Patna: The Indian Institute of Technology Patna (IIT-P) on Thursday signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya (IIM-BG) to jointly run an integrated five-year dual degree programme. The MoU was signed by IIT-P director T N Singh and IIM-BG director Vinita S Sahay in the presence of faculty members from both institutions.Singh told this newspaper that this full-time residential programme will have an intake of 60 students. Candidates will be admitted based on their IIT JEE results and will complete a three-year BTech/BSc programme at IIT-P before transitioning to IIM-BG for a two-year MBA. The curriculum has been designed to integrate engineering, science and interdisciplinary coursework with business education.“A key highlight of this collaboration lies in the fact that eligible candidates gain admissions directly through Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling based on their JEE (Advanced) rank, allowing them to secure a management seat without taking the Common Admission Test (CAT)”, the director said.IIM-BG director Sahay said that the management curriculum offers three specialised tracks: General MBA, MBA in Digital and Artificial Intelligence (MBA-DB & AI), and MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management (MBA-HHM).To support students through this rigorous academic journey, IIT Patna as well as IIM Bodh Gaya shall provide need-based financial assistance (NBFA) for the BTech and MBA fee components in accordance with their respective scholarship policies.Incoming batches will attend the induction ceremony at IIT Patna, while the joint degree certificate will be awarded at the convocation ceremony at IIM Bodh Gaya, Sahay added.Moreover, as students approach the completion of their dual degree, a comprehensive and joint placement support will be provided by the placement cells of both institutions, with opportunities aligned to techno-functional roles across areas such as artificial intelligence, healthcare management, supply chain, telecommunications, and digital public infrastructure.