education

Updated: Jul 05, 2017 14:01 IST

Mumbai: About 53 of the top 100 Joint Entrance Examination (JEE ) Advanced rank holders have chosen the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) over other IITs this year, data released by the institute after its first round of admissions has revealed. However, the number of toppers has shrunk as 67 of the top 100 had opted for IIT-B in 2016 and 65 in 2015.

Most of thes students have chosen computer science and engineering course, which remains the most popular course year after year.

About “36 of top 50 ranks and 53 of top 100 ranks have chosen IIT-B by the end of round one of admission. Among the top 36, we also have three girls who have joined the computer science and engineering department,” said the press statement released by the institute today. A total of 75 girls have already confirmed admission with IIT as of now and the numbers might hopefully touch 90 soon.

“Computer science (CS) has been popular for years now, and students flock to IIT-B especially because we have a brilliant set of faculty in this department. Students choose faculty over the brand,” said Devang Khakkar, director, IIT-B. He added that what also matters is the increase in job opportunities available for students after a degree from IIT in this course. “Over the last two years, we have also slightly increased the intake capacity for this course, so have most of the other IITs,” he added.

Based on figures shared by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) in the last few years, the number of top rankers joining IIT-B seems to have shrunk a little - 67 out of the top 100 rankers had opted for IIT-B in 2016 and 65 in 2015. “These numbers say a lot about how students are now looking for IITs closer home than just run after the brand,” said a JoSAA official. This year, rank 1 and 2 joined CS in IIT-B but rank 3 has gone to IIT-Delhi for the same course.