecture itself. They tend to believe that relying on other students' notes or lecture slides is sufficient. If you can stay away from such a habit and regularly attend classes following up with what is being taught, I don't think it's a difficult task. Another factor to consider is to give equal importance to each course, lecture or practical. I've seen students miss out on dep-c because of a bad grade in just one or two courses they didn't pay much attention to", he wrote.

Sharing tips for students who are planning a branch change, he said, " From a philosophical point of view, I think you need to be mentally strong and focused. Many people will try to mislead you calling you a maggu(typical IITD lingo for nerd) and other silly names, however, trust me the extra hours you put in are all compensated the day you get your grades. Having said that, a department change doesn't require you to spend long nights like you perhaps did during your JEE days, just a little amount of sincerity and hard work. I personally took part in a couple of extracurricular activities too in my first year, but was careful enough to avoid them during exams and quizzes. At the end of the day, getting a dep-c is a good thing but you can do a lot in life studying in any department".

To help you get a better clarity, here’s the ‘what, when and how’ of branch change at IITs.

What is a department/branch change (dep-c)?

Branch selection at IITs is based on the cut-offs which is released during JoSAA counselling. Most of the engineering aspirants choose their branch basis the marks and not because of their interest. And there are some who give in to the peer pressure while picking a branch, clearly ignoring the nuances of various other engineering branches.

For instance, the most preferred branch by engineering students at IITs is CS. We came across this trend while speaking to various IIT aspirants and JEE toppers over the years. The first and the most common reason for this preference was the placement opportunity that this branch holds. The second was the peer-pressure to choose the branch that's "in-demand".

However, according to experts and alumni, towards the end of second semester, a lot of students succumb to the pressure and shift to a different stream. The reasons for this are typically two: Either to get rid of the pressure or the realization of their passion for a different stream.

This is the point where ‘Branch Change-ing’ (or BC-ing) comes into picture. This option is given to students to redefine their stay at the institute. It’s an engineering aspirant’s last chance to study the branch of their choice and passion.

When can you change your department at IITs?

According to official website of IIT Bombay, the option to change one’s branch is for first year students which is made available to them at the end of the session. This option is not available in the subsequent years. However, students can still change from BTech to Dual Degree in the same branch.

“It is allowed if the percentage of students in the department to which you are changing does not exceed 15% and the department from which you are changing does not fall below 85%. (for example You are in Department X which has 40 students of your category and you wish to change to Department Y with sanctioned strength of 20 for your category, then the total strength of Y should not fall below 34 and strength of X shouldn’t exceed 23 after the department change)”, states IIT Delhi’s Student Mentorship Website. 

Eligibility for branch change at IITs:

The option for a branch/department/programme change is available to students after completing the first two semesters and before the start of the third semester.

Students can change a branch/department on two bases:

1.     CGPA at the end of 2nd semester

• CGPA is greater than 8 for Gen/OBC category students and more than 7 for SC/ST/PwD students
• Earned credits / non-graded units at the end of the second semester of first year. This is equal to all the credits of core and non-graded units of the first year.
• As an option, students should identify one first year course by each programme in which the grade of the applicant is equal to or above B.
• No backlog in first year.
• The student should have no disciplinary action against him/her.

2.     On the basis of JEE Advanced rank

The minimum eligibility that students need to adhere for a branch change includes:

• Completion of the prescribed course credits in the first two semesters
• No backlog at the end of the first year
• Secured a CPI of at least 8 - for general and OBC category students. The minimum CPI for SC, ST and PD category students is 7.

Points to note for students opting for a branch change through JEE:

1. Before allocation of seats, additional seats equal to 10% of the total number of seats are reserved in each branch.
2. During admissions, students across various categories are allotted seats. However, this criteria is not used during change of branch at the end of first year.
3. Every seat that's on offer during branch change can be occupied by students of any category basis the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
4. An eligible student's request for a branch change from A to B will be taken into consideration if they satisfy any of the two criterias:

Set 1:

(a) A student's CPI is at least 9

(b) Seat availability in Branch B

Set 2:

(a) Seat availability in Branch B

(b) The strength in branch A, from which a change is being sought, does not fall below its sanctioned strength by more than 25%.

(c) There is no student with higher CPI who is currently being denied a change of branch to “B” due to the above rule.

How to change the department at IITs – Step by step process

The basic procedure for a branch change at IITs includes the following steps:

• Login on the official website of institute
• Click “Change of branch” button
• Fill your preferences
• Save the complete filled in form.
• Submit the filled in form. Please note that once submitted, no changes can be made in the form.
• The form contains a section where applicants are required to self-certify this requirement.

[“I hereby certify that branch change form is being submitted with approval of my parent(s)/guardian(s)”]

So, students are advised to fill the form in consultation with their parents or guardians.

• Students will receive an email with the chosen preference after they submit the form finally.
• Students are required to submit thehard copy of form (duly signed) in the institute's Academic office before the last date.

It's important to understand that only a few students get an option to change their branch at the end of first year. So, choose a branch that you are passionate and sure about. Do not make your choice on the assumption of getting a department change. You might not be able to get one.