IIT Admissions has always been considered one of the toughest entrance exams in the world, that is JEE Advanced. Every year lakhs of JEE aspirants across India dream of getting an IIT admission and with IIT Kanpur it is a little challenging to get into. The journey of IIT Kanpur admission is extremely tough because it is in the top 8 old IITs list and for IIT admission you need to clear JEE Mains first then after JEE Advanced.
However, in 2025, IIT Kanpur has introduced a golden opportunity for extremely talented students to secure their admission without JEE Advanced, purely based on Olympiad achievements. The IIT Kanpur admission without JEE Advanced through Olympiad is designed to recognize talented students who have additional skills and were not able to clear JEE Advanced will also be able to take IIT Admissions to B.Tech and BS programs. In this blog, we will be talking about what is the IIT JEE Exam in detail, how Olympiad-based admission works in IITs, eligibility criteria, available courses, selection process and why IIT Kanpur started admission through Olympiad.
Join this free JEE Prep Group to Get Free Study Material, Preparation Strategy by Toppers, Latest Updates and More!
What is the IIT JEE Exam?
The IIT JEE exam is the door for many engineering aspirants who want to pursue their engineering courses through top institutes like IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). This exam is conducted in two stages, JEE Main and JEE Advanced. This exam is considered one of the toughest exams globally. This exam tests a candidate’s knowledge in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics and you can get into the B.Tech program of top IITs, IIITs, NITs and other top engineering colleges through this exam.
Only those students who have cleared the JEE Main exam are eligible to sit for the JEE Advanced to pursue undergraduate programs in IITs including IIT Kanpur B.Tech admission
| Feature | Details |
| Full Name | Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) |
| Levels | JEE Main and JEE Advanced |
| Purpose | Admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other top engineering colleges |
| Subjects Tested | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Exam Conducting Body | NTA (JEE Main) and one of the IITs (JEE Advanced) |
| Eligibility for JEE Advanced | Must qualify JEE Main and be among top scorers |
| Admission Scope | All 23 IITs, including IIT Kanpur |
| Difficulty Level | Very High – considered one of the toughest exams |
What are Olympiads? List of IITs That Offer Admission
Olympiads are important national and international competitions that are specially designed for students to test their problem solving skills, subject expertise in the fields like Physics, Chemistry, Informatics, Mathematics and Biology along with the analytical skills. IIT Kanpur has recognized the talent of Olympiad and have started offering direct admission without JEE Advanced to students who have excelled in Olympiads.
List of Olympiads Accepted by IIT Kanpur
Here are the list of Olympiads that have accepted by IIT Kanpur for the admission in different programs according to the specific field.
| Olympiad Name | Subject Focus |
| IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) | Mathematics |
| IOI (International Olympiad in Informatics) | Computer Science / Programming |
| IChO (International Chemistry Olympiad) | Chemistry |
| IBO (International Biology Olympiad) | Biology |
| IPO (International Physics Olympiad) | Physics |
List of IITs Offering Admission Based on Olympiads
| IIT Name | Admission |
| IIT Kanpur | Olympiad-based selection without JEE Advanced |
| IIT Madras | Olympiad, Sports, and Fine Arts |
| IIT Bombay | Olympiad-based direct entry |
| IIT Gandhinagar | Olympiad entry for select subjects |
Eligibility Criteria: IIT Kanpur Admission through Olympiad
If you want to qualify for the IIT Kanpur admission without JEE Advanced through Olympiad then candidate have to meet the basic eligibility criteria that include age, educational qualification, admission restrictions as well as nationality.
Basic Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates need to pass their class 12th exam in the current and previous year in PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) domain.
- Age limit of candidates remain same as the JEE Advanced eligibility as you should be born on or after October 1, 2000 and for SC/ST/PwD there is a 5-years relaxation.
- Accepted International Olympiads like IMO, IChO, IPO,IBO and IOI.
- Students who have already taken admission to IIT through JEE Advanced exam are not considered as eligible.
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Education | Class 12 passed in current or previous year with PCM domain |
| Age Limit | Born on or after 1 October 2000 (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates) |
| Olympiads Accepted | IMO, IOI, IChO, IBO, IPO |
| Training Camp Participation | Mandatory |
| Previous IIT Admission | Not eligible if already taken admission |
| Nationality | PIO/Indian/OCI |
Selection Process: IIT Kanpur Admission Without JEE Advanced
- Candidates need to apply directly through the IIT Kanpur admission official portal along with the required documents like Olympiad certificates, as well as academic records.
- Departments later reviewed the application of the candidate based on their performance in Olympiad, training and overall academics.
- Then a test will be held at the campus itself to check subject-expertise, logic as well as problem solving.
- Candidates who have passed the test, later face the panel interview that focuses the candidates with their passion for the subject.
- Post all the rounds, IIT Kanpur admission offer letter for the program will be released for the candidate.
| Stages | Details |
| Application | Candidate need to apply through official IIT Kanpur portal with Olympiad proof & academic records |
| Shortlisting | Department screens applications based on candidate’s performance in Olympiad |
| Written Test | Subject-specific exam conducted on campus itself |
| Interview | Later institute panel evaluates aptitude and understanding |
| Final Offer | Then finally offer letter will be issued. |
Join this free JEE Prep Group to Get Free Study Material, Preparation Strategy by Toppers, Latest Updates and More!
Courses Available at IIT Kanpur through Olympiad
Application for the IIT Kanpur admission through Olympiad offers following courses information for the academic year 2025-26.
- For the B.Tech ProgramÂ
Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE)
Computer Science and Engineering
- For Bachelor of Science program
Chemistry (CHM)
Economics(ECOs)
Statistics and Data Science (SDs)
Mathematics and Scientific Computing (MTH)
| Departments at IIT Kanpur | List of Olympiads Accepted |
| Biological Sciences and Bioengineering | Olympiad in Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry |
| Computer Science and Engineering | Olympiad in Informatics and Mathematics |
| Chemistry | Olympiad in Chemistry/Biology/Physics |
| Economic Sciences | Olympiad in Mathematics |
| Mathematics and Statistics | Olympiad in Mathematics |
Registration Fees: Admission at IIT Kanpur Without JEE Advanced
| Candidate Category | Registration Fee |
| Female (all categories) | 1600 |
| SC / ST / PwD (any gender) | 1600 |
| All other candidates | 3200 |
Why IIT Kanpur started Admission through Olympiad?
IIT Kanpur has started their Olympiad based selection process for admission and gives a chance to students who have shown their amazing performance in national and international Olympiads. These students possess strong problem-solving skills, deep understanding as well as analytical skills about their subject. This new admission process through IIT Kanpur brings brilliant minds into the campus without appearing for the JEE Advanced exam.
The idea is also to encourage those students who perform outstanding in Olympiads and are not able to crack JEE Advanced due to some reason and focus on real learning instead of just exam preparation. Many top universities around the globe have already admitted Olympiad medalists directly and now IIT Kanpur is also following this approach. This not only build group more diverse in the campus but it is also a way to reward talent who gives their best performance in subjects.
Conclusion: Admission at IIT Kanpur Without JEE Advanced
The admission at IIT Kanpur without JEE Advanced through Olympiad is a great step towards identifying talent and opens doors for students who are not following the traditional JEE Advanced exam. By identifying achievements in national and international Olympiads, IIT Kanpur ensures creativity and subject knowledge in depth. This approach of IIT admission gives true merit and best global practices followed by the top colleges around the globe. For those students who have a passion for problem-solving and innovation, this is an amazing opportunity to join one of India’s top institutions with your skills and subject passion.
Click Here to Enroll to JEE 2026 Course!
FAQs: IIT Kanpur Admission Without JEE Advanced
Q1: Can I get admission in IIT Kanpur without JEE Advanced?
Yes, IIT Kanpur offers direct admission through Olympiad now so that candidates can apply for the courses like B.Tech and BS programs without applying for the JEE Advanced.
Q2: What are all Olympiads that are accepted by IIT Kanpur admission?
The permitted Olympiads by IIT Kanpur includes International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) as well as IOI (International Olympiad in Informatics).
Q3: Is there any written test for IIT Kanpur Olympiad-based admission?
Yes there is a department specific written test held at the IIT Kanpur campus itself.
Q4: What courses along with the departments are offered by IIT Kanpur for admission through Olympiad?
- For the B.Tech Program with respective departments include Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE) as well as Computer Science and Engineering.
- For Bachelor of Science program with respective departments include Chemistry (CHM), Economics(ECOs), Statistics and Data Science (SDs) and Mathematics and Scientific Computing (MTH).
