On 16th February, 2026, IIT Bombay hosted a high-level delegation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), USA for the academic engagements aimed at advancing the proposed IIT Bombay–UIUC Undergraduate Exchange Programme.

The visit featured leadership interactions, curriculum discussions, faculty presentations and the formalisation of the UG Exchange Programme through an MoU signing ceremony. The UG Cohort Exchange Programme has been designed to enable students from both institutions to visit each other’s campuses and learn, innovate and grow together through joint academic engagement, shared cohorts, cross-cultural exposure and global professional pathways.

The first trial cohort is planned for AY 2026-27, targeting 3rd-year undergraduate students, with opportunities for IIT Bombay students to undertake a two-month internship in the United States after their third year, with earning potential. The pilot phase will commence with six departments — Department of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science.

The programme is envisaged as the foundation of a broader long-term strategic partnership, with future expansion into postgraduate exchanges, joint or integrated degree programmes, cotutelle pathways, collaborative research initiatives and wider global innovation partnerships. This engagement marks an important step towards strengthening IIT Bombay’s global partnerships and building a sustained academic collaboration with UIUC.