The Full Form of IIST is‍ Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is a government-aided institute and deemed university for the study and research of space science, located at Valiamala, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is the first university in Asia to be solely dedicated to the study and research of Outer space. It was inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by G. Madhavan Nair, the then Chairman of ISRO. IIST was set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space, Government of India. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, was the Chancellor of IIST. IIST offers regular engineering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes with focus on space science, technology and applications.

The Dual Degree Programme is a 5-year (10 Semesters) Programme. On successful completion, the students are awarded a B.Tech. degree in Engineering Physics and a Master of Science/ M.Tech. degree in one of the following four postgraduate streams:

• Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Master of Science in Solid State Physics
• M.Tech. in Earth System Science
• M.Tech. in Optical Engineering

Students will be allotted their postgraduate streams at the end of the sixth semester based on their preference and academic performance upto sixth semester. The seat matrix specifying minimum and/ or maximum for each of the streams will be notified to the students during the sixth semester.

There is no exit option with a B.Tech degree in Engineering Physics. However, based on academic performance, Director, IIST has the discretion not to promote students with unsatisfactory performance to the Masters‟ level. These students may be allowed to exit with a B.Tech degree in Engineering Physics with specified norms worked out by the Department and approved by the Academic Council and Board of Management of IIST.