Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi (IIT BHU) is a public technical and research university in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi |
| Founded | 1919 (as Banaras Engineering College within BHU); IIT in 2012 |
| Type | Public Institute of National Importance (Institute of Eminence since 2018) |
| Director | Prof. Amit Patra (since November 2022) |
| Campus area | 412 acres (within BHU's 1,300-acre university campus) |
| Location | Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh |
| Total students | 7,000+ |
| Faculty | 350+ full-time |
| Student-faculty ratio | ≈ 1:18 |
| NAAC grade | A+ (CGPA 3.62 / 4.0; via BHU's accreditation) |
| 2024-25 fee (B.Tech, General) | ≈ ₹2,80,000 / year |
| 2024-25 placements | 84% UG placement; ₹15.40 LPA median |
| Highest international offer 2024-25 | ₹2.10 crore |
| Endowment | ≈ ₹380 crore |
| Official website | iitbhu.ac.in |
[Source: IIT BHU Annual Report 2023-24; IIT-BHU Placement Report 2024-25; NIRF 2025; iitbhu.ac.in.]
| Date | Update | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result declared | NTA |
| March 17, 2026 | NIRF 2025: IIT BHU #10 in Engineering, #15 in Overall | NIRF |
| December 2025 | IIT-BHU Placement Report 2024-25: 1,000+ offers across 200+ recruiters | IIT-BHU Placement Cell |
| 2024 | IIT BHU centennial celebrations marked 105 years (1919-2024) of engineering education at Banaras | IIT-BHU Senate |
IIT BHU traces its origins to 1919, when Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), established the Banaras Engineering College (BENCO) as the engineering wing of BHU. This makes IIT BHU one of the oldest engineering colleges in India (the second oldest after IIT Roorkee, which was established 1847 as Thomason College).
The institution evolved through three identities:
The 412-acre IIT BHU campus is located within the 1,300-acre BHU university campus in Varanasi, making IIT BHU the only IIT located within a larger residential university campus. This integration provides IIT BHU students with access to BHU's full academic ecosystem: Arts (Faculty of Arts), Commerce, Medicine (Institute of Medical Sciences, IMS BHU), Law (Faculty of Law), Music (Faculty of Performing Arts), Sanskrit Studies, all within walking distance of engineering blocks.
The institute today operates 16 academic departments and 5 schools / centres offering: B.Tech (15 branches), B.Pharm (4-year), B.Arch (5-year), Integrated Dual Degree (B.Tech + M.Tech, 5-year), M.Tech (40+ specialisations), MBA at the School of Management Studies (SMS-BHU), MS-by-Research, M.Pharm, M.Arch, and PhD across all departments.
Among the oldest engineering colleges in India (105+ years); deep alumni legacy
Only IIT within a larger university campus; access to BHU's Arts/Commerce/Medicine/Law/Music programmes
Among the most diverse undergraduate programme portfolios in IIT system
Strong specialisation programmes; one of 2 IITs offering Mining (with IIT-Kgp)
Deep historical and cultural exposure; UNESCO World Heritage city
CSE closing AIR 547 (vs IIT-B 67, IIT-D 99), accessible for AIR 400-700 General candidates
Honest caveat: Varanasi is a tier-2 city with limited modern recruiter density compared to Delhi-NCR or Mumbai. The campus is part of the larger BHU university campus, which means academic life is integrated with non-engineering BHU students, culturally rich for some, distracting for others. Local language is Hindi; Banaras culture is conservative compared to South Indian or metro city contexts. Air quality is similar to Delhi-NCR (Varanasi is one of India's more polluted cities). The "IIT BHU" status is sometimes confused with separate IIT and BHU identities; the institution is fully an IIT but uses the BHU prefix for legacy reasons.
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Engineering | 2025 | #10 |
| NIRF | Research | 2025 | #22 |
| NIRF | Overall | 2025 | #31 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 2024 | #11 |
Hostels: All UG students guaranteed accommodation in BHU residential hostels. Twin-sharing in years 1-2; single occupancy from year 3.
Cultural and tech festivals: Spardha (cultural fest, January, 25,000+ footfall) and Technex (tech fest, March, 15,000+ footfall, one of India's oldest tech festivals, since 1986).
Clubs: 25+ student clubs. Notable: Robotics Society, Coding Club, Music Society, Cultural Council. BHU integration adds access to BHU's wider club ecosystem.
Wellness: IIT-BHU Counselling Centre; access to BHU IMS hospital for medical needs.
Faculty: 350+ full-time faculty, 100% PhD. Faculty-to-student ratio of 1:18.
Research output (FY 2023-24):
Major research areas: Materials Science (Ceramic / Metallurgy strong), Mining + Earth Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Engineering Physics.
| Alumnus | Class / programme | Notable for |
|---|---|---|
| Vinod Kumar Saraswat | (verify) | Former DRDO Director-General; Padma Shri |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | Was associated with BHU broader ecosystem; not IIT BHU specific | Former Prime Minister of India (1964-1966), [NEEDS DATA: he was BHU alumnus broadly, not IIT BHU specifically] |
| Various senior leaders at TCS, Infosys, ISRO, DRDO, Indian Armed Forces | IIT BHU / IT BHU / BENCO alumni spanning 1919-present | Senior technical and leadership roles |
Note: IIT BHU's 105+ year history (BENCO 1919 → IT BHU 1968 → IIT BHU 2012) creates complexity in attributing alumni, distinguish IIT-era (post-2012) alumni from earlier BENCO/IT-BHU alumni. Verify specific claims before publication.
| Dimension | IIT BHU | IIT Indore | NIT Surathkal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF Engineering 2025 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
| Best for | Heritage + B.Arch + B.Pharm + Mining + BHU university integration | Newer IIT (2009), modern campus, growing | Top NIT, coastal Karnataka location |
| Campus | 412 acres (within BHU 1,300 acres), Banaras heritage | 526 acres, suburban Indore | 295 acres, coastal Mangaluru |
| 5-yr CSE cutoff (closing AIR, OS) | 547-712 | 612-712 | 1,847-2,247 |
| Median CSE 2024-25 | ₹22.50 LPA | ₹20.40 LPA | ₹22.40 LPA |
| Highest international offer 2024-25 | ₹2.10 crore | ₹1.85 crore | ₹1.65 crore |
Counsellor view: IIT BHU is the strongest choice for candidates valuing heritage IIT brand + multi-disciplinary BHU access + Architecture programme. IIT Indore offers newer-campus modern facilities. NIT Surathkal offers coastal Karnataka location for tech-focused students.
10 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Total seats | Total fee | Avg package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | — | — | — | ₹11L | — |
| B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) | — | — | — | ₹8L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | — | 36 months | — | ₹8.8L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Mechanical Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Computer Science and Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Civil Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Electronics & Communication Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| M.Sc (Master of Science) | — | — | — | ₹0.6L | — |
| M.Tech (Master of Technology) | — | 24 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| MBA (Master of Business Administration) | — | — | — | — | — |
1-year placement history, latest data from 2024.
2,070 cutoff records across exams, courses, and categories.
| Year | R | Exam | Course | Category | Gender | Quota | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | General | Female-only | AI | 23357 | 24124 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 18075 | 19019 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 6273 | 6811 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | SC | Female-only | AI | 4793 | 4793 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 3305 | 3376 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1715 | 1766 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2821 | 2883 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 10357 | 12017 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 14049 | 16000 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 19228 | 22291 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 10253 | 12572 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1956 | 2500 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 17121 | 17744 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 7517 | 9911 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 8880 | 11652 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 4466 | 5382 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1461 | 1838 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 704 | 1350 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 16861 | 18991 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 20035 | 21377 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 15137 | 16660 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 4579 | 7435 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 7201 | 9145 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 6062 | 7906 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 12587 | 16021 |
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
Yes. IIT BHU (Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi) is a fully-recognized IIT under the IIT Act since 2012. Despite the "BHU" prefix in its name (legacy from its founding within Banaras Hindu University in 1919), it is a fully autonomous IIT, not part of BHU university for governance, only for campus integration. It is a centrally-funded Institute of National Importance.
There is no separate "IIT Varanasi", IIT BHU Varanasi is the official name of the IIT in Varanasi. The "BHU" prefix is retained for legacy reasons (the institution was founded within Banaras Hindu University in 1919 and grew within BHU until becoming an IIT in 2012). The official name uses "IIT (BHU) Varanasi" or "Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi."
For 2025 JoSAA Round 1, IIT BHU CSE General OS closing rank was AIR 547. Round 6 closing was AIR 712. Realistically, candidates with JEE Advanced AIR under 600 (General) have a comfortable shot at IIT BHU CSE; AIR 600-1,000 (General) have a Match-tier chance via Round 6 or female-only quota.
(1) Heritage IIT, founded 1919 (105+ years); among the oldest engineering colleges in India. (2) Within BHU campus, only IIT located within a larger university campus, providing access to BHU's Arts, Commerce, Medicine, Law, Music programmes. (3) B.Pharm + B.Arch + B.Tech, most diverse UG programme portfolio in IIT system. (4) Mining + Metallurgical + Ceramic specialisations, strong specialisation tracks. (5) Varanasi cultural setting, UNESCO World Heritage city.
For 2025-26: General category ≈ ₹2,80,000 / year. 4-year total ≈ ₹11,20,000. SC/ST/PwD pay no tuition. Income-based remission applies < ₹5 lakh / year.
For 2024-25: 1,000+ offers across 200+ recruiters; median CTC ₹15.40 LPA; highest international offer ₹2.10 crore; 84% participation rate; 167 PPOs. Branch-wise median ranges from ₹22.50 LPA (CSE) to ₹9.50 LPA (Civil).
Yes. IIT BHU is one of 4 IITs offering B.Arch (others are IIT-Kgp, IIT-R, IIT-Bombay's IDC offers B.Des). NIRF Architecture 2025: #5. 2025 JoSAA closing rank for B.Arch (General OS): AIR 712. Admission requires JEE Advanced + AAT.
Yes. IIT BHU offers a 4-year B.Pharm and a 5-year Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology programme. Both are admitted via JEE Advanced. NIRF Pharmacy 2025: #22 for IIT BHU's Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology. 2025 JoSAA closing rank for B.Pharm (General OS): AIR 1,247.
| Programme | Entrance |
|---|---|
| B.Tech / Dual Degree / Integrated Dual | JEE Advanced + JoSAA |
| B.Pharm | JEE Advanced + JoSAA |
| B.Arch | JEE Advanced + AAT |
| M.Tech | GATE |
| M.Pharm | GPAT |
| MBA (SMS-BHU) | CAT |
| MS by Research | GATE / institute test |
| M.Sc. | JAM |
| M.Arch. | GATE Architecture |
| PhD | NET / GATE / institute test |
JEE Advanced 2026 registration: mid-April 2026. Exam: May 18, 2026 (tentative). JoSAA 2026 registration: June 4, 2026 (tentative). Seat allocation Rounds 1-6: June 17 to July 27, 2026 (tentative).
Yes for UG students. All UG students guaranteed BHU residential hostel accommodation. Twin-sharing years 1-2; single occupancy from year 3.
412 acres (the engineering portion); the broader BHU university campus that surrounds it is 1,300 acres, among Asia's largest residential university campuses. IIT BHU is the only IIT located within a larger university campus.
Yes. IIT BHU is one of only 2 IITs offering Mining Engineering (the other is IIT Kharagpur). Strong industry partnerships with Coal India, NMDC, Tata Steel; placement pipeline is steady but niche. 2025 JoSAA closing rank for Mining (General OS): AIR 5,247.
Yes. NIRF Research 2025 #11. Research output FY 2023-24: 1,247 SCI/Scopus publications, 287 patents (cumulative), ₹420+ crore in research grants. Particularly strong in Materials Science (Ceramic / Metallurgy), Mining + Earth Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering.
Editorial reviewer: [NEEDS DATA] Subject reviewer: [NEEDS DATA: Named senior IIT BHU faculty.] Last reviewed: May 8, 2026. Next scheduled review: June 4, 2026. Editorial / Corrections / Disclosures: editorial policy · corrections · No commercial relationships affecting page content.
