IIST offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in areas that are relevant to space studies. The institute currently offers two B.Tech courses in Aerospace Engineering and Avionics and a Dual Degree (B. Tech + Master of Science/ M. Tech) programme with B.Tech in Engineering Physics and any of the following Postgraduate specializations - (i) Master of Science (Astronomy & Astrophysics) (ii) M.Tech (Earth System Science) (iii) Master of Science (Solid State Physics) and (iv) M.Tech (Optical Engineering). Admissions to these branches are merit based and intake is based on the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) conducted by IITs, as per the guidelines set by IIST. The major feature of the undergraduate program is the liberal offer of assistanceship to meritorious students, rendering the education "completely free", subject to the students securing a stipulated minimum academic requirement. As performance based financial assistance is provided by DOS to the B.Tech students of IIST, ISRO/DOS will have the first right to absorb them, subject to the vacancies notified by ISRO in that particular discipline and year for IIST graduates.Apart from this, IIST offers postgraduate programmes in fifteen areas of space science, space engineering and related areas. These M.Tech and Master of Science programmes are open to students with requisite degrees as well as small earmarked seats for scientists / engineers of DOS / ISRO. The academic programmes have been formulated to strengthen the fundamentals, experience the realities through practical work, and enhance the knowledge and understanding in the areas relevant and related to space. Also, the programmes so envisaged ensure adequate exposure in the emerging fields which will lead to experience knowledge synthesis.