IIT Madras Zanzibar opens admissions for fourth batch
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IIT Madras Zanzibar is set to welcome the fourth incoming batch of students to its Zanzibar Campus in Tanzania, the first-ever international campus established by any IIT.
Applications are now open for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes for the 2026 academic year. The screening test for the M.Tech programme will be held on 26 April 2026, while the BS programme screening test, to be conducted simultaneously at centres in India and abroad, is scheduled for 6 June 2026.
Aspirants can visit https://admissions.iitmz.ac.in/ for details on eligibility, deadlines, test preparation and campus information.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “It is a matter of great pride for IIT Madras to have set up the first-ever international campus of any IIT at Zanzibar. Since then, the love and support that we are receiving from the Zanzibar Government and people has been nothing short of amazing. The students and faculty of IIT Madras Zanzibar are doing wonderfully well. I invite aspirants from across the world to explore our full-time on-campus degree offerings in leading fields of engineering and technology at IIT Madras Zanzibar.”
Established in 2023 through the joint efforts of the Governments of India, Tanzania and Zanzibar, IIT Madras Zanzibar began operations at its transit campus in Bweleo, Zanzibar. The campus launched with the four-year BS Degree in Data Science and AI and the two-year M.Tech Degree in Data Science and AI. In 2025, it expanded its academic portfolio with a BS programme in Chemical Process Engineering, aimed at building skilled talent for Africa’s growing process industries.
The campus currently has more than 129 students enrolled across programmes. Around 51 per cent of students are from Tanzania, with representation from several other African Nations including Ethiopia, Zambia and Kenya. The campus has also seen strong female participation across disciplines, reflecting its inclusive and international character.
Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras, and former Director-in-Charge, IIT Madras Zanzibar, said, “IIT Madras today actively engages with industrial and academic partners from India and abroad, leading to immense opportunities for our students. We are excited to receive the fresh batch of applicants from across the world to IIT Madras Zanzibar. I take this opportunity to wish the very best to students aspiring for admission to this unique IIT campus, which can set them on the path to global leadership.”
NEW LEADERSHIP
The campus entered a new phase of leadership in January 2026 with Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal taking charge as Director-in-Charge. An alumnus of IIT Madras and Imperial College London, He is the recipient of the 2024 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and is known for translating research into successful start-up ventures.
Highlighting recent milestones, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Director-in-Charge and Dean, School of Engineering, IIT Madras Zanzibar, said, “The first batch of M.Tech in Data Science and AI graduated last year in our first convocation, and we are preparing to welcome our first PhD scholars shortly. Our students and faculty members have engaged extensively with academic and industrial communities in Tanzania and globally through conferences, workshops, internships and joint research projects. The graduating M.Tech batch in 2025 recorded 100 per cent industrial placement.”
Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal added, “With a vision to strengthen the research and start-up ecosystems in East Africa and provide technology solutions that stimulate society and the economy, IIT Madras Zanzibar is launching a Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, along with an Office for Translational Research. We welcome students to experience our international education model and invite industry leaders to partner with us in advancing experiential learning and translational research.”
Students from the campus have secured internships with organisations such as SuperDoll, Zantel and Airtel, while scholarships, including support from the Airtel Africa Foundation, have helped widen access to quality higher education.
Faculty members from the Zanzibar campus have also presented research at leading global platforms including ICML, ICLR and IEEE conferences. The campus has organised industry and innovation events, faculty exchanges and start-up hackathons in collaboration with partners such as UNDP and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Meanwhile, development of the permanent campus at the Fumba peninsula is progressing, with a new hostel block inaugurated in January 2026. Once completed, the campus is expected to further strengthen IIT Madras Zanzibar’s role as a hub for academic excellence, research-driven innovation and entrepreneurial leadership in the East African region.
