ADDITIONALS / ELECTIVES / BREADTH
1. What is an additional subject, and what are the rules regarding an additional subject?
○ From the THIRD semester onwards (including 2yr MSc Students), the curriculum offers scope for an undergraduate student to opt for additional subjects apart from the regular curriculum requirement, subject to the rules and regulations.
○ Additional subjects allow students to explore their interests and use the gained knowledge ahead in their careers.
○ If a student has a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) equal to or greater than 7.50 without any backlog, they would be allowed to take additional subjects within and/or outside their own discipline.
○ The students can register for Additional subjects with EAA as backlog
○ They can earn additional credits of up to 33% of their requirement for a major.
○ A student would be allowed to register in an additional subject only if they satisfy the pre-requisite, there is no clash in the timetable and the class size permits.
○ One student can register for a maximum of 5 additional subjects in a semester.
○ The GPA of the additional subjects is separately calculated and indicated in the grade card.
○ Once a student has registered in an additional subject, the grade obtained (including F-grade) in that subject would invariably be recorded in their grade card. However, the credit contribution of these additional subjects to the computation of CGPA would be considered nil.
○ Additional subjects allow students to explore their interests and use the gained knowledge ahead in their careers.
○ If a student has a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) equal to or greater than 7.50 without any backlog, they would be allowed to take additional subjects within and/or outside their own discipline.
○ The students can register for Additional subjects with EAA as backlog
○ They can earn additional credits of up to 33% of their requirement for a major.
○ A student would be allowed to register in an additional subject only if they satisfy the pre-requisite, there is no clash in the timetable and the class size permits.
○ One student can register for a maximum of 5 additional subjects in a semester.
○ The GPA of the additional subjects is separately calculated and indicated in the grade card.
○ Once a student has registered in an additional subject, the grade obtained (including F-grade) in that subject would invariably be recorded in their grade card. However, the credit contribution of these additional subjects to the computation of CGPA would be considered nil.
2. What is the process to apply for additional subjects?
○ While semester registration is active, you can apply for an additional subject.
■ Browse the list to select the appropriate department from which you want to avail your additional subject.
■ All the subjects offered by the aforementioned department will be visible
■ Indicate your subject of choice
■ You are required to submit a brief description of your reason for choosing this subject, and then you can apply for it by clicking the ‘apply’ button.
■ The concerned professor-in-charge for the course will read the description, and based on some parameters like availability, the professor will either approve or decline your request.
■ You will receive a mail regarding the status of the additional subject shortly after you apply for it.
■ Upon checking the list post approval/denial, all approved subjects will be visible to you.
■ Browse the list to select the appropriate department from which you want to avail your additional subject.
■ All the subjects offered by the aforementioned department will be visible
■ Indicate your subject of choice
■ You are required to submit a brief description of your reason for choosing this subject, and then you can apply for it by clicking the ‘apply’ button.
■ The concerned professor-in-charge for the course will read the description, and based on some parameters like availability, the professor will either approve or decline your request.
■ You will receive a mail regarding the status of the additional subject shortly after you apply for it.
■ Upon checking the list post approval/denial, all approved subjects will be visible to you.
3. What happens if the student receives an F Grade / Fails in an additional subject?
○ There is no scope for supplementary examination in an additional subject.
○ However, in the case of failure in the additional subject, the student should repeat the additional subject in the next offered semester.
○ The student can take alternate additional subjects if the subject is not offered in the next semester.
○ Additional subjects completed after an F grade or in exchange for an F grade will not be counted towards a minor specialization.
○ However, in the case of failure in the additional subject, the student should repeat the additional subject in the next offered semester.
○ The student can take alternate additional subjects if the subject is not offered in the next semester.
○ Additional subjects completed after an F grade or in exchange for an F grade will not be counted towards a minor specialization.
4. What is the process to drop additional subjects?
○ A student can drop an additional subject by following the procedure, mentioned below, before mid-semester examination. Otherwise the subject will remain registered, and the subject will be mandatorily reflected on the Grade Card even with an F grade.
○ In an offline mode of semesters, the process for dropping an additional is as follows:
■ Write a letter to the Head of Department through your faculty advisor stating the desire to drop the additional and get their approval.
■ Submit the approval letter signed by the Head of Department and Faculty Advisor to the Academic Section.
■ A date before Mid Semester Examination is declared by which any student willing to drop an additional number should follow the above-mentioned steps.
■ You can either contact the academic section or Departmental Representative for the last date for the additional drop of the ongoing semester.
■ Generally, one week before the mid sem examination is the last date for dropping an additional subject.
○ In the online mode of semesters, the process for dropping an additional is as follows -
■ Students have to mail their Faculty Advisor stating the desire to drop a particular additional subject and get the approval.
■ The same mail thread is needed to forward to the Head of the Department for their approval.
■ After getting the approval from your faculty advisor and the Head of the department, forward the complete email thread to Assistant Registrar Academics (arug@adm.iitkgp.ac.in), and they will do the needful.
■ For a given semester, there is a fixed last date for dropping an additional subject which is decided at the start of the semester. You can contact the academic section or Departmental Representative to the Institute Senate for the last date for the additional drop of the ongoing semester.
○ In an offline mode of semesters, the process for dropping an additional is as follows:
■ Write a letter to the Head of Department through your faculty advisor stating the desire to drop the additional and get their approval.
■ Submit the approval letter signed by the Head of Department and Faculty Advisor to the Academic Section.
■ A date before Mid Semester Examination is declared by which any student willing to drop an additional number should follow the above-mentioned steps.
■ You can either contact the academic section or Departmental Representative for the last date for the additional drop of the ongoing semester.
■ Generally, one week before the mid sem examination is the last date for dropping an additional subject.
○ In the online mode of semesters, the process for dropping an additional is as follows -
■ Students have to mail their Faculty Advisor stating the desire to drop a particular additional subject and get the approval.
■ The same mail thread is needed to forward to the Head of the Department for their approval.
■ After getting the approval from your faculty advisor and the Head of the department, forward the complete email thread to Assistant Registrar Academics (arug@adm.iitkgp.ac.in), and they will do the needful.
■ For a given semester, there is a fixed last date for dropping an additional subject which is decided at the start of the semester. You can contact the academic section or Departmental Representative to the Institute Senate for the last date for the additional drop of the ongoing semester.
5. What are the benefits of taking an additional subject?
○ Additional subjects allow the students to explore subjects not offered through their curriculum and develop skills.
○ It can also help students in the following ways -
■ Students can mention the subjects in their CV indicating their interest and knowledge in a particular field.
■ Additional Subjects can help students opt for higher education in a domain different from their parent department.
○ It can also help students in the following ways -
■ Students can mention the subjects in their CV indicating their interest and knowledge in a particular field.
■ Additional Subjects can help students opt for higher education in a domain different from their parent department.
6. What is the maximum credit limit for a semester?
Refer 1
7. Where can the slots for additional subjects be found?
Refer 1
8. How can I know the slots for any subject offered by any dept/centre/school?
○ You can know the slot for any subject as per the following procedure -
■ Login to ERP.
■ Go to Academic > Time Table > Subject List with Time Table Slots.
■ Select the semester and the parent department/centre/school.
■ You will see a list of all the subjects offered by the selected dept/centre/school in the semester chosen along with the slots.
■ Go to Academic > Time Table > Subject List with Time Table Slots.
■ Select the semester and the parent department/centre/school.
■ You will see a list of all the subjects offered by the selected dept/centre/school in the semester chosen along with the slots.
9. What is a Breadth subject?
○ Breadth subjects are a part of the curriculum. Each department has its own curriculum in which it is specified. On the other hand, breadth is a compulsory part of the curriculum, usually unrelated to the parent department, and GPA in breadth is part of the overall GPA.
○ Breadth Electives are as follows
■ HSS
■ Management
■ IT/Sc/Ent/IPL
○ Breadth Electives are as follows
■ HSS
■ Management
■ IT/Sc/Ent/IPL
10. How to check if a course clashes with our timetable?
○ Firstly, obtain the central timetable in the ERP from Academic > Time Table > Central Timetable, which shows the names of all the slots. Next, to check the slot of a specific course within the ERP, go to Academic > Time Table > Subject List with Timetable Slots. Select the department offering the course, and scroll the list obtained to find the course slot. For more detailed guidance for understanding the timetable, read this article: https://web.scholarsavenue.org/understanding-the-timetable-9971bbab4cb7.
11. Is there any way to apply for courses that clash with our timetable but we’re highly interested in it?
○ No, ERP does not allow registration in courses that clash with the depth timetable. In exceptional cases, you may contact your faculty advisor and the concerned faculty for that course.
12. What is the procedure to take an approved additional course as breadth instead?
○ There is no direct way to do so, but if the additional course is a prerequisite for a micro-specialization, applying for it as breadth can be used as a workaround, provided it is available in your breadth subjects’ list.
○ You can reach out to your faculty advisor. On his/her approval, additional courses can be taken as breadth instead.
○ You can reach out to your faculty advisor. On his/her approval, additional courses can be taken as breadth instead.
13. Can I change a breadth subject allotted to me?
○ Change of breadth is usually not allowed, except under special cases like branch change, backlog/additional slot clash, etc. You need to request the course faculty and your faculty advisor through the mail with proper justification, and if they approve of it, the breadth subject can be changed.
14. Do my department and CGPA have any impact on the additional or breadth courses I’m able to procure?
○ A minimum CGPA of 7.5 without any backlogs is necessary to avail an additional, and for breadth, students are shortlisted for a particular course based on CGPA.
○ Other than the above condition, additional courses available are independent of the department, but available choices of breadth courses do depend on the student’s department. In certain additional courses, when the number of interested students is large, the subject faculty on the basis of some rule (mostly CGPA) may discard certain students. If you are highly interested in a course, you can get in touch with the concerned faculty.
○ Other than the above condition, additional courses available are independent of the department, but available choices of breadth courses do depend on the student’s department. In certain additional courses, when the number of interested students is large, the subject faculty on the basis of some rule (mostly CGPA) may discard certain students. If you are highly interested in a course, you can get in touch with the concerned faculty.
15. Where can we find the list of courses necessary for a particular minor/micro? If we have completed those courses before applying for minor/micro, do they still count?
○ For Minor: ERP Login go to Academic > Subjects > Minor Curricula
○ For Micro Specialization: ERP Login go to Academic > UG > Student Academic Activities (UG) > Click to view document for Micro Specialization.
○ Minors are valid even if their courses are finished before applying, but Micro Specializations don’t count.
○ For Micro Specialization: ERP Login go to Academic > UG > Student Academic Activities (UG) > Click to view document for Micro Specialization.
○ Minors are valid even if their courses are finished before applying, but Micro Specializations don’t count.
16. Is it necessary to apply for additional subjects in terms of internship/placement?
○ It is not necessary but recommended to do so. It is advisable to contact professors and your seniors and shortlist courses that may prove helpful in your field of interest.
17. Is it possible to apply for courses absent in the department-specific breadth course list but still available in KGP? What is the procedure to do that?
○ In general, it is not allowed. But if there is a strong reason or incentive to do so, consult your Faculty Advisor and the concerned faculty for that course.