IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur have jointly launched India’s first practice-oriented Bachelor of Cybersecurity programme, featuring a two-year industry deployment to address the country's cybersecurity talent gap.
Chennai, July 3: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Kanpur have jointly launched India's first practice-oriented four-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.) programme, with admissions beginning for the academic session commencing in July 2026.
The undergraduate programme has been designed to address India's growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals as digital infrastructure expands across government, industry and critical sectors. The initiative combines academic learning with extensive practical training, preparing graduates for careers in cyber defence and digital security.
Admissions for the programme are being conducted jointly by IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur for the current academic year.
According to the institutes, the B.Cyber. programme aims to develop professionals capable of securing critical digital infrastructure, strategic sectors and emerging cyber ecosystems. Graduates will be equipped for roles in cyber defence, security operations centres (SOCs), penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, digital forensics, malware analysis, cloud security, hardware security and the protection of critical infrastructure. The programme also provides a foundation for higher education and research in cybersecurity and computer science.
Speaking about the initiative, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said cybersecurity has become central to India's technological sovereignty and national security. He noted that building a resilient cyber ecosystem requires professionals with both strong theoretical knowledge and extensive hands-on experience in defending complex digital systems.
He said the collaboration between IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur introduces a new model of undergraduate education that combines academic excellence with real-world practice, with the objective of creating a pipeline of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals to strengthen the country's digital future.
The launch comes at a time when cybersecurity has emerged as a strategic priority amid India's rapid digital transformation across sectors including governance, finance, healthcare, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing and defence.
The institutes noted that industry estimates point to a shortage of nearly 1.5 million cybersecurity professionals across the country, highlighting the need for specialised undergraduate education in the field.
Unlike conventional engineering programmes, the Bachelor of Cybersecurity has been structured around a competency-based framework that integrates classroom instruction with continuous laboratory training and practical exposure to real-world cybersecurity environments.
One of the programme's distinguishing features is a two-year Field Deployment Professional Project, during which students will spend the final four semesters working on live cybersecurity assignments under the mentorship of professionals from strategic and critical organisations.
The extended deployment is intended to provide graduates with substantial workplace experience before completing their degree, enabling them to transition directly into cybersecurity roles with both academic qualifications and practical expertise.
The curriculum covers a broad range of specialised domains, including security operations, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, secure systems, malware analysis, firmware reverse engineering, hardware security, cloud security and critical infrastructure security.
Students will also have opportunities to pursue advanced electives in digital forensics, embedded systems security, secure processor microarchitecture and applied cryptography.
During the first two years of study, the programme will focus on intensive laboratory-based instruction in computer systems, programming, Linux system administration, cryptography, computer organisation, operating systems, computer networks, ethical hacking, web security, and vulnerability assessment before students progress to advanced specialisation and field deployment.
The institutes said the programme represents a new approach to undergraduate cybersecurity education by combining rigorous academic instruction with sustained industry engagement, addressing the increasing demand for professionals capable of protecting India's expanding digital landscape.
