IIT Research Internship Programmes

The 2026 summer cycle is underway. Here are the major details that would help you for the next application window that opens between December 2026 and March 2027.

Start preparing today. Work on your CGPA, identify faculty whose research interests align with yours, draft your SOP, and bookmark the official portals listed in this guide.

Key Takeaways

• Top IITs run summer research internships for non‑IIT undergrad/postgrad students.
• IIT Kharagpur’s GRISHMA pays up to ₹22,000/month (2026).
• 2026 internships run May to July; next window Dec 2026 to Mar 2027.
• IAS–INSA–NASI SRFP places students at IITs, IISc, IISERs, national labs.
• Strong SOP and CGPA > 8.0 required.
• IIT Palakkad’s SUN is Kerala’s only IIT research internship.

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Introduction

If you are an engineering student with a genuine interest in research, the summer break is not just a vacation. It is a window. A window that, if used well, can open doors to IIT PhD labs, MS programmes abroad, and research roles at organisations like DRDO, ISRO, and top global universities.

Every summer, India’s Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) run structured research internship programmes specifically for students from other colleges. These are not generic industrial training stints. You work on a defined research problem, report to an IIT faculty member, and walk away with a verified publication-grade experience. Not just that, also a stipend that covers your stay.

The 2026 summer cycle (May–July 2026) is currently underway. But if you missed the application window, this guide gives you everything you need to apply in the next cycle. You will end up with verified eligibility criteria, stipend figures, program dates, and application tips, all sourced from official notifications.

Why an IIT Research Internship Matters

Before diving into the individual programs, it helps to understand what makes these internships different from regular company internships:

Research Depth Over Task Completion

Unlike industrial internships where you assist ongoing operations, IIT research internships assign you a specific research question. You read papers, run experiments or simulations, draw conclusions, and present your findings.

Faculty Mentorship

Your guide is typically an IIT professor actively publishing in their domain. Letters of recommendation from IIT faculty carry significant weight in MS and PhD applications both in India and abroad.

Career Signal Value

Research internship on your CV signals that you can work independently, handle ambiguity, and produce original work. These are the skills that R&D employers and postgraduate admission committees specifically look for.

Peer Network

These programmes bring together top students from across India. The connections you build during 6 to 8 weeks at an IIT campus often outlast the internship itself.

Quick Comparison: All IIT Research Internship Programmes 2026

IIT Research Internship Programmes 2026: Complete Listings

1. SURGE – IIT Kanpur

Students-Undergraduate Research Graduate Excellence Programme

SURGE is IIT Kanpur’s flagship summer research programme, launched on 8 May 2006. It is built to help undergraduate students experience real research under faculty mentorship. This is one of the oldest and most respected student research programs in India.

Eligibility

External applicants must be 2nd or 3rd year B.Tech/B.E., or integrated MSc/BSc students enrolled in AICTE/UGC-recognised Indian universities. You should have a minimum 6.5 CGPA or 65% aggregate.

For students aiming for institute funding, the bar is higher. For SURGE-2026 institute funding and partial institute funding consideration, the programme specifies CPI ≥ 8.5 at the time of registration.

What to Know Before Applying

Due to sheer volume as large as 10,000+ applicants for ~100–150 external slots, the pragmatic baseline to survive professor-level scrutiny is a CGPA over 8.5.

You must also identify an IIT Kanpur faculty member willing to mentor you before your application is considered complete.

Apply Next Cycle: January–February 2027

2. SURE – IIT Hyderabad

Summer Undergraduate Research Exposure

IIT Hyderabad has officially kicked off registrations for its Summer Undergraduate Research Exposure (SURE) Internships 2026.

This flagship programme immerses talented undergraduate and early postgraduate students from non-IIT Hyderabad institutions in hands-on research projects under the guidance of world-class faculty.

Eligibility

Top 20% students in 2nd/3rd year B.Tech/B.Des, 3rd/4th year of integrated programs, 1st year MSc (Maths/Physics/Chem/Bio), or MA, from non-IITH institutions. Certification required.

Research Areas

SURE covers cutting-edge domains including autonomous navigation, 5G networks, artificial intelligence, and materials science. This is aligned with IIT Hyderabad’s research strengths.

Apply Next Cycle: February–March 2027

3. SRFP – IIT Delhi

Summer Research Fellowship Programme

The IIT Delhi Summer Research Fellowship Programme is designed for exceptionally qualified undergraduate and postgraduate students from engineering institutes other than IIT Delhi.

It enables selected candidates to carry out an innovative research and development project under the supervision of IIT Delhi faculty members.

Eligibility

UG students who have completed at least two years of engineering and are among the top ten positions in their branch are eligible.

Students with MTech/ME background who have completed 1st semester, are within the top ten ranks, and obtained at least 70% marks or CGPA of 7.00 are also eligible.

Key Details

There is no registration fee. Selected fellows are registered as visiting students free of charge.

However, selected fellows must arrange personal insurance covering accidents and accidental death for the 8-week stay at IIT Delhi, and the cost is borne by the student.

Apply Next Cycle: February–April 2027

4. GRISHMA – IIT Kharagpur

Undergraduate Summer Research Programme (under KRITI)

GRISHMA (Undergraduate Summer Research Programme) at IIT Kharagpur is organised under the institute’s broader academic initiatives.

It offers students from across India an opportunity to engage in hands-on, faculty-mentored research across disciplines such as science, engineering, technology, medicine, and the humanities.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students from institutions outside IIT Kharagpur who have strong academic records and a keen interest in research are eligible to apply.

Apply Next Cycle: April 2027

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5. SPARK – IIT Roorkee

Summer Program for Academic Research at IIT Roorkee

SPARK is IIT Roorkee’s structured route for summer research internships, meant for students who want research practice, not short-term industrial training.

The IIT Roorkee Summer Internship Program offers students structured exposure to academic research under faculty mentorship.

Eligibility

Students must have completed at least two semesters of their undergraduate degree and must have at least one semester remaining after Summer 2026 (final year students finishing before June are not eligible).

CGPA requirements vary by home institution: minimum CGPA is above 7.5 for IIT/IISc students, above 8.0 for NITs and similar institutes, and above 8.5 for students from other recognised institutions.

Apply Next Cycle: February–March 2027

6. SUN – IIT Palakkad

Summer Undergraduate Research Programme

IIT Palakkad is the only IIT in Kerala, making its SUN programme especially relevant for students from Kerala and South India who want research exposure without long-distance travel.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include students in the 3rd or 4th year of a four-year bachelor’s degree program in Engineering/Technology/Sciences, or students in the 4th or 5th year of an integrated master’s program in Science, Engineering, or the Humanities.

Indian and international students can apply. However, students currently enrolled at IIT Palakkad are not eligible.

Apply Next Cycle: February–March 2027

7. SRIP – IIT Gandhinagar

Summer Research Internship Programme

The Summer Internship at IIT Gandhinagar focuses on hands-on research exposure rather than classroom learning.

Selected students engage in guided academic work across engineering, science, and interdisciplinary domains, gaining early insight into how research is carried out at an IIT.

Eligibility

First-year students may be eligible. Some programmes like IIT Gandhinagar SRIP accept first-year students, which makes it more accessible than many other IIT programs.

Apply Next Cycle: December 2026–February 2027

8. SURAJ – IIT Jodhpur

Summer Undergraduate Research at Jodhpur

IIT Jodhpur has established the Summer Undergraduate Research at Jodhpur (SURAJ) programme.

They provide students with a chance to work inside advanced research laboratories, engaging in mentored projects with faculty members and gaining practical technical and research experience.

For SURAJ, the Statement of Purpose carries exceptional weight. A generic SOP without specific reference to faculty research will typically not make the shortlist.

Research the faculty’s published papers before writing.

Apply Next Cycle: February–March 2027

Beyond IITs: The Science Academies’ SRFP

If you want to experience IIT or IISc research without applying directly to individual institutes, the IAS–INSA–NASI SRFP is arguably the most prestigious option.

The Summer Research Fellowship Programme (SRFP) is the national research fellowship run jointly by the three science academies of India: Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI).

The academies place selected students for about eight weeks with mentors across IITs, IISc, IISERs, national labs, and top universities.

You must have minimum 65% marks on average in core subjects from Class 10 till your current course. There is also a special sub-scheme called FAST-SF 2026 (Focus Area Science Technology Summer Fellowship) with the same structure and the same January 31 deadline.

The IASc–INSA–NASI certificate is widely recognised and carries strong credibility for PhD and MS applications.

Apply Next Cycle: December 2026 – January 2027

How to Prepare Now for the 2027 Cycle

The summer 2026 application window is closed. But that actually puts you in an ideal position. You have 6 to 8 months to build the strongest possible application before the next round opens.

Build Your Research Profile

Most programs ask for a Statement of Purpose and some form of prior research exposure. Start small: do a reading project under your college department faculty, complete an online research methodology course, or contribute to an open-source scientific project.

Work on Your CGPA

For funded seats at SURGE (IIT Kanpur), you need a CPI of 8.5 or above. IIT Roorkee SPARK requires 8.5+ for students from general institutions. Protecting your CGPA in the next two semesters is the single highest-leverage thing you can do right now.

Write a Targeted SOP

A generic SOP does not work. Read 2 to 3 recent papers by the faculty you want to work with. Reference a specific paper, explain what you found interesting about it, and describe how your existing coursework or projects connect to that research direction. Keep it under 400 words.

Arrange Your Documents Early

Most programmes require a pretty standard set of documents:

• your academic transcripts
• a bonafide or NOC letter from your university
• a recommendation from a faculty member
• a photo
• ID proof.

Don’t wait until the last minute to round up all these files – do it early so you’re not scrambling at the deadline.

Apply Across Multiple Programmes

Different programmes have different deadlines – typically between December and April. Apply to at least 3 to 4 programs simultaneously to improve your chances.

Conclusion

IIT research internships are among the top opportunities out there for engineering and science students in India.

Whether it’s SURGE at IIT Kanpur, the serious funding of GRISHMA at IIT Kharagpur, or the broad access of Science Academies SRFP that lets you place yourself at IITs and IISc – every one of these programmes has something that a regular company internship just can’t match.

That includes the chance to work with faculty who know their stuff, get a boost to your academic cred, and get a jumpstart on higher studies or a career in science and tech.

Research is not something you stumble into. You have to put in the work to prepare for it.