IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur BCyber Progamme 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Kanpur have jointly launched India’s first practice-oriented Bachelor of Cybersecurity Programme (B.Cyber.) programme. The course is set to start this month and will run for four years. A key feature of the programme is that after studying two years at the IIT Madras campus, students will be deployed in government organizations for the rest of the programme, with the likelihood of receiving fellowships.
The degree will be provided as a IIT Madras Bachelor degree and those, upon successful completion, will receive an alumnus status. The purpose of the course is to bridge the country’s cybersecurity gap, according to IIT Madras.
What Does The IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur B.Cyber. Course Covers?
The programme will cover several Cybersecurity concepts like Hacking, Penetration Testing, Cloud Security, Digital Forensics, Critical Infrastructure Security and more, the curriculum equips graduates with the practical skills needed to address an evolving cybersecurity landscape.
B.Cyber Programme Eligibility, Fees, Application Fees
The eligibility and fee structure for the joint Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.) programme will follow the criteria as specified by the IIT Kanpur. The application fees for the programme is Rs. 1,600 for female, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates. For other categories, the application fee is Rs. 3,200.
To be eligible for the programme, candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry and be born before October 1, 2001. Age relaxation of up to five years is applicable in case of candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwD category. Those from the National Institute of Open Schooling are also eligible.
The total programme fee is the same as for IIT Kanpur students. For General and Other Backward Classes (OBC), it is Rs. 1,57,166, while for SC, ST, PwD, MEB, it is Rs. 57,166. Candidates belonging to OEB category will be required to pay 90,499 rupees as programme fees.
Candidates must note that they can apply only twice for the programme and the application should be in two consecutive years.
Shortlisting, Selection Process
Students will be shortlisted based on their scores in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and evidence of having worked in the cybersecurity domain. Scores from either 2025 or 2026 are considered. In case of two candidates securing the same score, the younger candidate will be considered.
Evaluation parameters for prior Cybersecurity work:
1. Cybersecurity Exposure: 20 Marks
2. Competitive Cybersecurity Experience: 20 Marks
3. Technical Learning & Certifications: 15 Marks
4. Security Research & Responsible Disclosure: 20 Marks
5. Technical Portfolio: 15 Marks
6. Cybersecurity Community & Online Platforms: 10 Marks Total: 100 marks
The joint initiative by IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur addresses the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals in India. The two-year Field Deployment Professional Project part of the course helps students become ready for the workplace.
