HBTU's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Established in 1921, Harcourt Butler Technological University (HBTU) has a rich history and reputation for academic excellence in engineering and technology. The university was formerly known as Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI) which was upgraded into a university in 2016. Nestled in the heart of Kanpur, India, Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU) boasts a vibrant and sprawling campus spread across two locations, the East Campus and the West Campus. 

Moreover, the academic landscape of HBTU includes courses such as B.Tech, BBA, M.Tech, MCA and MBA. Among these, HBTU Kanpur has earned a name for its BTech Chemical Engineering in the student fraternity. Other popular specialisations are computer science and engineering, oil technology, plastic technology, paint technology, leather and food technology. Beyond academics, the HBTU campus is well-known for its research and extracurricular activities. 

On the downside, HBTU’s name was coined in cases of ragging and Illicit behaviour of a professor towards female students in 2022. The incident created a buzz but settled later. Though no such incidents took place after that, HBTU’s reputation was blemished a little. Let’s understand the ins and outs of the university in this detailed article.

HBTU NIRF Ranking

HBTU has been participating in the NIRF Ranking for the last three years. However, it was successful in securing a rank only once. In 2021, HBTU ranked in the band of 251-300 top engineering colleges in India. No other ranking has been found after that. 

Our Take: 

The available ranking of HBTU by NIRF represent the university’s efforts in the domain of engineering in India. Getting ranked under the top 300 universities by the national ranking agency is quite a deal in itself and should be appreciated. However, HBTU Kanpur wasn’t successful in maintaining the legacy. Well, there can be multiple reasons for this such as an increase in the number of participants or a decline in the performance of the university. 

HBTU Academia & Batch Size

HBTU carries a legacy of academic brilliance focused towards research and exposure. Students are offered a wide array of UG and PG courses in engineering including chemical engineering, computer science engineering, oil technology, paint technology, plastic technology, etc. Additionally, BBA, MBA and MCA add diversity to HBTU courses. The university has collaborated with IIT Kanpur for the implementation of its ‘National Initiative for Setting up Design Innovation Centre’ scheme. HBTU Kanpur has established an innovation and incubation centre under which several projects are running diversifying its academia. Apart from this, its collaboration with KGMU, Kanpur Smart City Limited, Amchem Partnership, GBPUAT, etc. leverages students with real-world experience and industry exposure. students across multiple online platforms have shared positive reviews for HBTU’s strong academic foundation. Some even consider HBTU better than several NITs in India in terms of academia. 

HBTU Batch Size:

Let’s look at the 2021-22 batch size of HBTU as per the NIRF Report 2024. 

Our Take:

Undoubtedly, HBTU stands tall as one of the leading engineering institutes, renowned for its academic excellence in India. The university provides diverse courses, a strong curriculum and exposure opportunities fostering holistic education. Additionally, HBTU promotes a vibrant research culture across diverse fields such as chemical, computer science and agriculture. HBTU Kanpur graduates consistently express their satisfaction with the quality of education offered here. This positive feedback speaks alot about the university's commitment to providing a well-rounded education. 

HBTU Infrastructure

Standing tall for more than 100 years, HBTU’s infrastructure has undergone several changes. The infrastructure and facilities of HBTU have been upgraded after its conversion into a university. However, HBTU still lacks in providing top-notch facilities and infrastructure according to the students. Let’s have a closer look at the facilities available here. 

Classrooms and Seminar Halls: Classrooms at HBTU have been renovated recently.  ICT facilities such as LCD, Smart Board, Wi-Fi/LAN, and audio-video recording have been added in some classrooms and seminar halls. However, AC facilities aren’t available in all classrooms. 

Auditorium/ Labs: HBTU has two auditoriums with a capacity of 750 and 300 people each. The auditoriums are fully air-conditioned and equipped with ICT facilities. Moreover, the laboratories of HBTU Kanpur are equipped with sufficient equipment for all the departments. 

Library: HBTU’s library, also known as the Tagore Centre Library has a rich collection of learning resources like books, ebooks, e-journals, etc. The library has a membership of the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) and subscription to e-journals such as J-Gate, IEEE, Springer Nature, ACS and Database Web of Science. Students can utilize e-learning and Wi-Fi facilities here. 

Internet: Students receive secured Wi-Fi facilities across academic blocks, hostels, libraries, labs, etc of HBTU. 1 GB speed of internet is provided to registered students and faculty through Wi-Fi. 

Hostel: Around 14 hostels are available for boys and girls at two campuses of HBTU Kanpur. The university has 8 boys hostels with a cumulative accommodation capacity of 1582 and 6 girls hostels with an accommodation capacity of 474. The hostel rooms are spacious and laced with basic amenities. Single to triple-occupancy rooms are available for students to choose from. The annual hostel fee is Rs 21,250 for the freshers and Rs 36,000 for the mess. 

Activities: HBTU organises various events and activities around the year. Some of the major events are Adhyaay, Technika, Tarang, Hunkar, Samvad and Aagaz. Other activities such as sports competitions, webinars, seminars, and workshops are held as well. 

Our Take:

HBTU has invested significantly in upgrading its infrastructure, constructing new academic buildings, equipping laboratories, and enriching library facilities in recent years. These advancements provide students with a conducive environment to learn and grow. However, HBTU still has a long way to go. It can improve its infrastructure to provide advanced facilities to its students. 

HBTU Internships and Placements 

HBTU Internships 2023-23:

In 2022, around 190 students from engineering and MCA programmes received paid internships as per the official report of HBTU. The highest stipend received during the internship was Rs 50K. Companies like India Mart, IBM, Samsung, Paytm, Amazon, People Strong, Publis Sapient, etc. offered HBTU students internships. 

Additionally, students revealed that HBTU Kanpur provides sufficient internship opportunities in leading organisations. However, 30%-40% have to find internships on their own. 

HBTU Placements 2023:

84% of students were placed at HBTU placements for the year 2023. This placement rate was found to be around 24% higher than the previous year. Companies like Adobe, Pepsico, Accenture, Infosys, Coca-cola, SAP, etc recruited students from HBTU. According to the students' opinion, placements at HBTU Kanpur are decent for all the branches including chemical, plastic, oil and computer science engineering. More details about the placements can be checked below. 

HBTU Placements Statistics:

HBTU Brach-wise Placements 2023:

HBTU Placements 2022: Based on NIRF Report 2023:

Our Take:

HBTU is well-known for offering amazing placement opportunities to its students. Placements for engineering branches such as chemical engineering, oil technology, plastic engineering, CSE, and mechanical engineering are impressive. The higher placement rate and positive reviews of students represent HBTU’s strong commitment to career development, ensuring students are well-prepared and trained for the industry.  Moreover, the comparison of placement rates between 2023 and 2022 also represents a positive leap. It ensures that upcoming placements at HBTU Kanpur will show significant growth. 

HBTU Diversity & Representation

Let's look at gender participation and demographics at HBTU as per the NIRF Report 2024 report for the batch of 2022-23. 

Course-wise Gender Participation at HBTU:

Course Wise Demographic Representation at HBTU:

Our Take:

The landscape of gender and demographic representation at HBTU is not great! The available data indicates a significant gender imbalance with only 22% of female students. Furthermore, nearly all undergraduate and postgraduate students hail from the home state, suggesting limited appeal to students from other regions. This lack of diversity may hinder the educational experience of the students. Moving forward, HBTU Kanpur could explore initiatives to attract a more diverse student population. 

HBTU Faculty

HBTU has qualified and experienced faculty with a mix of PhD and master's qualifications spanning across different fields. Based on the data available, there are around 167 faculty members who are actively involved in research and innovation. The student-to-faculty ratio at HBTU stands at 18:1 which is decent. Also, guest faculty members are hired on a heavy basis to efficiently manage the high number of students. Additionally, reviews by alumni state that most faculty members are talented, helpful and knowledgeable. 

It's common for students to have varying experiences with different professors. However, HBTU Kanpur must keep a check on its professors’s behaviour towards students. 

Our Take:

Overall, the faculty of HBTU are knowledgeable and motivated. The positive faculty-to-students ratio shows the university’s commitment towards personalised learning. Moreover, the favourable feedback from the majority of students reflects that the faculty are experts and provide high-quality education and support to the students. 

HBTU Location

Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU) stands amidst the bustling city of Kanpur. Its two campuses are spread across 328 acres in two directions. The east campus is located near the Kanpur Zoo in the old Nawabganj area of the city. The west campus is located three kilometres away from the east campus near an industrial area. The east campus is around 9 km from the Kanpur Central Railway Station and Jhakarkati Bus Stand. One can easily get local transportation to reach HBTU campuses. 

HBTU: Expectation vs Reality CLD Verdict!

HBTU is a well-known institution that excels in academia, research and placements. The university has broadened its academic offerings attracting students for different courses. It prioritizes innovation and incubation enabling students to take up entrepreneurship and research. Apart from this, high placements at HBTU represent its strong industry connections and collaborations. 

On the other hand, less diversity at HBTU Kanpur is a hindrance to the holistic development of students. Meagre inter-state student enrollment and no international student presence is a sign for the university to buckle up and implement initiatives. Lastly, the university must ensure the complete safety of its students from serious issues like ragging and molestation. 

Our Final Checklist!