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The University Guide

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

PublicKanpur, Uttar Pradesh₹2.2 L/yrEst. 1959Reviewed April 2026

Details sourced from official institutional pages.

Type Public
Location Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Accreditation NAAC A (2027), NIRF 5 in Overall (2025), NIRF 4 in Engineering (2025)
Entrance exams JEE Advanced, JEE Main, GATE, IIT JAM

Academic Programs

Undergraduate

Program Level Duration
BTech UG 4 years
BS UG 4 years
BTech + MTech Dual Degree UG 5 years

Postgraduate

Program Level Duration
MTech PG 2 years
MSc PG 2 years
MBA PG 2 years
PhD PHD 4-6 years

What IIT Kanpur is

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is a public Institute of National Importance established in 1959 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. It ranks 5th Overall and 4th in Engineering in NIRF 2025. IIT Kanpur holds a singular place in Indian computer science history, it introduced India’s first Computer Science programme in 1963, with assistance from a consortium of nine American universities under the Kanpur Indo-American Programme (KIAP).

The institute sits on a 1,055-acre campus, one of the largest among older IITs. The campus includes a grass airstrip (used for aerospace student projects), a 2-MW solar power plant, and extensive sports infrastructure.

Who it’s for

IIT Kanpur attracts students seeking a strong research culture alongside engineering education. Its research output per faculty is consistently among the highest in India, and the institute is particularly known for depth in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering.

Students interested in research often prefer IIT Kanpur over IIT Bombay or IIT Delhi because of the campus culture, IIT Kanpur tends to attract more students who continue to academia (MS/PhD). The student programming community is active, and competitive programming and open-source contributions from IIT Kanpur students are well documented in industry circles.

Programs offered

Undergraduate (via JEE Advanced and JoSAA):

  • BTech in 11 disciplines: CS, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Aerospace, Materials Science, Biological Sciences, Earth Sciences, Environmental Engineering, and Physics
  • BS (4-year) in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Statistics
  • BTech + MTech Dual Degree (5-year)

Postgraduate:

Campus and infrastructure

The 1,055-acre campus in Kalyanpur, Kanpur contains 19 academic departments, multiple research centres, and a dedicated tech startup ecosystem (Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, SIIC). The campus has an optical observation tower for astronomy, a seismic station, and well-equipped aerospace laboratory with wind tunnel facilities. All undergraduates live on campus.

Things to verify before applying

  • JEE Advanced cutoffs: CS at IIT Kanpur is highly competitive (ranks typically below 500 in the General category in recent years). Verify current cutoffs at JoSAA after each counselling round.
  • Research culture vs. placement: IIT Kanpur graduates have historically had higher rates of pursuing MS/PhD abroad relative to campus placements. The overall placement statistics include many non-participants who opted for higher studies.
  • CSE average package context: CS engineering at IIT Kanpur commands significantly higher packages than the institute-wide average due to high-paying international and tech-sector offers. The institute-wide Phase 1 average is INR 26.27 LPA. Branch-specific CSE figures are not officially published in the public domain; contact the IIT Kanpur placement office for current data.
  • Fee waivers: Standard IIT fee waiver structure applies. SC/ST/PwD and low-income students receive tuition waivers.

Where to go next on this site

Sources Used

Fees — 2025-26

Program Fees

ProgramLevelAnnual FeeTotal FeeSource
BTech (General/OBC-NCL/EWS - family income above Rs. 5 lakh) UG INR 2,24,284 official-website
BTech (SC/ST/PwD or family income < Rs. 1 lakh) UG INR 24,284 official-website
MTech (General/OBC-NCL/EWS - Regular) PG INR 92,000 unverified
MSc (2-year) PG INR 60,000 unverified
MBA (DIME) PG INR 2,00,000 unverified

Scholarships

Free Studentship (SC/ST/PwD)

Eligibility: SC, ST, and PwD category students

Amount: 100% tuition fee waiver

Free Studentship (family income < Rs. 1 lakh)

Eligibility: Annual family income below Rs. 1 lakh

Amount: 100% tuition fee waiver

Partial Tuition Waiver

Eligibility: Annual family income between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh

Amount: 2/3 of tuition fee waived

MTech HTRA

Eligibility: Regular (non-sponsored) MTech students

Amount: Rs. 12,400 per month stipend

Institute Merit Scholarship

Eligibility: Top academic performers in UG programmes

Amount: Variable cash award and fee reduction

Fee figures are indicative. Verify the complete fee structure on the institution's official website.

Admissions — 2025-26

Entrance Exams

JEE Advanced JEE Main GATE IIT JAM

Eligibility

BTech / BS

Minimum: 75% in 10+2 with PCM (65% for SC/ST/PwD)

Valid JEE Advanced rank; seat allotted through JoSAA counselling

MTech

Minimum: 60% in BE/BTech or equivalent (55% for SC/ST/PwD)

Valid GATE score; department-specific written test/interview may apply

MSc

Minimum: 55% in BSc or equivalent

Valid IIT JAM score in relevant subject

PhD

Minimum: 60% in MTech/MSc or equivalent

GATE/NET/UGC-CSIR or equivalent; written test and interview

Important Dates

EventDate
JEE Main Session 1January–February 2026 (approximate)
JEE Advanced 2026May 2026 (approximate)
JoSAA CounsellingJune–July 2026 (approximate)
GATE 2026February 2026 (approximate)
IIT JAM 2026February 2026 (approximate)

Selection Process

  1. Qualify JEE Main (top 2.5 lakh candidates eligible for JEE Advanced)
  2. Clear JEE Advanced with a competitive rank
  3. Register for JoSAA counselling and fill preference list
  4. Seat allotted based on JEE Advanced rank, category, and preferences
  5. Accept seat and report to IIT Kanpur with original documents

Apply online ↗

Placements — 2023-24

Average package 26.27 LPA (Phase 1, 2023-24)
Highest package 1.90 crore (domestic, 2024)
Placement rate ~85% (of students who participated; total includes those who opted for higher studies)

Top Recruiters

GoogleMicrosoftUberAmazonQualcommTexas InstrumentsAdobeIntelTata SteelBCGMcKinsey & CompanyGoldman SachsDE Shaw

Placement data is sourced from institutional records. Verify current data on the institution's official website.

This profile is maintained for informational purposes. Details are sourced as of the date shown and may have changed. Always verify with the institution's official website.