Every premium college has specific qualification criteria when it comes to academics. This will help them in quick elimination and also can target a specific group of students.
Read this article to find out if a diploma holder can get admission to IIT.
Can I Get Admission in IIT After Diploma?
There is no direct admission to IIT. Every aspirant has to go through the proper selection process to get into the premium engineering institute in India. An aspirant can be a 12th pass or a diploma holder, he/she has to give JEE Main and then JEE Advanced (if qualified) to secure a seat in IIT. There is no shortcut or easy way to get into IIT or NIT.
Selection Process to get into IIT
You need to first appear for the JEE Main exam. If you belong to the top 2,50,000 rank holders, then you are qualified to take the JEE Advanced exam. This threshold applies to both the 12th pass and a diploma holder.
Eligibility Criteria for JEE Mains
You should be an Indian citizen to apply for JEE Main. Even foreign nationals or NRIs can also apply. Please check the eligibility criteria for foreign nationals or NRI aspirants.
Aspirants must have attended and qualified 10+2 or equivalent examination. It should be from a recognized board.
In their 12th/equivalent examination, aspirants must have taken and passed in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics along with Biology or Biotechnology or Technical Vocational subject. Also, candidates should have appeared for at least 5 subject papers for their 12th/equivalent examination.
An aspirant who appears for 12th/equivalent class examination in the same year they are planning to take the JEE Main is also eligible.
A diploma holder has to take JEE Main to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
Please Note: NITs & CFTIs do not consider the score and rank of a diploma holder in JEE Main for admissions to their colleges.
If you are planning to take B.Arch, ensure that in your 10+2 exams you have taken and passed in subjects like Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics. You should have scored at least a 50% aggregate exam.
Academic Qualifications Required/Eligible for JEE Main
If you belong to any one of the below groups, then you are eligible to take JEE Main.
If you have appeared for the 10+2 examination that is monitored by a recognized board (could be both state and central) like the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.
If you are an aspirant who has given examination equivalent to 10+2 conducted by any Public school/ Board/ University in India or even in any foreign country. It should be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
If you have taken an exam conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling known as Senior Secondary School Examination. It should have at least 5 subjects.
If you are a diploma holder that is recognized by AICTE or a State board of technical education. The duration of the diploma should be a minimum of 3 years. Moreover, the diploma from London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka should be at an Advanced (A) level and should receive a certificate known as General Certificate Education (GCE) examination.
If you have appeared for Pre-University examination by a recognized University/board as an intermediate or for two-year.
If you have appeared for the exam (final) conducted by the National Defense Academy in the Joint Services Wing, this is a two-year course.
If you have performed a Vocational examination and have secured a higher secondary certificate.
Eligibility Criteria for JEE Advanced
JEE Advanced is for the people who want to take admission in IIT. In addition to the eligibility criteria for JEE Main, there are a few other criteria too.
The aspirant should have attended the 12th board examination either in the year of taking the JEE advanced or the previous year.
The aspirant should have secured 75% in 12th or any equivalent class.
65% (aggregate) for students from the category SC/ST/PWD in 12th or any equivalent examination.
A candidate is qualified to take the JEE Advanced exam only if the candidate is among the top 2,50,000 rank holders list for the JEE Main exam.
Please check the threshold of 2,50,000 on the official website. As there is a possibility of change.
You can attempt JEE Advanced only twice in two years.
Why Taking Admission to IIT after Studying 12th is Better than a Diploma?
A candidate who is taking JEE Advanced after passing the 12th examination will have more advantages over the candidate who has a diploma.
Syllabus: Both JEE Mains and JEE Advanced exams are focused on the 11th and 12th syllabus. So, the 12th pass out students will be familiar with the topics and concepts. They don't have to put in extra effort during preparation. In diploma, subjects like Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics may not be taught at the 11th/12th level. Moreover, not all these subjects need to be taught with a diploma. Therefore, a candidate with a diploma holder will face difficulty in understanding the concepts while preparing for JEE Mains and JEE Advanced.
Time Factor: All the 12th pass out students will take a gap year for preparation before giving the exam. So, such candidates will have a total of 3 years (11th, 12th, and the gap year), to prepare and give the exam. On the other hand, a diploma is for three years, and even if you take a gap year, it will come to add up to 4 years. You can prepare along with your diploma course, but that’s going to be hectic. When you appear for JEE exams, you need to have your complete attention to the preparation.
No Added Advantage: There is no special exemption or advantage that a diploma holder will have, after completing a 3-year course. The candidates with a diploma have to follow the exact process like the candidates who passed 12th, for admission in IIT. Moreover, a diploma person cannot get admitted for the second year (engineering) at IIT.
Looking at the above points, it is clear that a 12th pass candidate will be at a greater advantage over the candidate who has a diploma.
Conclusion
Before you take any decision, please thoroughly read the eligibility criteria on the official website of JEE. It is better to apply for the JEE exam as a 12th pass out rather than going as a diploma holder.
