IEM Kolkata's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Established in 1989, IEM Kolkata is one of the oldest private institutions in West Bengal. It is considered popular and reputed due to its long-standing presence. The campus size of IEM Kolkata is just 3 acres which is relatively compact compared to other institutions of the same standard. However, it is designed well to incorporate all the necessary infrastructure such as laboratories, auditoriums, a library, canteens and a recreational area. 

The IEM Kolkata course list includes undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering, management and computer science. BTech and MBA are the most popular courses offered here. Admission to the BTech course at IEM Kolkata is based on WBJEE and JEE Main scores. The institute follows MAKAUT guidelines and curriculum. It organises workshops, events, activities and tests on a regular basis and gives more emphasis to studies. IEM Kolkata is well-known for its discipline. Some may like it but not the majority! 

IEM Kolkata boasts good rankings, awards and accolades, and nearly 100% placement offers. It was also awarded as the ‘Jewel of the East’ in the past which is a matter of pride for the institute. However, all that glitters is not gold! Students have formed a strong criticism for too much discipline and showoff done by the institute. To find out whether IEM Kolkata stands true to its name, read the article below. 

IEM Kolkata Ranking: Decent! 

Check out the NIRF Rankings of IEM Kolkata in the table below:

IEM Kolkata Rankings by other agencies 

• IEM Kolkata's ranking by NIRF Innovation in the ‘Overall’ category is 151 out of 312 colleges in India in 2023.
• IEM Kolkata B.Tech ranking by The Times of India is 7 out of 170 engineering colleges in India in 2023 and it was 10 out of 200 in 2022. 
• IEM B.Tech ranking by Outlook is 40 out of 160 colleges in India in 2023 and it was 45 out of 100 colleges in 2021.
• IEM Kolkata's ranking in the B.Tech category by India Today is 53 out of 246 engineering colleges in India in 2023 and it was 61 out of 238 colleges in 2022.
• IEM Kolkata B.Tech ranking by The Week is 100 out of 131 engineering colleges in India in 2023 and it was 100 out of 216 in 2022.
• IEM’s ranking by The Times of India in the ‘Overall’ category was 20 out of 80 colleges in India in 2021. 

Our Take:

IEM Kolkata was ranked among the top 200 colleges in India in 2021 under the ‘Overall’ and ‘Engineering’ categories. Despite dropping several positions in the engineering category in 2022, the institute was again ranked in the top 200 colleges in India in 2023 (engineering category). Other major ranking agencies have also ranked IEM Kolkata among the top engineering colleges in India over the years. This recognition reflects the consistent performance of IEM in the engineering domain. However, there is room for improvement in the context of the institution’s overall performance. 

IEM Kolkata Academia & Batch Size

The curriculum of IEM Kolkata is a blend of theory and practical education. Students are mostly busy doing projects and assignments or taking tests. The college follows strict rules regarding attendance and punctuality to foster discipline in students. Based on students' reviews on Quora, the institute forces them to participate in irrelevant workshops and events in the name of placements. A few criticised the industrial training and marathons as a way of minting money out of students. 

IEM Kolkata Batch size 

Our Take:

Appearances can be deceiving! While following an all-around curriculum is appreciable, forcing students and using the wrong tactics to earn money is unethical. Some students claimed that many co-curricular activities are just for showoff and don’t have any relevance in their development. 

The institute should focus on organising activities which are useful to students in the long run. Genuine education should be prioritised and students should not be misled in the name of placements. It is crucial to create a healthy and student-friendly abode rather than forced discipline and a suffocating environment. 

IEM Kolkata Infrastructure

IEM Kolkata has a small campus with just three buildings. The Gurukul building is for the engineering department and there are 2 more buildings for MBA and other courses. 

• Classroom: Classrooms at IEM Kolkata are air-conditioned and spacious. They are also IT-enabled, as per the students. 
• Auditorium/ Seminar Halls/ Labs: IEM Kolkata has a multi-media conference hall and labs for different departments. However, a shortage of lab equipment has been encountered by the students. 
• Library: The campus has a library which is open 24x7 with a seating facility. 
• Internet: IEM Kolkata claims to provide 1 GBPS internet speed. The campus has free Wi-Fi connectivity with high-speed internet as per the needs of the students. 
• Commute: The IEM Kolkata campus is small, covering an area of just 3 acres. Commuting within the campus is easy. 
• Hostel: IEM Kolkata offers separate hostel facilities for boys and girls. There are about 4-5 hostels which are actually PGs that the institute has levied on a contract basis as per the total students. The institute hasn’t disclosed any other information regarding the hostel and mess except fees. The IEM hostel fee is paid in a lump sum at the time of admission. As per student reviews, the hostels are nice but the food is average. They stated it is better to rent a PG outside which is much cheaper than the hostel. 

• Sports Facilities: The sports area of IEM Kolkata is rather small, only a basketball court and a badminton playing area are available as per the students. 

• Activities: According to student reviews, IEM Kolkata conducts various co-curricular activities throughout the year. Various conferences, events, seminars, lectures, sports and cultural activities are organised on the campus. Several clubs such as drama, dance and coding are formed. Students need to give an interview to be a member of the clubs. 

• Cafe/ Hang-out: There are two canteens at IEM Kolkata and one is air-conditioned. Students can’t bunk classes and enjoy themselves there! While the prices of the food are low, the quality is also compromised. Students reported that the canteen atmosphere is rather boring. A cafe coffee day outlet is also located inside the campus as per students. Various hangout places are located nearby. 

Our Take: 

Due to its small campus, the infrastructure of IEM Kolkata is rather limited. The lack of recreational areas and spacious laboratories is clearly visible. The institute has tried its best to cover the shortcomings by providing high-speed internet access, modern classrooms, a 24X7 library facility and regular conduction of activities but expanding the campus is a necessity. Furthermore, the hostel fee is rather high compared to other PGs and the mess food is below average as per the students. 

IEM Kolkata Internships and Placements

IEM Kolkata Internships:

IEM Kolkata includes a 1 to 2-month compulsory internship programme in its curriculum. The question is whether it invites companies to recruit interns on its campus.  Well, the answer is no. As per student reviews on Quora, students have to find internships independently without depending on the college. Hardly any help is provided by the institute’s side. 

IEM Kolkata Placement:

Any job is better than no job! This is the mindset of the majority of Indian graduates. They fall into this trap and are satisfied with whatever they are getting even after paying heavy fees in college. 

As per the students' review, the average placement package at IEM Kolkata is 4-5 LPA for most courses. Let’s have a look at the highlights of IEM Kolkata placements based on  NIRF 2023 data for in-depth analysis. 

Overall: 

Engineering: B.Tech

Engineering: M.Tech

Management: MBA

Top Recruiters 

Adobe, EQ Technologies, Capgemini, Infosys, TCS, Accenture, PWC, Wipro, Cognizant, Oracle, etc. 

Our Take:

IEM Kolkata boasts nearly 100% placement in all the courses. Looking at the overall data, more than 80% of UG and PG students have been placed in 2022 which is not bad! More than 90% of students of MBA and 80% of students of BTech have been placed but the placement percentage for MTech is meagre. 

While the median salary for the MBA programme is considerable, the BTech median salary of INR 4-5 LPA is quite average. Furthermore, around 60% to 80% of students are hired by mass recruiters such as TCS and Infosys. Students have also reported that it is mainly the CSE students who get the highest salaries. 

IEM Kolkata Diversity & Demographics

Check out the NIRF 2023 data submitted by the university for the academic year 2022 to know more about diversity and demographics at IEM Kolkata. 

Male vs Female Students

Students Within State vs Outside State

Indian vs Foreign Students

Our Take:

The male-to-female ratio in UG courses shows fewer women are interested or eligible for admission. In UG courses, there are more students from other states, however, only 11% of students from outside the state are enrolled in PG courses. BTech is more popular outside the state than other courses offered by IEM Kolkata. Only 51 foreign students enrolled in UG courses representing lesser global diversity at the institute. IEM Kolkata needs to attract more female students and increase its cultural diversity by offering more courses.

IEM Kolkata Faculty/ College Administration & Management

According to the official website, the total number of faculty at IEM Kolkata is 310 for 5,052 students. The teacher-to-student ratio is 1:16, which is really good! As per NIRF 2023 data, there are more faculty members with postgraduate degrees than PhD holders. The students have mixed reviews for the teachers at IEM. As per them, a few dedicated faculty help students and push them to do their best. However, many of them are inexperienced and uncooperative. Students have also shared issues related to the boastful administration and unsupportive management of the institute. 

Let’s see some major issues of students related to faculty and management. 

• The policy of not allowing students to enter the classroom even if they are five minutes late. 
• Very strict attendance policy! Parents are informed if a student is absent for more than two days. 
• The director has been found boasting about the institute’s excellence without reason. 
• Forced discipline! 

Our Take:

The environment of IEM Kolkata is rather serious and like a school. More focus on attendance, discipline and exams is given here. A studious candidate might be able to adjust to this environment but it is not possible for everyone. The institute shall lay focus on providing its students with a holistic approach that can cater to the academic, extracurricular and fun elements vital for their overall growth and success. Sincerity and discipline help students in the long run but leniency in some areas can be done to foster creativity and individuality in students. 

IEM Kolkata Location

Situated within the heart of Kolkata’s IT hub, IEM Kolkata enjoys a prime location at Sector – V, Saltlake Electronics Complex, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The vicinity is surrounded by residential areas, social and retail infrastructure and employment hubs. It is well-connected with road, rail and airways. 

IEM Kolkata: Expectation vs Reality CLD Verdict!

Well, the shine of the jewel has dimmed! IEM Kolkata was indeed considered reputed but compromised education quality and showoff have overshadowed its former glory. However, a focused student can still get the best out of this college. The fee structure of IEM Kolkata ranges between Rs 1 L to 3.2 L. B.Tech students are charged INR 75K to 99K per semester, which is a huge amount.  While the 80% placement rate is considerable, the average placement package of INR 4-5 LPA does not align with the ROI. 

Final Checklist!