The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Science (IISc) are some of India’s most prestigious institutes of higher learning. They are also the toughest to get into.
Every year, over 1 million students sit for entrance exams to be admitted to one of the 23 IITs. Just 10,000 will ultimately be granted a spot — an admission rate of less than 1%.
Luckily for us, both the IITs and the IISc release hundreds of free courses every fall and spring through their massive open online course (MOOC) platform, the National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning, or NPTEL.
NPTEL is a joint initiative of the IITs and IISc that makes science and engineering courses available to the public. (You can learn more about MOOCs in general here.)
This spring, NPTEL has launched 290 courses from 16 different universities — 11 of which are IITs. Already, more than 600,000 students have enrolled in these free courses.
NPTEL courses tend to be more rigorous and advanced than typical MOOCs. So if you take one of these courses, be prepared for some serious studying.
Also, NPTEL courses tend to have firm deadlines. Some courses below start as early as January 28, so be sure to sign up before the start date!
Below is the full list of courses. And you can check out Class Central for our comprehensive catalog of reviews for free online courses from over 900 universities around the world.
Computer Science (28)
- Joy of computing using Python from Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar
- Matlab Programming For Numerical Computation from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Database Management System from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Programming in Java from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Programming in C++ from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Problem solving through Programming In C from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms in Python from Chennai Mathematical Institute
- AI:Knowledge Representation and Reasoning from Indian Institute of Technology Madras ★★★★☆(1)
- Design and Analysis of Algorithms from Chennai Mathematical Institute ★★★☆☆(1)
- Information Security — 5 — Secure Systems Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Deep Learning — Part 2 from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Machine Learning for Engineering and Science Applications from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Foundations to Computer Systems Design from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Blockchain Architecture and Use Cases from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Computer Architecture and Organisation from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Cloud Computing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Soft Computing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Discrete Structures from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Network Analysis for Mines and Mineral Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Fuzzy Logic and Neural Networks from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Automata, Languages and Computation from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Cryptography and Network Security from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Compiler Design from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Hardware Security from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Embedded System Design with ARM from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Real Time Operating System from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Internet of Things from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Machine Learning,ML from KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Computer Organization and Architecture: A Pedagogical Aspect from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Parallel Algorithms from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Randomized Algorithms from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Computer Aided Power System Analysis from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Basics of software-defined radios and practical applications from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Advanced IOT Applications from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Engineering (112)
- Computational Fluid Dynamics from Indian Institute of Technology Madras ★★★★☆(1)
- Earth Sciences For Civil Engineering Part — I & II from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur ★★★☆☆(1)
- Theory And Practice Of Non Destructive Testing from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Offshore structures under special loads including Fire resistance from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Geosynthetics and Reinforced Soil Structures from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Fundamentals of electronic materials and devices from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Electrochemical impedance Spectroscopy from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- LDPC and Polar Codes in 5G Standard from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Material Characterization from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Multirate DSP from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Process Control — Design, Analysis and Assessment from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Advanced Topics in the Science and Technology of Concrete from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Non-Conventional Energy Resources from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Spray Theory from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Medical Biomaterials from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Engineering Mechanics:Statics and Dynamics from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Welding Processes from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Control engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Advance Aircraft Maintenance from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Basics of Finite Element Analysis-I from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Manufacturing Process Technology I & II from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Defects in Crystalline Solids (Part-II) from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Electromagnetic Waves in Guided and Wireless Medium from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Product Design and Manufacturing from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Systems Engineering: Theory & Practice from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Principles of Signals and Systems from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Solar Photovoltaics: Principles, Technologies & Materials from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Rapid Manufacturing from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Advanced Green Manufacturing Systems from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Total Quality Management — II from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction to Airplane performance from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Principles of Communication Systems-I from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction to Coding Theory from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Hydration, Porosity & Strength of Cementitious Materials from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction To Composites from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Engineering Thermodynamics from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Heat Transfer from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Advanced Transition Metal Organometallic Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Analog Circuits from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Antennas from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Fundamental of Power Electronics from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Chemical Process Control from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Geotechnical Engineering II Foundation Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Microprocessors and Microcontrollers from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Mass, Momentum and Energy Balances in Engineering Analysis from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Electronic Packaging and Manufacturing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Digital Electronic Circuits from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Industrial Automation and Control from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Quality Design and Control from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Kinematics of Mechanisms and Machines from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Concepts of Thermodynamics from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Modern Digital Communication Techniques from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Evolution of Air Interface towards 5G from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Power System Dynamics, Control and Monitoring from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Soil Mechanics/Geotechnical Engineering I from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Electrical Machines — II from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Mechanical Micro Machining from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Satellite Attitude Dynamics and Control from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Fluid Mechanics from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Landscape Architecture and Site Planning — Basic Fundamentals from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Machinery Fault Diagnosis and Signal Processing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Surface Engineering for Corrosion and Wear Resistance Application from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Power System Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Biomedical Signal Processing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Theory of Yarn Structure from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Energy Efficiency, Acoustics and daylighting in Building from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Semiconductors Optoelectronics from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Principles of Digital Communications from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Electric Vehicles — Part 1 from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Thermodynamics from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Electromagnetic compatibility, EMC from KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Transport Phenomena of Non-Newtonian Fluids from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Polymer Assisted Abrasive Finishing Processes from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Fundamental of Welding Science and Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Fluid Flow Operations from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Subsurface exploration :importance and techniques involved from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- IC Engines and Gas Turbines from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Principles of Mechanical Measurement from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Introduction to Machining and Machining Fluids from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Weldability of Metals from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Fiber Optics from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Waste to Energy Conversion from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Introduction to Remote Sensing from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Dynamical System and Control from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Radiative Heat Transfer from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Advance power electronics and Control from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- CMOS Digital VLSI Design from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Housing Policy & Planning from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Material Science and Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Convective Heat Transfer from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Joining Technologies for Metals from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Advanced Engineering Mathematics from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Manufacturing Guidelines for Product Design from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Inspection and Quality Control in Manufacturing from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Equipment Design: Mechanical Aspects from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Mechanical Operations from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Principles and Applications of Building Science from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Modelling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Digital Land Surveying and Mapping(DLS&M) from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Principles of Casting Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Steam and Gas Power Systems from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Surface Engineering of Nanomaterials from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Automatic Control from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Friction and wear of materials: principles and case studies from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Electronic Modules for Industrial Applications using Op-Amps from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Mathematical Methods and Techniques in Signal Processing from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Symmetry and Structure in the Solid State from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Advances in UHV Transmission and Distribution from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Fundamentals of semiconductor devices from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Thermodynamics & Kinetics from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali
- Creep deformation of materials from Indian Institute Of Technology Bhubaneswar
Mathematics (16)
- Psychiatry — An overview from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur ★★★★☆(1)
- Statistical Mechanics from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Descriptive Statistics with R Software from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introductory Mathematical Methods for Biologists from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Basic Linear Algebra from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Commutative Algebra from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Galois Theory from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Transform Calculus and its applications in Differential Equations from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Integral and Vector Calculus from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Probability and Statistics from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Statistical Inference from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- MCDM Techniques Using R from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Multivariable calculus from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Mathematical methods and its applications from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Graph Theory from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
- Discrete Mathematics from Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar
Science (41)
- Biochemistry from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur ★★★☆☆(1)
- Bioreactors from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Chemical Principles II from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Introduction to Photonics from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Introduction to Research from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Principles of Downstream techniques in Bioprocess from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Demystifying The Brain from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Medicinal Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Animal Physiology from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction To Professional Scientific Communication from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Human Molecular Genetics from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Solid State Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Forest Biometry from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Laser: Fundamentals and Applications from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Natural Hazards — Part-1 from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- BioMEMS and Microsystems from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction to Solid State Physics from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Cell Culture Technologies from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction to Finite Volume Methods II from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Wild Life Ecology from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Organometallic Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Bioengineering: An Interface with Biology and Medicine from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Quantum Mechanics I from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Metal Mediated Synthesis-I from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Molecular Spectroscopy: A Physical Chemist’s perspective from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Chemical Reaction Engineering II from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Electronic Waste Management — Issues and Challenges from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Conduction and Convection Heat Transfer from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Reactive Intermediates Carbene and Nitrene from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Experimental Biochemistry from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Industrial Inorganic Chemistry from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Experimental Physics I from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Plastic Waste Management from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Soil Science and Technology from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- A brief course on Superconductivity from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Mass Transfer Operations -I from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Environmental Remediation of Contaminated Sites from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Applied Environmental Microbiology from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Learning about Learning: A Course on Neurobiology of Learning and Memory from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Multidimensional NMR Spectroscopy for Structural Studies of Biomolecules from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Humanities (12)
- Postmodernism in Literature from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Introduction to World Literature from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- English language for Competitive exams from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Better Spoken English from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- The Nineteenth-Century English Novel from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- American Literature & Culture from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- English Literature of the Romantic Period, 1798–1832 from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Postcolonial Literature from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Qualitative Research Methods and Research Writing from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Privacy and Security in Online Social Media from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Literature, Culture and Media from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Teaching And Learning in Engineering (TALE) from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Data Science (6)
- Data Science for Engineers from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Bio-Informatics:Algorithms and Applications from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Data Analysis & Decision Making — II from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Applications of interactomics using Genomics and proteomics technologies from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Data Mining from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Big Data Computing from Indian Institute of Technology Patna
Social Sciences (19)
- Patent Law For Engineers And Scientists from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Language and Mind from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Patent Drafting for Beginners from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Feminist Writings from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Infrastructure Planning and Managements from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Introduction to Basic Cognitive Processes from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- An Introduction to Microeconomics from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Introduction to the Pyschology of Language from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Calculus for Economics,Commerce and Management from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Roadmap for patent creation from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Foundation Course in Managerial Economics from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Emotional Intelligence from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Cognitive Psychology from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Introduction to Political Theory from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Human Behaviour from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Urban governance and Development Management (UGDM) from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Sociology of Science from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Perspectives on Neurolinguistic from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Social networks from Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar
Education & Teaching (3)
- Managing Intellectual Property in Universities from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Effective Engineering Teaching In Practice from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Designing Learner-Centric MOOCs from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Art & Design (10)
- Appreciating Carnatic Music from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Design Thinking — A Primer from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Introduction to History of Architecture in India from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Multimodal Interaction from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Elements of Visual Representation from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Architectural Conservation and Historic Preservation from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Introduction to Modern Indian Drama from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Product design and development from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Visual Communication Design for Digital Media from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- User Interface Design from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Health & Medicine (4)
- Manage TB from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Current regulatory requirements for conducting clinical trials in India from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Health Research Fundamentals from National Institute of Epidemiology
- Electronic Systems for Cancer Diagnosis from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Business (26)
- Operations and supply chain management from Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Marketing Management — II from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Management of Field Sales from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Consumer Behaviour from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Managing change in organizations from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Novel Technologies for Food Processing and Shelf Life Extension from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Sales and Distribution Management from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Entrepreneurship Essentials from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Services Marketing: A Practical Approach from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Six Sigma from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Principles of Human Resource Management from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Financial Institutions and Markets from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Soft Skills for Business Negotiations and Marketing Strategies from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Business Analytics for Management Decision from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Advanced Textile Printing Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Testing of Functional and Technical Textiles from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Textured Yarn Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Evalutions of Textile Materials from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Financial Statement Analysis and Reporting from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Financial Mathematics from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Global Marketing Management from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Marketing Research and Analysis-II from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Business analytics and data mining Modeling using R from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Supply Chain Analytics from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Manufacturing Strategy from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Business Statistics from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Personal Development (3)
- Enhancing Soft Skills and Personality from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Speaking Effectively from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Employment Communication A Lab based course from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur