Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad
भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान (भारतीय खनि विद्यापीठ), धनबाद
A 1926 school of mines turned IIT, still India's leading place for mining, geology and petroleum engineering.
- Students
- 7,768
- 4,382 undergraduates
- International
- 0%
- of students
- Tuition
- ₹600K
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1926
About IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad opened on 9 December 1926 as the Indian School of Mines and Applied Geology, modelled on London's Royal School of Mines, to train engineers and geologists for India's coalfields. It gained deemed-university status in 1967 and was converted into an Indian Institute of Technology in 2016, so it is both one of India's oldest technical institutions and one of its newer IITs. It marks its centenary in 2026.
The institute has 17 departments, from its original strengths in Mining Engineering, Applied Geology, Applied Geophysics and Petroleum Engineering to Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Mathematics and Computing, and Management Studies. Undergraduates enter through JEE (Advanced) into four-year B.Tech, five-year integrated BS-MS or a five-year dual degree that pairs a B.Tech in Mining Engineering from IIT (ISM) with an MBA in logistics and supply chain management from IIM Mumbai.
In its NIRF 2026 data the institute reported about 4,380 undergraduates, 1,700 students on master's programmes and 1,690 PhD scholars. It suits JEE (Advanced) qualifiers who want an IIT degree, and especially those drawn to earth resources, energy and mining, where Dhanbad's history and industry links are hard to match.
Uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varānnibodhata
“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached” — university motto
Why students choose IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
It is the natural home in India for mining and earth-resources engineering: mining and geology have been taught here since 1926, and petroleum engineering and geophysics since 1957.
A dual degree lets Mining Engineering students add an MBA in logistics and supply chain management from IIM Mumbai within five years.
Undergraduates can take minors in more than 15 subjects, honours in more than 12 departments, a double major or a B.Tech-M.Tech dual degree.
According to its NIRF 2026 data, 715 of 910 four-year B.Tech graduates in 2024-25 were placed at a median salary of Rs 15 lakh, and 160 went on to higher studies.
Admissions
2027 entry via JEE (Advanced) 2027 and JoSAA 2027 (details shown are from the 2026 cycle)
Selectivity
IIT (ISM) does not publish an acceptance rate. Undergraduate seats are allotted strictly by JEE (Advanced) rank and category through JoSAA; the sanctioned intake for 2024-25 was 1,083 on four-year and 42 on five-year programmes. Foreign nationals compete for supernumerary seats capped at 10% of each course.
Typical entry requirements
| Indian Class XII (CBSE, state boards and equivalents) | Qualify through JEE (Main), then earn a JEE (Advanced) rank good enough for your chosen IIT (ISM) programme in JoSAA seat allocation |
|---|---|
| Foreign nationals and OCI/PIO (F) | Register directly for JEE (Advanced) without JEE (Main); seats are supernumerary (up to 10% of each course) and outside Indian reservation categories. GCE A-levels, the IB and other 10+2 equivalents recognised by the AIU are accepted. |
| English language | Teaching is in English. No English test score is published for B.Tech entry via JEE (Advanced); for foreign applicants to PG and PhD programmes the institute asks for proof such as English-medium undergraduate study or IELTS Academic 5.0 or above. |
Deadlines
- JEE (Advanced) 2026 registration for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO (F) (reference) Non-binding Passed6 April to 2 May 2026
Previous cycle; the registration fee had to be paid by 4 May 2026.
- JEE (Advanced) 2026 exam (reference) Non-binding Passed17 May 2026
Previous cycle, organised by IIT Roorkee; results on 1 June 2026, followed by JoSAA seat allocation.
These are 2026-cycle dates from IIT (ISM)'s UG admission brochure 2026-27. The JEE (Advanced) 2027 schedule had not been published on the pages checked; the exam is usually held in May.
How to apply
Indian nationals take JEE (Main), then JEE (Advanced), and choose IIT (ISM) programmes during JoSAA counselling. Foreign nationals register directly for JEE (Advanced) and are allotted supernumerary seats through JoSAA. After allotment, students pay the seat acceptance fee, then the balance of the first-semester fee online, and report to Dhanbad for document verification.
What admissions looks for
- A strong JEE (Advanced) rank: seats are allotted by rank and category through JoSAA, with no interviews or essays.
- For Indian nationals, qualification through JEE (Main) to become eligible for JEE (Advanced).
- A Class XII (or equivalent) pass meeting the IIT performance criteria, with physics, chemistry and mathematics.
- For foreign nationals, a JEE (Advanced) rank good enough for a supernumerary seat in the chosen course.
Tips for applying to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
- 1 If you are interested in mining, petroleum, geology or geophysics, IIT (ISM) is the IIT where these programmes are core, not add-ons.
- 2 The five-year B.Tech Mining Engineering plus IIM Mumbai MBA dual degree is unique: look for it in the JoSAA choice list.
- 3 Top rankers are rewarded: up to 10 students admitted from within the top 1,000 of the JEE (Advanced) common rank list get a full tuition waiver for their whole programme.
- 4 Foreign nationals pay Rs 3,00,000 tuition per semester versus Rs 1,00,000 for Indian nationals and OCI/PIO cardholders, so OCI holders with pre-March 2021 cards should choose their JEE (Advanced) category carefully.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in INR
SC, ST and PwD students pay no tuition. Indian students with family income below Rs 1 lakh a year pay no tuition, and those between Rs 1 lakh and 5 lakh pay one third (Rs 33,333 per semester). The top ten admitted students from within the first 1,000 JEE (Advanced) ranks get a full tuition waiver, and banks including SBI offer education loans through the institute.
- About Rs 39,000 (Rs 19,500 per semester); hostel seat rent is in the semester fees
- Hostel mess charges per year (2026-27, tentative)
- 2,357 of 4,382
- UG students receiving full tuition reimbursement from institute funds (NIRF 2026 data)
- Rs 15,00,000
- Median salary, 4-year UG graduates placed in 2024-25
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Monsoon and Winter, with an optional Summer semester)
B.Tech Mining Engineering
The programme the institute was founded for in 1926, in the heart of India's coalfields.
B.Tech Mining Engineering + MBA (IIM Mumbai)
A five-year dual degree adding an MBA in logistics and supply chain management from IIM Mumbai.
B.Tech Petroleum Engineering
Taught at Dhanbad since 1957, when petroleum courses were added to the school.
B.Tech Geological Engineering and Geophysical Technology
Built on the Applied Geology and Applied Geophysics departments that date from the school's early decades.
B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering
The UG brochure reports an average package of Rs 22.6 lakh for CSE, with recruiters such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon.
Research
- IIT (ISM) received about Rs 70 crore for 207 sponsored research projects in 2024-25, according to its NIRF 2026 data.
- It reported 1,169 full-time and 522 part-time PhD scholars in 2024-25.
- Its Minor Program in Product Development Internship pays selected undergraduates Rs 6,000 a month for product-innovation projects, and a Student Startup Club supports new ventures.
Schools & faculties
- Department of Applied Geology
- Department of Applied Geophysics
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering
- Department of Electrical Engineering
- Department of Electronics Engineering
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Department of Fuel, Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering
- Department of Mining Engineering
- Department of Petroleum Engineering
NIRF 2026 data: of 910 students graduating from 4-year UG programmes in 2024-25, 715 were placed (median salary Rs 15 lakh) and 160 went on to higher studies. On 5-year programmes, 78 of 82 graduates were placed (median Rs 25.12 lakh).
Student life
IIT (ISM) is a fully residential campus in the city of Dhanbad, about 3 km from the railway station. Students live in hostels named after gemstones, such as Diamond, Opal, Jasper, Topaz and Rosaline, and eat in hostel messes. The Students Activity Centre houses 14 active clubs as well as badminton courts and a gym, and the sports complex has a swimming pool and grounds for cricket, football and hockey. Older landmarks such as the Heritage Building and Penman Auditorium date back to the school of mines era.
- 14 active clubs under the Students Activity Centre.
- Hostels named after gemstones, including Diamond, Opal, Jasper, Topaz and Rosaline.
- A Student Startup Club and product-development fellowships for undergraduates.
- A centenary year in 2026, 100 years after the school opened on 9 December 1926.
Housing. The campus is fully residential; hostel seat rent is charged each semester (Rs 2,000 in the Monsoon semester) and mess charges are about Rs 19,500 per semester.
Location
Dhanbad, in Jharkhand, is known as the coal capital of India and sits among the country's main coalfields. The city is 260 km from Kolkata and 160 km from Ranchi, and the campus is just 3 km from Dhanbad railway station, with taxis and autos around the clock. The nearest airports are at Kolkata, Durgapur and Ranchi.
Nearest airport: Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi (IXR), about 160 km away; Kolkata and Durgapur also serve the city
Notable alumni
- WB Waman Bapuji MetrePetroleum geologist and Padma Bhushan recipient, a pioneer of India's oil industry; graduated in 1930
- GL Gulshan Lal TandonPadma Bhushan recipient and former chairman of Coal India; B.Tech in mining, 1951
- JS Jaswant Singh GillMining engineer known for the 1989 Raniganj coal mine rescue; mining engineering graduate, 1965
- HG Harsh GuptaSeismologist, Padma Shri recipient and former vice chancellor of CUSAT; BSc and MSc in applied geophysics
- VP Vijay Prasad DimriGeophysicist and Padma Shri recipient; postgraduate and doctoral studies at ISM
- RN Rabi Narayan BastiaPetroleum geoscientist and Padma Shri recipient; DSc from ISM
Frequently asked questions
How do I get into IIT (ISM) Dhanbad?
Through JEE (Advanced) and JoSAA counselling. Indian nationals qualify through JEE (Main) first; foreign nationals register directly for JEE (Advanced) and compete for supernumerary seats.
What are IIT (ISM) Dhanbad's B.Tech fees?
For 2026-27, tuition is Rs 1,00,000 per semester for Indian GEN, OBC-NCL and EWS students and OCI/PIO cardholders, nil for SC, ST and PwD students, and Rs 3,00,000 per semester for foreign nationals. Other fees and mess charges (about Rs 19,500 a semester) are extra.
Is IIT (ISM) Dhanbad a real IIT?
Yes. The Indian School of Mines was converted into an Indian Institute of Technology in 2016 and admits undergraduates through JEE (Advanced) like the other IITs.
What is IIT (ISM) Dhanbad's placement record?
According to its NIRF 2026 data, 715 of 910 four-year UG graduates in 2024-25 were placed, with a median salary of Rs 15 lakh, and 160 went on to higher studies.
What is IIT (ISM) Dhanbad's QS ranking?
It is in the 701-710 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, and 15th in the NIRF 2025 Engineering ranking.
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.
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