From your first algorithm to your first investor pitch.
A two-year, residential master's on the IIIT Hyderabad campus. You learn computing with AI tools, do applied AI work in research labs, build a venture, and finish with your own startup or work with an industry partner.
Four semesters: foundations, research, venture, and launch.
You start with computing foundations and AI tools, then move into a research lab, a venture studio, and finally your own startup or an industry co-op. Click any semester to see what you build and ship.
- Semester 1
Computing foundations
Learning to Learn with AI Tools, Algorithms and Data Structures, and Computer Systems.
- Semester 2
Research co-op
Join one of IIIT Hyderabad's research centres to build and deploy applied AI systems with faculty and mentors, paired with focused AI coursework tailored to your project.
- Semester 3
Venture-building studio
Form a team, build a working product and business plan around a real problem, and pitch your venture to early-stage VCs for seed funding.
- Semester 4
Startup or industry co-op
If your Semester 3 venture secures early-stage VC funding, spend the semester launching your startup; otherwise, work full-time on production systems with an industry partner.
Learning here is by doing.
Every week, you take on a real problem, build a first version, get feedback from a mentor, and improve your work. Click any card below to compare a typical college week with MSIT.
- Lectures
Mentoring
Small groups with a mentor who reviews your work, answers your questions and pushes you further.
- Syllabus modules
Projects and tasks
Each term is a set of things to build, from tiny computer programs to systems that real users rely on.
- Exams and marks
Continuous feedback
Written feedback with next steps on every version you ship. Your record shows how your work improved.
Move into software and applied AI by building real systems.
Whether your degree is in mechanical engineering, commerce, physics or computer science, Semester 1 builds your computing foundations from the ground up. You write code every day, use AI tools critically, and get written feedback from a mentor on every version.
No prior coding experience required to apply
Leave routine work behind and spend two years building real systems.
If you are in support, testing, operations or a non-computing role, MSIT gives you four full-time semesters on the IIIT Hyderabad campus: foundations, an applied AI research lab co-op, a venture-building studio, and a startup or industry co-op.
Intensive, full-time residential programme · 6 days a week on campus
Join 25 years of MSIT and the IIIT Hyderabad alumni network.
You study in person on the IIIT Hyderabad campus, work inside its research centres, and graduate with an IIIT Hyderabad master's degree — joining a 25-year community of alumni building systems, leading engineering teams, and founding startups worldwide.
Degree awarded by IIIT Hyderabad · 25 years of MSIT alumni
Two full-time residential years on the IIIT Hyderabad campus in Gachibowli.
MSIT is an in-person, residential programme. You live and work alongside your cohort, mentors and researchers six days a week on the 66-acre IIIT Hyderabad campus.
- Daily studio rhythmDedicated mentor studios, not lecture hallsMornings start with problem sprints and system builds; afternoons are for 8–10 learner mentor code reviews, debugging clinics, and lab sessions.
- Research & startup ecosystemInside IIIT Hyderabad labs and CIEWork directly with faculty and researchers in centres like CVIT, LTRC, SERC and RRC, and pitch your venture at IIIT Hyderabad's startup incubator.
- Hostels & campus diningOn-campus hostel rooms and four-meal messSeparate men's and women's hostels with high-speed campus Wi-Fi, 24×7 reading rooms, and student messes serving four meals a day.
- Community & wellbeingSports, cultural clubs and Hyderabad's tech hubFull access to campus sports grounds, gym, medical clinic, and student fests — right in the heart of Gachibowli's technology and startup corridor.
Graduates ready to work with computing, AI and maths.
Open to graduates and final-year students from any discipline — engineering, science, commerce or the arts — who want to build a career in software and applied AI. No prior computer science degree is required.
- 16 years of formal education (for example, a 4-year B.E./B.Tech, a 5-year integrated degree, or a 3-year bachelor's followed by a master's)
- Minimum 65% marks or equivalent CGPA (6.5 on 10) in your qualifying degree
- A valid GATE score (≥ 350) or GRE score (≥ 300) from 2024, 2025 or 2026, or the MSIT entrance examination
- Final-year students awaiting degree results may apply with marksheets up to the latest semester
- Tuition fee
- ₹1,50,000
- Hostel fee*
- ₹22,000
- Mess advance*
- ₹30,500
- Total
- ₹2,02,500
Check your eligibility and build your application plan
Pick your degree, test route and cycle to see the exact criteria, dates and documents for your application.
- Qualifying degree: Minimum 65% marks or 6.5 CGPA
- Aptitude route: MSIT entrance examination on 11 Nov 2026 (90-minute online test)
- Apply by: 7 Nov 2026 (23:59 IST)
- Mentor interviews: 14 Nov to 18 Nov 2026
- Offer letters & final admit list: Rolled out after cycle interviews · Final list 20 Dec 2026
- Cohort starts: 2 Jan 2027
- Marksheets or transcript: All semesters so far, in one file if you can. To check eligibility (minimum 65% or equivalent CGPA).
- Degree or provisional certificate: For your highest qualification.
- Photo ID: Aadhaar, passport, PAN or driving licence.
- Recent photograph: A clear photo of your face, for your admission records.
- Application fee payment proof (₹1,500): Screenshot or PDF receipt of your ₹1,500 UPI payment.
Bring a laptop that can run your code and local AI models
Over your two years at MSIT — and in your career after — you will build real apps and run free, open AI models right on your own laptop.
Light, silent, all-day battery, and runs open AI models out of the box.
Extra speed and cooling if you want to run larger AI models and heavy projects.
How to apply
Two cycles, each with its own exam, mentor interviews, and rolling offer letters. The final admit list is out on 20 Dec 2026, and you join on campus on 2 Jan 2027. Click any step on the right to see how to prepare.
- Cycle I by 7 Nov 2026 · Cycle II by 7 Dec 2026
Apply online
Through the MSIT admissions portal with a ₹1,500 application fee. About 20 minutes; your answers save as you go. Keep your documents ready.
- MSIT exam 11 Nov 2026 or 11 Dec 2026
Aptitude evaluation
Submit a GRE or GATE score, or take the MSIT entrance examination, as applicable.
- After the exam in each cycle
Interview
Shortlisted applicants meet a mentor panel to talk through how they solve problems.
- After interviews in each cycle
Offer letters rolled out
Admitted candidates receive their admission offer letter at the end of their cycle so they can confirm their seat early.
- 20 Dec 2026
Final admit list
Accept your offer, complete onboarding, and join on 2 Jan 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who runs MSIT, and who awards the degree?
MSIT is run by the Consortium of Institutions of Higher Learning (CIHL). Admissions for the January 2027 cohort are open for the IIIT Hyderabad learning centre, run by the MSIT Division, IIITH. For this centre, IIIT Hyderabad awards the Master of Science in Information Technology.
I do not have a computer science degree. Can I apply?
Yes. You need 16 years of formal education with at least 65% marks (or equivalent CGPA) in your qualifying degree, and a willingness to work with computer science, AI and mathematics. Semester 1 builds the computing foundations from your first program upwards.
What does 16 years of formal education mean?
In India, 16 years usually means 10 + 2 years of school followed by a 4-year degree (such as B.E., B.Tech, B.S. or a 4-year B.Sc.), a 5-year integrated degree, or a 3-year bachelor's degree (such as B.Sc., B.Com., B.A. or BCA) followed by a 2-year master's degree (such as M.Sc., MCA, M.A., M.Com. or MBA).
I am in my final year and awaiting my degree results. Can I apply?
Yes. Choose 'No, my final results are awaited' in the Education step and upload your marksheets up to the latest semester. You can upload your provisional or degree certificate later from your application status page.
Do I need a GRE or GATE score?
No. You can submit a valid GATE or GRE General Test score (from 2024, 2025 or 2026), or take the MSIT entrance examination on 11 Nov 2026 (Cycle I) or 11 Dec 2026 (Cycle II).
What does the MSIT entrance examination test?
It is a 90-minute test of quantitative reasoning, logical and analytical thinking, and how carefully you read and apply new rules. It does not require prior programming syntax. Once you apply, your status page includes practice problems to help you prepare.
Do I need to bring my own laptop and software licenses?
Yes. Learners bring their own laptop meeting our minimum specification: a 64-bit multi-core processor (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4, Intel Core i5/i7 11th Gen+, or AMD Ryzen 5/7 5000 series+), 16 GB RAM minimum, 512 GB SSD, running macOS, Linux, or Windows 11 with WSL2. Because you build with AI tools every day, you also need an active paid subscription to at least one frontier AI coding assistant (such as Claude Pro / Claude Code, ChatGPT Plus, Cursor Pro, or GitHub Copilot Pro), alongside standard open-source developer tools (Git, Docker, VS Code, GCC/GDB, Python 3.12+, Node.js 22+).
Can I work while I study?
No. The programme is full time and residential on the IIIT Hyderabad campus, with four 16-week semesters. You work in person with your mentor group, research lab and venture team six days a week.
What does it cost, and how do I pay?
There is a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,500 paid via UPI when you submit your application. Tuition for the January 2027 cohort is ₹1,50,000 per semester, for 4 semesters of 16 weeks each. You pay ₹1,50,000 before each semester starts, not all at once. That figure is tuition only; hostel and mess charges on the IIIT Hyderabad campus are billed separately per semester. We provide an official fee schedule for education loan applications.
What happens after I receive an admission offer?
You can view and print your offer letter directly on your application status page, accept your admission offer, record your Semester 1 tuition payment, and complete your 4-step learner onboarding before joining on 2 Jan 2027.
Query not answered? Contact us.
Start on 2 Jan 2027.
Cycle I closes on 7 Nov 2026; Cycle II on 7 Dec 2026. About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.