CSE Leads, AI Follows: Top IIT Hyderabad Courses Students Picked in 2025
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has witnessed a significant surge in student interest for its courses in 2025, particularly in the fields of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. The latest admission data reveals a trend towards new-age disciplines, while traditional engineering branches continue to hold their ground.
Overview of Admission Trends
The 2025 Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) report highlights a consistent rise in candidate preferences across nearly all four-year undergraduate programs. This trend indicates both academic diversification and a strong alignment with emerging industry needs.
Top Courses in Demand
1. Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
The Computer Science and Engineering program remains the most sought-after course at IIT Hyderabad. In 2025, it attracted 26,572 candidates, marking a 13.8% increase from 23,349 candidates in 2024. This enduring popularity reflects a national trend where students prioritize courses that integrate computing, artificial intelligence, and data science.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Following closely is the Artificial Intelligence program, which recorded 23,632 choices in 2025, up from 20,682 in 2024, representing a 14.3% rise. The rapid ascent of this program underscores IIT Hyderabad’s growing reputation for research-led learning in robotics, machine learning, and automation—fields increasingly favored by technology firms and research institutions.
3. Biomedical Engineering
Among all disciplines, Biomedical Engineering has shown the sharpest rise in interest, with an increase of 17.9%. In 2025, 8,211 candidates opted for this program compared to 6,967 the previous year. This growth suggests a widening fascination with interdisciplinary fields that merge healthcare innovation with core engineering principles.
4. Industrial Chemistry
Industrial Chemistry also recorded a significant increase of 16.9%, indicating a renewed enthusiasm for research-oriented applied sciences. This trend reflects the growing importance of chemistry in various industrial applications.
5. Electrical Engineering (IC Design and Technology)
The Electrical Engineering program, focusing on Integrated Circuit (IC) Design and Technology, grew by 16.5%. This rise aligns with the national emphasis on semiconductor manufacturing and chip design, reflecting India’s policy-driven focus on enhancing its hardware innovation and microelectronics ecosystem.
Steady Interest in Traditional Engineering Branches
Core engineering disciplines such as Mechanical and Civil Engineering have continued to attract strong interest, with growth rates of 13.1% and 13.3%, respectively. This steady rise indicates sustained confidence in conventional disciplines that are foundational to India’s industrial and infrastructure sectors.
Emerging Courses on the Rise
Other emerging courses like Computational Engineering, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, and Engineering Physics also recorded double-digit growth rates, ranging between 13% and 15%. This underscores IIT Hyderabad’s balanced academic landscape, where legacy disciplines coexist with future-focused offerings.
Student Preference Trends at IIT Hyderabad (2024–2025)
Here’s a closer look at how each program fared between 2024 and 2025, based on candidate choice counts from the JIC report:
| Programme | 2024 Choices | 2025 Choices | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Engineering | 6,967 | 8,211 | 17.86% |
| Industrial Chemistry | 7,128 | 8,335 | 16.93% |
| Electrical Engineering (IC Design & Technology) | 14,725 | 17,156 | 16.51% |
| Biotechnology and Bioinformatics | 7,935 | 9,169 | 15.55% |
| Computational Engineering | 12,787 | 14,721 | 15.12% |
| Artificial Intelligence | 20,682 | 23,632 | 14.26% |
| Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering | 9,189 | 10,498 | 14.25% |
| Engineering Physics | 9,014 | 10,221 | 13.39% |
| Civil Engineering | 12,637 | 14,321 | 13.33% |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 23,349 | 26,572 | 13.80% |
| Mechanical Engineering | 16,829 | 19,035 | 13.11% |
| Engineering Space | 8,245 | 9,330 | 13.16% |
| Mathematics and Computing | 16,984 | 19,115 | 12.55% |
| Electrical Engineering | 19,036 | 21,499 |
