IIM Bangalore draws 12,000 applicants for 80 seats in its first undergraduate programmes

# What happened IIM Bangalore received about 12,000 applications for the first undergraduate intake, which has only 80 seats. The inaugural cohort will start on August 31, 2026. The new undergraduate unit is being set up as the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies, a partnership supported by Tata Trusts.

# Why the demand matters The high number of applicants for a small initial intake shows strong interest in a new path that combines economics and data science at a leading management institute. The programmes are pitched as interdisciplinary and research-led, with explicit attention to emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and data science. That positioning appears to have driven demand even before the first classes begin.

# The programmes and seat split

• BSc (Hons) in Data Sciences with a minor in Economics.
• BSc (Hons) in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences.

Each programme will admit 40 students in the first batch, for a total of 80 students.

# Campus and facilities

# Funding, governance and partners IIM Bangalore signed a memorandum of understanding with Tata Trusts on August 21, 2026. Tata Trusts will provide philanthropic support for initial development and academic infrastructure, and will help shape the school's strategic direction, policy formulation and governance. IIMB leadership described the contribution as a major institutional gift that will support research capability and globally benchmarked learning.

# Academic focus and faculty plans The school is being positioned around interdisciplinary learning with emphasis on areas that intersect technology and policy: artificial intelligence, data science, algorithmic design, Indian Knowledge Systems and applied business learning. IIMB plans to develop a dedicated multidisciplinary faculty for the undergraduate school to deliver this curriculum.

# What school leaders said (summary)

# What students can expect Students admitted to these programmes will join a full-time, four-year residential degree with curricular integration across data science and economics. The campus design, curriculum emphasis and stated priorities suggest a blend of technical training (data and AI) and economic reasoning, supported by research facilities and applied projects.

# Immediate facts to note

• Application volume: ~12,000 applicants.
• Seats in first batch: 80 (40 per programme).
• Programmes start: August 31, 2026.

• Partner: Tata Trusts (MoU signed August 21, 2026).