ILEAD: Admission 2026, Fees, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

ILEAD Kolkata Admission Dates 2026

Admissions to ILEAD for the 2026-27 academic session are currently open. The primary qualifying route is MAKAUT CET, the West Bengal state entrance exam for professional programmes. Direct merit-based admissions are also available through open house sessions and rolling applications at the institute.

The table below lists entrance exams and selection routes for ILEAD’s programmes in the 2026-27 cycle.

ILEAD Kolkata Courses and Fees

ILEAD offers 19 courses across four programme families — BBA, B.Sc, BCA, and M.Sc. The institute specialises in non-engineering disciplines with a strong creative, media, and management orientation. All programmes are affiliated with MAKAUT and follow its academic calendar. Fees below cover the full programme duration.

BBA in Digital Marketing and B.Sc Animation and Graphics are among the most enrolled programmes at ILEAD. The B.Sc in Medical Lab Technology and Critical Care Technology cater to the allied health sciences segment — a distinct offering not commonly found at media and management-focused private institutes. B.Sc Data Science and Cybersecurity are the newer tracks introduced in response to IT industry demand.

ILEAD Kolkata Admission Process

UG Admission (BBA, B.Sc, BCA)

Admission to BBA, B.Sc, and BCA at ILEAD requires 50% marks in Class 12. English is compulsory across all UG programmes. Mathematics is additionally required for BCA and B.Sc Cybersecurity/Data Science. B.Sc Medical Lab Technology and Critical Care Technology require PCB in Class 12.

• Candidates apply through the MAKAUT CET route or through ILEAD’s direct merit-based admission process
• Shortlisted candidates appear for a Group Discussion and Personal Interview at the ILEAD campus in Topsia, Kolkata
• Direct admissions are also available through Open House sessions conducted by the institute throughout the admission season

ILEAD also accepts direct admission for candidates who qualify through MAKAUT CET without a separate GD-PI, subject to seat availability in each programme. Applications are submitted online at iLEAD.net.in.

M.Sc Admission

M.Sc in Media Science and Animation and Graphics requires a relevant UG degree from a recognised university. Selection is through merit evaluation and a GD-PI conducted at the institute. Candidates with a background in Media, Mass Communication, or Design have the strongest profile fit for these postgraduate programmes.

ILEAD Kolkata Placements

In the 2024 placement season, 271 out of 441 UG students were placed, yielding a placement rate of 61.5%. The median package for placed UG students was INR 3 LPA. PG placement volume was limited in scale, with 2 out of 25 M.Sc students placed at a median of INR 2.75 LPA. The placement rate has grown year-on-year from a median of INR 1.44 LPA in 2022 to INR 3 LPA in 2024.

Top recruiters who have hired from ILEAD include Zee Media, Airtel, Reliance Retail, ITC, and PwC. The media and design specialisations primarily place students in creative roles at production houses, digital agencies, and broadcast companies. BBA graduates enter management trainee, sales, and digital marketing roles. ILEAD’s Topsia location in Kolkata provides proximity to media companies operating in the city.

ILEAD Kolkata Rankings

ILEAD holds a Collegedunia ranking in the Animation category. As per Collegedunia Ranking 2025, ILEAD is ranked #94 out of 100 Animation institutes in India, placing #7 in Kolkata in the same category. The institute does not appear in the NIRF ranking.

ILEAD is AICTE-approved and affiliated with MAKAUT, the technical university for West Bengal. The institute’s niche positioning in media, design, and allied health sciences is its distinguishing factor rather than traditional ranking league tables, which primarily track engineering and management programmes.

ILEAD Kolkata Campus and Infrastructure

ILEAD’s urban campus is located at Topsia, Kolkata — an accessible central location close to the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. The campus features smart classrooms, audio-visual studios, video and sound editing suites, a 3D auditorium, screening rooms, computer and design labs, and a library. The institute is fully Wi-Fi enabled. The compact campus is purpose-built for media and creative studies, with production-grade equipment for Film, Animation, and Media Science students.

There is no on-campus hostel. ILEAD arranges PG accommodation for outstation students near the campus in the Topsia and Tangra areas. Outstation applicants should confirm accommodation arrangements with the institute before final admission.

ILEAD vs NSHM Knowledge Campus vs Brainware University

All three are private institutions in Kolkata offering management and creative/technology programmes to a similar aspirant profile — students in West Bengal seeking private college education in media, management, or applied sciences outside the traditional engineering stream.

ILEAD’s strongest differentiator is its media production infrastructure — audio-visual studios, a 3D auditorium, and editing suites that NSHM and Brainware do not offer at the same depth. NSHM Knowledge Campus has a broader programme range including Hotel Management and Pharmacy. Brainware University, as a UGC-recognised university, offers Engineering and Law alongside management, and has on-campus hostel facilities. Students focused on Film, Animation, or Media Science will find ILEAD’s specialised facilities the most relevant, while those considering management or engineering alongside media can compare with the other two.