IIT Patna–IIM Bodh Gaya Dual Degree Students Raise Concerns Over Fees, Placements and Exit Policy

Students in the integrated BTech-MBA programme say key details on fee structure, curriculum, internships and placement opportunities remain unclear two years after the course was launched.

Students enrolled in the integrated BS/BTech-MBA programme jointly offered by Indian Institute of Technology Patna and Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya have raised concerns over what they describe as a lack of transparency regarding fees, course structure, internships and placement opportunities.

Introduced through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process in 2024, the five-year programme combines three years of technical education at IIT Patna with two years of management studies at IIM Bodh Gaya. The programme currently offers 54 seats across MBA, MBA in Digital Business Management and MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management.

Students allege that critical information was not clearly communicated at the time of admission. One of the primary concerns relates to the MBA fee component. According to students, institute officials initially indicated during an online open house that the cost would be around ₹7.5 lakh per year. However, a later document issued for an education loan application mentioned an estimated annual fee of ₹8.14 lakh, while also noting that the amount could vary.

Students claim no formal written fee structure was shared with the inaugural batch despite repeated requests. Many say they joined the programme without a clear understanding of the total financial commitment, making long-term planning difficult, particularly for those from economically weaker backgrounds.

Officials at IIM Bodh Gaya have reportedly confirmed that the MBA phase will follow the prevailing fee structure of the institute's regular MBA programme at the time students enter the management segment.

Beyond fees, students have also questioned the academic structure. They point out that the traditional four-year BTech curriculum has been compressed into three years, requiring completion of 167 credits within a shorter duration. They also cite changes in internship schedules and the replacement of certain technical electives with Humanities and Social Sciences courses.

Another major concern is the absence of an exit option after the undergraduate phase. Students say they were informed that those choosing not to continue with the MBA component would not receive a degree, as the programme is structured as a single five-year course.

Questions have also been raised about placement opportunities. Some students claim they were initially told they might be eligible for placement processes at both institutions but were later informed that access to IIT Patna's placement process would not be available.

With the first batch nearing the completion of its IIT phase, students are seeking greater clarity from both institutions on financial commitments, academic pathways and career prospects associated with the programme.