The Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur have jointly launched India’s first four-year Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B.Cyber.), which will start with the academic year starting in July 2026. The undergraduate course was introduced to address the growing demand for trained cyber security professionals and combines academic learning with extended practical training.The program is designed to prepare students to secure India’s expanding digital infrastructure, strategic sectors and emerging cyber ecosystem. Admissions for the program are conducted jointly by IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur. Graduates will be equipped for careers in cyber defense, security operations centers, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, digital forensics, malware analysis, cloud security, hardware security and critical infrastructure protection, while also receiving a foundation for higher studies and research.
Cybersecurity identified as a national priority
As digital transformation expands into governance, finance, health, transportation, telecommunications, manufacturing and defense, cybersecurity has become a national strategic priority. Industry estimates cited by the institutes indicate a national shortage of nearly 1.5 million cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the need for dedicated college education in the field.The program introduces a practice-oriented model that combines classroom instruction, laboratory training, and professional engagement with real-world cybersecurity systems and challenges throughout the degree.
The two-year field placement forms the core of the curriculum
A key feature of the program is the two-year Professional Field Implementation Project. During the last four semesters, students work on live cybersecurity projects under the guidance of professionals from strategic and critical organizations. The goal is to ensure that graduates enter the workforce with substantial practical experience alongside academic preparation.The competency-based curriculum covers Security Operations, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, Secure Systems, Malware Analysis, Firmware Reverse Engineering, Hardware Security, Cloud Security and Critical Infrastructure Security. Students can also choose advanced electives, including Digital Forensics, Embedded Systems Security, Secure Processor Microarchitecture and Applied Cryptography.
Focus on laboratory-based learning
The first two years will emphasize laboratory-oriented learning in computer systems, programming, Linux system administration, cryptography, computer organization, operating systems, computer networks, ethical hacking, web security, vulnerability assessment, and penetration testing before students move on to advanced specialization and field deployment.Highlighting the initiative, Prof. V. Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, said: “Cybersecurity has become fundamental for India’s technological sovereignty and national security. Building a resilient cyber ecosystem requires professionals who possess not only strong theoretical foundations, but also extensive practical experience in the defense of complex systems.”
