National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal

What courses does National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal offer?

National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal offers programmes across four levels - undergraduate (B.Tech), postgraduate (M.Tech, MBA, M.Sc, MCA) and doctoral (PhD) - spanning engineering, management, sciences and computer applications. The institute, founded in 1960 as Karnataka Regional Engineering College and upgraded to NIT status in 2002, runs its academics through roughly 14 departments including Computer Science and Engineering, Information Technology, Electronics and Communication, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials, Mining, Water Resources and Ocean Engineering, Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Chemistry, Physics and the School of Management.

On the engineering side, B.Tech at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is offered across 11 branches, with newer additions such as Artificial Intelligence and Computational and Data Science sitting alongside flagship branches like CSE. At the postgraduate level the institute runs multiple M.Tech specialisations, an MBA, M.Sc programmes and MCA, while PhD is offered across nearly every department. National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal also confirmed a forward-looking addition: a new online M.Tech in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence launching from the 2026-27 academic year for working professionals.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below maps every major programme at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal to its level, duration, total programme fee, indicative seat intake, eligibility and the accepted entrance exam. It answers the single most common applicant question: what will I study, for how long, what does it cost in total and which exam gets me in. Read each row as one complete programme; the total fee shown is for the full course duration (as recorded in our database for 2026), not per year. Seat figures are indicative based on commonly reported intake.

Two patterns stand out for a 2026 applicant. First, the B.Tech total of ₹6,00,000 over four years is the institute's single largest programme cost, but it buys entry into NITK's strongest placement engine. Second, the M.Sc route at ₹1,00,000 over two years is the most affordable full-time PG track, while the GATE-gated M.Tech at ₹2,00,000 is the natural progression for engineering graduates. Note that NITK has updated its MCA offering to include both a 3-year (₹2,70,000) and a 2-year (₹2,00,000) NIMCET-based pathway, so verify which intake applies in your admission cycle.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal

The flagship programme at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is its four-year B.Tech, and within it Computer Science and Engineering is the most sought-after branch, carrying the highest intake at 120 seats. This demand is driven by placement outcomes: in the 2024 placement season, the B.Tech CSE average package at NITK Surathkal was 23.24 LPA, while the Information Technology branch recorded an even higher average of 24.13 LPA - the top average among all engineering branches that year.

These branch numbers sit against a strong institute-wide backdrop. For the 2024 cohort, the overall B.Tech average package at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal was 16.25 LPA and the highest package reached 55 LPA, with recruiters such as Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon, Adobe, Qualcomm, Dell and Infosys participating. The institute's pedigree is reflected in its rankings: NITK Surathkal was ranked 17th in Engineering in NIRF 2025 (score 64.59) and again 17th in NIRF 2024, alongside an overall NIRF 2025 rank of 54th (score 55.21).

Beyond CSE and IT, the established core-engineering branches - Mechanical, Civil, Electronics and Communication, Electrical and Electronics, Chemical and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering - remain heavily subscribed because of NITK's long industry links dating back to its KREC era. Newer B.Tech specialisations in Artificial Intelligence and Computational and Data Science, each with about 30 seats, are the fastest-rising choices as students chase data and AI roles. At the postgraduate level, the GATE-based M.Tech specialisations and the CAT-based MBA are the popular PG pathways. Looking ahead, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal will add an online M.Tech in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence from 2026-27, signed under MoUs with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and USDC, with future plans for an online M.Tech in Information Technology and an online MBA aimed at working professionals.

How to Choose the Right Course at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal

Choosing a course at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal should start from your entrance exam and your target career outcome, because each programme is gated by a specific exam and feeds a distinct path. If you are a 10+2 PCM student writing JEE Main and aiming for the strongest placement record, the four-year B.Tech (₹6,00,000) is the obvious anchor - and if software or data is your goal, CSE (120 seats, 23.24 LPA average in 2024) or IT (24.13 LPA average in 2024) deliver the highest branch outcomes, while AI and CDS suit those targeting machine-learning roles.

Engineering graduates with a valid GATE score should weigh the two-year M.Tech (₹2,00,000) for deep specialisation and research access across NITK's 14 departments, especially if a PhD (₹1,00,000, five years, via GATE/UGC-NET) is a longer-term ambition. Science graduates can use the IIT JAM route into the affordable M.Sc (₹1,00,000), commerce and engineering graduates eyeing management can take the CAT-based MBA (₹4,00,000), and computer-application aspirants with Mathematics and 60% marks can target MCA via NIMCET (₹2,70,000 for the 3-year track or ₹2,00,000 for the 2-year track). Working professionals who cannot relocate should track the upcoming 2026-27 online M.Tech in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence. In short, let your qualifying exam narrow the shortlist, then let NITK Surathkal's branch-level placement data and your career target make the final call.

Frequently Asked Questions: National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal Courses 2026

What courses are offered at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal in 2026?

National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal offers B.Tech (across 11 branches), M.Tech (multiple specialisations), MBA, M.Sc, MCA and PhD in 2026, spanning engineering, management, sciences and computer applications across roughly 14 departments. The four-year B.Tech is the flagship, while a new online M.Tech in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence launches from the 2026-27 academic year for working professionals, under MoUs with NSDC and USDC.

What is the B.Tech fee at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal?

The B.Tech total programme fee at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is ₹6,00,000 for the full four-year course, as recorded in 2026. Admission requires 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and a qualifying JEE Main score followed by JoSAA counselling. This B.Tech feeds the institute's strongest placement engine, where the overall 2024 average package was 16.25 LPA and the highest reached 55 LPA.

How long is the M.Tech programme at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal?

The M.Tech programme at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is 2.0 years (full-time), with a total fee of ₹2,00,000 as recorded for 2026. Eligibility is a B.Tech or BE degree with a valid GATE score, and admission is offered across about 15 specialisations spread over the institute's engineering departments. The upcoming online M.Tech in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence from 2026-27 adds a flexible mode for working professionals.

What is the eligibility for MBA at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal?

MBA eligibility at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is a bachelor's degree with a valid CAT score, after which shortlisting typically involves group discussion and personal interview. The MBA is a two-year programme with a total fee of ₹4,00,000 as recorded for 2026, run by the institute's School of Management. It is the popular management pathway for engineering and commerce graduates wanting to stay within the NITK ecosystem.

Which course is best at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal?

For placement-driven applicants, B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering is widely regarded as the best course at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, backed by a 23.24 LPA average package in 2024 and the highest intake of 120 seats. Information Technology was an even higher earner at 24.13 LPA average in 2024. The genuinely best choice, however, depends on your entrance exam and career goal across NITK's B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, M.Sc, MCA and PhD options.

How many B.Tech seats are there at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal?

National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal admits roughly 480-530 students into B.Tech across its 11 branches, with CSE carrying the highest intake at 120 seats and the newer Artificial Intelligence and Computational and Data Science branches at about 30 seats each. Seats are filled through JoSAA counselling on the basis of JEE Main, with intake split between Home State (Karnataka) and Other State quotas. For exact category-wise seat numbers, refer to the official JoSAA seat matrix.

What is the M.Sc fee and eligibility at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal?

The M.Sc programme at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal has a total fee of ₹1,00,000 for the two-year course (as recorded for 2026), making it the most affordable full-time PG track at the institute. Eligibility is a B.Sc or equivalent degree, and admission is based on the IIT JAM score. M.Sc is offered through departments such as Chemistry, Physics and Mathematical and Computational Sciences.

Recent Updates (2026)

NITK Surathkal announced a new online M.Tech programme in Signal Processing and Artificial Intelligence starting 2026-27, after signing MoUs with NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) and USDC. The programme targets working professionals seeking flexible learning. Future expansion plans include an online M.Tech in Information Technology and an online MBA.