Address: Kattangal, Kozhikode, 673601 Kerala, India
Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture
National Institute of Technology Calicut, usually shortened to NITC, is an engineering and science institute at Kozhikode in Kerala, southern India. It began in 1961 as Calicut Regional Engineering College and today holds the status of an Institute of National Importance.
The National Institutes of Technology Act of 2007 placed the institute in the national group of NITs funded and governed under central legislation. The institute lists around fifteen academic departments, among them Architecture and Planning, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Management Studies, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
Study is offered at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level, and the programmes cover engineering, architecture, management and the sciences. In the 2025 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) the institute was placed 45th overall, 21st in engineering and 2nd in architecture and planning. The Kozhikode campus covers roughly 285 acres according to the institute.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Civil Engineering, Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials, Nanotechnologies, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
One of the leading NITs in South India. Strong focus on research and industry collaboration. Scenic campus.
Research:
Research in areas like nanotechnology, sustainable engineering, computer science (AI, cybersecurity), and materials science.
Famous Alumnis:
G. Madhavan Nair, S. Somnath (attended predecessor KREC)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
600
Current students***:
6000
Foreign students***:
1%
Cumulative former students***:
30000
Pros
Well-ranked NIT with strong engineering and architecture programs, beautiful campus, good research environment.
Cons
Competitive admissions, humid coastal climate.
Best For
Students seeking a high-quality engineering or architecture education at a reputable NIT in South India, with a scenic campus and good research facilities.
National Institute of Technology Warangal in Warangal offers engineering, computer science and chemical engineering.
National Institute of Technology Rourkela in Rourkela adds metallurgical and materials engineering to engineering and computer science.
Vellore Institute of Technology in Vellore is a larger option with engineering and computer science.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Universiteit Twente in the Netherlands combines biomedical engineering with other engineering fields.
Poznań University of Technology in Poland lists computer science, artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering.
Università degli Studi di Genova in Italy is known for naval and maritime engineering alongside computer science.
Chonnam National University in South Korea has engineering and civil engineering among its specialties.
Purdue University, West Lafayette in the United States is known for aerospace engineering and agriculture.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was the institute founded?
It was founded in 1961 as Calicut Regional Engineering College.
Where is it located?
The campus is at Kozhikode in the Indian state of Kerala. Kozhikode is also known by its older name, Calicut, which still appears in the institute's name.
What does Institute of National Importance mean for it?
The National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007 gave the institute that status, which places it among the centrally funded technical institutions. It is one of the group of NITs spread across India.
Which academic departments does it list?
Departments include Architecture and Planning, Chemical, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics and Communication and Mechanical Engineering, together with Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Management Studies. The official website gives the complete list.
How did it rank in NIRF 2025?
NIRF 2025 placed it 21st in engineering, 2nd in architecture and planning and 45th overall. These tables are produced by the Ministry of Education framework and updated every year.
Where can students find admission details?
Admission routes and eligibility are published on the official institute website. Undergraduate seats at NITs are filled through national counselling, so candidates should also read the current counselling notices.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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