About Indian Institute of Technology Madras
IIT Madras is one of India’s foremost institutes of national importance in higher technical education, basic and applied research. Ranked consistently as the #1 Institute Overall and #1 in Engineering by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
A 600-Acre Verdant Campus of Cutting-Edge Innovation
Our Heritage
In 1956, the German Government offered technical assistance in establishing an institute of higher education in engineering in India. The first Indo-German agreement in Bonn, West Germany for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology at Madras was signed in 1959.
The Institute was formally inaugurated in 1959 by Prof. Humayun Kabir, Union Minister for Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs. The IIT system has twenty-three Institutes of Technology, of which IIT Madras is a premier pioneer.
The Institute has sixteen academic departments and several advanced research centres in various disciplines of engineering and pure sciences. A faculty of international repute, a brilliant student community, excellent technical & supporting staff, and an effective administration have all contributed to the pre-eminent status of IIT Madras.
Rankings & Facts
Pioneering Experience in Online Education
IIT Madras has been at the forefront of digital learning in India for more than two decades, democratizing quality higher education for students and working professionals globally.
NPTEL & SWAYAM Initiative
IIT Madras initiated NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) in 2003 as an inter-IIT consortium project. Today, it stands as one of the largest online engineering repositories in the world with over 1,300+ courses, millions of course enrollments, and 5,300+ local chapter colleges under SWAYAM.
The 4-Year BS Degree Ecosystem
Building upon decades of MOOCs experience, IIT Madras created the world-first online BS degree framework. Featuring qualifier-based admission without JEE constraints, learners progress through Foundation, Diploma, BSc, and full BS Degree tiers with rigorous in-person proctored exams and campus events like Paradox.