The most prestigious institution in India, IIT Madras took the initiative and introduced an interdisciplinary course that bridges medicine and engineering. Medical Sciences and Engineering is a four-year BS program implemented to enhance medical research through artificial intelligence. In this article, we will provide you with the course details, eligibility criteria and job opportunities for this course in the contemporary world.

What is Medical Sciences and Engineering?

The Department of Medical Sciences and Technology was introduced by IIT Madras in May and this department is offering the four-year Medical Sciences and Engineering for students who have an interest in medicine and engineering. The college provides 30 seats for this particular course and the aim is to prepare students to design life-saving medical devices, drug discovery, artificial intelligence in medicine and fundamental medical research. The academic curriculum is curated with subjects such as physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, medical imaging, biomaterials and healthcare systems. The course has both theoretical and practical sessions.

Eligibility Criteria

To attend this course at IIT Madras, the student has to clear the IISER Aptitude Test with a good score and it’s mandatory to have studied mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology in class 12. Since the course is research-oriented the admission is based on the IISER Aptitude score and there is no specific entrance examination conducted by IIT Madras.
Considering the age limit, the students who were born on and after October 1st, 1998 can apply. Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PWD should have scored a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in their Class 12th (or equivalent) exam. Candidates belonging to other categories should have scored a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in their Class 12th (or equivalent) exam.

Seat Matrix and Reservation

To ensure equal representation, among the total seats, 15% is reserved for the SC category, 7.5% for the ST category, 27% for the other backward classes belonging to the non-creamy layer, 10% for the economically weaker section and 5% for the persons with disability.
There are a total of 30 seats divided 12 for the open category, 3 for the general category, 8 for the OBC category, 5 for the SC category and 2 for the ST category.

Career and Job Opportunities

A student who has a graduation in Medical Sciences and Engineering has multiple career options in the field of medicine and engineering. They can work in the healthcare industry, medical device manufacturing companies, research and development organizations, hospitals, and healthcare startups. Also, the course provides a strong foundation for the students to pursue a career in the field of medical and engineering research.
Thus this new interdisciplinary course will enhance the career opportunities in the medical and engineering field. This can also create advancement in the technological aspects of medicine and new inventions.