Indian Institute of Technology Madras

What courses does Indian Institute of Technology Madras offer?

Indian Institute of Technology Madras offers a full ladder of programmes from B.Tech and Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech) at the undergraduate level through M.Tech, MS, MBA, M.Sc, MA, and PhD at the postgraduate and doctoral levels, taught across sixteen academic departments at the Chennai campus. The institute, formally inaugurated in 1959, runs B.Tech and Dual Degrees in roughly twelve engineering disciplines (including Aerospace, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Metallurgical and Materials, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, and Engineering Physics), about 31 M.Tech programmes across 13 departments, plus M.Sc options in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics through IIT JAM. Streams span engineering, the sciences, management (the Department of Management Studies MBA), humanities, and social sciences. IIT Madras was ranked No. 1 in India in the NIRF 2024 Overall category and No. 1 in the NIRF 2024 Engineering category, which is the backdrop against which all these programmes are chosen by aspirants.

For the 2026-27 academic year, IIT Madras has launched a fresh wave of programmes: a new 4-year B.S. in Mathematics (with the option of a 5th year to graduate with a dual BS-MS degree), an industry-aligned M.Tech in Semiconductor Materials Technology targeting Process Engineers and Materials Scientists, and an M.A. in Public Policy covering governance and policy design across healthcare, education, environment, transportation, finance, and international relations. Additional new offerings span sustainable engineering, offshore and maritime engineering, computational engineering, and sports analytics with AI.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below sets out the headline programmes at Indian Institute of Technology Madras for 2026 with their level, duration, total programme fee, indicative seat intake, eligibility, and the accepted entrance exam. It answers the most common applicant question: what does each course cost, how long does it run, and what do I need to qualify? Read each row as a complete admission snapshot - the total fee is for the full programme duration, and the accepted exam column tells you which national test gates entry. Seat figures are indicative and finalised by JoSAA (for B.Tech/Dual Degree) or each department closer to the admission cycle.

The fee spread tells a clear story for 2026: research and science routes are heavily subsidised - the M.Sc costs ₹1,50,000 and the MA just ₹1,00,000 for two years - while the professional MBA at the Department of Management Studies is the costliest taught programme at ₹11,62,000. The B.Tech at ₹8,00,000 over four years and the 5-year Dual Degree at ₹10,00,000 reflect the centrally-set IIT tuition structure, and SC/ST/PwD candidates are commonly granted tuition exemptions. For applicants, the exam column is the practical gatekeeper: JEE Advanced for UG, GATE for M.Tech and most PhD entries, CAT for the MBA, and IIT JAM for the M.Sc.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at Indian Institute of Technology Madras

The single most sought-after programme at Indian Institute of Technology Madras is the 4-year B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, driven by its placement strength - the CSE branch reported an average package of ₹52.32 LPA in 2024, well above the institute-wide B.Tech average. Across the full B.Tech cohort in 2024, IIT Madras recorded a highest package of ₹4.3 Cr, an average of ₹23.29 LPA, and a median of ₹19.13 LPA, with a total of 1,091 students placed across Phase I and Phase II. These numbers explain why JEE Advanced toppers consistently rank IIT Madras CSE among their first preferences nationally.

The table below compares the flagship career-oriented programmes on their 2024 placement outcomes, the question being: which course delivers the strongest return at IIT Madras? Read the highest figure as the ceiling and the average as the realistic expectation for a typical student in that programme.

The takeaway for 2024 is that the B.Tech, and CSE in particular, anchors IIT Madras's reputation, while the Department of Management Studies MBA pairs a 100% placement record with a healthy ₹16.93 LPA average - strong value given its ₹11,62,000 fee. Beyond placements, IIT Madras's research-led programmes carry their own prestige: the Department of Mathematics, which runs the new B.S. in Mathematics, was ranked 84th globally and first in India in Mathematics under the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, making the M.Sc and B.S. mathematics tracks genuinely flagship in academic standing.

How to Choose the Right Course at Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Choose your course at Indian Institute of Technology Madras by matching the entrance exam you can clear to the career outcome you want. If you are a Class 12 PCM student aiming for the highest-paying tech and core engineering careers, the JEE Advanced-gated B.Tech (₹8,00,000) or the 5-year Dual Degree (₹10,00,000) is the route - and within it, CSE offers the strongest 2024 placement average (₹52.32 LPA) while core branches like Aerospace, Mechanical, and the new Semiconductor Materials Technology pipeline feed deep-tech and R&D roles.

If you already hold a B.Tech/BE and want specialisation or a research career, the GATE-based M.Tech (₹2,00,000, 2 years) and PhD (₹2,50,000) leverage IIT Madras's NIRF 2024 No. 1 Engineering standing; the 2026-27 M.Tech in Semiconductor Materials Technology is purpose-built for aspiring Process Engineers and Materials Scientists. Science graduates targeting research or analytics should weigh the IIT JAM-based M.Sc (₹1,50,000) in Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics, backed by the Department of Mathematics' first-in-India QS 2026 subject ranking. For management and policy careers, the CAT-based MBA (₹11,62,000, 100% placed in 2024) and the new Institute Test-based M.A. in Public Policy suit those moving into industry leadership, governance, and policy consulting. In short: pick the exam you can win, then pick the programme whose 2024 outcomes and department strength match your goal.

Frequently Asked Questions: Indian Institute of Technology Madras Courses 2026

What courses are offered at IIT Madras in 2026?

IIT Madras offers B.Tech and Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech) at UG level, and M.Tech, MS, MBA, M.Sc, MA, and PhD at PG and doctoral levels, across sixteen academic departments. B.Tech runs in about twelve engineering disciplines and M.Tech across roughly 31 programmes in 13 departments. For 2026-27, IIT Madras has added a new 4-year B.S. in Mathematics, an M.Tech in Semiconductor Materials Technology, and an M.A. in Public Policy, plus offerings in sustainable engineering, offshore and maritime engineering, computational engineering, and sports analytics with AI.

What is the fee for the B.Tech course at IIT Madras?

The B.Tech programme at IIT Madras costs ₹8,00,000 in total for the full 4-year duration in 2026, reflecting the centrally-set IIT tuition structure. The 5-year Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech) is priced at ₹10,00,000. SC/ST/PwD candidates are commonly granted tuition fee exemptions. Entry to both is through JEE Advanced with a 10+2 PCM background, and seats are allotted via JoSAA counselling.

What is the duration of courses at IIT Madras?

Course duration at IIT Madras ranges from 2 to 5 years depending on the programme in 2026. The B.Tech runs 4.0 years; the Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech) and PhD run 5.0 years; and the M.Tech, MBA, M.Sc, and MA each run 2.0 years. The new B.S. in Mathematics is a 4-year programme with an optional 5th year leading to a dual BS-MS degree.

What is the eligibility for M.Tech at IIT Madras?

To be eligible for the M.Tech at IIT Madras in 2026, you need a B.Tech/BE degree with a valid GATE score, and admission is finalised on GATE rank plus departmental criteria. The 2-year M.Tech costs ₹2,00,000 in total and is offered across about 31 programmes in 13 departments. The new industry-aligned M.Tech in Semiconductor Materials Technology targets candidates aiming to become Process Engineers and Materials Scientists in next-generation chip fabrication.

Which course is best at IIT Madras?

The B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering is widely considered the best course at IIT Madras, reporting a ₹52.32 LPA average package in 2024 (median ₹37.50 LPA). For management aspirants, the Department of Management Studies MBA delivered 100% placement with a ₹16.93 LPA average in 2024. Backed by IIT Madras's NIRF 2024 No. 1 ranking in both the Overall and Engineering categories, the choice ultimately depends on your entrance exam and career goal.

What is the MBA fee at IIT Madras?

The MBA at the IIT Madras Department of Management Studies costs ₹11,62,000 in total for the 2-year programme in 2026, the highest among the institute's taught courses. Admission is based on a valid CAT score plus an interview round. In 2024, the MBA batch achieved 100% placement with an average package of ₹16.93 LPA and a highest package of ₹29.65 LPA, making it strong value relative to its fee.

How many B.Tech seats does IIT Madras have?

IIT Madras offers approximately 994 B.Tech seats as commonly reported for 2025, within a broader undergraduate intake of about 1,014 seats spanning B.Tech, B.S., and Dual Degree programmes, plus supernumerary seats for female candidates. The intake is expected to expand for 2026. All B.Tech seats are filled through JEE Advanced ranks via JoSAA counselling, and the exact category-wise and branch-wise seat matrix is released by JoSAA closer to the admission season.

Recent Updates (2026)

New programmes include a 4-year B.S. in Mathematics (with optional 5th year BS-MS dual degree), M.Tech in Semiconductor Materials Technology (industry-aligned, targeting Process Engineers and Materials Scientists), and M.A. in Public Policy. Additional new offerings span sustainable engineering, offshore and maritime engineering, computational engineering, and sports analytics with AI.