A friendly and practical guide for students and parents about one of India’s oldest engineering institutions!
Introduction
Did you know that IIT Roorkee is Asia’s oldest engineering institution?
IIT Roorkee was originally established in 1847 as Thomason College of Civil Engineering. It was built to train canal surveyors for constructing the Ganges Canal (a major canal system drawing water from the River Ganga), one of the most ambitious irrigation projects of the 19th century. Over more than 177 years, IIT Roorkee has evolved from a colonial-era engineering college into one of India’s most respected technological institutes.
If you value historical significance, a strong focus on academics and research, excellent placements, and a vibrant campus with culture and innovation, IIT Roorkee must be on your list.
Let’s explore every aspect of IIT Roorkee: the cut-offs, fees, campus, placements, notable alumni, and much more!
Quick Snapshot
| Particulars | Details |
| Established | 1847 (Oldest engineering institution in Asia) |
| Location | Roorkee, Uttarakhand |
| Campus Size | 358.5 acres (main campus) |
| NIRF 2024 Rank | #8 – Overall; #6 – Engineering; #1 – Architecture |
| JEE Advanced Cut-off (2024) | CSE: AIR ~535; EE: AIR ~2006; Mech: AIR ~3702; Civil: AIR ~6361; Chem: AIR ~4572; ECE: AIR ~1394 |
| Notable Alumni | Shashank Kumar & Harshil Mathur, Jaiprakash Gaur, Naveen Jain, Dinesh Paliwal, Pranjal Yadav, G. D. Agrawal |
About IIT Roorkee:
The Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in Roorkee (Haridwar district), Uttarakhand. Its main campus is spread across 358.5 acres. IIT Roorkee also has a second campus, at Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. This is a 25-acre extension campus which focuses on MTech and Ph.D. programs in paper and polymer engineering.
IIT Roorkee (IITR) has 23 academic departments, a school (the Mehta Family School of Data Science and AI), 9 academic centers and 7 centers of excellence. It also has 7 academic service centers and 6 supporting units. The institute has 540+ faculty members and more than 8,000 students. It offers a vast range of academic courses like engineering, architecture, sciences, humanities, and management.
IITR’s unique strength is its Department of Earthquake Engineering, a leading seismic analysis and disaster mitigation center in India. It also has a Department of Hydrology, the first of its kind in India.
It is noteworthy that IITR ranks no. 1 in Architecture and Planning in India, which is a testament to the multidisciplinary strength of the institute.
History and Legacy
IIT Roorkee’s journey began in 1847, when James Thomason, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces, established the College of Civil Engineering at Roorkee. This college was later renamed the Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854, after the death of James Thomason in 1853.
What’s even more interesting is that IITR was renamed ‘University of Roorkee’, and became the first engineering university of independent India in 1949. Later, on September 21, 2001, it was officially converted into an IIT (through an act of Parliament) and became the seventh IIT of India.
During British rule, IITR offered different types of classes. It had three tiers of classes: an engineering class (for Europeans and select Indians), an upper subordinate class (for training overseers for the Public Works Department), and a lower subordinate class (for draftsmen, surveyors, etc.).
The Upper Subordinate Class and Lower Subordinate Class were a rigid, tiered system of technical training that reflected the colonial-era social and racial hierarchy of that time.
In the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) 2024, IIT Roorkee was ranked 8th in the Overall category, 6th in Engineering, and 1st in Architecture and Planning.
In QS World University Rankings:
- In 2024: The institute was ranked 369th globally.
- In 2025:
- IIT Roorkee improved to a ranking of 335th globally overall.
- Subject-wise, it was ranked 131st globally in Engineering & Technology.
Infrastructure
1. Academic & Research Facilities
IIT Roorkee’s Central Library (called Mahatma Gandhi Central Library) was established in 1848 and is considered one of the most comprehensive technical libraries in India. It has more than 3,50,000 documents, including books, journals, and various research papers. It also provides access to more than 8,000 electronic journals.
IITR also has various well-equipped labs and research centers across all departments. It promotes research and innovation through its many centers of excellence and R&D units in areas like drone research, railway research, petrochemicals, automotive technology, disaster mitigation, water resources, nanotechnology, and renewable energy.
2. Hostels & Mess Facilities
IIT Roorkee provides comprehensive residential facilities to students. It has 10 boys’ hostels, 3 girls’ hostels, 6 married hostels (for married postgraduate and doctoral students and their families), and 1 co-ed hostel. All hostels have high-speed Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, common rooms, gyms, reading rooms, and canteens, and round-the-clock security.
The mess facilities in each of the hostels offer a wide variety of meals, rotating weekly menus, updated regularly based on student feedback.
3. Sports & Extra-curricular Activities
IITR has world-class sports infrastructure, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, courts for badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, squash, and separate grounds for cricket, football, hockey, and athletics.
The annual festivals of IIT Roorkee are:
- Cognisance: This is the annual technical festival of the institute and has been student-run since 2003. It is considered one of Asia’s largest student-run fests.
- Sangram: This is the annual sports festival of IITR. It is a four-day event and attracts participants from all across the country.
- Thomso: This is the annual cultural festival of IITR. This annual cultural festival is well known for its celebrity performances.
- Srishti: This Architecture festival is a platform for showcasing the creativity and design capabilities of the students.
- Entrepreneurship Summit (E-Summit):It is theannual entrepreneurship festival organised by the Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell) of IITR. It is a platform for entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and industry experts to come together and share views.
Fees
The total fee for the four-year B.Tech program (including tuition, hostel, mess and other charges) ranges from about ₹8 lakh to ₹11 lakh. The fee structure is comparable to other IITs, and the tuition fee is waived for students based on the income groups and categories.
1. IIT Roorkee Fee Structure for 2025 (Undergraduate Programs)
Particulars | Gen/OBC/EWS (>₹5 lakh/year) | Gen/OBC/EWS (₹1–5 lakh/ year) | Gen/OBC/EWS (<₹1 lakh/ year) | SC/ST/PwD |
| Tuition Fee | ₹1,00,000 | ₹33,333 | NIL | NIL |
| One-Time Payment | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Other Charges | ₹11,300 | ₹11,300 | ₹11,300 | ₹11,300 |
| Mess Charges | ₹27,750 | ₹27,750 | ₹27,750 | ₹27,750 |
| Caution Deposit | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 |
| Total First Semester Fee | ₹1,48,050 | ₹81,383 | ₹48,050 | ₹48,050 |
| Amount Paid to JoSAA | ₹30,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Balance Due | ₹1,18,050 | ₹51,383 | ₹18,050 | ₹33,050 |
Note: Values are approximate and subject to revision in annual fee circulars. Also the tuition fee waivers are available for students from EWS, SC, ST, and PwD categories as per Government of India rules.
Placements
IIT Roorkee has consistently maintained excellent placement records. This is due to the strong industry connections and a vast global alumni base. Many leading companies from varied industries visit the campus for recruitment, including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and Flipkart, among others.
| Particulars | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2021-22 |
| Highest International Salary | ₹2.05 Cr PA | ₹1.06 Cr PA | ₹2.15 Cr PA |
| Highest Domestic Salary | ₹1.5 Cr PA | ₹1.3 Cr PA | ₹1.8 Cr PA |
| Average Salary (Overall) | ₹20 LPA | ₹18.09 LPA | ₹16.8 LPA |
| Placement Percentage | 71.24% | 80% (UG) | 89.4% |
Note: Figures are based on official placement reports; actual salaries vary by branch and recruiter.
Faculty & Academics
1. Faculty
- IIT Roorkee has a highly qualified faculty pool of over 540 members, with the majority holding PhDs from leading global universities.
- Its faculty includes industry experts & renowned researchers. Many of them are Padma awardees and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardees.
2. Academic features
- IITR follows a research-centric curriculum. This encourages students to participate in advanced research projects during the course of their studies at the institute.
- It has been pioneers in India in fields such as Earthquake Engineering and Water Resources Development.
- The institute has collaborations with many international universities and institutions. To provide global exposure to students, it has signed MoUs with several leading foreign universities for student exchange, joint research, and academic partnerships.
- IITR has also launched several courses like B. Tech in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and programs in Innovation Management to align with evolving industry needs.
Alumni Impact
Being Asia’s oldest engineering institution, IITR has a distinguished alumni base. Its alumni have made a mark in every sphere of society, like technology, business, public service, and academia, at national and international levels.
Names | Details |
| Shashank Kumar & Harshil Mathur | Co-founders of Razorpay |
| Jaiprakash Gaur | Founder and Chairman of the Jaypee Group |
| Naveen Jain | Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Moon Express, CEO of Viome and former CEO of InfoSpace |
| Dinesh Paliwal | Former President and CEO of Harman International (a Samsung company) |
| Ravi Grover | Nuclear scientist, a key figure in India’s nuclear power program, and Founding Director of the Homi Bhabha National Institute |
| Pranjal Yadav | Former Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh |
| G. D. Agrawal | A renowned environmental activist and religious figure |
As can be seen from this list, IITR’s alumni have been remarkable performers in entrepreneurship, technology, corporate management, and public service, underlining the institute’s impact across diverse areas.
Comparison with Other Top Institutions
A comparison of IIT Roorkee on various parameters with the other top institutions of India for a better overall perspective is as follows:
| Metric | IIT Roorkee | IIT Kharagpur | IIT Madras | IIT Delhi | IIT Bombay | IIT Kanpur | IIT Guwahati |
| NIRF-2024 Ranking (Engg.) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Highest International Package (2024) | ₹2.05 Crore | ₹2.14 Crore | ₹1.98 Cr (In 2023) | ₹2.05 Crore | ₹3.67 Crore | ₹1.90 Crore | ₹2.05 Crore |
| B. Tech Average Package (2024) | ₹20 LPA (B. Tech) | ₹24 LPA (B. Tech) | ₹22 LPA (Overall) | ₹21.9 LPA (UG Average) | ₹23.5 LPA (Approx.) | ₹26.27 LPA (Overall) | ₹25.75 LPA |
| B. Tech Placement Rate (2024) | 81.12% | 79.7% | 80% | 84.94% | 83.39% | 95.90% (CSE) | 71.24% |
| Campus Size | 358.5 acres | 2100 acres | 617 acres | 325 acres | 550 acres | 1055 acres | 700 acres |
Note: Placement figures vary by branch; CSE typically records the highest packages across IITs.
To Sum It Up
With a history that spans over 177 years, IIT Roorkee stands as a beacon of engineering education in India. The institute has been a consistent performer among the top institutions of the country. It has a strong academic foundation, a culture oriented toward research and innovation, and a hugely influential alumni network. All these factors combined make it a top destination for engineering aspirants.
In other words, if you have a checklist to select a great institution to give your career a strong foundation, IIT Roorkee checks every box.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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How can I get admission to IIT Roorkee?
Admission to the B.Tech program at IIT Roorkee is primarily through JEE Advanced. First you must qualify in JEE Main, appear for JEE Advanced. After JEE Advanced, JoSAA counselling follows, through which you may secure a seat at IIT Roorkee.
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What kind of rank do I need in JEE Advanced to get into IIT Roorkee?
For Computer Science and Engineering, you will need an All-India Rank (AIR) within the top 500 (the 2025 cut-off was 535). For other branches like Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, a rank within the range of 2000–3700 range is usually required. Ranks for other branches can extend up to around 7000.
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What are the hostel facilities like at IIT Roorkee?
IITR has 20 hostels, known as Bhawans. These Bhawans are named in honour of significant historical figures, renowned personalities, or places. All hostels are equipped with all modern amenities, sports facilities, common rooms, and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity.
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Will I get a separate/single room at IIT Roorkee?
Students are usually allotted shared rooms for the first two years. Single rooms are provided from the third year onwards, depending on hostel policies.
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What is the student-teacher ratio at IIT Roorkee?
The student-teacher ratio at IIT Roorkee is approximately 20:1. This means there are roughly twenty students for each faculty member.