The IIM Trichy programme is the lighter-weekly-load, higher-fee option (about 3 hours a week, ₹95,000 + GST), while the IIT Roorkee iHUB DivyaSampark programme is the heavier, cheaper and more tool-hands-on one (8-10 hours a week, ₹62,000 + GST). Both are 6-month online certificate programmes delivered with Masai, according to Masai's official pages as of 4 October 2026. This post compares them on fees, time, curriculum, tools, projects and fit, and flags where the published dates don't agree.
Disclosure: I'm Younus Fardeen. I've worked on Masai School's organic social growth (Instagram 26K to 117K, LinkedIn 50K to 200K), so this isn't a neutral review. Facts come from linked official pages; I make no placement or salary promises. Confirm fees and dates on the official pages before paying.
Key Takeaways
- Both are certificates, not degrees. IIM Trichy's own page says its programme is not equivalent to a degree, postgraduate degree or diploma.
- IIM Trichy (via Masai's page): Sunday classes, about 3 hours a week, seven modules, a one-week Build Week, limited seats, ₹95,000 + GST (₹1,12,100 total as stated).
- IIT Roorkee iHUB (via Masai's page): live online classes, 8-10 hours a week, six modules, two capstones, optional 3-day campus immersion, ₹62,000 + GST (₹69,160 as stated).
- Start dates conflict across sources for both programmes. Treat every date as "check official page".
- Choose IIM Trichy if you're time-poor and value the institute brand; choose Roorkee if you want more weekly practice and a lower fee.
Quick comparison table
All cells are from the sources named, as of 4 October 2026.
| IIM Trichy (Product Management, Agentic AI Era) | IIT Roorkee iHUB DivyaSampark (PM with Applied AI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 6 months | 6 months |
| Weekly time | About 3 hours (Sundays, 9:30 AM-12:45 PM) | 8-10 hours a week, live online classes |
| Eligibility | No explicit prerequisites on Masai's page; selective admissions. IIM Trichy's own page for an earlier batch says graduation in any stream | 12th pass and above (Masai page) |
| Modules | 7 across four phases, incl. capstone | 6 modules |
| Tools named | OpenAI, Figma, Notion, Miro, Lovable | ChatGPT, OpenAI API, Mixpanel, Figma, Jira |
| Practical component | One-week Build Week and demo day; team capstone | Two capstones (product strategy + MVP plan; AI-augmented prototype + GTM plan + ethics checklist) |
| Campus | On-campus valedictory ceremony at IIM Tiruchirappalli | Optional 3-day immersion at IIT Roorkee |
| Fee (before GST) | ₹95,000 | ₹62,000 |
| Total as stated | ₹1,12,100 (approx.) | ₹69,160 |
| EMI | ₹20,719 x 6 months (NBFC partners) | ₹8,837 x 9 months |
| Certificate | Certificate of Completion, IIM Tiruchirappalli; 70% attendance, 35% marks | Issued by iHUB DivyaSampark, IIT Roorkee; 65% attendance, 30% marks |
| Placement wording | Career coaching; no placement terms spelled out | 1 year of placement assistance; 70% marks and 65% attendance |
| Dates | Masai homepage: 29 Nov 2026. Programme page: inauguration 17 Oct, classes from 25 Oct 2026 | Masai homepage: 8 Dec 2026. Programme page: "Batch 4, admissions open". A press release says batch 4 begins 23 September 2026 |
A caution on the Roorkee total. The GST-inclusive figures are as printed. I couldn't reproduce them exactly from the component lines. Ask for the final payable amount.
Where the dates disagree
- IIM Trichy: Masai's homepage lists 29 November 2026. The programme page lists an inauguration on 17 October and classes from 25 October 2026. IIM Trichy's own programme page that I opened shows a start of 31 October 2025 and an ₹85,000 + 18% GST fee, which is evidently an earlier batch, so it doesn't settle the 2026 date or price.
- IIT Roorkee iHUB: Masai's homepage lists 8 December 2026, while the iHUB's press release says the fourth batch begins on 23 September 2026. It's a promotional release, so weigh it accordingly.
My advice is simple: email admissions, get the first-class date and fee confirmed in writing, and keep the reply.
Who runs these certificates
- IIM Trichy: IIM Trichy's page names Masai as delivery partner in collaboration with IIM Tiruchirappalli, and Masai's page lists two IIM Tiruchirappalli information-systems professors as programme directors. A related Masai blog post describes the audience as working PMs, people moving into product from engineering, design or analytics, early-career professionals and founders.
- iHUB DivyaSampark: IIT Roorkee's page describes it as a hub established under the Government of India's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems, a Section 8 non-profit at IIT Roorkee. The certificate is from the hub, not an IIT degree.
Curriculum compared
IIM Trichy: seven modules in four phases
According to Masai's page: foundations in product management; managing and scaling digital products; strategies for digital products and platforms; AI fundamentals and applications in PM; tools for digital product management; leveraging agentic AI for strategic product management; and a capstone to design and pitch an agentic-AI product. Masai's blog post puts the phases at 4, 3, 6 and 7 weeks respectively, a useful sense of weighting: roughly 60% of the time goes to AI-related content.
IIT Roorkee iHUB: six modules
PM mindset, user discovery and strategy; solution design and stakeholder management; Agile, growth metrics and go-to-market; AI fundamentals and PM workflows; no-code AI product building; analytics, AI GTM and capstone delivery. The page cites case studies such as PhonePe onboarding audits and Myntra AI styling features.
What differs in practice
- Product craft vs build-time. Roorkee's weekly load is roughly three times IIM Trichy's, so it can cover more practice (no-code building, analytics with Mixpanel, Jira workflows).
- Strategy and platforms. IIM Trichy has a dedicated platform-strategy module (network effects, monetisation, per the Masai blog) that Roorkee doesn't list separately.
- Capstone shape. IIM Trichy emphasises a team sprint against a company problem statement. Roorkee gives two capstones, per its page, one centred on an ethics checklist.
The cost question
IIM Trichy costs ₹95,000 + GST versus ₹62,000 + GST, a difference of ₹33,000 before GST. What do you get for it? On the pages: an IIM certificate rather than an iHUB one, a limited cohort (Masai's page says 100 seats, although the blog mentions both 100 and 250 in different places), mentors from companies the page lists, domain career coaches and a campus ceremony. What you don't get is a lower hours burden or a placement-assistance window stated on the page.
Whether the brand premium is worth it depends on your audience. If you're targeting senior PM or leadership transitions at companies that recognise IIM names, it may matter. If you're building a portfolio to get an associate or early PM role, the portfolio you produce probably matters more than the logo. I can't give you evidence either way; hiring managers vary.
Fit guide
| If you are... | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A working professional with 3 free hours a week | IIM Trichy | The lightest weekly load; Sunday-only classes |
| A career switcher who wants lots of hands-on practice | IIT Roorkee iHUB | 8-10 hours a week; Mixpanel, Figma, Jira, no-code builds |
| A founder who wants structured product frameworks | IIM Trichy | Masai's blog lists founders as an audience; platform strategy module |
| Budget-sensitive | IIT Roorkee iHUB | ₹33,000 lower before GST |
| Wanting a stated placement-assistance window | IIT Roorkee iHUB | Page states 1 year, with conditions |
| Valuing an IIM certificate on your résumé | IIM Trichy | Certificate of Completion from IIM Tiruchirappalli |
Honest limitations of both
- Neither is a degree or equivalent to one. IIM Trichy states this explicitly.
- Product jobs depend on experience. A certificate plus a good case study helps; it doesn't replace shipped work. If you can, volunteer to own a small product at your current job while you study.
- Attendance rules bite. 70% at IIM Trichy and 65% at Roorkee for certification; placement help at Roorkee needs 70% marks.
- Dates and fees are moving. See the conflict section above.
How to get the most from either course
- Pick one real product problem in week one (your employer's, a friend's startup, a local business) and apply each module to it.
- Keep a decision log: for each module, one product decision you'd make differently.
- Use the AI tools the programmes name (OpenAI, Figma, Lovable, Jira) in a real workflow so the capstone isn't your first exposure.
- Build one public artefact: a PRD, a prototype and a metrics plan, in a single shareable page.
For the wider Masai range, including AI/ML and analytics, see my October 2026 comparison. If you're sceptical of this write-up because of my Masai work, the case study shows exactly what I did for them.
Details as of 4 October 2026, from official Masai, IIM Trichy and IIT Roorkee pages. Fees and dates change; confirm on the official pages.
FAQ
Which is better, IIM Trichy or IIT Roorkee for product management?
Neither universally. IIM Trichy needs about 3 hours a week and carries an IIM certificate; Roorkee iHUB needs 8-10 hours, costs less and covers more tools. Match it to your time, budget and goal.
How much do the two programmes cost?
Per Masai's pages, IIM Trichy is ₹95,000 + GST (about ₹1,12,100 in total) and IIT Roorkee iHUB is ₹62,000 + GST (₹69,160 as stated). Confirm the final payable amount.
Are these degrees or diplomas?
No. They're certificate programmes. IIM Trichy's own page says its certificate isn't equivalent to a degree, postgraduate degree or diploma.
Do I need prior product experience?
Masai's pages don't state a work-experience requirement for either. IIM Trichy is selective via an application and selection call; Roorkee lists 12th pass and above.
When do they start?
It's unclear and sources disagree. Masai's homepage lists 29 November 2026 for IIM Trichy and 8 December 2026 for Roorkee, while other pages and a press release show earlier dates. Confirm with admissions.
Is placement guaranteed?
No guarantee is stated on the pages I read. Roorkee offers 1 year of placement assistance with conditions; IIM Trichy lists career coaching.
How many hours a week do I need?
About 3 hours at IIM Trichy and 8-10 hours at IIT Roorkee iHUB, per the pages. Add time for assignments and the capstone.
Is there EMI?
Yes. IIM Trichy lists ₹20,719 a month for 6 months and Roorkee ₹8,837 a month for 9 months through NBFC partners. Ask about interest.
Can founders take these?
Masai's blog on the IIM Trichy programme names founders as an intended audience. Roorkee's press release mentions founders in its cohort.
Are you affiliated with Masai?
I've worked on Masai's organic social growth, not admissions or teaching. Read this as informed but interested.
Want help with your own growth?
If you run a course, a product or a personal brand and want organic visibility that lasts, see my work at younusfardeen.in and send me a message through the contact form. I bring 4+ years of marketing experience across SEO, AEO and content, with edtech and startup clients.