National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal
(NIT Surathkal)
Mangalore, Karnataka
NIT
Government
|
Est. 1960
UGC Approved
AICTE Approved
NAAC A+
Last Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Established
1960
Campus Size
295.00 Acres
Total Students
6,000
Faculty
300
Student-Faculty
20:1
NIT Karnataka Surathkal - Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about NITK Surathkal - from JEE Main admissions and fee structure to placements, hostel life, campus facilities, and M.Tech programmes. NIT Karnataka Surathkal, ranked #12-17 in Engineering by NIRF, is located on a beachfront campus in Mangalore with a B.Tech average package of ₹17.48 LPA and a record 450+ recruiting companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
B.Tech admission is through JEE Main entrance examination. Candidates are ranked based on their JEE Main scores and allocated colleges through the centralized counseling process conducted by the Government of India.
For B.Tech: 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Candidates must qualify JEE Main. For M.Tech and other postgraduate programs, candidates need a relevant bachelor's degree and must qualify entrance exams like GATE.
NIT Surathkal is a government-funded institution with reasonable tuition fees. Hostel accommodation costs are nominal. Exact fee details are available on the official website and vary by program.
NIT Surathkal has a strong placement record with companies from IT, engineering, and manufacturing sectors recruiting from the campus. Most engineering graduates are placed within the academic year.
Yes, scholarships are available including merit-based, category-based, and need-based scholarships for eligible students. Details are available in the admissions prospectus.
The institute provides separate hostel blocks for male and female students with basic amenities. Hostel charges are nominal and included in the overall institute fees.
NIT Surathkal offers B.Tech programs in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Communication, Computer Science, and other engineering disciplines across multiple campuses.
The 295-acre campus is well-developed with modern academic blocks, laboratories, library, sports facilities, and hostel accommodations supporting overall student development.
The institute follows a semester-based academic system with courses covering theory, practicals, and projects. Academic calendar details are published annually by the institute.
Yes, the institute supports numerous student clubs and societies covering cultural, sports, technical, and professional interests to develop well-rounded personalities.
The JEE Main closing rank for CSE at NITK Surathkal (General, Other State) was approximately 1,615 in 2024 (Round 6). For Home State (Karnataka), it was around 5,200. OBC closing ranks were approximately 1,100 (OS) and 3,800 (HS). NITK CSE is the second-toughest NIT after NIT Trichy.
NITK offers M.Tech in 25+ specialisations including Computer Science, VLSI, Signal Processing, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Thermal Sciences, and Industrial Engineering. Admission is through GATE via CCMT. GATE-qualified students receive ₹12,400/month stipend. All 9 B.Tech programmes have NBA accreditation, boosting postgraduate credibility.
NITK Surathkal is located on a 295-acre beachfront campus on the Arabian Sea coast in Mangalore (Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka). Mangalore International Airport is 15 km away with flights to Bangalore, Mumbai, and Dubai. Mangalore Junction railway station (20 km) connects to Bangalore (8 hours), Mumbai (12 hours), and Kerala. The campus has a private beach - one of few engineering colleges with this distinction.
Yes. NITK's School of Management offers a 2-year MBA programme with total fees of approximately ₹5.50 lakh - higher than other NIT MBAs. Admission is through CAT/MAT scores. MBA placements average ₹8-10 LPA. The programme benefits from NITK's proximity to Bangalore's corporate ecosystem.
NITK hosts Engineer, one of the largest NIT technical festivals, and Incident, the cultural festival. Student clubs include IEEE, ACM, SAE, Robotics, Astronomy, Photography, and 30+ others. NITK has a strong competitive programming culture with students regularly performing well at ICPC, GSoC, and hackathons. The beachfront campus also supports surfing, sailing, and water sports.
NITK uses the IRIS portal (iris.nitk.ac.in) - a comprehensive student information system for academics, placements, and internships. Companies register through IRIS, conduct Pre-Placement Talks, and schedule drives. Students apply to companies, track interview schedules, and receive offers through the portal. IRIS was developed in-house by NITK students.
NITK is approximately 350 km from Bangalore, India's tech capital. This proximity gives NITK access to the Bangalore tech ecosystem - companies can conduct campus drives with minimal logistics. Many NITK alumni work in Bangalore, strengthening recruiter relationships. In 2024-25, 450+ companies visited campus, partly due to easy Bangalore access.
NITK has 14 hostels (10 for boys, 4 for girls) housing all students on the residential campus. The beachfront location provides a unique living environment. Rooms are shared (2-3 per room) with Wi-Fi, common rooms, and mess facilities. Hostel seat rent is ₹8,820/semester. Each hostel has a separate mess with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
NITK facilitates internships through the IRIS portal. Top stipends range from ₹80,000-₹1 lakh+ per month from Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan. Companies like Cisco, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan offer PPOs with base salaries of ₹12-20 LPA. The internship season runs February-May for third-year B.Tech students.
NITK maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 12:1 across the institute. The CSE and ECE departments typically have higher ratios (15-18:1) due to larger batch sizes. Over 300 faculty members serve approximately 5,500 students. About 80% of faculty hold PhDs from premier institutions including IITs, IISc, and international universities.
The average package at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal was ₹17.48 LPA in 2025, with a median of ₹14 LPA. This rose from an average of ₹16.25 LPA (median ₹13 LPA) in 2024. In 2023 the average stood at ₹18.26 LPA with a median of ₹14 LPA. The figures reflect strong demand from technology and core engineering recruiters across recent placement seasons.
The highest package at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal reached ₹63.3 LPA in 2025, up from ₹55 LPA in 2024 and ₹54.75 LPA in 2023. These top offers typically go to Computer Science and allied branches recruited by leading product and technology firms. Most students, however, should benchmark expectations against the average of ₹17.48 LPA (2025) rather than the highest figure.
Yes, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal has strong placements. In 2025, 80.60% of students were placed with 673 offers from 250 companies, an average of ₹17.48 LPA and a high of ₹63.3 LPA. In 2024, 75% were placed (640 offers, 200 companies), and 2023 saw 93% placed with 796 offers. Consistent recruiter participation makes it one of India's most placement-reliable NITs.
Admission to B.Tech at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal for 2026 is through JEE Main followed by JoSAA counselling. Candidates must qualify JEE Main and meet Class 12 norms, then fill choices and be allotted seats by rank, with CSAB special rounds afterwards. Postgraduate admissions use GATE (M.Tech/PhD), CAT (MBA), IIT JAM (M.Sc) and NIMCET (MCA). The B.Tech course is 4 years with a total fee of ₹6,00,000.
The JEE Main 2023 closing rank for National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal was around 6,482 for the General category. Reserved-category closing ranks were 10,500 (OBC-NCL), 12,000 (EWS), 16,000 (ST) and 32,000 (SC). Cutoffs vary sharply by branch, with Computer Science closing far earlier than core branches. Aspirants should track JoSAA round-wise cutoffs each year, as ranks shift with seat availability and demand.
The B.Tech fee at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is ₹6,00,000 for the full 4-year programme, approximately ₹62,500 in tuition per semester for 2025-26. Hostel and mess charges are additional. SC/ST/PwD students are exempt from tuition fees, and students from families earning below ₹5,00,000 per year receive partial or full tuition remission, making the institute affordable for eligible candidates.
Eligibility for B.Tech at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal requires a qualified JEE Main score and 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM). Candidates must also secure at least 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or be in the top 20 percentile of their board. Admission is purely rank-based through JoSAA counselling, with no separate institute entrance test for the 4-year programme.
National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal was ranked #12 in NIRF Engineering 2025 with a score of 73.50, slipping slightly from #11 in 2024 (score 73.90). It also featured at #11 in the India Today Engineering 2025 rankings (score 78.00) and #10 in 2024. These rankings consistently place NITK among the very top engineering institutions in India.
Top recruiters at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal include Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Oracle, Adobe, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Texas Instruments, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo, alongside Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Accenture, IBM and Dell. In 2025, 250 companies extended 673 offers. The mix of global product firms and core engineering employers supports both high-value technology roles and steady mass recruitment across branches.
National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal offers B.Tech (4 years, ₹6,00,000), M.Tech (2 years, ₹2,00,000), MBA (2 years, ₹4,00,000), M.Sc (2 years, ₹1,00,000) and PhD (₹1,00,000) programmes. B.Tech spans branches such as Computer Science, ECE, EEE, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Metallurgical and Information Technology. Admissions use JEE Main, GATE, CAT, IIT JAM and other national entrance exams depending on the programme.
M.Tech admission at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is based on a valid GATE score, with a B.Tech or BE degree as the eligibility requirement. The programme runs for 2 years with a total fee of ₹2,00,000, making it highly affordable. NITK offers M.Tech across a wide range of specializations, and shortlisting is done on GATE rank, sometimes with additional departmental criteria.
National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal offers tuition-fee exemption for SC/ST/PwD students and the Merit-cum-Means scholarship of around ₹3,000 per month for eligible OBC students (CGPA above 8) and SC/ST students (CGPA above 7). Students from families earning below ₹1,00,000 a year receive full tuition remission, and those between ₹1,00,000 and ₹5,00,000 get two-thirds remission. Several donor-funded departmental scholarships are also available.
Yes, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal provides on-campus hostel facilities for boys and girls within its roughly 295-acre seaside campus along NH-66 in Surathkal, Mangalore. Hostel fees for new admissions are about ₹35,310, covering admission, maintenance and mess advance. The campus also offers a central library, computer centre, health care, sports facilities, banks and a private beach, supporting a full residential student life.
MBA admission at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is based on a valid CAT score, with a bachelor's degree as the minimum qualification. The programme runs for 2 years with a total fee of ₹4,00,000. Selection considers the CAT percentile, and the School of Management leverages the institute's strong industry connections and brand for placements, making it an attractive low-cost MBA option within an NIT.
Based on JEE Main 2023 closing ranks, the category-wise cutoff at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal was approximately 6,482 (General), 12,000 (EWS), 10,500 (OBC-NCL), 32,000 (SC) and 16,000 (ST). These are overall closing ranks; Computer Science and circuit branches close much earlier, while core branches admit at higher ranks. Cutoffs change each year with demand, so verify current JoSAA round-wise data before counselling.
Yes, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is a government-funded institution and an Institute of National Importance. Established in 1960 (originally as Karnataka Regional Engineering College), it is centrally funded under the Ministry of Education. Its government status keeps the B.Tech total fee at ₹6,00,000 with substantial fee waivers for reserved and low-income students, and admissions are conducted through national exams such as JEE Main and GATE.
There is no separate application form for B.Tech at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal; admission is through JoSAA counselling after JEE Main. For 2026, JoSAA registration and choice filling opened on 2 June 2026 and closed on 11 June 2026, with Round 1 seat allotment on 13 June 2026. Postgraduate programmes have their own application windows on the official NITK portal, so candidates should track dates per programme.
M.Sc admission at National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal is through a valid IIT JAM score, with a B.Sc or equivalent degree as the eligibility requirement. The programme is 2 years long with a total fee of just ₹1,00,000, among the most affordable options at the institute. Seat allotment follows JAM rank through centralised CCMN counselling, after which candidates report to NITK for admission.
Yes, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal offers PhD programmes lasting up to 5 years with a total fee of around ₹1,00,000. Eligibility requires an M.Tech, M.Sc or MBA along with a valid GATE or UGC-NET score, and selection typically involves a written test and interview. PhD scholars receive institute or government fellowships and work across NITK's engineering, science and management departments.
Graduates of National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal secure strong career outcomes, with 80.60% placed in 2025 at an average of ₹17.48 LPA and a high of ₹63.3 LPA from 250 companies. Placement rates were 75% in 2024 and 93% in 2023. Alumni join top technology firms like Microsoft, Amazon and Google, core engineering companies, and many pursue higher studies at leading global universities.
Disclaimer: The frequently asked questions and answers about NIT Surathkal on this page are compiled for general guidance based on publicly available information. Answers may not reflect the most current policies, fees or admission criteria. Always verify important details on the official website or by contacting NIT Surathkal's official admission office.