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 in your own startup or 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.
- Graduates in any discipline
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
- Working professionals
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
- Parents and guardians
A recognised master's degree, taught in person on the IIIT Hyderabad campus.
This is a full-time, in-person residential programme on the IIIT Hyderabad campus — not an online course. The Master of Science in Information Technology degree is awarded by IIIT Hyderabad, and tuition is ₹1,50,000 per semester, payable one semester at a time.
Awarded by IIIT Hyderabad · 25 years of MSIT
Graduates ready to work with computing, AI and maths.
You do not need a computer science degree. You need 16 years of formal education with at least 65% marks or equivalent CGPA, and the willingness to work hard at the foundations in your first semester.
- A degree with 16 years of formal education, for example a 4-year B.E. or B.Tech, or a 3-year degree followed by a master's
- Minimum 65% marks or equivalent CGPA in your qualifying degree
- A willingness to work with computer science, AI and mathematics
- A GRE or GATE score from 2024, 2025 or 2026, or the MSIT entrance examination
- Not required: a computer science degree
- Semester 1 (Before 28 Dec 2026 (on offer acceptance))
- ₹1,50,000
- Semester 2 (May 2027)
- ₹1,50,000
- Semester 3 (December 2027)
- ₹1,50,000
- Semester 4 (May 2028)
- ₹1,50,000
Check your eligibility and build your application plan
Pick your degree, test route and cycle to see the exact dates, documents and fee schedule for your application.
- Apply by: 7 Nov 2026 (23:59 IST)
- Aptitude step: MSIT entrance examination on 11 Nov 2026
- Mentor interviews: 14 Nov to 18 Nov 2026
- Final admit 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 to CIHLHYD@SBI.
Tuition: ₹1,50,000 per semester × 4 semesters (₹6,00,000 total, paid one semester at a time).
Start your application with this planMinimum laptop specification & required AI / software licenses
Every learner brings their own laptop to campus and maintains active licenses for frontier AI coding tools from Day 1.
- Processor: 64-bit multi-core CPU (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4, Intel Core i5/i7 11th Gen+, or AMD Ryzen 5/7 5000 series+) with hardware virtualisation
- Memory (RAM): 16 GB RAM minimum (32 GB recommended for local model & container workloads)
- Storage: 512 GB SSD minimum (with at least 100 GB free space for Docker images, datasets & toolchains)
- Operating system: macOS, Linux (Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian / Fedora), or Windows 11 with WSL2 (Ubuntu)
- AI coding & LLM subscription (required): 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 — maintained across all four semesters.
- Core developer toolchain (open-source): Git, Docker, VS Code, C/C++ build tools (GCC/Clang & GDB), Python 3.12+, and Node.js 22+ LTS.
How to apply and get onboarded
Two cycles, each with its own exam and mentor interviews. 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 UPI application fee. About 20 minutes; your answers save as you go.
- 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.
- 20 Dec 2026
Final admit list
Accept your offer, complete onboarding, and join on 2 Jan 2027.
From offer letter to your first task on campus.
Once you receive an offer, your application status page becomes your onboarding portal: accept your offer, confirm hostel and workstation setup, complete your pre-arrival warm-up task (Task 0), and meet your mentor group on 2 Jan 2027.
- 09:00 ISTArrival and document verificationMSIT Division, IIITH, IIIT Hyderabad campus. Bring your original degree or provisional certificate, marksheets, photo ID, proof of payment of tuition fee, hostel fee and mess fees, and admissions offer letter.
- 10:30 ISTCohort welcome and programme orientationHow the four semesters work, how mentor feedback replaces exams, and your cohort expectations.
- 12:00 ISTMeet your mentor groupJoin your 8–10 learner group and your Semester 1 mentor over lunch on campus.
- 14:00 ISTWorkstation check and Task 1 kickoffVerify your local dev environment, review your pre-arrival Task 0, and ship v1 of your first Semester 1 task by 17:30 IST.
What people ask us
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 (CIHLHYD@SBI) when you submit your application. Tuition for the January 2027 cohort is ₹1,50,000 per semester, for 4 semesters of 16 weeks each (₹6,00,000 total tuition). 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.
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.