International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH)
The search term “colleges accepting IIITH-UGEE” brings many students here expecting a long list. Here is the one-line reality: UGEE leads to exactly one institute - the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad. And that is not a limitation. It is the point.
UGEE (Undergraduate Entrance Examination) is IIIT Hyderabad’s proprietary test, built to filter for a very specific kind of student: someone who thinks from first principles, finds puzzles more engaging than formula-plugging, and would rather spend five years doing undergraduate research than racing for a conventional campus placement slot. If that describes you, no other entrance exam offers a route to an institute where the average B.Tech CSE package hit ₹31.98 LPA in 2025, the highest offer stood at ₹1.28 crore, and the curriculum is structured around a B.Tech plus an MS by Research dual degree.
Below, we explain what UGEE tests, why IIIT Hyderabad is the only college on this list, and how to navigate the SUPR, REAP, and interview stages - whether you are preparing for the next cycle or simply trying to understand the process that just concluded in June 2026.
UGEE is a two-section computer-based test (SUPR + REAP) followed by a rigorous on-campus interview. It is not a rank-based, percentile-driven exam like JEE Main. The written test shortlists candidates; the interview makes the final admission decision. There is no “closing rank” that guarantees a seat. You convince the panel or you do not.
A core principle of the exam:
“UGEE weighs analytical ingenuity as heavily as PCM knowledge, and your final shot at a seat depends entirely on an interview, not a rank. The exam structure (SUPR + REAP) rewards strategic risk-taking because every wrong answer costs you 25%.”
That negative marking is deliberate. A question you are unsure about can erase the equivalent of four correct answers in some years. The test penalises guesswork and rewards clarity. That is the first filter.
No other institute - not IIIT Allahabad, not IIIT Delhi, not any NIT or IIT - accepts UGEE scores. The UGEE is inseparable from IIIT Hyderabad’s specific academic model: a five-year integrated dual degree culminating in a B.Tech and an MS by Research. Other IIITs admit through JEE Main (via JoSAA or CSAB), and the three autonomous international IIITs (Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi) each run their own independent admission processes. UGEE is exclusive to IIIT Hyderabad. When you prepare for UGEE, you are targeting exactly one campus, one curriculum, and one research culture. That focus is both a risk and a strategic advantage.
IIIT Hyderabad is an autonomous deemed university, founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-private partnership. It holds NAAC A++ accreditation and, in NIRF 2025, ranked 38th in the engineering category. Among all IIITs, it consistently places first in research output, industry reputation, and average compensation.
Placements (2024-25 academic year) Data from the official placement report confirm the following:
| Programme | Average Salary (LPA) | Highest Salary (LPA) | Placement Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech CSE | ₹31.98 | ₹128.00 | 99% |
| B.Tech ECE | ₹29.94 | ₹74.00 | 97% |
| MS by Research (CLD/LCD) | ₹35.78 - ₹39.82 | ₹74.00 - ₹64.00 | 89% - 100% |
| MS by Research (CSD/CND/ECD) | ₹15.00 - ₹17.76 | ₹18.00 - ₹20.00 | 100% |
Recruiters include Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Goldman Sachs, and Qualcomm. The average package for CSE graduates has been rising steadily year-on-year.
Research culture Undergraduate students at IIIT Hyderabad begin research at the end of their second year, working inside labs on natural language processing, computer vision, VLSI, robotics, and computational social sciences. The institute houses 25 research centres, including a robotics lab ranked second in Asia by csrankings.org and India’s largest AI research group (Kohli Center on Intelligent Systems).
Dual-degree programmes (5 years, B.Tech + MS by Research) The six programmes available through UGEE are:
| Programme Code | B.Tech Specialisation | MS by Research Specialisation | Seats (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSD | Computer Science & Engineering | Computer Science & Engineering | 35 |
| ECD | Electronics & Communication Engineering | Electronics & Communication Engineering | 25 |
| CLD | Computer Science | Computational Linguistics | 15 |
| CND | Computer Science | Computational Natural Sciences | 15 |
| CHD | Computer Science | Computing and Human Sciences | 15 |
| CGD | Computer Science | Geospatial Technology | 15 |
Total UGEE seats: 120. Exits after completing only the B.Tech are not permitted; the programme is integrated.
The 2026 cycle has already concluded. Key dates were:
If you are reading this on 14 June 2026, the UGEE 2026 window is closed. For the 2027 cycle, expect the application portal to open around February 2027, the exam in late April or early May, and interviews in early June 2027. Always monitor the official site: iiit.ac.in/admissions/undergraduate.
As of 2026, eligibility rules are:
The exam is a 3-hour computer-based test with two sections. The pattern observed in 2024 and 2025 is:
| Section | Duration | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUPR (Subject Proficiency Test) | 60 minutes | 40 | +1 | 40 | -0.25 (25% of mark) |
| REAP (Research Aptitude Test) | 120 minutes | 50 | +2 | 100 | -0.5 (25% of mark) |
SUPR: Covers Class 11 and 12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, aligned with CBSE and most state boards. Mathematics and Physics carry significantly more weight than Chemistry. Questions are conceptual and resemble moderate JEE Main problems.
REAP: Tests logical reasoning, pattern detection, data interpretation, linguistics, and creative problem-solving. There is no fixed syllabus. Questions may involve decoding an artificial language, analysing a graph drawn from a science experiment, or solving a multi-step combinatorial puzzle.
Shortlisting mechanism: Candidates are first filtered by SUPR score. Among those who clear the SUPR sectional cutoff, ranking is then done by REAP score. The combined written score plays no further role; the interview alone determines final selection.
IIIT Hyderabad does not publish cutoffs, but student-reported data from recent years reveals a clear pattern:
| Year | SUPR Cutoff (out of 40) | REAP Cutoff - Male | REAP Cutoff - Female | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12.75 | 68 / 100 | 64.5 / 100 | SUPR qualifier; REAP rank decider |
| 2024 | 14.00 | 66 | 63 | Similar pattern; SUPR low, REAP high |
| 2023 | ~22 (out of 50) | 68 | 63 | Older 50-question SUPR format |
These numbers illustrate a crucial point: SUPR is a gate, not the rank driver. A student with 13 in SUPR and 68 in REAP was selected; another with 39 in SUPR and 67 in REAP was not. The real competition is in REAP.
For the 2027 cycle, treat 18-20 in SUPR and 70+ in REAP as safe practice benchmarks.
When the portal opens:
For the 2026 cycle, the fee was ₹3,100 (male) and ₹1,550 (female). Online payment via card, UPI, or net banking.
Tuition (academic year 2025-26): ₹4,50,000 per annum for dual-degree programmes.
Hostel and mess: Approx. ₹4,000 per month (hostel) + ₹5,000 per month (mess), payable semester-wise. Annual total including tuition, hostel, and mess: approximately ₹5.6-6 lakh.
5-year total: Approximately ₹28-30 lakh, before any financial support.
Financial assistance options:
These mechanisms ensure that admission is merit-based and cost alone does not block a determined candidate.
SUPR (build on JEE prep)
REAP (train a different muscle)
Interview preparation
| Aspect | UGEE (Dual Degree) | JEE Main (B.Tech only) |
|---|---|---|
| Programmes | B.Tech + MS by Research (5 years, no early exit) | B.Tech (4 years) in CSE or ECE |
| Seats | 120 (CSD/ECD/trans-disciplinary) | 160 (CSE 100, ECE 60) |
| Admission process | Written test (SUPR+REAP) + Interview | JEE Main score → institute-level merit list |
| 2025 closing JEE Main rank (CSE) | Not applicable; UGEE uses interview-based selection | Round 1: AIR 1004; Round 2: AIR 3104 |
| Fee (annual tuition) | ₹4,50,000 | ₹4,50,000 (2025-26) |
| Research exposure | Mandatory, from year 3 | Possible but optional, typically via B.Tech honours projects |
If your rank in JEE Main puts you in range for the B.Tech CSE programme (typically 1000-3000 AIR), you may not need UGEE. But if you are drawn to research or want the MS credential, UGEE is the path.
UGEE 2026 was conducted in 100+ cities across all states. The centre list for 2027 will be similar, covering all major Indian cities including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and many districts.
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