IIT Kanpur, Kanpur - Admissions 2025

About IIT Kanpur

Admission to the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is highly competitive and is conducted through a transparent and rigorous process designed to select the most meritorious students across various programs. The institute offers admission across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels with selection primarily based on national-level entrance examinations. The admission procedure is predominantly online, facilitated through official portals and centralized counselling agencies, ensuring ease of access and fairness.

How to Apply

Application to IIT Kanpur’s various programs is primarily done via online platforms. Candidates aspiring for undergraduate programs like B.Tech need to first register and apply for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main through the official National Testing Agency (NTA) website. Successful candidates from JEE Main then become eligible to appear for the JEE Advanced exam, which is the final gateway for admission to all IITs, including IIT Kanpur. After clearing JEE Advanced, candidates participate in the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process where IIT Kanpur is one of the participating institutes. The entire application and seat allotment process is handled online, from form submission to seat acceptance.

For postgraduate programs like M.Tech, candidates must apply through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Admission to M.Sc. programs requires qualifying exams like IIT JAM or GATE. Doctoral admissions require candidates to apply through the institute's own notification, often requiring valid scores from various national exams such as JEST, UGC NET, or institute-conducted tests. The application forms for postgraduate and doctoral programs are usually available on the official IIT Kanpur website, and submission is online.

Some certificate and diploma courses may have separate application protocols, frequently online, depending on the department offering the course.

Entrance Exams

The important entrance exams that govern admissions at IIT Kanpur include:

• JEE Main: Eligibility test for JEE Advanced; conducted by NTA for undergraduate engineering aspirants.

• JEE Advanced: The primary entrance exam for admission into IITs including IIT Kanpur’s B.Tech and B.Sc. programs.

• GATE: For admission to M.Tech courses, and sometimes considered for Ph.D admissions.

• IIT JAM: For M.Sc. program admissions in sciences.

• CAT: For admission into management programs like MBA/PGDM.

• JEST, UGC NET, or Institute-specific tests: For Ph.D. admissions.

• CEED: For M.Des admissions.

Selection Criteria

The selection process is merit-based and program-specific. For B.Tech admissions, only candidates who qualify both JEE Main and JEE Advanced with ranks allowing for IIT Kanpur quota can be admitted, subject to JoSAA counselling seat allotment. For postgraduate admissions, GATE or IIT JAM scores form the basis of selection, combined with interviews or written tests in some cases. Ph.D. candidates are shortlisted based on entrance test scores and research proposals followed by interviews. Management programs consider CAT scores along with academic background and personal interviews.

Admission Timeline

The admission timeline varies by program but generally follows this annual pattern:

• August to November: Online registration opens for JEE Main (undergraduate) and GATE/JAM (postgraduate) exams.

• January: JEE Main exam is conducted; results are usually released the same month.

• May: JEE Advanced exam takes place.

• June-July: JoSAA counselling for IIT seat allocation including IIT Kanpur. Seat allotment results are declared in rounds, and candidates confirm seats online.

• July-August: M.Tech, M.Sc., MBA, M.Des, and Ph.D. applications open on IIT Kanpur’s official website. Interviews or written tests are conducted shortly after.

• August-September: Final admission offers are made for postgraduate and doctoral programs.

Dates may vary slightly each year; candidates are advised to check official announcements.

Documents Required

Applicants are required to submit scanned copies of key documents during application and admission. These include:

• Recent passport-sized photographs

• Proof of date of birth (birth certificate, Class 10 certificate)

• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates

• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD), if applicable

• Entrance exam scorecard (JEE Main, JEE Advanced, GATE, etc.)

• Identity proof (Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID)

• Graduation mark sheets and certificates (for postgraduate admissions)

• Medical fitness certificate in some cases

• Sponsorship or no objection certificate, if required (especially for doctoral candidates)

Contact Information for Helpdesk

For any clarifications or assistance, candidates can reach out to IIT Kanpur’s admission office or the official helpdesk through:

• Email: registrar@iitk.ac.in (general queries)

• Phone: +91 512 259 0151 (general admission inquiry)

• Official Website: https://www.iitk.ac.in (admission notifications and application links)

Candidates can also seek support via the JoSAA counselling portal for undergraduate admissions and respective program portals for postgraduate and doctoral admissions.

Admission Process Summary Table

The admission process at IIT Kanpur is designed to be fair, transparent, and student-centric, backed by a robust digital infrastructure that facilitates ease of application and communication. Prospective candidates must keep track of official announcements and deadlines to successfully navigate through each step towards admission.