It is  not mandatory as yet to do a full time qualification in data science because the field is emerging over the last 5- 10 years. It is stabilising so the number of institutions offering the full time courses are still limited. So, you should complete your graduation in some area that is mandatory. The best suggested areas would be mathematics and statistics if not engineering. Then you can look up, many IT companies have their own integrated programs in the field of data sciences for example IBM in association with Aegis which is a training organisation offers a one year program in data analytics. At the end of the program, you are equipped for jobs in industries. IBM does hire some of the trainees but not all of them. But at the end of this industry approved course, you actually get a stamp of approval from a major IT giant therefore a job becomes much easier. Similarly, you can look at other IT giants that have their own certificate programs. TCS has some internal programs which they advertise which can lead to jobs in data science.

Remember, you may not be able to do a data sciences graduation but don't stay without completing a graduation. Graduation is a must, post graduation is preferable because in today's competitive world it's ultimately your academic excellence, your competence which is going to help you build or break your career over a period of time.

Prof. RSS Mani
VP Institutional Development, ITM Group