IIT Kanpur is a public institute of technology in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, founded in 1959. Its own facts page cites 10,000+ students on a 1,055-acre residential campus.[1] It is ranked 221st (tied with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
Foreign nationals apply mainly to postgraduate and doctoral programmes; the application fee is waived, GATE is waived and registration on the Study in India portal is mandatory.[3] The published fee table lists USD 500 (SAARC) or USD 750 (non-SAARC) plus INR 17,495 for the M.Tech, USD 250 or USD 500 plus INR 17,495 for the PhD, and USD 2,000 or USD 4,000 plus INR 17,495 for the MBA. The page gives no year and does not say whether the amounts are per year or per semester.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur, IITK) |
| Location | Kalyanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, PIN 208016[1] |
| Type | Public institute of technology; an Institute of National Importance[5] |
| Founded | 1959 (one of the first-generation IITs); Wikipedia adds that it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1960[1] |
| Students | 10,000+ (facts page, undated)[1] |
| Students by level, 2024-25 | About 5,000+ undergraduate, 2,200+ postgraduate and 2,350+ PhD students[6] |
| Faculty | 570 faculty members and 58 visiting faculty (academic year 2024-25)[6] |
| Campus | 1,055-acre residential campus[1] |
| Academic areas | Engineering, sciences, humanities and social sciences, management sciences, economic sciences[5] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 221st (tied with IISc Bangalore); 222nd in the 2026 edition[2] |
| Bachelor’s entry | Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), once a year; an Olympiad route exists for 2026-27 in seven departments[7] |
| Foreign nationals, postgraduate and PhD entry | Online application; GATE waived; Study in India registration mandatory; video interviews for shortlisted candidates[3] |
| Fees for foreign degree students | USD 250–4,000 plus INR 17,495 depending on programme and SAARC status (undated table)[4] |
| Official website | iitk.ac.in |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
What is IIT Kanpur?
IIT Kanpur describes itself as a premier institution set up by the Government of India in 1959 and as one of the first-generation Indian Institutes of Technology.[1] Wikipedia reports that it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1960 and is an Institute of National Importance.[5]
The facts page lists 10,000+ students, 1,500+ faculty and staff, 44,000+ alumni and a 1,055-acre residential campus; it also mentions the Kanpur Indo-American Programme of 1962 to 1972, run with technical assistance from nine U.S. institutions.[1] The overview page gives a breakdown for 2024-25 of about 5,000+ undergraduate, 2,200+ postgraduate and 2,350+ PhD students, with 570 faculty members and 58 visiting faculty.[6] Wikipedia quotes lower NIRF 2024 enrolment figures (8,346 in total), so student counts differ by source and year.[5]
The institute teaches engineering, sciences, humanities and social sciences, management sciences and economic sciences.[5] Its Office of International Relations also lists short professional training under the ITEC programme, a research internship (RISE), semester exchange and scholarship schemes.[8]
How is IIT Kanpur ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, IIT Kanpur is 221st in the world, tied with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. That is one place better than its 222nd position in the 2026 edition, and it shares fifth place among Indian institutions.[2] A second report of the same release also gives IIT Kanpur 221st.[9]
Wikipedia lists a NIRF 2024 overall position of 5 in India (NIRF is India’s national ranking framework).[5] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at IIT Kanpur?
IIT Kanpur offers B.Tech and B.S. programmes at undergraduate level.[7] For foreign nationals, the programmes named on the postgraduate admission page are M.Tech, MS (by Research), M.Des and PhD.[3] The international relations page also names a two-year M.Sc. in Economics and has an MBA fee line.[4] Admission is decided department by department: the competent committees of the departments are the ultimate decision makers.[4]
Wikipedia lists the usual entry exams: JEE Advanced for undergraduate programmes, GATE for M.Tech and PhD, GATE and CEED for M.Des, JAM for M.Sc. and CAT for the MBA. These describe the general Indian routes; foreign nationals follow the route described below.[5]
How much does IIT Kanpur cost for international students?
| Programme | SAARC countries | Non-SAARC countries |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | USD 250 + INR 17,495 | USD 500 + INR 17,495 |
| M.Tech | USD 500 + INR 17,495 | USD 750 + INR 17,495 |
| MBA | USD 2,000 + INR 17,495 | USD 4,000 + INR 17,495 |
This table sits on the international students’ “How to apply” page under the heading “Tuition Fee + Hostel Fee charges”. The page has no date, does not name an academic year and does not say whether the amounts are paid per year or per semester, so confirm both with the Office of International Relations before you budget.[4] SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; the table applies the lower fee to applicants from its member countries.
Scholarships and funding
- ICCR: the Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship, applied for through the ICCR portal.[4]
- Study in India: applicants who apply through the portal can sit the PRAGATII exam; selected students may receive a scholarship of up to USD 3,200 covering tuition, accommodation and mess charges.[4]
- AARDO: a fellowship for M.Tech students covering tuition waiver, free accommodation, a stipend and airfare to New Delhi.[4]
- Institute Fellowship: a monthly fellowship at par with Indian students, only for foreign degree students without other funding.[4]
The application fee is waived for foreign-national candidates.[3] The pages we read do not state fees for foreign nationals in bachelor’s programmes.
How do you apply to IIT Kanpur as an international student?
- Who counts as a foreign national: anyone who is not an Indian citizen by birth or naturalisation; OCI and PIO card holders are treated as foreign nationals too.[4]
- Master’s and PhD: apply online through the institute’s postgraduate admission site for foreign nationals. GATE is waived, registration on the Study in India portal is mandatory (it is linked to study-visa issuance), and shortlisted candidates are interviewed by video conference. Ignore the fee payment step on the portal, because the fee is waived.[3]
- Documents: passport or citizenship card, photo and signature, proof of date of birth, qualifying degree certificate, GATE score card if available, mark sheets as one PDF, and an NOC for sponsored, part-time or external candidates.[4]
- Bachelor’s: admission to B.Tech and B.S. is through JEE-based selection once a year, in July.[7] The pages we read do not describe a separate route for foreign nationals at bachelor’s level, so ask the Office of International Relations (oir@iitk.ac.in).[8]
We give no deadlines because they change every year; the page lists separate windows for the autumn and spring intakes.[4] Visa and registration steps are on the international relations site.[8]
Which English level do you need?
The IIT Kanpur pages we read do not state an English test requirement for foreign applicants, and they do not name a minimum IELTS or TOEFL score.[4][3] Shortlisted postgraduate candidates are selected by video interview, and the department committee decides on admission.[3] If you need a certificate for your visa or scholarship, ask the programme or the Office of International Relations which one it accepts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are IIT Kanpur fees for international students?
The published table lists USD 500 (SAARC) or USD 750 (non-SAARC) plus INR 17,495 for the M.Tech and USD 250 or USD 500 plus INR 17,495 for the PhD. The page gives no year and no period.[4]
Can foreign students apply to IIT Kanpur without GATE?
Yes for foreign nationals at postgraduate level: GATE qualification is waived, but registration on the Study in India portal is mandatory.[3]
Is there an application fee for foreign applicants?
No. The page for foreign-national admissions says the application fee is waived and that candidates should ignore the fee payment step.[3]
Which scholarships can international students use at IIT Kanpur?
The international relations page names ICCR, Study in India (up to USD 3,200 after the PRAGATII exam), the AARDO fellowship for M.Tech and the Institute Fellowship for students without other funding.[4]
How is IIT Kanpur ranked?
It is 221st (tied with IISc Bangalore) in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
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 (BHU) Varanasi
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Indore
- 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 Kanpur: Institute (facts and figures) (page without a date; shows 65 years of operation and the address PIN 208016)
[2] Careers360: QS World University Rankings 2027 (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (article of 18 Jun 2026, 09:05 IST)
[3] IIT Kanpur: Admission of foreign nationals (postgraduate and PhD) (page without an update date; footer 2026, refers to the 2026-27-I cycle)
[4] IIT Kanpur Office of International Relations: How to apply (eligibility, funding, fee table) (page without a date; footer 2023, lists admissions for the July 2025 semester)
[5] Wikipedia: IIT Kanpur (legal status, departments, entry exams and NIRF 2024; secondary source)
[6] IIT Kanpur: Institute overview (page without a date; student and faculty figures for academic year 2024-25)
[7] IIT Kanpur: Admissions to B.Tech and B.S. (page without a date)
[8] IIT Kanpur: Office of International Relations (page without a date)
[9] Business Today: QS World University Rankings 2027, 12 IITs lead India’s 20 best universities (article of 18 Jun 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.