IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur Launch Bachelor of Cybersecurity Program

IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur launch the Bachelor of Cybersecurity program with hands-on training, hackathon-based admissions, and industry-focused learning

The Bachelor of Cybersecurity programme is set to debut in the 2026–27 academic session as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras joins Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in offering the four-year practice-oriented undergraduate degree. The initiative aims to bridge India's growing cybersecurity talent gap and prepare professionals to secure the country's expanding digital infrastructure.

Unlike traditional engineering admissions, the inaugural batch will follow a joint admission process that does not require JEE scores. Students selected through the common process will be able to choose either IIT Madras or IIT Kanpur before pursuing the programme independently at their chosen campus.

Practical Learning and Industry-Focused Curriculum

According to IIT Madras, the Bachelor of Cybersecurity has been designed with a competency-based curriculum covering security operations, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, malware analysis, cloud security, hardware security, firmware reverse engineering, and critical infrastructure protection.

A key highlight of the programme is a two-year Field Deployment Professional Project. During the final four semesters, students will work on live cybersecurity assignments under the mentorship of professionals from strategic and critical sectors, providing hands-on industry experience. More about India's higher education initiatives can be found on the University Grants Commission (UGC) website: https://www.ugc.gov.in.

Future Admission Process

For the current admission cycle, IIT Madras will participate in IIT Kanpur's ongoing selection process. Beginning next year, applicants will take an aptitude test covering mathematics, logical reasoning, and cybersecurity fundamentals, followed by a hackathon to assess programming and practical cybersecurity skills.

Officials said India faces an estimated shortage of nearly 1.5 million cybersecurity professionals, making the Bachelor of Cybersecurity a timely addition to the country's higher education landscape. The programme is expected to strengthen India's cyber workforce while supporting sectors including finance, healthcare, defence, manufacturing, telecommunications, and digital governance.

FAQs

1. What is the Bachelor of Cybersecurity programme?
It is a four-year undergraduate degree focused on practical cybersecurity education and industry skills.

2. Which IITs are offering the programme?
IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur will offer the programme independently from the 2026–27 academic session.

3. Is JEE required for admission?
No. Admissions are conducted through a separate selection process that does not require JEE scores.

4. What subjects are covered in the course?
Students will study penetration testing, malware analysis, cloud security, secure systems, hardware security, and more.

5. Does the programme include practical training?
Yes. Students complete a two-year industry-based Field Deployment Professional Project with live cybersecurity assignments.