Every year, thousands of aspirants pour endless hours into their preparation, vying for a seat in the coveted Indian Institutes of Technology by acing the JEE Advanced. The competition is fierce, and the pressure is immense. However, a recent announcement from IIT Kanpur offers a unique opportunity: Students can now secure admission to B.Tech and B.S. programs without cracking the JEE Advanced. Wondering how? Well, it’s through their Olympiad scores.
Starting from the 2025-26 academic year, IIT Kanpur will offer admissions through Olympiad rankings across five specialized departments: Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Economics, and Mathematics and Statistics. For these departments, candidates with top ranks in relevant Olympiads will be shortlisted and invited to a written test and possibly an interview for final selection. So, if you’re aiming to get into IIT Kanpur, focussing on Olympiad preparation could be your ticket to pursuing a B.Tech or B.S. at this prestigious institute. However, before getting started, you need to gather important details about eligibility, selection process, timelines, and stream-wise seat availability. Read on to know it all.
Admission to B.Tech, B.S in IIT Kanpur through Olympiads: Eligibility Criteria
For admission through Olympiads to IIT Kanpur’s BTech and BS programs, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria:
- Age Requirement: Applicants must meet the age criteria established for JEE (Advanced) in the relevant year.
- Educational Qualification: Candidates should have completed Class XII (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in either the year of admission or the year prior.
- Academic Performance: First-class marks in the qualifying examination are mandatory.
- Previous IIT Admissions: Applicants should not have been admitted to any IIT through JoSAA the previous year, even if they didn’t continue with the programme after accepting the seat.
- IIT Cancellation Clause: A candidate whose admission to any IIT was previously cancelled for any reason is not eligible.
- Olympiad Training Camp: Candidates must have attended the International Olympiad Training Camp in a subject specified by the relevant department.
Admission to B.Tech, B.S in IIT Kanpur through Olympiad: Selection process and stream-wise seat availability
Take a look at the detailed selection process drafted by each department and number of seats offered by them.
Eligibility Criteria for Biological Sciences & Bioengineering
The Biological Sciences and Bioengineering department at IIT Kanpur has two seats available for candidates applying through Olympiad scores. Eligible Olympiads include those in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. One seat is designated for a candidate from the Mathematical Olympiad, while the other is for a candidate from the Biology, Physics, or Chemistry Olympiads. If candidates qualify through both Mathematics and one of the other Olympiads, they will be considered in the field where they hold a higher rank. Should the candidate’s rank be equal in both fields, they will be placed under the Mathematics channel. Furthermore, within the Biology/Physics/Chemistry channel, preference will be given to candidates from the Biology Olympiad over those from Physics and Chemistry, in that order.
Computer Science & Engineering
The Computer Science and Engineering department at IIT Kanpur has a total of six seats available for admission based on Olympiad scores, specifically from Mathematics and Informatics competitions. Three candidates will be selected from the Mathematics Olympiads, including the Indian National Mathematics Olympiad (INMO) and the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). Additionally, three candidates will be chosen from the Informatics Olympiads, which include the Indian National Olympiad in Informatics (INOI) and the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).
For applicants who qualify in both Olympiad categories, the selection process will prioritize the Olympiad in which they have achieved a higher rank. In cases where candidates have identical ranks in both Mathematics and Informatics, preference will be given to the Mathematics Olympiad first, followed by the Informatics Olympiad. This structured approach ensures a fair and competitive admission process for aspiring students.
Chemistry
The Chemistry department at IIT Kanpur has allocated two seats for admissions based on Olympiad scores. Candidates eligible for consideration must have participated in the training camp for the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO).
Economic Sciences
The Economic Sciences department at IIT Kanpur will offer three seats for admission based on Olympiad results, specifically targeting candidates from the Mathematics Olympiads. Only those who have attended the training camp for the INMO or the International Mathematics Olympiad will be considered for these positions.
Mathematics and Statistics
The Mathematics and Statistics department at IIT Kanpur is offering four seats for admission based on Olympiad performances in Mathematics. Of these, two candidates will be selected for the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Scientific Computing, while the other two will be chosen for the Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Data Science. Only those candidates who have participated in the International Mathematics Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC) will be eligible for consideration.
Timelines for Admission Through Olympiads
Applications will be invited by the participating departments of IIT Kanpur in the first week of March, with a deadline for submission set for the fourth week of March, aiming for admissions in July of the same academic year.
By the third week of April, the departments will review the applications and conduct a written examination in the first week of May. The selection process, which may include an interview, is expected to conclude by the third week of May. Following this, recommended candidates will be submitted to the Institute-level selection committee by the fourth week of May.
The first round of admission offers will be made in the second week of June, with subsequent rounds ending at least seven days before the commencement of the first round of Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling. Final dates for sending out admission offers will be announced once the JoSAA counselling dates are confirmed.
Check the official notice here.
This post was originally published on here
