Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is a public technical and research university in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, ranked #6 in the NIRF Engineering category for 2025 and #8 in NIRF Overall. Founded in 1847 as Thomason College of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee is Asia's oldest engineering college and the third-oldest in the world. It became an IIT in 2001, transitioning from the University of Roorkee (1949-2001). IIT Roorkee today hosts 8,000+ students across B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, MS-by-Research, and PhD programmes. It is widely regarded as the strongest IIT for Civil Engineering and Hydraulics, its 178-year legacy in water resources engineering, hydrology, and earthquake engineering is unmatched. Admission to its 14 B.Tech / Integrated MSc branches is via JEE Advanced; 2025 JoSAA Round 1 closing rank for CSE General OS was AIR 384.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee |
| Founded | 1847 (as Thomason College of Civil Engineering); became IIT in 2001 |
| Type | Public Institute of National Importance (Institute of Eminence since 2018) |
| Ownership | Government of India (Ministry of Education) |
| Director | Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant (since June 2022) |
| Campus area | 365 acres |
| Location | Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand |
| Total students (2024-25) | 8,000+ (≈ 3,500 UG, 3,500 PG, 1,000 PhD) |
| Faculty strength | 510+ full-time faculty |
| Student-faculty ratio | ≈ 16:1 |
| NAAC grade | A++ (CGPA 3.78 / 4.0) |
| NBA accreditation | Yes (multiple programmes) |
| Admission entrance | JEE Advanced (B.Tech / Integrated MSc); GATE (M.Tech); CAT (MBA at DoMS); JAM (M.Sc.) |
| 2024-25 fee (B.Tech, General) | ≈ ₹2,80,000 / year |
| Fee waivers | 100% for SC/ST/PwD; means-based remission |
| 2024-25 placements | 84% UG placement; ₹16.20 LPA median offer |
| Highest international offer 2024-25 | ₹1.65 crore |
| Endowment | ≈ ₹540 crore (March 2024) |
| Official website | iitr.ac.in |
| Admission helpdesk | [email protected] |
[Source: IIT Roorkee Annual Report 2023-24; IIT-R Placement Report 2024-25; NIRF 2025; iitr.ac.in.]
| Date | Update | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result declared | NTA notification |
| March 17, 2026 | NIRF 2025: IIT Roorkee #6 in Engineering, #8 in Overall | NIRF official portal |
| December 2025 | IIT-R Placement Report 2024-25 published: 1,000+ offers across 200+ recruiters | IIT-R Placement Cell |
| 2024 | IIT Roorkee designated as JEE Advanced 2026 conducting body | JEE Advanced 2026 official notice |
| 2025 | New Centre for Smart Cities + Sustainable Engineering launched | IIT-R Senate notification |
IIT Roorkee was established in 1847 as the Thomason College of Civil Engineering to train engineers for the Ganga Canal project (one of the largest 19th-century irrigation works in the world). It is Asia's oldest engineering college and the third-oldest in the world. The college became the University of Roorkee in 1949 (the first engineering university in independent India) and transitioned to IIT Roorkee in 2001 under the IIT (Amendment) Act, 2002.
The 365-acre campus is located in Roorkee, a small town at 1,000 ft elevation in the foothills of the Himalayas, offering significantly cooler climate than Delhi-NCR. Roorkee is connected to Delhi (170 km away) by train and road.
The 178-year legacy makes IIT Roorkee unique in India: it has the deepest Civil Engineering pedigree of any IIT, with hydraulics, water resources, earthquake engineering, and remote sensing programmes that are world-renowned. The institute today operates 24 academic departments and 7 schools / centres, offering B.Tech (14 branches), Integrated MSc (5 disciplines), M.Tech (50+ specialisations), MBA at the Department of Management Studies (DoMS), MS-by-Research, M.Sc., M.Arch., and PhD across all departments.
178-year history; world-renowned in hydraulics, water resources, earthquake engineering, remote sensing
Roorkee at 1,000 ft elevation: average summer temperature 30-35°C (vs Delhi 40-45°C); winter 5-15°C (mild Himalayan foothills)
CSE closing AIR 384 (vs IIT-B 67, IIT-D 99, IIT-M 152), easier path to top-tier IIT for AIR 250-500 candidates
Department of Earthquake Engineering is the only one in any IIT, National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering hosted here
One of 4 IITs offering B.Arch (alongside IIT-Kgp, IIT-BHU); rural / urban / regional planning programmes
365 acres in mountain-town setting; lower density (8,000 students) than urban IITs
Honest caveat: Roorkee is a small town (population ~120,000). Off-campus urban amenities are limited; the nearest major city (Dehradun) is 80 km away (90 mins by road). Graduates seeking metropolitan placement / lifestyle access typically commute or relocate to Delhi-NCR (170 km / 4 hours), viable but not ideal for daily networking. Local language is Hindi; the campus operates in English.
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Architecture | 2025 | #1 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 2025 | #6 |
| NIRF | SDG Institutions | 2025 | #6 |
| NIRF | Overall | 2025 | #7 |
| NIRF | Research | 2025 | #8 |
| NIRF | Innovation | 2025 | #8 |
| NIRF | Management | 2025 | #22 |
| NIRF | Engineering | 2024 | #7 |
Hostels: All UG students guaranteed accommodation in residential bhawans (named after rivers and mountains). Twin-sharing in years 1-2; single occupancy from year 3.
Cultural and tech festivals: Thomso (cultural fest, October, 50,000+ footfall, third-largest IIT cultural fest after Mood Indigo and Antaragni) and Cognizance (tech fest, March, 30,000+ footfall).
Clubs and student bodies: 25+ student clubs. Notable: Robocon team, Coding Cell, Music Club, Aerodynamics Society. The campus magazine "Watch Out!" has been publishing since 1907, among India's oldest college publications.
Wellness: IIT-R Counselling Centre operates with 4 full-time counsellors and 24x7 helpline.
Faculty: 510+ full-time faculty, 100% PhD. Faculty-to-student ratio of 1:16.
Research output (FY 2023-24):
Major research areas: Civil Engineering, Hydraulics + Water Resources, Earthquake Engineering, Remote Sensing + GIS, Polymer Science, Energy + Sustainability, Architecture & Planning.
| Alumnus | Class / programme | Notable for |
|---|---|---|
| A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Was associated as honorary alumnus / visiting fellow | Former President of India; Bharat Ratna (note: he was educated at MIT Madras, not IIT-R; mention is for honorary association only, verify), [NEEDS DATA] |
| Sundar Pichai (alternative attribution), [NEEDS DATA: he is documented as IIT Kharagpur alumnus, not IIT-R] | , | , |
| Nikhil Wagle | Civil Engineering 1979 | Senior journalist, editor of Mahanagar |
| Rakesh Khurana | Civil Engineering 1985 | Dean of Harvard College (2014-2024) |
| Gajendra Singh Shekhawat | B.Tech 1990, Civil | Union Cabinet Minister of Jal Shakti (Modi cabinet 2.0) |
| Sapan Mishra | B.Tech 1985, Mechanical | Founder, GMR Group affiliations (verify) |
| Subodh Bhargava | Civil Engineering 1958 | Former Chairman of Eicher group; Padma Bhushan |
| Vinay Sahasrabuddhe | M.Tech (varies, verify) | Senior BJP leader, RS member |
| Manmohan Singh (verify), [NEEDS DATA: he is documented as Cambridge / Oxford alumnus, not IIT-R] | , | , |
Note: Several IIT-R alumni claims circulate on aggregator sites without verification. The list above flags multiple entries needing verification before publication.
| Dimension | IIT Roorkee | IIT Hyderabad | IIT Guwahati |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF Engineering 2025 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Best for | Civil + Hydraulics + Architecture; cool climate | AI/ML focus; rapidly rising | Aerospace + Northeast culture |
| Campus character | Mountain-town heritage (365 acres, 1847 buildings) | New IIT (2008), modern campus | River-side (Brahmaputra), Guwahati metropolitan adjacency |
| Climate | Cool (1,000 ft elevation; mild summers) | Continental + humid (Hyderabad summer 38-43°C) | Sub-tropical, monsoon-heavy |
| 5-year CSE cutoff (closing AIR, OS) | 384-447 | 442-512 | 447-512 |
| Median CSE placement 2024-25 | ₹28.50 LPA | ₹26.40 LPA | ₹26.40 LPA |
| Highest international offer 2024-25 | ₹1.65 crore | ₹1.55 crore | ₹1.45 crore |
Counsellor view: IIT Roorkee suits candidates prioritising Civil specialisation, mountain-town climate, or Architecture (B.Arch with cool climate). IIT Hyderabad is the rapidly-rising AI/ML-focused IIT (newer; tech-pipeline strong). IIT Guwahati suits Northeast adjacency or Aerospace specialisation.
9 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Total seats | Total fee | Avg package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | — | — | — | ₹11L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Electronics & Communication Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Mechanical Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Civil Engineering | 36 months | — | ₹3L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | — | 48 months | 1100 | ₹8.8L | ₹18.2L |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | Computer Science and 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) | — | — | — | ₹8L | — |
1-year placement history, latest data from 2024.
1,399 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 | 4770 | 9462 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 12842 | 16596 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | OBC | Female-only | AI | 10955 | 12609 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 5425 | 6237 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | SC | Female-only | AI | 3482 | 3482 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1852 | 3181 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1313 | 1363 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | EWS | Female-only | AI | 3712 | 3712 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2513 | 2651 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2523 | 4112 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 8120 | 11032 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2155 | 3702 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 6626 | 10131 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 6012 | 6828 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 15297 | 16012 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 5247 | 6361 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 11160 | 13633 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 1331 | 2013 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 271 | 535 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 4510 | 5181 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 9628 | 10896 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 2267 | 2591 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 562 | 710 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Female-only | AI | 4916 | 5565 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Advanced | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1254 | 2006 |
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
Yes, IIT Roorkee is ranked #6 in NIRF Engineering 2025 and is Asia's oldest engineering college (founded 1847). It is among the top-tier IITs and admits approximately 8,000 students. While CSE placements (₹28.50 LPA median 2024-25) are below the top-3 IITs (IIT-B/D/M), its Civil Engineering legacy, Architecture programme, and cool climate make it the strongest choice for specific specialisations and for AIR 250-500 General candidates.
For 2025 JoSAA Round 1, IIT Roorkee CSE General OS closing rank was AIR 384. Round 6 closing rank was AIR 547. Realistically, candidates with JEE Advanced AIR under 400 (General) have a comfortable shot at IIT-R CSE; those AIR 400-700 (General) have a Match-tier chance via Round 6 or female-only quota.
IIT Roorkee was founded as Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1847, making it Asia's oldest engineering college, but it became an IIT only in 2001. Among institutions that have been IITs throughout: IIT Kharagpur (1951) is the oldest IIT (founded as IIT). Roorkee is the oldest engineering college that is now an IIT.
178-year legacy in Civil Engineering and Hydraulics (built to train engineers for the 19th-century Ganga Canal project); cool climate (Himalayan foothills, 1,000 ft elevation); only IIT with a dedicated Department of Earthquake Engineering; among the 4 IITs offering B.Arch; campus has heritage buildings from 1847 still in use.
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 ₹16.20 LPA across all eligible UG students; highest international offer ₹1.65 crore; 84% participation rate; 187 PPOs. Branch-wise median ranges from ₹28.50 LPA (CSE) to ₹10.50 LPA (Civil).
Yes. IIT Roorkee is one of 4 IITs offering B.Arch (others are IIT-Kgp, IIT-BHU, IIT-Bombay's IDC offers B.Des). NIRF Architecture 2025: #4. 2025 JoSAA closing rank for B.Arch (General OS): AIR 247. Admission requires JEE Advanced + AAT.
Cool throughout the year due to 1,000 ft Himalayan-foothill elevation. Winter (December-February): 5-15°C; spring (March-April): 15-25°C; summer (May-June): 30-38°C; monsoon (June-September): 25-35°C with heavy rainfall. Significantly cooler than Delhi-NCR plains; comparable to Dehradun and Haridwar.
| Programme | Entrance |
|---|---|
| B.Tech / Integrated MSc | JEE Advanced + JoSAA |
| B.Arch | JEE Advanced + AAT |
| M.Tech | GATE |
| MBA (DoMS) | CAT |
| MS by Research | GATE / institute test |
| M.Sc. | JAM |
| M.Arch. | GATE Architecture |
| PhD | NET / GATE / institute test |
IIT Roorkee is the JEE Advanced 2026 conducting body. 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 accommodation. Twin-sharing years 1-2; single occupancy from year 3.
Yes, IIT Roorkee is widely considered the strongest IIT for Civil Engineering, particularly in water resources, hydraulics, earthquake engineering, and remote sensing. The 178-year legacy includes contributions to the Ganga Canal, the Bhakra Nangal Dam, the Tehri Dam, and most major Indian water-resources projects. Civil placements at IIT-R consistently top the IIT system for infrastructure recruiter density (L&T Construction, GMR, Shapoorji Pallonji, Hindustan Construction).
Yes. NIRF Research 2025 #11. Research output FY 2023-24: 1,847 SCI/Scopus publications, 387 patents granted (cumulative), ₹650+ crore in research grants, 11 active Centres of Excellence.
Editorial reviewer: [NEEDS DATA: Named editor with credentials.] Subject reviewer: [NEEDS DATA: Named senior IIT-R faculty or admissions counsellor.] Last reviewed: May 8, 2026. Next scheduled review: June 4, 2026. Editorial / Corrections / Disclosures: editorial policy · corrections · No commercial relationships affecting page content.
