The teaching curriculum is perhaps the best that is available in the country at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The B.Sc. (Honours) Mathematics and Computer Science curriculum covers basic and advanced undergraduate courses in Mathematics. The programme also includes a number of courses on fundamental topics in Computer Science, including the design and analysis of algorithms, programming languages and computability theory. The courses are taught by active researchers in mathematics and computer science who draw on their professional expertise to offer new insights into the subject matter.
The B.Sc. (Honours) Physics curriculum covers basic undergraduate courses in Physics in topics such as classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, statistical and quantum physics. It also includes courses in programming and mathematics and offers an introduction to some advanced topics like relativity, cosmology, quantum field theory and condensed matter physics.
Physics students perform basic experiments at the in-house laboratory at CMI. In addition, students have an intensive laboratory programme at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam for students at the end of their second and third semesters.
The M.Sc. curriculum takes students into more advanced topics in Mathematics and Computer Science. The course structure is flexible and designed so that students can lay a firm foundation for pursuing further research while also acquiring advanced skills that will enhance their effectiveness in professional careers.
All students at CMI have access to a well-equipped computer laboratory with a high-speed Internet connection and are strongly encouraged to acquire computer related skills as part of their education.
The B.Sc. (Honours) Programme consists of six semesters of study over three years. The M.Sc. Programmes generally consist of four semesters of study over two years. Each year, the first semester runs from August to November and the second semester runs from January to April. The M.Sc. Programme in Applications of Mathematics has a slightly different structure in the second year, with two shorter terms followed by an internship or project.
The teaching programmes at CMI are run in cooperation with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai. The courses are taught by the faculty of CMI and IMSc, Chennai, as well as distinguished visiting scientists from other academic institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), IGCAR, Kalpakkam, IIT Madras, Chennai, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune and the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris.