Information for Students

UG Programmes

IIT Kanpur offers a variety of undergraduate programs designed to foster academic excellence.

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Chemistry (CHM)
Economics (ECO)
Earth Sciences (ES)
Mathematics and Scientific Computing (MTH)
Physics (PHY)
Statistics and Data Science (SDS)

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)

Aerospace Engineering (AE)
Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE)
Chemical Engineering (CHE)
Civil Engineering (CE)
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
Electrical Engineering (EE)
Intelligent Systems (IS)
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

Duration Limits

Programme	Minimum (Semesters)	Maximum (Semesters)
B.Tech / BS	7	12
Double Major	9	12
Bachelors–Masters Dual Degree	9	15
MSc	4	6
MSPD Dual Degree (MSc Part)	8	—

Maximum residency is 1.5× normal duration. For BT/BS that is 6 years — beyond this, residential registration is not permitted.

Graduation Requirements

Clear all courses per the programme template, satisfying minimum credits in each category.
Bachelors–Masters dual-degree students must achieve at least CPI 6.5 in the PG part.
If short of 1 credit in SO/ESO, SUGC may grant relaxation.
Senate may grant further relaxation in exceptional circumstances.

Grading System

Academic performance is evaluated on a 10-point scale. A* denotes exceptional performance but carries the same points as A.

Pass Grades

Grade	Points
A*	10
A	10
B+	9
B	8
C+	7
C	6
D+	5
D	4
S	—

Fail Grades

Grade	Points	Description
E	0	Used to clear prerequisites
F	0	Fail
X	—	—

SPI & CPI

Metric	Formula	Denominator
SPI	Σ(Credits × Grade Points)	Total Semester Credits
CPI	Σ(Credits × Grade Points)	Total Credits (all semesters)

Special Grades

I (Incomplete): Minor part missed for genuine reason. Must convert to letter grade by Academic Calendar deadline — else auto-converts to F.
W (Waiver): Credits earned at another institution, waived at IITK. Not counted in SPI/CPI.

💡 A* is used instead of A+ because it carries the same points as A — grades with "+" always have more points than their base grade.

Types of Courses

Code	Full Name	Description
IC	Institute Core	Compulsory for all students across all departments.
ESO/SO	Engineering Science Option / Science Option	Science/engineering electives from a defined basket.
SCHEME	Social Sciences, Communication, Humanities, Economics, Management, Environment	Replaces old HSS + COM. Min 36 credits (at least one in English).
DC	Department Compulsory	Compulsory courses from your department.
DE	Department Elective	Electives from within your department.
OE	Open Elective	Electives open from any department.

Modular Courses

A semester splits at midsem into two halves. A modular course runs in only one half — Pre-Midsem (Module 1) or Post-Midsem (Module 2). Identified with an 'M' suffix.

SCHEME Courses

EME Basket: ECO101, CE212, IME201, SEE211 — allotted on preference-cum-lottery basis.
ELC courses (Basic / Intermediate / Advanced) assigned based on EDT performance.

ETH111 — Ethics (New IC)

First-year IC, S/X grading, 3 credits, 2 contact hrs/week.
Half the batch in Semester 1, rest in Semester 2. ~30 students/session.

Academic Registration

Registration involves selecting courses satisfying credit requirements, accepted by the DUGC Convenor.

Pre-Registration

Directly register for compulsory courses per the template.
Other courses need instructor acceptance via online request.
Prerequisites must be cleared; timetable clashes resolved.

Final Registration

Done manually if pre-registration was cancelled or missed.
A fine may apply without prior official approval.
Students returning from medical semester leave must get Institute Medical Board clearance.

Add / Drop Period

Drop up to 4 weeks before last class date, without going below minimum credit load.
Requests need instructor + DUGC approval.
Total credits dropped beyond add-drop must not exceed 44 in the entire programme.

Cancellation of Registration

Pre-requisites not met / timetable clash / ineligible for any reason / unauthorised absence.

Academic Load

Normal load: 50 credits/semester. Range: 35–65 credits (±30%). Up to 70 credits for CPI ≥ 8.5.

Credit formula: C = 3L + 2T + P + A

Variable	Meaning
C	Number of credits
L	Lecture hours/week
T	Tutorial hours/week
P	Laboratory hours/week
A	Additional hours (assignments/projects)

Summer Term

Max 27 credits (when advised by DUGC). Used for backlogs or advance credit fulfilment.

Under-load & Over-load

Under-load: Academic probation students may register for min 27 credits.
Over-load: Only when ≤100 credits remain; CPI ≥ 8.5 needed for up to 70 credits. Extra courses don't count toward graduation.

Exit Option Degree (EOD)

Allows early graduation with a reduced credit count. Sole student discretion — no coercion from any academic body.

Proposed Credit Table

Course Group	Credits	Remarks
Institute Core (IC)	A	Min 60 (at least one each in Maths, Physics, Chemistry + 2 labs)
E/SO	B	Minimum 18 credits
SCHEME	C	Min 36 credits (at least one in English)
Department Compulsory (DC)	D	Min 60 credits (complete all labs recommended)
DE + OE	300−(A+B+C+D)	Through DEs and/or OEs
Total	300	—

Proposed Degree Names

B.Tech: Bachelors in General Engineering
BS: Bachelors in General Sciences

Degree certificate mentions the student opted to graduate with reduced credits. Full details on transcript.

Academic Flexibility

Branch Change

End of 2nd, 3rd, 4th semesters — only once. Only 1st-year CPI considered.
Must pass all first-year courses (if applying after 2nd semester).
3 supernumerary seats per branch. Parent dept strength must stay above 55%.

Note: Most seats fill after the first window — don't wait until 3rd or 4th semester.

Double Major

5-year, Bachelor's in 2 majors. Requires CPI ≥ 7.0. Applications at end of 4th & 7th semesters.
Cannot pursue simultaneously with a Minor.

Minors

Applications at end of 4th, 5th, 6th semesters. Not available with Double Major.
Retrospective minor available if all prescribed courses completed without formal allotment.

Dual Degree (B.Tech + Master's)

5-year. Requires CPI ≥ 6.0.
Cat A: Master's in parent dept — after 5th, 6th, 7th semesters.
Cat B: Master's in secondary dept — after 6th semester (except CSE, EE).
Cat C: MBA — after 6th semester.

B.Tech Honors (BTH)

Recognises top graduates. Dept-specific criteria. Typically requires PG-level DEs + departmental UGPs.

B.Tech / BS Management (BTM / BSM)

After 5th/6th semester, any CPI. 54 credits from Management Track Basket (MTB).
Selection: CAT-style test + interview. Max 50 candidates/year. Managed by IME Dept.

UGARC Changes

UGARC is a decadal academic review body. The UGARC 20–21 report was accepted at the 543rd special meeting of the Academic Senate.

Course Numbering

Letter 'A' at end of UG course numbers dropped (e.g., ESC201A → ESC201).
Modular courses identified with an 'M' suffix.

Mathematics (MTH)

Old	New	Course Name
MTH101 (11)	MTH111 (6)	Single Variable Calculus
	MTH112 (6)	Application of SVC & Several Variable Calculus
MTH102 (11)	MTH113 (6)	Linear Algebra
	MTH114 (6)	Ordinary Differential Equations

Physics (PHY)

Old	New	Course Name
PHY102 (11)	PHY112 (11)	Classical Dynamics
PHY103 (11)	PHY113 (11)	Classical Electrodynamics
—	PHY114 (11)	Quantum Physics (new)
—	PHY115 (11)	Oscillations and Waves (new)
PHY101A	PHY111	Physics Lab (renumbered)

Chemistry (CHM)

Old	New	Course Name
CHM102 (8)	CHM112 (4)	General Chemistry: Physical Chemistry
	CHM113 (4)	General Chemistry: Inorganic & Organic Chemistry
CHM101A	CHM111	Chemistry Lab (renumbered)

Computing (ESC)

Old	New	Course Name
ESC101 (14)	ESC111 (7)	Fundamentals of Computing – I
	ESC112 (7)	Fundamentals of Computing – II
	ESC113 (7)	Computer Methods for Engineers (CHE)

PE, LIF & TA

Old	New	Name
PE101	PE111	Morning Exercise
PE102	PE112	Evening Exercise
LIF101	LIF111	Introduction to Biology
TA101	TA111	Engineering Graphics

Other Changes

TA201 & TA202 moved to ESO/SO basket. COM200 removed.
ESC201 stays 2nd-year IC. Sem 3: CHE, CSE, EE, ME, SDS | Sem 4: AE, BSBE, CE, CHM, ECO, ES, MSE, MTH, PHY.

Leave Rules

All leave via the Pingala Portal. Email requests may not be entertained.

Leave Limits

Semester	Medical Leave	Other Reasons
Regular Semester	Max 10 days	Max 5 days
Summer Term	Max 5 days	Max 3 days

How to Apply

Pingala → DUGC Convenor → Chairperson SUGC → approved.
If Pingala unresponsive: email DUGC Convenor, CC sugc@iitk.ac.in.

Penalties

Unauthorised absence → deregistration from course.
>20 working days absent → forced semester drop.
>30 contiguous working days absent → programme termination.
Makeup exams require Chairperson SUGC permission + medical proof.

Scholarships

Name	Eligibility	Grant
MCM	Parental income < ₹6L/yr (Non SC/ST)	Tuition fee waived + ₹1,000/month
INSPIRE	BS students (except ECO), AIR ≤ 10,000	₹30,000/sem + ₹20,000 research grant
Donor	~130 scholarships, meritorious/needy	Details here

More info: SSPC Website

PG Programmes

IIT Kanpur offers a range of postgraduate programmes across engineering and science disciplines.

Master of Science (MSc)

Chemistry (CHM)
Economics (ECO)
Earth Sciences (ES)
Mathematics and Scientific Computing (MTH)
Physics (PHY)
Statistics and Data Science (SDS)

Master of Technology (M.Tech)

Aerospace Engineering (AE)
Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE)
Chemical Engineering (CHE)
Civil Engineering (CE)
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
Electrical Engineering (EE)
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

Other PG Programmes

MBA — Industrial and Management Engineering (IME)
PhD — Available in all departments
Bachelors–Masters Dual Degree — 5-year integrated programme
MSPD Dual Degree (MSc Part) — Minimum 8 semesters

Duration Limits

Programme	Minimum (Semesters)	Maximum (Semesters)
MSc	4	6
Bachelors–Masters Dual Degree	9	15
MSPD Dual Degree (MSc Part)	8	—

Graduation Requirements

Clear all courses per the programme template.
Dual-degree students must achieve at least CPI 6.5 in the PG component.
Senate may grant relaxation in exceptional circumstances.

Grading System

PG programmes use the same 10-point scale as UG. A* denotes exceptional performance but carries the same points as A.

Pass Grades

Grade	Points
A*	10
A	10
B+	9
B	8
C+	7
C	6
D+	5
D	4
S	—

Fail Grades

Grade	Points	Description
E	0	Used to clear prerequisites
F	0	Fail
X	—	—

SPI & CPI

Metric	Formula	Denominator
SPI	Σ(Credits × Grade Points)	Total Semester Credits
CPI	Σ(Credits × Grade Points)	Total Credits (all semesters)

Special Grades

I (Incomplete): Minor part missed for genuine reason. Converts to letter grade by deadline — else auto F.
W (Waiver): Credits from another institution, waived at IITK. Not counted in SPI/CPI.

Academic Registration

Registration involves selecting courses satisfying credit requirements, accepted by the DPGC Convenor.

Pre-Registration

Register for compulsory courses per the programme template.
Electives require instructor acceptance via the online portal.
Prerequisites must be cleared; timetable clashes resolved.

Add / Drop Period

Drop up to 4 weeks before last class date.
Requests need instructor + DPGC approval.

Cancellation of Registration

Pre-requisites not met / timetable clash / ineligible for any reason / unauthorised absence.

Academic Load

Normal load: 50 credits/semester. Range: 35–65 credits (±30%).

Credit formula: C = 3L + 2T + P + A

Variable	Meaning
C	Number of credits
L	Lecture hours/week
T	Tutorial hours/week
P	Laboratory hours/week
A	Additional hours (assignments/projects)

Thesis / Project Credits

Assigned by department and supervisor per the programme template. Consult your DPGC Convenor for department-specific requirements.

Dual Degree — PG Component

The Bachelors–Masters Dual Degree is a 5-year integrated programme combining a UG and PG degree.

Application Categories

Category	Description	Application Window
A	Master's in parent department	After 5th, 6th, 7th semesters
B	Master's in secondary department	After 6th semester (except CSE & EE)
C	MBA (IME Department)	After 6th semester

PG Part Requirements

Minimum CPI 6.5 in the PG component.
Min 9 semesters — max 15 semesters.
Must complete all PG course requirements as prescribed.

MSPD Dual Degree (MSc Part)

Minimum 8 semesters. No fixed maximum. Consult your department.