The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have introduced a groundbreaking “One Rank, Many Campuses” IIT Student Exchange Program 2026. This initiative allows undergraduate students to spend a semester at a different IIT campus while transferring academic credits to their home institute. The IIT Council, led by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, cleared this plan to break the traditional rigidity of the JEE-allotted system.
| Participant Target | Up to 5% of Undergraduates |
| Total Campuses | 23 IITs Nationwide |
| Exchange Duration | One Full Semester (Term) |
| Approval Body | IIT Council & Respective Senates |
| Announcement Date | February 20, 2026 |
IIT Madras is currently leading the efforts to map curricula across different programs. This ensures that a course taken at IIT Delhi or IIT Bombay carries the same weight at IIT Kanpur or IIT Indore. Once the Senates of individual institutes approve the common document, students can move seamlessly between campuses.
The IIT Student Exchange Program 2026 offers more than just academic variety. Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, highlighted several new avenues for students:
- Students can study specific subjects under experts not available at their home campus.
- A student with a sports admission can move to a campus with better coaching facilities for a term.
- The flexibility allows students to access better labs or incubation centers across the network.
- Students can keep their entire sixth semester free for internships by completing electives elsewhere.
Also Read: IIT MBA vs IIM MBA: Which Is Right for Your Career?
While the policy is a major step forward, officials noted that hostel capacity remains a primary constraint. Each IIT will decide the number of visiting students they can host based on available infrastructure. The program aims to create a balanced network where student movement does not overwhelm any single campus.
