IIT Madras Introduces Mentorship and Support for FACE & ScOpE Students
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is taking meaningful steps to broaden the scope of opportunities for talented students beyond traditional academic excellence. In a first, the institute has admitted nine students into its BTech programmes through the newly launched Fine Arts and Culture Excellence (FACE) admissions scheme. Alongside FACE, IIT Madras is also running the Science Olympiad Excellence (ScOpE) scheme and the Sports Excellence Admission (SEA) pathway, offering alternative routes for students with exceptional abilities in diverse fields.
Encouraging Excellence in Fine Arts and Culture
FACE is designed to recognise and reward students who have excelled in fine arts and cultural activities at national or international levels. Under this scheme, each BTech and BS programme reserves two supernumerary seats — one exclusively for female candidates and another open to all genders. This ensures inclusivity while also celebrating diverse talent.
For the 2025 admissions, eligible candidates were those who chose to be treated at par with Indian nationals during the JEE Advanced 2025 registration process. Applications were accepted via a dedicated portal — jeeadv.iitm.ac.in/face.
ScOpE: A Pathway for Olympiad Achievers
Parallel to FACE, the Science Olympiad Excellence (ScOpE) scheme focuses on students who have excelled in prestigious science Olympiads. These candidates, often with strong academic and problem-solving skills, are integrated into IIT Madras’ regular faculty advisor system to receive consistent academic and research guidance.
Sports Excellence Admission (SEA)
Introduced in the 2024-25 academic year, SEA offers admission to students who have demonstrated exceptional performance in sports. IIT Madras became the first IIT to create a dedicated pathway for athletes. SEA students must still qualify through JEE Advanced, but their admissions are managed via a separate IIT Madras portal, not the JoSAA system.
Like FACE and ScOpE, SEA admissions are granted through supernumerary seats, meaning they do not reduce the intake through the regular JEE Advanced route. This ensures fairness while still encouraging diverse talents.
Structured Mentorship for FACE Students
Recognising that success in arts and culture requires different forms of guidance compared to academic excellence, IIT Madras has rolled out a specialised mentorship framework for FACE students. This structure mirrors the support system created for SEA students, focusing on helping them refine their skills, connect with relevant programmes, and participate in competitions at various levels.
According to the institute, the aim is to nurture these students’ talents alongside their academic pursuits, ensuring a balanced and enriching campus experience.
Positive Response from Parents and Students
These innovative admission schemes have already earned praise from parents. Many have expressed appreciation for IIT Madras’ efforts to provide alternative routes into one of India’s most prestigious technical institutions. Parents have highlighted how these opportunities recognise achievements that extend beyond academics, such as cultural performance, artistic talent, or scientific problem-solving on an international stage.
The schemes are still in their early years — FACE in its inaugural batch and SEA in its second — but their impact is already becoming visible. Faculty members have noted an increase in the diversity of skills and perspectives on campus, enriching classroom discussions and extracurricular activities alike.
Shaping a Holistic Academic Environment
By launching FACE, ScOpE, and SEA, IIT Madras is setting an example for other higher education institutions in India. These schemes acknowledge that talent comes in many forms and that a world-class institute should foster an environment where academic ability, creativity, and athleticism can thrive side by side.
The mentorship structures, combined with targeted opportunities, are designed to help students grow both as specialists in their chosen fields and as well-rounded individuals. While their broader impact will take a few years to fully measure, the initiative marks a significant step toward redefining what it means to be an IITian.
In the words of an IIT Madras representative, “We aim to create a platform where every kind of talent — be it in labs, on stage, or on the sports field — finds the guidance and encouragement it deserves.”
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