IIT Kanpur Cyber Security Course: Overview, Duration and Mode
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- 12 Jun 2026IIT Kanpur launches 4-year B.Cyber. programme for July 2026 batch
IIT Kanpur announced the launch of its 4-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.) degree under the Wadhwani School, featuring a direct hackathon-based admission route.
IIT Kanpur offers a four-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.) degree under the Wadhwani School of Advanced AI and Intelligent Systems, starting in July 2026. The programme features a unique selection process via JEE Main screening, prior cybersecurity work review, and an on-campus hackathon without requiring JEE Advanced.
With a 4-year duration divided into 2 years of campus study and 2 years of paid government internship, this degree provides a distinct academic path. Readers will find full details below regarding eligibility criteria, practical hackathon selection, fee structures across institutions, top colleges, and career outcomes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Degree Name | Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.) |
| Total Duration | 4 Years (2 Years Campus Study + 2 Years Paid Government Internship) |
| Admission Criteria | JEE Main 2026 screening + Prior cybersecurity portfolio + On-campus Hackathon |
| JEE Advanced Required? | No |
| Offering School | Wadhwani School of Advanced AI and Intelligent Systems |
| First Batch Start | July 2026 |
What is Cyber Security
- Definition and Scope: Cyber Security focuses on safeguarding digital infrastructure and tackling real-world cyber challenges.
- Core Focus Areas: Coursework and practical training in this discipline cover systems, networks, and applied security.
- Course Availability: At least 1185 colleges offer Cyber Security in India, comprising 40 government and 539 private institutions.
Cyber Security education focuses on training professionals to safeguard digital infrastructure through systems, networks, and applied security. Across India, at least 1185 colleges offer programs in this domain.
Cyber Security Eligibility
Admission to the IIT Kanpur B.Cyber. degree requires candidates to satisfy academic screening and practical skill benchmarks. Applicants must take the JEE Main 2026 examination, which serves as the initial screening stage. Candidates do not require JEE Advanced scores for admission.
In addition to test performance, candidates must demonstrate hands-on cybersecurity experience by submitting a portfolio of verifiable practical work. This includes Capture The Flag (CTF) competition wins, bug bounty reports, or open-source cybersecurity project contributions.
Cyber Security Admission Process
The admission process for the B.Cyber. programme at IIT Kanpur bypasses the standard JEE Advanced route, establishing a direct multi-stage evaluation process tailored to practical technical capability.
| Stage | Selection Phase | Requirements & Evaluation Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Initial Screening | Screening based on JEE Main 2026 score |
| Step 2 | Portfolio Assessment | Evaluation of prior cybersecurity work (bug bounties, CTFs, projects) |
| Step 3 | Practical Hackathon | Timed, in-person hackathon test on the IIT Kanpur campus |
| Step 4 | Final Selection | Final merit offer list based on performance in the on-campus hackathon |
Portfolio and Practical Hackathon Requirements for Applicants
- Initial Screening: Candidates are shortlisted based on their JEE Main scores.
- Portfolio Evidence: Applicants must show verifiable proof of prior cybersecurity work, such as CTF wins, bug bounty reports, or open-source projects.
- Practical Evaluation: Shortlisted candidates take a timed, in-person hackathon test on the IIT Kanpur campus.
- Final Selection: Merit offers are extended based on performance in the on-campus hackathon.
IIT Kanpur introduced the practical hackathon because JEE Advanced alone cannot test practical abilities. This route helps identify candidates with proven hands-on skills who are already active in the field.
Wadhwani School of Advanced AI and Intelligent Systems
- Artificial Intelligence
- Intelligent Systems
- Cybersecurity
- Robotics
- AI Policy
The B.Cyber. degree is offered by the Wadhwani School of Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems at IIT Kanpur. The school was established in partnership with the Wadhwani Foundation and hosts these five research centres.
Cyber Security Fees
At least 1185 colleges offer Cyber Security programmes across India, including 40 government institutions and 539 private institutions. IIT Kanpur charges a total course fee of ₹8.00 lakh for its undergraduate degree.
For government colleges offering cyber security coursework, the median total course fee stands at ₹1.22 lakh, with the middle half of fees ranging between ₹79,180 and ₹1.84 lakh based on data from 29 government colleges. For private institutions, the median total course fee is ₹2.74 lakh, with the middle half falling between ₹1.78 lakh and ₹4.20 lakh across 440 private colleges. Candidates seeking online or distance learning pathways can also evaluate regional options.
| 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 |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lovely Professional University | Phagwara | — | ₹1.60 lakh |
| Amity University | Noida | — | ₹2.75 lakh |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth University | Pune | — | ₹1.48 lakh |
| JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) | Bengaluru | — | ₹1.50 lakh |
| Parul Institute of Engineering and Technology | Vadodara | University | ₹2.80 lakh |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Manipal | — | ₹2.20 lakh |
| Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences | Solan | — | ₹96,000 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology Vadodara | Diu | — | ₹89,500 |
Top Cyber Security Colleges
Students evaluating cyber security programmes across India can compare institutions based on NIRF rankings, institutional ownership, and geographic locations. Leading states by college count include 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.
Major educational hubs like Bangalore host 87 colleges, Chennai has 60 colleges, and Hyderabad has 53 colleges offering specialized degree options.
| 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) |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 87 | ₹1.40 lakh – ₹48.00 lakh | Alliance University, Jain University |
| Chennai | 60 | ₹80,800 – ₹18.40 lakh | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research |
| Hyderabad | 53 | ₹1.10 lakh – ₹18.40 lakh | Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad, Woxsen University |
| Coimbatore | 47 | ₹98,500 – ₹4.84 lakh | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, P.S.G College of Technology |
| Pune | 44 | ₹90,000 – ₹12.00 lakh | MIT World Peace University, Symbiosis International University Pune |
| Bhopal | 29 | ₹1.10 lakh – ₹9.94 lakh | VIT Bhopal University, Lakshmi Narain College of Technology & Science Bhopal |
| Kolkata | 28 | ₹1.03 lakh – ₹9.03 lakh | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Amity University Kolkata |
| Mumbai | 28 | ₹16,044 – ₹11.25 lakh | Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Mumbai University |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | Average package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Technical Campus Greater Noida | Greater Noida | Private | ₹4.68 lakh | 5.45 LPA |
| Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering | Bangalore | Private | ₹3.35 lakh | 5.27 LPA |
| Aditya Institute of Technology and Management | Tekkali | Private | ₹1.32 lakh | 5.15 LPA |
| Global Institute | Amritsar | Private | ₹1.82 lakh | 5 LPA |
| Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering | Visakhapatnam | Private | — | 4.79 LPA |
| HMR Institute of Technology & Management | Delhi | Private | ₹3.32 lakh | 4.66 LPA |
| Tula’s Institute | Dehradun | Private | ₹6.81 lakh | 4.61 LPA |
| Dr. B.C. Roy Engineering College | Durgapur | Private | ₹2.32 lakh | 4.61 LPA |
| Bapatla Engineering College | Guntur | Private | ₹2.55 lakh | 4.26 LPA |
| RNS Institute of Technology | Bangalore | Private | ₹11.24 lakh | 4.23 LPA |
How to Apply for Cyber Security Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Register and appear for JEE Main 2026: Candidates must register and take JEE Main 2026 through the official NTA portal for initial screening.
- Build a Cybersecurity Portfolio: Compile verifiable evidence of practical work, including CTF competition wins, bug bounty reports, or open-source cybersecurity projects.
- Track IIT Kanpur Webpage Updates: Visit iitk.ac.in for updates and track the dedicated B.Cyber. webpage launch for seats, fees, and application dates.
- Attend On-Campus Hackathon at IIT Kanpur: Shortlisted candidates must appear for an in-person, timed practical hackathon test on the IIT Kanpur campus.
- Complete Admission Formalities: Final selection offers will be extended based on performance in the on-campus hackathon for the batch starting July 2026.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | Cyber Security colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
Admission to the B.Cyber. programme does not require JEE Advanced scores. Selection is based on JEE Main screening, practical portfolio evaluation, and performance in the on-campus hackathon.
FAQs
Can a 12th pass candidate get admission to IIT Kanpur B.Cyber. without JEE Advanced?
Yes. Admission to the 4-year B.Cyber. programme at IIT Kanpur skips JEE Advanced. Candidates are screened via JEE Main scores, prior practical cybersecurity projects, and an on-campus hackathon.
What is the duration of the IIT Kanpur Cyber Security course?
The Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.) is a 4-year programme comprising 2 years of campus study at IIT Kanpur followed by 2 years of paid internship in government security organisations.
What practical work is required for IIT Kanpur Cyber Security selection?
Applicants must demonstrate hands-on experience through verifiable work such as Capture The Flag (CTF) contest wins, bug bounty reports, or open-source security projects.
Which school offers the Bachelor of Cybersecurity at IIT Kanpur?
The B.Cyber.
