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.
What is IIITH-UGEE?
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.
Why only IIIT Hyderabad?
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 at a Glance
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:
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:
Total UGEE seats: 120. Exits after completing only the B.Tech are not permitted; the programme is integrated.
UGEE 2026: What Just Happened (and What Comes Next)
The 2026 cycle has already concluded. Key dates were:
- Application release: 11 February 2026
- Application deadline: 31 March 2026 (extended to 5 April)
- UGEE exam: 2 May 2026
- On-campus interviews: 4-6 June 2026
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.
UGEE Eligibility (2027 cycle reference)
As of 2026, eligibility rules are:
- Passed or appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Year of passing must be 2024, 2025, or June 2027. Anyone who passed in 2023 or earlier is not eligible.
- There is no board percentage minimum (previously a 75% / 80% rule existed; it has been dropped).
- 25% of interview shortlist slots are targeted for women candidates. Application fee: ₹3,100 for male applicants, ₹1,550 for female applicants.
- No age restriction; no JEE Main score required.
UGEE Exam Pattern (2024 onward)
The exam is a 3-hour computer-based test with two sections. The pattern observed in 2024 and 2025 is:
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.
UGEE Cutoffs: What Scores Got Candidates Interviewed
IIIT Hyderabad does not publish cutoffs, but student-reported data from recent years reveals a clear pattern:
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.
UGEE Application Process (2027 Prep)
When the portal opens:
- Register on the IIIT Hyderabad admissions website with email and mobile number.
- Fill in personal and academic details. Take your time on the two subjective questions. These ask about your interest in CS/research, projects, and motivation. Your answers are later used during the interview.
- Select programme preferences in order. This determines which dual-degree you might be offered. Do not randomise this list.
- Upload photograph and signature.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Submit and save the confirmation page.
For the 2026 cycle, the fee was ₹3,100 (male) and ₹1,550 (female). Online payment via card, UPI, or net banking.
Fee Structure and Financial Assistance
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:
- SBI Scholar Loan: Up to ₹40 lakh, no collateral, no processing charges, co-borrower (parent), repayment starts after course completion + 1 year, rate around 7.90% floating. Available through SBI, IIIT Gachibowli branch.
- Alumni-funded pay-it-forward scheme: Students with family income below ₹8 lakh p.a. receive full tuition support from the second semester onward, subject to availability. Recipients agree to contribute to another student’s fees after employment. Students above the income threshold may also apply if a designated committee finds the case meritorious.
- Fifth-year support: Tuition in the fifth year is usually covered by the research advisor/centre/institute for meritorious students.
These mechanisms ensure that admission is merit-based and cost alone does not block a determined candidate.
Preparation Strategy for UGEE
SUPR (build on JEE prep)
- Your JEE Main preparation covers the syllabus. Shift focus from speed to conceptual reasoning.
- Aim for 30+ correct attempts in practice. With negative marking of -0.25, accuracy matters more than volume.
- Mathematics topics like probability, P&C, and calculus carry disproportionate weight. Physics: mechanics, waves, electromagnetism.
- Chemistry’s share is small; avoid over-preparing inorganic chemistry.
REAP (train a different muscle)
- Practice logical reasoning daily: CAT-level data interpretation, NTSE-style puzzles, analytical reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal-level).
- Work on linguistics puzzles (NACLO-style) and cryptarithmetic.
- Use official IIIT Hyderabad sample questions. Memory-based previous-year papers are available through dedicated student communities.
- Take full-length mock tests under timed conditions. The 2-hour REAP session demands stamina and composure.
Interview preparation
- Read research blogs from IIIT Hyderabad labs. Form opinions.
- Practice explaining your reasoning aloud. The panel rewards clarity, honesty, and curiosity.
- Prepare your Class 12 projects; they often become discussion starters.
- If you do not know something, say so calmly. The panel is testing your ability to think, not your recall.
Comparison: UGEE vs JEE Main Route to IIIT Hyderabad
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.
Exam Centres
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.