In 2026, most working professionals cannot afford vague study plans. These IIT-backed programs clearly spell out the workload, ranging from around 12 to 14 hours per week in an applied AI and data science track to roughly 12 to 16 hours per week in a computer science track. Several options are also available in live formats that fit evenings and weekends, making it easier to stay consistent without pausing your job. If you want an IIT credential and practical project experience, the five picks below are designed for that.

How We Selected These IIT AI ML Programs

• Clear weekly time commitment and executive-friendly delivery
• Strong coverage of ML foundations plus applied problem-solving
• Live instruction or structured cohorts to support weekend study blocks
• Hands-on projects, labs, or capstones with real implementation practice
• Recognized IIT certification and a credible learner support model

Overview: Best IIT AI ML Programs for 2026

Top 5 IIT AI ML Course Programs for Professionals

1. e-Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science – IIT Bombay (via Great Learning)

Overview
This IIT AI course is a structured, faculty-led path for professionals who want to learn applied ML and data science without having to guess what to study next. It blends live teaching with steady assignments and case-based practice, so your weekends turn into real output, not passive video watching.

• Delivery & Duration: Online, designed to be completed comfortably in about 18 months.
• Credentials: ePGD credential from IIT Bombay, with alumni status upon successful completion.
• Instructional Quality & Design: Synchronous live classes with a formal academic structure and evaluation model, designed and delivered by IIT Bombay faculty.
• Support: Doubt-resolution support through scheduled sessions plus program support for pacing and continuity.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Build an ML and DS foundation that actually translates into deployable analysis work
• Practice with tools and case studies rather than only theory
• Develop consistency with an executive-friendly weekly schedule
• Gain a credential that signals structured, evaluated learning

2. Applied Data Science and Machine Learning – IIT Madras (via TalentSprint)

Overview
If you want heavier ML fundamentals with applied modeling practice, this program is built around live instruction and repeated project work. It is a good fit when you want depth but still need flexibility through recordings and mentor support for busy weeks.

• Delivery & Duration: Live online program designed for 12 months.
• Credentials: Certification issued through the IIT Madras entities referenced in the program credentialing.
• Instructional Quality & Design: A live, interactive format with multiple faculty involved, plus structured projects that force implementation rather than memorization.
• Support: Mentor support for labs and experiments, office hours, and access to recorded archives for catch-up.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Strengthen modeling intuition through repeated mini-projects plus a capstone
• Learn in a synchronous format that keeps you accountable
• Use recordings to recover from travel weeks or deadline spikes
• Get applied exposure aligned to DS and ML workflows

3. Artificial Intelligence Course for Working Professionals – IIT Hyderabad (via TalentSprint)

Overview
This is a clean choice when weekend learning is non-negotiable. The structure emphasizes live teaching, hands-on labs, and a capstone, so you build skills through practice rather than just reading.

• Delivery & Duration: Live online, 6 months, executive-friendly format with weekend classes.
• Credentials: Certification associated with IIT Hyderabad.
• Instructional Quality & Design: High-contact learning design with live sessions and lab-heavy practice time, including a capstone project.
• Support: Project bootcamps and guided practice components that keep you progressing even if your weekday bandwidth is limited.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Build AI foundations with real lab time, not just slides
• Convert weekend sessions into tangible project artifacts
• Finish with a capstone that proves applied ability
• Keep momentum through cohort structure and guided practice

4. Executive PG Certification in AI and Machine Learning – iHub IIT Roorkee (via Intellipaat)

Overview
This one suits professionals who want a longer runway with high applied volume. The mix of live sessions, self-paced learning hours, and a large project count works well when you prefer to spread effort across many weekends rather than compress learning.

• Delivery & Duration: Online bootcamp format with live classes over 11 months.
• Credentials: Certification tied to iHub IIT Roorkee, with additional credentialing elements mentioned by the program.
• Instructional Quality & Design: Applied-learning heavy design with many sessions and projects, aimed at building job-relevant implementation practice.
• Support: Mentorship access, interview prep support elements, and ongoing learner support features.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Build consistency through a long, structured timeline
• Accumulate project work that reflects real modeling tasks
• Learn through a blend of live teaching and self-paced reinforcement
• Use mentor touchpoints to unblock technical issues faster

5. e-Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science and Engineering – IIT Bombay (via Great Learning)

Overview
If your goal is to build serious long-term ML capability, you cannot skip core systems and programming depth. This IIT computer science diploma is the best fit when you want the foundations that make ML work reliably in production: strong coding, systems thinking, and disciplined problem-solving.

• Delivery & Duration: Online, 6-course curriculum, with campus visits for end-term exams and an in-person graduation ceremony.
• Credentials: ePGD credential from IIT Bombay, including alumni status benefits upon completion.
• Instructional Quality & Design: Weekly live sessions with IIT Bombay CSE faculty, structured around evaluated coursework.
• Support: Live query resolution, peer learning, and program-managed pacing with academic structure.

Key Outcomes / Strengths

• Build CS depth that supports ML engineering and deployment work
• Improve problem-solving through structured, evaluated coursework
• Maintain accountability via live sessions and term structure
• Add a strong credential for technical career mobility

Final Thoughts

Weekend-friendly learning only works when the program design respects real calendars. The strongest picks above make the time commitment explicit, keep you accountable with live sessions, and force practice through labs, projects, and capstones.

If you want the most direct AI track, start with the IIT Bombay AI and DS diploma, then choose a depth booster based on your goals: heavier modeling, weekend labs, or a longer applied runway. If your long-term target includes systems-level strength, pairing AI learning with IIT Bombay CSE is a practical path and supports the keyword fit you requested: IIT Bombay CSE.