Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is a government-aided institute and deemed university for the study and research of space science in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. IIST was set up in 2007 by ISRO under the Department of Space, Government of India. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram is Asia's first space university.
It was inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by G. Madhavan Nair, the then Chairman of ISRO. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was the first Chancellor of IIST. IIST offers regular engineering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes with focus on space science, technology and applications.
History
Envisioned to fulfill the requirements of scientists and engineers in the Indian Space Program, by offering undergraduate and postgraduate education and research programmes in space science and technology, the institute started functioning from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre campus, Thiruvananthapuram, on 14 September 2007 with an initial investment of and annual recurring cost of by the Department of Space. It is the only institute of its kind in India, which offers a BTech degree in space technology, and subjects exclusive to the arena of space science and technology. B. N. Suresh, former director of the VSSC, is the founding director of the institute.On 14 July 2008, the Ministry of [Human Resource Development (India)|Union Human Resource Development Ministry], on the advice of the University Grants Commission, conferred deemed university status, under a new category, to the institute for a period of five years. Upon request by Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, the Union Government expressed its willingness to grant IIST the title of "Institution of National Importance" on 1st September 2025.
Campus
At its inception, the institute started functioning at the ATF Campus, under the VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Modern environmentally friendly buildings of unique architecture merge well with the thickly wooded campus of 100 acres situated on the foothills of Sahyadri.A state-of-the-art residential campus built near the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Valiamala, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India, on 25 August 2009. The institute started functioning in its new campus from 15 August 2010. The campus has an extension in the picturesque Ponmudi Hills, Thiruvananthapuram, for an observatory.
Academics
IIST offers undergraduate, master's and PhD programs in space science and technology, and also serves as a research centre. Doctoral programs in basic sciences and post-doctoral programs are also offered. Till 2013 batch, three different courses in BTech were offered, namely BTech in Aerospace, Avionics and Physical Sciences. As of 2014 admissions, a new 5-year Dual Degree in Engineering Physics replaced the existing Physical Sciences branch. The MTech/M.S can be done in any of the following – M.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics, MTech in Earth System Science, MTech in Machine Learning and Computing, MTech in Geoinformatics, MTech in Aerodynamics & Flight Mechanics, MTech in Structures and Design, MTech in Thermal and Propulsion, MTech in Control Systems, MTech in Digital Signal Processing, MTech in RF and Microwave Engineering, MTech in Power Electronics, MTech in VLSI and Microsystems, MTech in Material Science and Technology, MTech in Solid State Physics and MTech in Optical Engineering. The seats are limited to 20 in the dual degree program from the existing 36 in Physical Sciences. 60 students each are admitted to the Aerospace and Avionics branches.Admissions
The admissions to the undergraduate programmes for 2013 to 2016 were made through the All India Rank List prepared and published by the Central Board of Secondary Education, based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) – Main. Previously, IIST admitted students through the IIT-JEE rank lists from 2007 to 2009, and conducted its own entrance exam called ISAT from 2010 to 2012. However, applicants will need to qualify the JEE Advanced exam, and marks obtained in the same will be used in determining the eligibility of the candidate IIST offers 140 seats for admission to its B.Tech. programmes in aerospace engineering, avionics and engineering physics. The BTech branch of physical sciences was replaced with a dual-degree engineering physics branch starting from the batch which joined in 2014. Over 100,000 aspirants applied for these seats in ISAT 2012 making IIST one of the most selective institutes in India. From 2017 onwards, the admissions are based on JEE Advanced scores.The applications for admission to MTech courses are invited directly and students are shortlisted based on undergraduate academic performance, GATE score, interview and projects undertaken by them.
Organisation and Governance
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, is a “Deemed to be University” under Section 3 of the UGC Act, functioning autonomously under the Department of Space, Government of India. The overall governance of IIST is overseen by the Governing Council, chaired by the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, who also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space. The institute has a Chancellor, a largely ceremonial role currently held by B. N. Suresh. The executive academic and administrative leadership is vested in the Vice-Chancellor, a post held by Dipankar Banerjee since 14 October 2024. To assist in governance and management, the institute has established the office of Pro Vice-Chancellor, a position created in July 2025, presently held by Kuruvilla Joseph. Further, the institute is organized into various academic and administrative portfolios including Deans, a Registrar, and other statutory bodies such as the Finance Committee and Planning & Monitoring Board.Departments
Science
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Physics
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Earth and Space sciences
Technology
- Department of Aerospace Engineering
- Department of Avionics
Humanities
- Department of Humanities
Rankings
Observatory
IIST also has a small observatory on campus equipped with a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and an 8-inch Newtonian telescope. The telescope is housed in a dome on top of the Science academic block. The facility is mainly used by undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as for frequent vacation-based outreach programs. The dome is powered by two sets of solar panels with necessary back-up power.File:Observatory at IIST.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The Observatory at IIST with an 8-inch Celestron telescope. The library building can be seen in the background|The Observatory at IIST with an 8-inch Celestron telescope. The library building can be seen in the background
Student activities
Student projects
VYOM is the sounding rocket designed by the BTech students of IIST. Vyom had its maiden flight on 11 May 2012 when it took to the sky from TERLS and the mission was a success. The objective of the launch was to flight-test the solid rocket motor and the accelerometer payload developed for the project. Vyom is the first student made sounding rocket in Asia and the Vyom Mk II was planned for launch in 2015.IIST also runs a student satellite project, which is also slated for launch in 2014–2015 on board the PSLV.
IEEE Student Branch at IIST
IIST has an active IEEE Student Branch established in 2011. It now has seven organizational sub units including the following student branch chapters:
- IEEE Industrial Applications Society Student Branch chapter
- IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Student Branch chapter
- IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Student Branch chapter
- IEEE GRSS Student Branch chapter
- IEEE SIGHT Group Student Branch chapter
- IEEE Education Society Student Branch chapter
- IEEE RFID Council Student Branch Chapter
Student festivals
Conscientia
Conscientia is the Annual Astronomy and Technology Festival of IIST. Conscientia offers various challenging events in different fields of engineering and science, including astronomy, aerospace engineering, electronics, computer science, mechanical engineering, robotics, etc. In the year 2010, the astronomy festival Aparimit has been incorporated into Conscientia.The 2010 edition was inaugurated by IIST's Chancellor, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India.
In just a few years, Conscientia has evolved to become the largest technical festival in the state of Kerala. The 2014 edition of the festival is going to start on 28 February 2014. The official website of the festival