Admission to BITS Pilani (Pilani Campus) for the 2026-27 academic year spans three main tiers: Integrated First Degree (undergraduate), Higher Degree (postgraduate), and Doctoral programmes. As of late August 2026, the primary admission cycles are closing. BITS Pilani does not participate in joint counselling (such as JoSAA) and conducts independent admissions, strictly on merit, without state, caste, or management quotas.
Integrated First Degree Admissions
The Pilani campus offers four-year B.E. and B.Pharm. programmes, alongside four-year M.Sc. degrees. The M.Sc. programmes can optionally be combined with a B.E. degree under the dual-degree scheme.
Master of Science (M.Sc.): Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, General Studies, Mathematics, Physics, and Semiconductor & Nanoscience.
Route 1: BITS Admission Test (BITSAT)
The primary entry route for domestic students is the computer-based BITSAT exam.
Academic Eligibility: Candidates must have completed their 12th-grade examination in 2025 or 2026 under the 10+2 system with a minimum of five subjects, including one language.
Subject Requirements: B.E. (except Environmental & Sustainability) and M.Sc. applicants must have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM). B.Pharm. and B.E. Environmental & Sustainability Engineering applicants may present either PCM or Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). PCB students must have demonstrated high-school level mathematics proficiency.
Minimum Marks: A minimum aggregate of 75% in the core PCM or PCB subjects is required, with at least 60% in each individual subject (theory and practical combined).
Selection: Allotment is based solely on the BITSAT score and the preference form.
2026 Cycle Timeline: The initial application window opened on 15 December 2025 and closed on 19 March 2026. Session 1 exams ran from 15-16 April 2026, and Session 2 from 25-27 May 2026. The counselling process involves multiple iterations, with Iteration 9 results announced on 27 August 2026 and reporting scheduled for 30 August 2026 to fill remaining vacancies.
Route 2: Direct Admission for Board Toppers
To attract exceptional academic talent, BITS Pilani offers direct admission to board toppers.
Eligibility: The applicant must be the official first-rank holder of a recognized central or state board in India for the 2026 examination year, meeting the baseline 75% aggregate and 60% individual subject criteria.
Selection: Board toppers bypass the BITSAT requirement and receive guaranteed admission to their first-choice programme.
Route 3: International Student Admission (ISA)
Foreign citizens (non-Indian passport holders) apply exclusively through the ISA scheme. OCI/PIO cardholders can apply via either ISA or BITSAT, but not both.
Eligibility: Applicants must meet the same 12th-grade subject and marks criteria as domestic students.
Selection: Admission is determined by SAT scores, bypassing BITSAT.
Higher Degree (M.E. and M.Pharm.) Admissions
The Pilani campus offers advanced engineering and pharmacy specialisations. All programmes typically last four semesters.
MBA: Business Analytics (Admission follows a separate process detailed on the BITS MBA portal).
Admission Routes and Rules
Eligibility: Candidates require a minimum aggregate of 60% in a qualifying B.E. or B.Pharm. degree.
Through GATE/GPAT: Candidates can apply using a valid GATE (for M.E.) or GPAT (for M.Pharm.) score.
Through BITS HD Test: Candidates can take the computer-based BITS Higher Degree (HD) online test. Admission to M.E. Software Systems and M.E. Environmental Engineering is conducted only through the BITS HD test.
2026 Cycle Timeline: The 2026-27 admission cycle is now closed. Iteration 5 results were announced on 5 August 2026, and the admission window officially concluded on 19 August 2026.
Doctoral (Ph.D.) Admissions
BITS Pilani admits full-time and part-time doctoral candidates across Engineering, Sciences, Pharmacy, Economics & Finance, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Management. At the Pilani campus, Biological Sciences, Economics & Finance, and Humanities & Social Sciences accept only full-time applicants; other departments accept both full-time and part-time candidates.
Eligibility: Applicants must hold a qualifying Master's degree (M.E., M.Tech., M.Pharm., MBA, or M.Sc.) with at least 60% aggregate. Candidates for Humanities & Social Sciences may apply with an M.A. degree and a 55% aggregate. B.E., B.Pharm., or M.Sc. graduates must complete 24 units (6 courses) of coursework upon admission, while M.E. or equivalent graduates complete 6 units (2 courses).
Part-Time Specifics: Part-time applicants must have a minimum of one year of experience in a related field.
Financial Assistance: Full-time Ph.D. students receive an institute fellowship of ₹37,000 per month, which may increase to ₹40,000 or ₹42,000 after two years. They also receive a ₹20,000 annual contingency fund and up to ₹1.5 lakh for international travel.
2026 Cycle Timeline: The 1st Semester 2026-27 admission cycle closed with final reporting on 5 August 2026. Working professionals can still apply through the PhD Aspirant Scheme, which evaluates part-time applications quarterly. The next tentative deadline is 15 September 2026.
Academic Fees and Application Costs (2026-27)
Fee structures are subject to regular upward revision. Candidates in the 2026-27 academic cycle are subject to the following confirmed domestic fee structure:
Application and Exam Fees
Applicant Category
BITSAT (One Session)
BITSAT (Both Sessions)
Male
₹3,600
₹5,600
Female / Transgender
₹3,100
₹4,600
Dubai Test Centre (All)
₹7,250
₹9,250
Domestic First Degree Schedule of Fees
Once allotted a seat, candidates must clear the initial semester fees to confirm admission. BITS Pilani does not offer admission-stage fee waivers, but enrolled students can apply for merit-cum-need scholarships later.
One-Time Fees: Admission Fee (₹64,100), Institute Caution Deposit (₹3,000, refundable).
Recurring Semester Fees:
Tuition: ₹2,91,500 for the first semester. Tuition increases annually (projected at ₹3,06,000 for AY 2027-28 and ₹3,21,500 for AY 2028-29).
Hostel: ₹36,000 per semester (required for on-campus students).
Advances: Mess and Electricity Advance (₹10,000 per semester), Other Advances (₹12,000 per semester). Both are adjustable at the end of the term.
Summer Term (if registered): ₹1,02,000 for tuition (calculated at 35% of the year's semester fee) plus ₹18,000 for hostel and ₹5,000 for mess advance.
Dual Degree Impact: A student accepted into a second degree programme must pay an additional admission fee at the time of that secondary admission.
