Name: SRM IST Delhi NCR
Address: Delhi-NCR Campus, Delhi- Meerut Road, Modinagar, 201204, IN
Telephone: 1800 889 3496

At admission time, the B.Tech list at the Delhi-NCR campus shows five computer science options:

All five are four-year programmes with the same eligibility. What separates them is the specialisation subjects, and a fee difference that most families notice only when they see the fee page.

Students tend to pick by whatever sounds newest. This guide tries to give you better reasons.

The fee difference is bigger than you might expect

Tuition fees for 2026-27, from the official fee structure:

Programme	Tuition per year	Tuition over 4 years*
B.Tech CSE	₹3,50,000	₹14,00,000
CSE with AI & ML	₹3,50,000	₹14,00,000
CSE with Data Science	₹2,50,000	₹10,00,000
CSE with Cyber Security	₹2,00,000	₹8,00,000
CSE with Cloud Computing	₹2,00,000	₹8,00,000

*Assuming fees stay the same. The first year also includes ₹21,000 in one-time charges for all five.

So core CSE and AI & ML cost the same, Data Science is ₹1 lakh a year cheaper, and Cyber Security and Cloud Computing are ₹1.5 lakh a year cheaper. Across four years, that is up to ₹6 lakh, which is more than the cost of four years in the hostel. For a full picture including hostel and bus fees, see our guide on what it costs to study at SRM Delhi-NCR.

This does not make the cheaper option the better one. But it does mean the decision deserves more thought than picking the one with "AI" in the name.

Eligibility is the same for all five

According to the programme pages, you need:

At least 60% aggregate in Class 12, and
At least 50% combined in three subjects: Physics (compulsory), Mathematics (compulsory), and one of Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Informatics Practices or Engineering Graphics.

The admission procedure page describes the requirement as 50% in PCM. If your third subject is Computer Science or IT instead of Chemistry, confirm your eligibility with the admissions office before you pay.

Admission to B.Tech is through SRMJEEE, which is held in phases between April and July, with separate application deadlines for each phase. The current dates are on the admission FAQs page.

What each specialisation is for

The programme pages list the career paths each one is designed for. Put side by side, the focus of each is fairly clear.

Core CSE keeps things broad. The programme page lists higher studies (M.Tech, MBA), entrepreneurship and jobs in private and public sector organisations, rather than a single field. This is the option for students who know they like computing but have not yet picked an area.

AI & ML is aimed at machine learning engineers, data scientists, NLP specialists and AI research roles. Be honest with yourself about one thing: machine learning is built on linear algebra, probability and statistics. If maths in Class 12 was a struggle you got through rather than something you enjoyed, this specialisation will feel harder than it looks from outside.

Data Science is aimed at big data engineers, data analysts, analytics consultants and business intelligence roles. It is less about building new models and more about working with large data and turning it into decisions. SQL, statistics and the ability to explain a result to a non-technical manager matter a lot here.

Cyber Security is aimed at network security, ethical hacking, security analysis and auditing, and security architecture. It suits students who are curious about how systems fail: networks, operating systems and what happens when someone attacks them. Industry certifications play a big part in hiring in this field.

Cloud Computing is aimed at cloud engineers, architects, administrators, consultants and migration engineers. It suits students who like infrastructure, Linux, networking and keeping systems running. Like security, this field relies heavily on certifications from the major cloud providers.

Each programme page has a syllabus PDF. Download the ones you are considering and compare them semester by semester. Look at how many subjects are specific to the specialisation, and from which semester they start. That tells you far more than the programme name.

The labs

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering runs separate labs for each of these areas, alongside the regular programming, database, operating systems and algorithms labs:

AIML Lab and Computational Intelligence Lab
Data Science Lab and Data Analytics Lab
Cyber Security Lab, which uses virtualisation software for building practice environments
Cloud Computing Lab, which works with cloud provider accounts (AWS, Azure or Google Cloud) or cloud-based labs
IoT Lab and the Simulation, Modelling & Networking Lab

During a campus visit, ask to see the lab for the specialisation you are considering, and ask which semester you will start using it.

What the placement record actually shows

This is the most useful part for many families, and the answer may surprise you.

The Placement Testimonials page lists students from this campus by programme and company. Look at where students from each specialisation ended up:

Core CSE (2022-26): Visa, Booking Holdings, Twilio, Dell Technologies, ZS Associates, MSCI, AB InBev GCC and Bajaj Finserv
AI & ML (2022-26): ZS Associates (as a Data Analyst Associate), Barclays, Shipsy, and an internship with CME Group. From the 2020-24 AI & ML batch, offers ranged from Porter at ₹13 LPA and Yubi at ₹12.72 LPA down to ₹3.5 LPA
Data Science (2022-26): MUFG Global Services
Cyber Security (2022-26): ZS Associates and MUFG Global Services

There are no Cloud Computing students on the page yet, so there is no record to judge that one by.

Two things stand out. First, the same companies hired across specialisations. ZS Associates took students from core CSE, AI & ML and Cyber Security. MUFG took students from Data Science and Cyber Security. A Cyber Security student moving into an analytics role is not unusual at all.

Second, the placement rules are identical for all five. The placement policy asks for 60% in Class 10 and 12, a CGPA of 6 or above and no standing arrears, whatever your branch. The offer categories (Day 1, Dream, Super Dream, Marquee) are based on salary, not specialisation. Most recruiters start with an aptitude test and a coding round, and those test the same things for every CSE student.

So for campus placements in particular, the specialisation on your degree matters less than your CGPA, your problem-solving and coding skills, and the projects you can talk about in an interview. The specialisation matters more when you apply for specialist roles, such as a security analyst job or an ML engineer position, where interviewers will go deep into that subject.

For more on how the process works, read how campus placements work at SRM IST Delhi-NCR.

How to choose: a few honest rules of thumb

If you are not sure what you want, take core CSE, or a specialisation you can afford. Many students discover their interest only in the second or third year. Ask the admissions team whether and when changing specialisation is allowed before you lock in.

If the fee difference matters for your family, it should count. Since placement eligibility and most recruiters are common across the five, a Cyber Security or Cloud Computing seat at ₹2 lakh a year is not a step down for campus placement purposes. You will still study core computer science, and you can build skills in other areas through projects and certifications.

If you choose AI & ML, choose it for the maths, not the name. It costs the same as core CSE, so the question is only whether you will enjoy the subjects.

If you like data but not heavy model-building, look at Data Science. Analytics firms and banking technology centres are among the most frequent recruiters in this campus's placement record.

If you are planning for GATE or an MS abroad, core CSE gives the broadest base, since the GATE CS paper is built on core computer science subjects. Any of the five can work, though, if you cover the core subjects well.

Other routes into the same careers

B.Tech is not the only way in. The campus also offers BCA in Data Science, a three-year programme at ₹1 lakh a year. Ujjwal Kumar Singh from the 2023-26 BCA (Data Science) batch received a Super Dream offer from D.E. Shaw. There is also B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering with Data Science at ₹2 lakh a year, for students who want electronics alongside data skills.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fee for B.Tech CSE AIML at SRM Delhi-NCR? ₹3,50,000 tuition per year for 2026-27, the same as core B.Tech CSE. The first-year total, with one-time charges, is ₹3,71,000.

Which CSE specialisation has the lowest fee at SRM Delhi-NCR? Cyber Security and Cloud Computing, both at ₹2,00,000 tuition per year.

Do CSE specialisation students get the same placements as core CSE students? They follow the same placement rules and eligibility, and recruiters such as ZS Associates and MUFG have hired students from several specialisations. Individual results depend on CGPA, skills and interview performance.

Can I take B.Tech CSE without Chemistry in Class 12? The programme pages accept Physics and Mathematics with one of Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Computer Science, IT, Informatics Practices or Engineering Graphics, with 50% across the three. Confirm with the admissions office, since the admission procedure page refers to PCM.

Which is better, AI & ML or Data Science? Neither is better in general. AI & ML leans towards building models and needs strong maths. Data Science leans towards analysing data for decisions, and costs ₹1 lakh a year less. Compare the two syllabus PDFs and pick the one whose subjects you would actually enjoy studying.

Fees and eligibility are as published for 2026-27. For a counselling session or a campus visit, call 1800 889 3496. The campus is open to visitors Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM.