Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
India's best-known private engineering university, with merit-only BITSAT admission and a semester-long industry Practice School.
- Students
- 16,500
- International
- 3%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- ₹874.5K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1964
About BITS Pilani
BITS Pilani grew from an intermediate college founded by the Birla Education Trust in 1929 in the small town of Pilani, Rajasthan, and took its present form as the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in 1964, when it became a deemed university. Backed by the Birla family (the Chancellor is Kumar Mangalam Birla), it has since expanded to campuses in K K Birla Goa, Hyderabad, Dubai and Mumbai, and has been named an Institution of Eminence by the Government of India.
Undergraduates join 'integrated first degree' programmes: B.E. degrees in fields such as Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, M.Sc. degrees in sciences and economics, and B.Pharm. A credit-based semester system lets students add a dual degree or minor, and the Practice School places students in industry for a semester. BITS says it has over 16,500 on-campus students and more than 90% average placement success across its three Indian campuses.
Admission is purely on merit with no reservation quotas: Indian students sit BITSAT, the university's own computer-based test, while international students apply through the International Student Admission (ISA) scheme on SAT scores. It suits students with strong maths and science who want a flexible, industry-linked engineering or science degree and a residential campus life with large student-run festivals.
Gyānaṁ Paramaṁ Balam
“Knowledge is supreme power” — university motto
Why students choose BITS Pilani
Admission is purely merit-based through BITSAT (or SAT for international students), with no reservation quotas.
Practice School offers a semester-long industrial placement, and BITS reports average placement success above 90% across its Indian campuses.
From 2026-27, the top 500 BITSAT rankers with family income up to Rs 20 lakh get full tuition scholarships for all four years.
2+2 dual-degree pathways with RMIT, University at Buffalo, Iowa State, CentraleSupelec and RPI let students finish abroad.
Admissions
Integrated first degree, 2027-28 (2026-27 dates shown as the latest published)
Selectivity
BITS does not publish an official acceptance rate. Selection is by rank: BITSAT scores for Indian students and SAT scores for international (ISA) students, with published past cut-offs. For ISA 2026, SAT cut-offs for B.E. Computer Science were 1500-1530 out of 1600 depending on campus.
Typical entry requirements
| Indian Class 12 (CBSE, state boards) or equivalent | At least 75% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with at least 60% in each, plus a BITSAT score above the programme cut-off |
|---|---|
| Foreign 12th-grade qualification (ISA scheme) | Physics and Mathematics plus Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology, 75% aggregate and 60% in each; adequate proficiency in English |
| SAT (ISA scheme) | Minimum 1160/1600; 2026 cut-offs ranged from about 1180 (M.Sc. Mathematics, Hyderabad) to 1560 (M.Sc. Semiconductor and Nanoscience, Hyderabad), with B.E. Computer Science at 1500-1530 |
| English language | Teaching is in English. The ISA scheme requires 'adequate proficiency in English' but sets no IELTS or TOEFL minimum; the SAT Reading and Writing section forms part of the score. |
Deadlines
- BITSAT-2026 Session 1 (past) Non-binding Passed19 March 2026, 5:00 PM IST
Exam held 15-16 April 2026.
- ISA-2026 international application (past) Non-binding Passed1 December 2025 - 8 April 2026 (extended from 5 April)
SAT scores due via the College Board by 15 April 2026; first offers on 27 April 2026. A second window for vacant seats ran 3-22 June 2026.
- BITSAT-2026 Session 2 (past) Non-binding Passed20 April - 5 May 2026
Exam held 24-26 May 2026.
All 2026-27 dates have passed and the 2026-27 admission cycle is closed. 2027-28 dates are not yet published; based on the 2026 cycle, expect ISA applications to open around December 2026 and BITSAT registration to run into March 2027.
How to apply
Indian students register online for BITSAT, choose a session, sit the computer-based test and then apply with Class 12 marks for programme and campus allocation over several iterations. International students apply online under the ISA scheme, send SAT scores through the College Board, and receive offers in iterations based on SAT score and Class 12 results.
What admissions looks for
- A high BITSAT score (or SAT score for international applicants), which determines rank and programme allocation.
- At least 75% in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12, with at least 60% in each.
- Strong performance in Mathematics and Physics, which are compulsory for most programmes.
- Nothing else: BITS states that admission is purely merit-based, with no reservations.
Tips for applying to BITS Pilani
- 1 Check the published cut-offs for your target programme and campus: Computer Science needs among the highest BITSAT and SAT scores.
- 2 Check the eligibility rules early: only students taking Class 12 for the first time in the current or previous year can sit BITSAT, and marks must be available by the portal deadline (1 June in 2026).
- 3 International applicants should send SAT scores through the College Board before the ISA deadline (15 April in 2026).
- 4 SAARC nationals pay much lower ISA tuition than other international students (Rs 4,37,250 vs Rs 7,42,500 per semester in 2026-27).
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
About 25% of first-degree students get merit or merit-cum-need tuition waivers of 10-100%. From 2026-27, the top 500 BITSAT rankers with family income up to Rs 20 lakh get full tuition for all four years (CGPA 7.5 needed to keep it). All ISA international students receive a merit tuition waiver: 80% for the top 4%, 50% for the next 10%, 30% for the next 20% and 15% for the rest.
- About 25% (10-100% of tuition)
- Students receiving institute tuition waivers
- Full tuition for four years
- Top 500 BITSAT rankers (family income up to Rs 20 lakh)
- 15-80% tuition waiver for every admitted student, by merit
- ISA international students
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters, with optional summer term
B.E. Computer Science
BITS's most competitive programme: ISA 2026 SAT cut-offs were 1500-1530 out of 1600.
B.E. Electrical and Electronics
Offered on all three Indian campuses, with Practice School placements in industry.
B.E. Mathematics and Computing
ISA 2026 SAT cut-offs of 1460-1490 across the three Indian campuses.
M.Sc. Economics
An integrated M.Sc.; BITS students can also be admitted to a second degree under its dual degree scheme.
M.Sc. Semiconductor and Nanoscience
Had the highest ISA SAT cut-off in 2026 (1560 at Hyderabad).
B.Pharm.
BITS added its College of Pharmacy in 1950 and offers pharmacy on its Indian campuses.
Research
- BITS is the only private university identified by India's Department of Science and Technology to set up a Technology Innovation Hub (BioCPS vertical), with a Rs 125 crore grant.
- The Practice School programme moves students into industry for a semester to work on real problems under faculty supervision.
- The BITS Spark programme, launched in 2012, supports student entrepreneurship with mentoring and angel funding.
Schools & faculties
- Pilani Campus
- K K Birla Goa Campus
- Hyderabad Campus
- Dubai Campus
- BITS School of Management (BITSoM), Mumbai
- BITS Law School, Mumbai
BITS reports more than 90% average placement success across its Pilani, K K Birla Goa and Hyderabad campuses.
Student life
BITS Pilani's campuses are fully residential, and campus life revolves around hostels, clubs and three big student-run festivals at Pilani: Oasis (culture), BOSM (the BITS Open Sports Meet) and APOGEE (technology, since 1983). The Pilani campus, about 240 acres in the small town of Pilani, has lawns, the Shiv Ganga canal and the white-marble Saraswati temple, and a cooperative supermarket. The Goa and Hyderabad campuses have their own clubs and festivals.
- Oasis, the annual cultural festival at Pilani.
- BOSM, an annual inter-college sports meet.
- APOGEE, a technical festival running since 1983.
- The Shiv Ganga canal and Saraswati temple at the heart of the Pilani campus.
Housing. Students live on campus in hostels; in 2026-27 hostel fees are Rs 36,000 per semester for Indian students and Rs 82,250 per semester (including internet) for international students.
Location
Pilani is a small town in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, the home town of the Birla family, with a population of about 50,000. It lies about 200 km west of Delhi and 220 km north of Jaipur, so life is centred on the campus. The climate is dry, with temperatures from around 45°C in summer to 0°C in winter. BITS also has campuses in Goa (about 25 km south of Panaji), Hyderabad, Dubai and Mumbai.
Nearest airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL), about 200 km
Notable alumni
- SB Sabeer BhatiaCo-founder of Hotmail (studied at BITS for two years before transferring to Caltech; did not graduate from BITS)
- SM Sanjay MehrotraCo-founder of SanDisk and CEO of Micron Technology (studied at BITS before transferring to UC Berkeley)
- RA Revathi AdvaithiCEO of Flex
- PN Preetish NijhawanCo-founder of Akamai Technologies
- SP S. P. KothariFormer dean of MIT Sloan School of Management; Padma Shri awardee
- PC Prithviraj ChavanFormer Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Minister for Science and Technology
- MT Milind TambeGordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University
- K KanihaFilm actress and television host
Frequently asked questions
How do international students get into BITS Pilani?
Through the International Student Admission (ISA) scheme, open to foreign passport holders. You need a SAT score of at least 1160 and 75% in Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry (or Biology) in grade 12, with 60% in each; actual cut-offs are much higher for popular programmes.
What are BITS Pilani fees for 2026-27?
Indian students pay Rs 2,91,500 per semester in tuition (about Rs 5.83 lakh a year). International students pay Rs 4,37,250 per semester (SAARC) or Rs 7,42,500 per semester (non-SAARC), plus hostel and other charges.
Does BITS Pilani have reservations or quotas?
No. BITS admits purely on merit through BITSAT, the SAT-based ISA scheme or direct admission for board toppers, without reservation quotas.
What SAT score do I need for BITS Pilani Computer Science?
In the 2026 ISA cycle, the cut-off for B.E. Computer Science was 1510 at Pilani, 1500 at Goa and 1530 at Hyderabad, out of 1600.
When is BITSAT 2027?
BITS has not announced BITSAT-2027 dates yet. In 2026, Session 1 applications closed on 19 March with exams on 15-16 April, and Session 2 exams ran on 24-26 May.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to BITS Pilani in the QS World University Rankings 2027.