National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra

Public engineering institute located in Kurukshetra

National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra (NIT Kurukshetra or NITKKR) is a public technical and research university located in Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. In December 2008, it was accredited with the status of Institute of National Importance (INI). It is one of the 31 National Institutes of Technology established and administered by Government of India. It runs undergraduate and postgraduate in programme Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy programme in Engineering, Sciences and Humanities.

The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, sought to develop India as a leader in science and technology. Between 1959 and 1965, with this vision, the Government founded 14 educational institutions in different regions of India. The system of competitive entry (based on merit) gave access to higher education in these institutions. Such an institution was established in 1963 in Kurukshetra as a joint enterprise of the Government of India and the Government of Punjab, India as the Regional Engineering College, Kurukshetra (REC Kurukshetra). In 2002, all the Regional Engineering Colleges were unified by a common entrance exam. Therefore, REC Kurukshetra was renamed to National Institute of Technology under the NIT Act and was given a Deemed University status.

There are 15 hostels: 11 for boys and 4 for girls (some apartments are available for married students). The names of the hostels are listed below:

NIT Kurukshetra awards undergraduate B. Tech. in various engineering fields in a four year programme. It offers postgraduate (PG) M. Tech. degrees in similar engineering fields as well as Physics. The M. Tech. degree is awarded after four semesters (two years) or two semesters for relevant PG diploma holders. Ph. D. research programmes are offered in engineering, sciences, humanities and social sciences as well as computer applications. As of 2006 it also offers an MBA degree.

Until 2012, admissions were made on the basis of merit in the All India Engineering Entrance Examination. This exam consisted of a section each on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Every year, more than 1,000,000 students appeared for this exam and the acceptance rate was close to 3%. Starting in 2013, admissions are now made on the basis of the merit list of Joint Entrance Examination. This is a common examination for all the premier universities in India. Under this, the candidates are ranked based on 60% of the marks scored in the test, and 40% of the marks in the grade XII board examinations. For foreign students, admissions are done through Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme.

Applications on prescribed proforma are invited for admission to Ph. D. (full–time/part–time) programmes.

NITKKR is ranked 58th among the engineering colleges of India by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2023.