History
Indian Institute of Technology Madras is one among the foremost institutes of national importance in higher technological education, basic and applied research. In 1956, the German Government offered technical assistance for establishing an institute of higher education in engineering in India. The first Indo-German agreement in West Germany was signed in 1959.
Education
The departments and centres of the Institute are responsible for the academic activities which include Teaching, Research and Industrial Consultancy.The courses of study are organized on semester programs and each semester provides for a minimum of seventy instructional days. The medium of instruction is English. Students are evaluated on a continuous basis throughout the semester. Evaluation is done by the faculty, a consequence of the autonomous status granted to the Institute. Research work is evaluated on the basis of the review thesis by peer examiners both from within the country and abroad.
Research
The centre for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR) was set up in the early seventies to promote interaction between the Industry and the Institute. Today, the centre for IC&SR is an independent section of the Institute, headed by a Dean. Over the years, this centre has played a vital role in bringing together the people from the Industry and the faculty of the Institute resulting in important contributions to design and development in the country.
Indian Institute of Technology Madras Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Anytime
Kanthari International Institute for Leadership
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
30 Mar 2025
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
26 Feb 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2025
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
31 Dec 2024
Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria
Need-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
International Conference Scholarship
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
University Ranking
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2025
227 58
2024
285 -35
2023
250
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2024
801 -100
2023
701
2022
701
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2025
-
2024
635 -30
2023
605
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Housing services
The Bose-Einstein Guest House has altogether 18 A/c Suites with a telephone and a TV in each room. VIPs, Institute guests and invited guests are usually accommodated here. The Taramani Guest House has 83 rooms in total. Out of which 18 are Suites, 29 air-conditioned rooms and 36 non-airconditioned rooms. Housed in an imposing double storeyed building and located at a central place, TGH provides boarding and lodging facilities for the Institute guests and Visitors, newly appointed faculty, staff members, delegates and participants attending various conferences, seminars, symposia and workshops.
Library services
The mission of the Central Library is to provide information services and access to bibliographic and full text digital and printed resources to support the scholarly and informational needs of the Institute Community. The Central Library is well equipped with modern facilities and resources in the form of CD-ROMs, On-line databases, audio video cassettes, books, e-journals, patents etc.
Campus life
IIT Madras is located in the city of Chennai which is also the state capital of Tamilnadu, a southern state in India. Chennai is the fourth largest city in India and comparatively a new city, about 350 years old (1639). The city was formerly known as Madras and was renamed Chennai, which evolved from old name ‘Chennapatnam’. Chennai is a coastal city with the second largest beach in the world known as ‘Marina’ beach. The climate is generally hot and humid. In summer (May – July) the temperature reaches up to 42° C (107° F) while in winter (Dec. – Feb.) it is slightly less hot, 18° C (64° F). The Monsoon season starts in September and lasts till November
Student clubs
Prakriti, the Wildlife Club of IIT Madras, Was founded in April 2002 by a group of wildlife enthusiasts comprising of students, faculty, staff, residents and alumni of IIT Madras. The formation of the club was spurred by a growing recognition of the need to protect the unique biodiversity of the IIT Madras campus. The IIT Madras Campus was carved out of a natural forest that formed part of the Guindy National Park. The Guindy National Park and IIT Campus come under Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest type – the least common vegetation type seen in India.