IIT Kharagpur is the oldest Indian Institute of Technology: it began in May 1950 in Hijli, West Bengal, and was formally inaugurated on 18 August 1951.[1] It is ranked 205th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 215th a year earlier.[2] Wikipedia reports 14,764 students in 2025.[3]
Foreign nationals enter undergraduate programmes through JEE (Advanced), which they may register for directly, and postgraduate programmes through an online application and video interview.[4] The institute’s admission page gives non-SAARC tuition of INR 600,000 per year for undergraduates (2022-23), INR 50,000 for M.Tech and similar two-year programmes (2025-26), INR 700,000 for the MBA (2025-26) and INR 25,000 for the PhD (2024-25). The separate fee page, labelled 2019-20, differs for the MBA, so check before you budget.[4][5]
Key facts
| Official name | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur, IIT-KGP) |
| Location | Kharagpur, West Bengal, PIN 721302[1] |
| Type | Public technical university; an Institute of National Importance under a 1956 Act of Parliament, with the status of an autonomous university[1] |
| Founded | May 1950 in Hijli, Kharagpur; formally inaugurated on 18 August 1951[1] |
| Students, 2025 | 14,764 in total: 8,452 undergraduate, 3,577 postgraduate and 2,735 doctoral[3] |
| Academic staff, 2025 | 870[3] |
| Campus | Over 2,100 acres, with a township of over 15,000 inhabitants (Wikipedia gives 2,200 acres in its infobox)[1] |
| Structure | 19 academic departments, 8 multi-disciplinary centres and schools, 13 schools of excellence[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 205th (215th in the 2026 edition)[2] |
| Undergraduate entry, foreign nationals | JEE (Advanced); foreign nationals may register directly without JEE (Main)[4] |
| Master’s entry, foreign nationals | Online application (INR 500 fee, waived in some cases) and video interview; valid GATE or JAM score can replace it[4] |
| Tuition, non-SAARC, per year | UG INR 600,000 (2022-23); M.Tech and similar INR 50,000 (2025-26); MBA INR 700,000 (2025-26); PhD INR 25,000 (2024-25)[4] |
| Other charges (fee page, labelled 2019-20) | About INR 15,000 once at admission; INR 10,000 per semester; food and accommodation INR 50,000–100,000 per semester[5] |
| Official website | iitkgp.ac.in |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
What is IIT Kharagpur?
IIT Kharagpur says it was born in May 1950 in Hijli, Kharagpur, and was inaugurated on 18 August 1951 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. A Parliament act of 1956 declared it an institute of national importance and gave it the status of an autonomous university.[1] Its first session in August 1951 had 224 first-year students and 42 teachers, in ten departments.[1]
The campus covers over 2,100 acres, with a self-contained township of over 15,000 inhabitants.[1] Wikipedia reports 14,764 students and 870 academic staff in 2025, and lists 19 academic departments, 8 multi-disciplinary centres and schools and 13 schools of excellence.[3] Among its units are the Vinod Gupta School of Management, described as the first management school in the IIT system, and the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, described as the only law school in the IIT system.[3]
The Office of International Relations says the institute has partners on every continent but gives no figures for international students or partner universities.[6]
How is IIT Kharagpur ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, IIT Kharagpur is 205th in the world, up from 215th in the 2026 edition. It is fourth among Indian institutions in that listing.[2] Two other reports of the same release also give 205th.[7]
Wikipedia adds NIRF 2024 positions: 6 overall in India, 5 in engineering and 19 in management (NIRF is India’s national ranking framework).[3] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at IIT Kharagpur?
The international fee page lists these degree programmes:[5]
- Undergraduate: B.Tech, five-year dual degree, five-year integrated M.Sc., B.Arch.
- Master’s: M.Tech, two-year M.Sc., MMST (medical science and technology), MCP (city planning), MBA, LL.M., MHRM.
- Other: LL.B. and the PhD.
The main admissions page also lists routes such as an integrated teacher education programme (ITEP), PGDBA, QIP and post-doctoral fellowships.[8] Non-degree research visitors pay no tuition on the fee page.[5]
For doctoral study there is also a Joint Doctoral Programme with the universities of Melbourne, Curtin, Wollongong, Auckland, Alberta and Manchester. Stays at the partner usually run 12 to 24 months (6 to 12 for Alberta), and partners set their own grade requirements.[4]
How much does IIT Kharagpur cost for international students?
| Programme | Non-SAARC, admission page (year) | SAARC, fee page (2019-20) | Non-SAARC, fee page (2019-20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech, dual degree, integrated M.Sc., B.Arch | INR 600,000 (2022-23) | INR 200,000 | INR 600,000 |
| M.Tech, two-year M.Sc., MMST, MCP | INR 50,000 (2025-26) | INR 10,000 | INR 50,000 |
| MBA | INR 700,000 (2025-26) | INR 400,000 | INR 600,000 |
| PhD | INR 25,000 (2024-25) | INR 5,000 | INR 25,000 |
| LL.B. | not listed | INR 100,000 | INR 150,000 |
| LL.M. | not listed | INR 140,000 | INR 200,000 |
| MHRM | not listed | INR 150,000 | INR 225,000 |
The admission page quotes the non-SAARC figures with the year shown above.[4] The fee page gives all figures in INR per year for the academic year 2019-20; it also notes a tentative COVID-19 concession of INR 14,830 and that fees are subject to revision.[5] The two pages agree for undergraduate, M.Tech and PhD non-SAARC tuition but differ for the MBA (INR 700,000 against 600,000), so we show both and recommend asking the Office of International Relations for the current schedule. SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Other charges
The fee page lists approximate extras: INR 15,000 once at admission for registration, INR 10,000 per semester in miscellaneous fees, and INR 50,000–100,000 per semester for food and accommodation, depending on the hostel and menu.[5] Master’s applicants pay an application fee of INR 500, waived for ICCR, EDCIL-SII and ASEAN-DIA applicants who quote their reference number; for PhD applicants the application fee is waived for all foreign candidates.[4]
How do you apply to IIT Kharagpur as an international student?
- Undergraduate: you must appear for JEE (Advanced), run by the Joint Admission Board. Foreign nationals may register for JEE (Advanced) directly without writing JEE (Main), and OCI and PIO candidates who studied at 10+2 level in India or abroad have the same option. The page links to the JEE (Advanced) website and does not mention DASA or JoSAA.[4]
- Master’s: apply online through the institute’s ERP portal. The page asks for excellent school and undergraduate records; shortlisted candidates have a video interview, and a valid GATE score can replace it for M.Tech and a valid JAM score for the two-year M.Sc.[4]
- PhD: apply online only. Admission is solely academic, each department sets its criteria and test, usually a long video-conference interview, and two professional reference letters are required. Applicants from countries needing special permission also need Government of India approval before processing.[4]
- Non-degree visitors: stays of up to two consecutive semesters; contact a professor in advance and apply through the online portal.[4]
We give no deadlines because they change every year. The international relations home page announces each intake cycle for master’s and PhD programmes with separate portals.[6]
Which English level do you need?
The admission page states no English test requirement for undergraduate or master’s applicants.[4] For the PhD, the department interview tests both technical and English skills, and TOEFL and GRE scores are optional.[4] For the AARDO scholarship (MS by Research) applicants with a non-English-medium degree need IELTS 6.5 overall or TOEFL 80 overall.[4] Joint Doctoral Programme partners set their own rules, for example IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 at Manchester.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is IIT Kharagpur tuition for international students?
For non-SAARC students the admission page gives INR 600,000 per year for undergraduate programmes (2022-23), INR 50,000 for M.Tech and similar programmes (2025-26) and INR 25,000 for the PhD (2024-25).[4] SAARC students pay less on the 2019-20 fee page, for example INR 200,000 for undergraduate programmes.[5]
Can foreign students apply to IIT Kharagpur without JEE Main?
Yes at undergraduate level: foreign nationals may register for JEE (Advanced) directly without JEE (Main).[4]
Do I need GATE for an M.Tech at IIT Kharagpur as a foreign student?
Not necessarily. Shortlisted candidates have a video interview, and a valid GATE score can replace it for M.Tech.[4]
Is there an application fee?
Master’s applicants pay INR 500 unless they apply under ICCR, EDCIL-SII or ASEAN-DIA with a reference number; for PhD applications the fee is waived for all foreign candidates.[4]
How is IIT Kharagpur ranked?
It is 205th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 215th.[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 Kanpur
- 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 Kharagpur: About IIT Kharagpur (page without a date; footer 2026)
[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] Wikipedia: IIT Kharagpur (student and staff numbers (2025), structure and NIRF 2024; secondary source)
[4] IIT Kharagpur International Relations: Admission (page without an update date; footer 2026; fee figures labelled 2022-23 (UG), 2025-26 (master’s, MBA) and 2024-25 (PhD))
[5] IIT Kharagpur International Relations: Fee structure (page without an update date; tuition table labelled academic year 2019-20)
[6] IIT Kharagpur Office of International Relations (page without an update date; footer 2026, announces the Autumn 2026-27 intake)
[7] Free Press Journal: QS World University Rankings 2027, IIT Delhi leads Indian institutes (article updated 18 Jun 2026; Business Today of the same day also reports IIT Kharagpur at 205th)
[8] IIT Kharagpur: Admissions (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.