TLDR: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has announced the launch of two new four-year undergraduate residential programs: BSc Honours in Economics with a minor in Data Science and Business, and BSc Honours in Data Science with a minor in Economics and Business. These programs, designed in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), will commence in August 2026 at IIMB’s new Jigani campus, with applications opening in September 2025. The initiative marks IIMB’s significant entry into the undergraduate education space, aiming to cultivate critical thinkers and problem-solvers for emerging markets.
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has officially announced its foray into undergraduate education with the introduction of two comprehensive four-year residential programs: a BSc Honours in Economics with a minor in Data Science and Business, and a BSc Honours in Data Science with a minor in Economics and Business. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the institute’s Bannerghatta Road campus on Monday, July 14, 2025.
These full-time programs are meticulously designed to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) and will be delivered at IIMB’s upcoming Jigani campus, located approximately 27 kilometers from its main campus. The curriculum is structured to integrate economics, data science, philosophy, communication, and ethics, with a strong emphasis on business education to foster an application-based orientation.
For the BSc (Hons) in Economics, potential electives include public policy, auction theory, development economics, algorithmic game theory, environmental economics, and health economics. The BSc (Hons) in Data Science will offer electives such as quantitative risk management, supply chain optimization, big data computing, and combinatorial optimization.
Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director of IIMB, articulated the vision behind this initiative, stating, “We believe it is important to engage young learners early to familiarize them with the intricacies of emerging and unfamiliar markets, and equip them with analytical, contextual, and ethical perspectives.” He further emphasized the goal to impart a good range of business-related skills to enhance employability.
Applications for the inaugural cohorts are slated to open in September 2025, with the first batch scheduled to commence classes in August 2026. Each program will initially admit 40 students, leading to a total cohort size of 80 students per year. IIMB plans to significantly scale up the intake to 640 students by 2031, supported by infrastructure expansion at the Jigani campus. A dedicated faculty pool of 15 members will be drawn from leading global institutions and IIMB’s existing academic ecosystem.
The annual course fee is set at Rs 8.5 lakh, with provisions for concessions and financial aid for deserving students. Eligibility criteria require applicants to be under 20 years of age for the general category or 22 years for the reserved category as of August 1, 2025. A compulsory mathematics component in Class 11 and 12 with a minimum of 60% marks is also required. Admissions will be conducted through a national test, encompassing mathematics, logical reasoning, English, and general knowledge, followed by an interview.
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The four-year programs offer an exit option at the end of three years, allowing students to graduate with a degree. Key features of the curriculum include two internship cycles and an international exchange term, aiming to provide a holistic and globally relevant educational experience. This move marks IIMB’s strategic expansion into the undergraduate domain, addressing the demand for high-quality non-tech undergraduate programs in India.
