IIT Roorkee traces its history to 1847 as a college of civil engineering and became an Indian Institute of Technology on 21 September 2001, the seventh in the system.[1][2] It lists 10,300+ students and is ranked 335th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 339th.[3][4]
For 2026-27 the undergraduate fee sheet shows tuition of INR 100,000 per semester for the top 20 ranked students from listed countries, at par with Indian students, and INR 200,000 per semester for other foreign nationals, which is 200% of the Indian fee.[5] Undergraduate admission is through JEE only; postgraduate and PhD applicants use GATE, ICCR, ITEC, Study in India or, for others, their embassy.[6] Teaching is in English.[7]
Key facts
| Official name | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee, IITR) |
| Location | Roorkee, Uttarakhand, PIN 247667[5] |
| Type | Public technical institute, described by itself as an Institution of National Importance[2] |
| Founded | 1847 as the College of Civil Engineering; renamed Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854; converted to IIT on 21 September 2001 by an ordinance[1] |
| Students | 10,300+ (institute figure, undated)[3] |
| Faculty and staff | 500+ faculty and 600+ staff members (institute figure, undated)[3] |
| Programmes | Bachelor’s degrees in 10 disciplines of engineering and architecture; postgraduate degrees in 55 disciplines; doctoral work in all departments and research centres[2] |
| Campus | Main campus in Roorkee (365 acres); a further campus in Saharanpur[1] |
| International students | Students from 55 countries have studied at the institute (undated)[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 335th (339th in the 2026 edition)[4] |
| Undergraduate entry | Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) only[6] |
| Tuition 2026-27, undergraduate foreign nationals, per semester | INR 100,000 (top 20 ranked students from listed countries, at par with Indian students) or INR 200,000 (200% of the Indian fee)[5] |
| Medium of instruction | English[7] |
| Official website | iitr.ac.in |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
What is IIT Roorkee?
The institute’s own page says it celebrated its sesquicentennial in October 1996, was converted to an IIT on 21 September 2001 by an ordinance of the Government of India and is the nation’s seventh IIT.[2] Wikipedia dates the origin to 1847, when it was founded as the College of Civil Engineering, renamed in 1854 as Thomason College of Civil Engineering; it later became the University of Roorkee.[1] The institute describes itself as an “Institution of National Importance”.[2]
It offers bachelor’s degrees in 10 disciplines of engineering and architecture, postgraduate degrees in 55 disciplines of engineering, applied science, architecture and planning, and doctoral work in all departments and research centres.[2] The institute lists 10,300+ students, 500+ faculty and 600+ staff, without a date.[3] Wikipedia cites 9,735 students for NIRF 2024, so counts differ by source and year.[1] The main campus in Roorkee covers 365 acres; a smaller campus in Saharanpur teaches polymer science, process engineering, paper and packaging technology and applied mathematics.[1]
The international relations site says that students from 55 countries have been educated at the institute and that it has a long history of African and Asian students, especially in water resources.[7]
How is IIT Roorkee ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, IIT Roorkee is 335th in the world, up from 339th in the 2026 edition. It is eighth among Indian institutions in that listing.[4] A second report of the same release also gives IIT Roorkee 335th.[8]
Wikipedia adds NIRF 2024 positions: 8 overall in India, 6 in engineering and 1 in architecture (NIRF is India’s national ranking framework).[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at IIT Roorkee?
Undergraduate degrees are B.Tech, B.Arch, BS-MS, integrated M.Tech and B.Des, according to the 2026-27 fee sheet.[5] Postgraduate degrees include M.Tech, M.Arch, M.U.R.P and M.Des, and the institute also publishes separate fee sheets for the MBA and the M.Sc.[9] Doctoral study is open full time and part time.[10]
Wikipedia lists JEE for undergraduate admission, GATE for engineering and architecture postgraduate programmes, JAM for fundamental-science postgraduate programmes and CAT for the MBA. These describe the general Indian routes; see below for the routes open to foreign nationals.[1]
How much does IIT Roorkee cost for international students?
Undergraduate fees 2026-27
| Item | Autumn semester | Spring semester |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, Indian students (general category) | INR 100,000 | INR 100,000 |
| Tuition, foreign nationals: top 20 ranked students from listed countries | INR 100,000 | INR 100,000 |
| Tuition, other foreign nationals (200% of the Indian fee) | INR 200,000 | INR 200,000 |
| Semester charges (establishment, insurance, career cell, miscellaneous) | INR 11,300 | INR 9,800 |
| Hostel (accommodation and electricity, minimum) | INR 7,500 | INR 7,500 |
| Mess (food advance, admission fee, security) | INR 27,750 | INR 21,750 |
| Grand total, top 20 group | INR 155,550 | INR 139,050 |
| Grand total, other foreign nationals | INR 255,550 | INR 239,050 |
These figures come from the institute’s fee structure for session 2026-27, first-year undergraduates.[5] The totals also include one-time payments of INR 6,000 and refundable deposits of INR 3,000 in the autumn semester.[5] Adding the two semesters gives INR 294,600 for the first group and INR 494,600 for the second in the first year (our sum). The fee sheet notes that the hostel charge is the minimum for a bachelor hostel and that the mess advance is adjusted to actual use.[5] For the list of countries behind the top-20 rule, the sheet refers to the institute’s international fee structure page.[5]
Postgraduate and PhD
The 2026-27 sheets for M.Tech, M.Arch, M.U.R.P and M.Des show tuition of INR 5,000 per semester for the general category and INR 25,000 per semester for sponsored candidates.[9] The PhD sheet shows INR 2,500 per semester, and INR 25,000 for in-service or working professionals.[10] Neither sheet has a separate line for foreign nationals, so confirm the applicable rate with the international office.
The international relations fee page (undated) says that sponsored students from non-MEA schemes pay USD 2,000 per year (SAARC countries) or USD 4,000 per year (other countries), and that non-sponsored students admitted through Study in India pay 200% of the Indian fee, with waivers from the second semester based on academic standing (top 25% a full waiver, next 25% half, next 25% a quarter).[11] SAARC is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
How do you apply to IIT Roorkee as an international student?
- Undergraduate: admission is through the Joint Entrance Examination only; international candidates are directed to a separate JEE page for foreign candidates.[6] The institute’s UG admissions page lists admission through JEE Advanced 2026 and does not mention DASA.[12]
- Postgraduate and PhD: candidates apply through their own channel if they come through GATE, an ICCR scholarship, the ITEC programme or the Study in India portal; there are also government sponsorships and international MoUs.[6]
- Other candidates: they must apply through their embassy in India; applications sent directly by students are not entertained. The embassy forwards the form with biodata, transcripts in English, proof of a graduate-level mathematics course, three reference letters and a passport copy.[6]
We give no deadlines because they change every year. The international relations site has the current notices.[7]
Which English level do you need?
The medium of instruction is English.[7] The institute does not name a minimum IELTS or TOEFL score on the pages we read. Applicants through the embassy route are assessed on English communication through a seminar; if the result is not satisfactory, they must take a communication skills course run by the Humanities and Social Sciences department.[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does IIT Roorkee cost for foreign students in 2026-27?
At undergraduate level, tuition is INR 100,000 per semester for the top 20 ranked students from listed countries and INR 200,000 per semester for other foreign nationals. Including hostel, mess and other charges, the first-year totals are INR 155,550 plus 139,050 and INR 255,550 plus 239,050 for the two groups.[5]
Can foreign students join IIT Roorkee without JEE?
Is the language of instruction English?
Yes. The international relations site states that the medium of instruction is English.[7]
Can I apply directly to IIT Roorkee as a PhD student from abroad?
It depends on your route. Candidates with GATE, ICCR, ITEC or Study in India use those channels; all other candidates must apply through their embassy, and applications sent directly by students are not entertained.[6]
How is IIT Roorkee ranked?
It is 335th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 339th.[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 (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 Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Jadavpur University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- University of Delhi
- University of Hyderabad
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: IIT Roorkee (history, campuses, NIRF 2024 and entry exams; secondary source)
[2] IIT Roorkee: About the Institute (page without a date)
[3] IIT Roorkee: IITR by numbers (page without a date)
[4] 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)
[5] IIT Roorkee: Structure of fees, session 2026-27, undergraduate (first year) (fee sheet for session 2026-27, no issue date)
[6] IIT Roorkee International Relations: How to apply (page without a date)
[7] IIT Roorkee International Relations: home page (page without a date)
[8] Free Press Journal: QS World University Rankings 2027, IIT Delhi leads Indian institutes (article updated 18 Jun 2026)
[9] IIT Roorkee: Structure of fees, session 2026-27, M.Tech/M.Arch/M.U.R.P/M.Des (fee sheet for session 2026-27, no issue date)
[10] IIT Roorkee: Structure of fees, session 2026-27, PhD (fee sheet for session 2026-27, no issue date)
[11] IIT Roorkee International Relations: Fee structure for international students (page without an update date; footer 2019-2026)
[12] IIT Roorkee: Admission to undergraduate programmes (page without a date; lists 2026 documents)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.