The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have unveiled a major academic reform that will permit undergraduate students to study across different IIT campuses from the current academic year (2026‑27). Under the cross‑campus academic mobility programme, students can enrol in courses at other IITs or spend a semester away from their home institute while earning credits that will count toward their degrees.
Key Features of the Cross‑Campus Programme
This initiative marks the first structured attempt to enable student mobility within the IIT network, historically limited in internal academic transfers. Under the new framework:
- Students can take specific courses at another IIT campus and have the earned credits transferred seamlessly to their home institute’s academic record.
- Some students may even spend a full semester at a different IIT, expanding their academic and cultural exposure.
- The system is designed to mirror international exchange programmes, but within the Indian context and across all 23 IIT campuses.
Why This Reform Matters?
The IIT campus exchange initiative is aimed at increasing academic flexibility and interdisciplinary learning:
- Broader course access: Students can access specialised subjects or electives that may not be available at their home institute.
- Enhanced collaboration: Exposure to different faculty, labs, and research areas strengthens collaborative learning and innovation.
- Curriculum alignment: Efforts are underway to map and align courses across IITs to ensure that credits are compatible for transfer.
Implementation and Academic Approval
The IIT Council, chaired by the Union Education Minister and comprising all IIT directors, recommended the exchange programme after deliberations in 2025. Details and implementation will require approval at the Senate level of each IIT. Initially, the programme may involve approximately 5 percent of undergraduate students in exchange placements, ensuring a manageable and impactful launch while addressing logistical challenges like infrastructure and housing.
Impact on Students and Future Prospects
Previously, students admitted to a specific IIT were largely bound to that campus’s curriculum and faculty. The new initiative is seen as a landmark shift toward a more interconnected, flexible IIT education ecosystem:
- Students can benefit from greater exposure to diverse academic environments and specialisations.
- It may also enhance research opportunities and collaborations across campuses.
- The reform aligns with global higher‑education practices, promoting mobility and student choice.
In the coming months, individual institutes will finalise course mappings and approval mechanisms so that students can start availing of the inter‑campus study options in selected terms.