M.Tech in Product Design and Management

About the Program

M. Tech in Product Design and Management (PDM) is a program that converges technology trends in software, design thinking, user centric design, products & markets, business models around technology products. The program is being supported in-part by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. It is a 2 year Masters program.

An applicant to this programme is required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology/Design/Science or Equivalent (4 year programme after 10+2) or Masters degree in Science/Computer Applications (2 year programme after 10+2+3) with a minimum of 60% or equivalent grade. The course shall focus on ICT technology oriented product design and management. Hence candidates who apply are expected to have at least 1 year experience in product development (especially ICT related products). Some exposure to design is preferred (engineering design or hardware design or industrial design) but not necessary.

Students for this program shall be selected by various modes as listed in the selection process section. Faculty from Software Engineering Research Center (SERC), Cognitive Science Lab, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) shall be involved in coordination and running of the program. IIITH has good computing facilities, and a well equipped Maker space/workshop space that shall be used as part of this program.

The program intake shall be 25 students. Scholarship amount shall be paid to some of the students to cover living expenses as per MeitY project rules. The candidate must be an Indian citizen and enrolled under full-time M.Tech PDM programme to be eligible for stipend. The two year program contains a mix of Technology, Entreprenuership and Design courses.

Objectives

The aim of M. Tech in Product Design and Management program is to create market and design aware technologists that are equipped with knowledge needed to be able to conceptualize, define, design technology products and connect them with markets. The curriculum shall create graduates that understand the convergence of technology, design, markets and the business of products. The program shall enable creation of new products, new startups, groom early career IT professionals to become technology product managers for technology companies specifically around information technologies.

Course Duration

Two years

Course Details

Meet our Faculty

Curriculum

The semester wise distribution of courses is given below.

Course Name Credits

Introduction Design Thinking

4

User Research Methods

2

Business Fundamentals

4

Business Finance and organizational operations

2

Bridge/Technology/Systems Elective

4

Product Development Project

2

Semester 1 Total Credits

18

Course Name Credits

Product Design Course-1

3

Product Design Course-2

3

Technology Product Entrepreneurship

4

Product Development Project

2

Product Management (Markets)

4

Maker Lab Workshop

0

Semester 2 Total Credits

16

Course Name Credits

Technology / Systems / Open Elective

4

Product Development Project

12

Semester 3 Total Credits

16

Course Name Credits

Technology / Systems / Open Elective

4

Product Development Project

12

Semester 4 Total Credits

16

Total Credits

66

Academic Regulations (Highlights)

Credit Requirements:

  • Minimum credits required for graduation is 66. Students are expected to register for the credits every semester as per the specified sequence
  • Every student must complete the Design and Entrepreneurship courses in the 1st year
  • Every student must register for two 3-credit product design courses in the 2nd semester
  • Some students who do not have the requisite background shall be asked to take the “Software Systems Development” bridge course
  • Every student must register for 8 credits of technology/systems/open electives, which include any 400+ level CSE or ECE elective offered in the institute. Electives outside of CSE and ECE program require the approval of the program head

Product Design Courses (Tentative list)

  • HCI & Interaction Design
  • Embedded Systems workshop
  • Intro to Internet of things

Bridge / Technology / Systems Electives (Tentative list)

  • Software Systems Development
  • Cognitive Computing (convergence of AI & Human psyche, immersive AR/VR, etc.)
  • Wearables and Medical devices
  •  Agile Development & DevOps

Project Work:

  • The product development project will be an integrated effort to create a market connected product or solution. May lead to a startup or a product that can create some social impact. For tech professionals from industry, the project may lead to a very relevant product that can be used in government or social sectors. And for startup aspirants, the thesis may lead towards the first market MVP of their startup idea

Academic Performance:

  • A student should complete the requirements with a minimum CGPA of 6.00 to receive the M.Tech degree

Residency Requirements:

  • Full-time students Students will have minimum of 4 semesters and maximum of 6 semesters to complete the graduate requirements, failing which they will be terminated from the programme
  • Part-time students Currently, this option is only available for Industry sponsored candidates

Fees:

The student has to pay full-time post-graduate fees for the first 4 semesters of study. The fees will be pro-rated to the number of credits registered for thereafter according to the institute’s policies.

Selection Process

 The potential candidates for the program may be admitted via the following four channels:

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science for admission into the Masters Program.

Selection Process:

  • Applicants will be shortlisted based on the information provided in the application
  • Shortlisted applicants will be called for an interview

The Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED) exam conducted by IIT Bombay is a qualifying examination for admissions into Masters and Ph.D programs in design across India’s premier institutes.

Selection Process:

  • Applicants will be shortlisted based on the information provided in the application
  • Shortlisted applicants will be called for an interview

Startup founders or professionals with a startup idea or planning to build a startup can join the program to acquire product design/management knowledge and apply it to their startup idea, curate, validate, build, and take early customers through this M.Tech in Product Design and Management program

Selection Process:

  • Initial screening based on meeting minimum criteria and completion of application forms, and the presence of a complete startup idea
  • Application will be reviewed in detail followed by an initial phone conversation with the applicant to validate the forms
  • Interview to analyze startup idea, founder’s intent, and aptitude towards product entrepreneurship
  • Candidates with prior experience in industry interested in establishing a startup, will go through the startup curation process

This channel is for technology product companies or innovation groups in technology services companies to sponsor their associates or for candidates (based on established eligibility criteria) to self-sponsor themselves for the M.Tech product Design and Management program. Candidates admitted in this channel may pursue the course in a PART-TIME mode.