IIT (BHU) Varanasi is a public Indian Institute of Technology in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It traces its origins to Banaras Engineering College, founded in 1919, and became an IIT by Act of Parliament on 29 June 2012.[1] It had 7,980 students in the NIRF 2024 data and is ranked 510th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2][3]
Foreign students pay in US dollars plus a rupee part. For a 4-year B.Tech the fee sheet lists US$1,000 (SAARC countries) or US$2,000 (other countries) plus ₹1,06,350 per semester.[4] For the 2-year M.Tech it lists US$2,500 or US$3,500 plus ₹51,350 per semester from 2026–27.[5] This is the IIT in the Banaras Hindu University campus, not the Banaras Hindu University itself.
Key facts
| Official name | Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi[6] |
| Location | Varanasi-221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India, inside the Banaras Hindu University campus[2] |
| Type | Public technical university (Indian Institute of Technology)[2] |
| Founded | 1919 as Banaras Engineering College (BENCO); merged with other BHU engineering colleges in 1968 as IT-BHU; became IIT (BHU) Varanasi on 29 June 2012[1] |
| Students | 7,980 (6,107 undergraduate, 828 postgraduate, 1,045 doctoral), NIRF 2024 data as reported by Wikipedia[2] |
| Structure | 16 departments: 11 engineering, 3 science, a humanities department, plus 4 schools, as reported by Wikipedia[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 510th[3] |
| NIRF (India) | 31st overall in 2025 and 10th in engineering in 2024 and 2025, as reported by Wikipedia[2] |
| Foreign students, B.Tech (from session 2019–20) | US$1,000 (SAARC) or US$2,000 (other countries) + ₹1,06,350 per semester[4] |
| Foreign students, M.Tech/M.Pharm (from 2026–27) | US$2,500 (SAARC) or US$3,500 (other countries) + ₹51,350 per semester[5] |
| Foreign students, PhD (from 2026–27) | US$5,000 + ₹51,350 per semester (the sheet prints US$5,000 for both country groups)[7] |
| Undergraduate entrance route | JEE (Advanced), as linked on the institute’s home page[1] |
| Official website | iitbhu.ac.in |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About IIT (BHU) Varanasi
The institute traces its origins to Banaras Engineering College (BENCO), founded in 1919 by Madan Mohan Malaviya. In 1968 it was merged with other engineering colleges of Banaras Hindu University to form the Institute of Technology, BHU (IT-BHU), and on 29 June 2012 it became IIT (BHU) Varanasi by an Act of Parliament.[1]
It stands inside the Banaras Hindu University campus; Wikipedia gives its own area as 425 acres within BHU’s 1,300 acres. It reports 16 departments, 11 of them in engineering, and four schools.[2]
How is IIT (BHU) Varanasi ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, IIT (BHU) Varanasi is 510th in the world, up 56 places from 566th in 2026, and 12th among Indian institutions in Careers360’s table.[3] A second Indian news site lists the same position and the same change.[8]
In India’s NIRF ranking, Wikipedia reports 31st overall for 2025 and 10th among engineering institutions in both 2024 and 2025.[2] Publishers use different methods and years, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at IIT (BHU) Varanasi?
The fee sheets and admissions pages name these programme types: 4-year B.Tech and B.Pharm, the 5-year Integrated Dual Degree (B.Tech and M.Tech), the 5-year B.Arch, the 2-year M.Tech and M.Pharm, M.Sc and PhD.[4] Courses span engineering, the sciences and the humanities. Under India’s National Education Policy 2020 students can add a minor or a second major to the main degree, and the sixth semester is reserved for an internship.[9]
How much does IIT (BHU) Varanasi cost for foreign students?
The institute publishes its fee sheets as PDFs per admission period. They show a foreign-student rate as a US-dollar amount plus the rupee semester fee, so the real cost is the sum of both. The sheets give no academic year for the UG rate other than “session 2019–20 and onwards”, and the PG and PhD sheets apply from the session 2026–27.[4][5]
| Programme | Sheet applies from | SAARC countries, per semester | Other countries, per semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech / B.Pharm / IDD / B.Arch | 2019–20 | US$1,000 + ₹1,06,350 | US$2,000 + ₹1,06,350 |
| M.Tech / M.Pharm | 2026–27 | US$2,500 + ₹51,350 | US$3,500 + ₹51,350 |
| PhD | 2026–27 | US$5,000 + ₹51,350 | US$5,000 + ₹51,350 |
At admission the sheets add a first payment: US$1,000 or US$2,000 plus ₹1,21,465 for B.Tech;[4] US$2,500 or US$3,500 plus ₹65,100 for M.Tech;[5] US$3,000 (SAARC) or US$5,000 plus ₹65,600 for PhD.[7] The sheets also add a medical insurance fee in each odd semester (₹365 for B.Tech, ₹500 for M.Tech and PhD). The PhD sheet prints the same US$5,000 semester fee for both country groups although its admission fee differs; we copy it as printed, so confirm it with the Academic Section.[7]
For comparison: Indian students
On the B.Tech sheet the semester fee for the general, OBC and EWS categories depends on family income: ₹1,06,350 above ₹5 lakh, ₹39,683 between ₹1 lakh and ₹5 lakh and ₹6,350 below ₹1 lakh. Regular SC, ST and persons-with-disability students are exempt from tuition and hostel seat rent.[4] For regular M.Tech students the 2026–27 tuition is ₹10,000 per semester (after a waiver of ₹35,000) and the total semester fee ₹16,350; sponsored and external students pay a tuition fee of ₹45,000 and ₹51,350 in total.[5] For rent and living costs, see our India guide.
How do you apply to IIT (BHU) Varanasi?
The institute’s pages describe the routes for Indian applicants better than those for foreign applicants.
- B.Tech and other undergraduate programmes: the home page links undergraduates to JEE (Advanced), the joint entrance exam for the IITs.[1] In the 2026 cycle foreign nationals and OCI/PIO candidates could register directly for JEE (Advanced) without JEE Main, in a separate registration window; their seats are supernumerary (over and above the normal intake) and capped at 10% of the seats in each course.[10]
- M.Tech: the PG admissions page links a document on “M.Tech Admission Through COAP” with GATE cut-off scores, and applications go through the portal pgadmission.iitbhu.ac.in.[11]
- PhD: admission is also handled through the PG admissions portal; the page we read shows an application window for the 2026–27 even semester.[11]
- Foreign applicants: the International Relations page lists only a form for foreign visitors; neither it nor the new-entrants page describes a separate admission procedure, quota or scholarship route for foreign students.[12][9] We could not confirm whether DASA, ICCR or Study in India routes apply, so ask the Academic Section before you plan.
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. The Academic Section can be reached at the addresses on the PG admissions contact page.[6]
Which English level do you need?
The pages we read do not state an English test or minimum score for foreign applicants, and none of them names the language of instruction.[12][11] Ask the Academic Section or your department which proof of English they require before you book a test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are IIT (BHU) Varanasi fees for foreign students?
Is IIT BHU the same as Banaras Hindu University?
How is IIT (BHU) Varanasi ranked?
How can a foreign student apply for B.Tech at IIT BHU?
Do foreign students pay in dollars or rupees?
Both. The foreign-student rate is a US-dollar amount plus the rupee semester fee.[4]
More about studying in India
- India: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in India
- Amity University (Noida)
- Anna University
- Banaras Hindu University
- BITS Pilani
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Science
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Indore
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Jadavpur University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- University of Delhi
- University of Hyderabad
Sources
[1] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: Home page and history (page without a date)
[2] Wikipedia: IIT (BHU) Varanasi (student numbers (NIRF 2024 data), structure, NIRF positions)
[3] Careers360: QS World University Rankings 2027, India list (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026)
[4] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: Fee structure for B.Tech, B.Pharm, IDD and B.Arch (session 2019–20 onwards, with fees for foreign students) (PDF without a printed date; applies from session 2019–20)
[5] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: Fee structure for M.Tech and M.Pharm (session 2026–27 onwards) (PDF without a printed date; applies from session 2026–27)
[6] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: PG admissions contact page (page without a date)
[7] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: Fee structure for PhD (session 2026–27 onwards) (PDF without a printed date; applies from session 2026–27)
[8] Buddy4Study: QS World University Rankings 2027, India (article of 26 Jun 2026)
[9] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: Information for new entrants (page without a date)
[10] Careers360: JEE Advanced 2026 registration for foreign and OCI/PIO candidates (article of 6 Apr 2026)
[11] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: PG admissions (page without a date; shows an application window for 2026–27 even semester)
[12] IIT (BHU) Varanasi: International Relations (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.