The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have jointly launched India’s first practice-oriented four-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber) programme, which will commence from the academic year beginning July 2026.
The undergraduate programme has been designed to address India’s growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals by combining rigorous academic training with extensive real-world industry exposure.
Admissions to the programme will be conducted jointly by IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur.
Focus on practical cybersecurity skills
A key highlight of the programme is its two-year field deployment professional project, under which students will spend the final four semesters working on live cybersecurity projects under the guidance of experts from strategic and critical organisations.
The institutes said this hands-on approach will enable graduates to enter the workforce with substantial practical experience alongside strong theoretical knowledge.
The curriculum covers domains such as security operations, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, malware analysis, cloud security, hardware security, firmware reverse engineering and critical infrastructure protection. Students can also opt for advanced electives in digital forensics, applied cryptography, embedded systems security and secure processor microarchitecture.
Addressing a national priority
The launch comes at a time when cybersecurity has become a strategic priority as India accelerates digital transformation across sectors including governance, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications and defence.
According to industry estimates cited by the institutes, India faces a shortage of nearly 1.5 million cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the need for dedicated undergraduate education in the field.
Building India’s cyber workforce
IIT Madras Director Prof V Kamakoti said cybersecurity has become fundamental to India’s technological sovereignty and national security.
He said building a resilient cyber ecosystem requires professionals with both strong theoretical foundations and extensive hands-on experience in defending complex systems.
Prof Kamakoti added that the joint programme with IIT Kanpur represents a new model of undergraduate education by integrating academic excellence with real-world practice, and is expected to create a pipeline of highly skilled professionals capable of securing India’s digital future.
Strong academic foundation
During the first two years, students will undergo intensive laboratory-based training in computer systems, programming, Linux system administration, cryptography, operating systems, computer networks, ethical hacking, web security and penetration testing before progressing to advanced specialisation and industry deployment.
The institutes said the programme is expected to prepare graduates for careers in cyber defence, security operations centres, digital forensics, cloud security, malware analysis and critical infrastructure protection, while also providing a strong foundation for higher studies and research.