IIT Kanpur Cyber Security Course Eligibility: Academic Criteria
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- 8 Jul 2026IIT Kanpur B.Cyber 2026 Admission Test Results Declared
Results for the B.Cyber 2026 admission test conducted on July 5 were published on the official portal. - 5 Jul 2026Practical Hackathon Admission Test Held at IIT Kanpur
Shortlisted B.Cyber 2026 applicants appeared for the practical admission test from 10 AM to 4 PM at the New Core Lab. - 28 Jun 2026JEE Main Shortlist Announced for IIT Kanpur B.Cyber
IIT Kanpur declared the list of shortlisted candidates eligible for the practical admission test based on JEE Main scores.
Candidates applying for the IIT Kanpur B.Cyber course must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) across at least five subjects. General category applicants must be born on or after October 1, 2001 (October 1, 1996 for SC/ST/PwD), and selection relies on JEE Main 2025/2026 scores followed by a practical hackathon admission test at IIT Kanpur.
With an application fee of Rs 3,200 for General category male candidates and Rs 1,600 for Female, SC, ST, and PwD applicants, eligible students can enter India’s first dedicated undergraduate degree in cybersecurity.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Subjects | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (minimum 5 subjects) |
| Age Limit (General) | Born on or after October 1, 2001 |
| Age Limit (SC / ST / PwD) | Born on or after October 1, 1996 |
| Shortlisting Exam | Best score in JEE Main 2025 or JEE Main 2026 (JEE Advanced not required) |
| Maximum Attempts | Maximum 2 attempts in consecutive years |
| Application Fee | Rs 1,600 (Female, SC, ST, PwD) / Rs 3,200 (All Other Candidates) |
| Course Duration | 4 Years (2 Years Campus Coursework + 2 Years Full-Time Internship) |
Cyber Security Eligibility
Candidates seeking admission to the B.Cyber program must fulfill specific educational, age, and attempt guidelines. Applicants must have completed Class 12 or an equivalent qualification (including candidates from the National Institute of Open Schooling) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as core subjects. Candidates must have studied at least five subjects in total in Class 12. Admission is restricted to Indian nationals who have never been previously admitted to any degree program across any IIT campus. Applicants can attempt admission a maximum of two times in consecutive years.
| Eligibility Parameter | Requirement Details |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Exam | Class 12 / Equivalent (NIOS included) |
| Mandatory Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) |
| Minimum Subjects Count | Must have studied at least 5 subjects in Class 12 |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals only |
| Previous IIT Enrollment | Must NOT have been previously admitted to any IIT programme |
| Attempt Limit | Maximum 2 attempts across consecutive years |
Age limits for candidate selection are strictly categorized by candidate background, with age relaxation granted to reserved categories as per statutory standards:
| Category | Cut-off Date of Birth |
|---|---|
| General Category | Born on or after October 1, 2001 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | Born on or after October 1, 1996 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Born on or after October 1, 1996 |
| Persons with Disability (PwD) | Born on or after October 1, 1996 |
Cyber Security Admission Process
- JEE Main Shortlisting: Admission bypasses JEE Advanced, relying on the candidate’s best score from JEE Main 2025 or JEE Main 2026.
- Application Enhancement: Submitting evidence of prior cybersecurity work can strengthen the application during the shortlisting stage.
- Practical Hackathon Test: Shortlisted candidates must take an admission test covering web security, APIs, OSINT, reverse engineering, and malware analysis.
The selection process evaluates practical analytical and security skills through a hands-on hackathon instead of a standard written exam. Shortlisted candidates are tested across key technical domains to finalise admission.
Cyber Security Fees
Candidates submitting an application for the B.Cyber program must pay a non-refundable application fee online. Selected students who secure final admission pay the standard undergraduate fee structure established by IIT Kanpur.
| Candidate Category | Application Fee (Non-Refundable) |
|---|---|
| Female Candidates | Rs 1,600 |
| SC / ST Candidates | Rs 1,600 |
| PwD Candidates | Rs 1,600 |
| All Other Candidates (General/OBC Male) | Rs 3,200 |
Across India, at least 1185 colleges offer Cyber Security programs, comprising 40 government colleges and 539 private colleges. Government colleges maintain a median total course fee of ₹1.22 lakh, with the middle half ranging between ₹79,180 and ₹1.84 lakh based on 29 colleges with fee data. Private colleges feature a median total course fee of ₹2.74 lakh, with the middle half spanning ₹1.78 lakh to ₹4.20 lakh across 440 colleges reporting data.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elphinstone College | Mumbai | Government | ₹16,044 |
| Gujarat Technological University | Ahmedabad | Government | ₹25,000 |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹34,900 |
| Birsa Institute of Technology Dhanbad | Dhanbad | Government | ₹47,378 |
| Kannur University | Kannur | Government | ₹47,730 |
| Government Holkar Science College | Indore | Government | ₹68,800 |
| Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies | Delhi | Government | ₹77,560 |
| Anna University | Chennai | Government | ₹80,800 |
| College of Engineering Pathanamthitta | Pathanamthitta | Government | ₹1.00 lakh |
| Visvesvaraya Technological University | Belgaum | Government | ₹1.02 lakh |
Top Cyber Security Colleges
Students looking at alternative institutions for cybersecurity education in India can explore options across multiple states. State distribution includes Tamil Nadu with 216 colleges, Karnataka with 129 colleges, Maharashtra with 111 colleges, Andhra Pradesh with 79 colleges, Uttar Pradesh with 78 colleges, and Gujarat with 77 colleges. Across 78 colleges reporting placement data, the median average placement package stands at 3.29 LPA.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbiosis Skills & Open University | Pune | — | ₹8.50 lakh | 1 (Overall, 2025) |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Manipal | — | ₹2.20 lakh | 3 (University, 2025) |
| Manipal University Manipal | Manipal | — | ₹15.37 lakh | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur | Kanpur | Government | ₹8.00 lakh | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹34,900 | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Presidency College Bangalore | Bangalore | Private | ₹3.50 lakh | 7 (Overall, 2021) |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore | — | ₹98,500 | 8 (Overall, 2025) |
| Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi | Delhi | Government | ₹3.81 lakh | 8 (Overall, 2025) |
Key Dates and Schedule for Admission 2026
| Admission Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Application Portal Opened | June 15, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | June 25, 2026 |
| Shortlist Announcement | June 28, 2026 |
| Admission Test | July 5, 2026 (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) |
| Result Declaration | July 8, 2026 |
| Campus Reporting at IIT Kanpur | July 21, 2026 |
Applicants must carefully follow the admission timeline for the 2026 academic entry cycle. Selected candidates are required to report at IIT Kanpur on July 21, 2026.
How to Apply for Cyber Security Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Eligibility Criteria: Verify Class 12 completion with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (minimum 5 subjects), Indian nationality, and age criteria (born on or after October 1, 2001 for General or October 1, 1996 for SC/ST/PwD).
- Appear for JEE Main: Obtain a valid score in JEE Main 2025 or JEE Main 2026 (JEE Advanced is not required).
- Submit Online Application: Register on the official admission portal iitk.ac.in/wsais/b-cyber.php between June 15 and June 25, 2026. Submit JEE Main scores and evidence of prior cybersecurity work.
- Pay Application Fee: Pay the non-refundable fee of Rs 1,600 (Female, SC, ST, PwD) or Rs 3,200 (All Other Candidates).
- Check Shortlist Status: Verify shortlisting results on June 28, 2026 on the portal to get called for the practical admission test.
- Appear for Practical Admission Test: Attend the hackathon-style test at IIT Kanpur’s New Core Lab on July 5, 2026 (10 AM to 4 PM, reporting by 9:00 AM) testing OSINT, APIs, reverse engineering, web security, and malware analysis.
- Complete Campus Reporting & Fee Payment: Check results on July 8, 2026 and complete physical reporting at IIT Kanpur campus by July 21, 2026, paying standard IIT Kanpur undergraduate fees.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | Cyber Security colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
FAQs
Which subject is needed for cyber security?
To be eligible for the B.Cyber program at IIT Kanpur, candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM), having studied at least five subjects in total.
What is the age limit for IIT Kanpur cybersecurity eligibility?
General category candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are given a 5-year relaxation and must be born on or after October 1, 1996.
What are the IIT Kanpur Cyber Security course fees?
The application fee is Rs 1,600 for female, SC, ST, and PwD candidates, and Rs 3,200 for other candidates. Selected students pay standard IIT Kanpur undergraduate program tuition fees.
Is the IIT Kanpur Cyber security course free?
No, the course is not free. Applicants pay an application fee of Rs 1,600 or Rs 3,200, and admitted students pay standard IIT Kanpur undergraduate fees. However, stipends may apply during Years 3-4 internships.
Is 30 too old to start cyber security at IIT Kanpur?
For the undergraduate B.Cyber degree at IIT Kanpur, age limits apply.
