IIIT Hyderabad’s Undergraduate Entrance Examination ran its 2026 admission cycle like clockwork. The application window opened on 11 February 2026 and closed on 31 March 2026, with a short extension until 5 April 2026. The exam itself happened on 2 May 2026. If you missed it, you are already looking ahead to 2027. But for those who took the test and await results-or those planning next year-this is the definitive guide to everything that happened and how the process works.
UGEE is not another JEE. It is the sole gateway to IIIT Hyderabad’s five-year dual-degree programmes-B.Tech plus an MS by research. The exam tests subject proficiency and research aptitude. The final decision happens at an on-campus interview. No rank, no formula-just the panel’s assessment of whether you belong in a research lab.
Below, every date, fee, figure, and rule that was applicable for the 2026 cycle. Use it to prepare for the next.
What Is IIITH-UGEE?
The Undergraduate Entrance Examination (UGEE) is conducted by IIIT Hyderabad exclusively for admission to its dual degree programmes. These programmes run five years and award two degrees: a B.Tech and a Master of Science by research. The MS requires a research thesis, which means you spend at least a year embedded in a faculty-led research project.
The written exam has two sections:
- SUPR (Subject Proficiency Test): 60 minutes, 50 multiple-choice questions covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at the Class 11-12 CBSE/state board level.
- REAP (Research Aptitude Test): 120 minutes, 50 questions that test critical thinking, logical reasoning, pattern recognition, data interpretation, and creative problem-solving. There is no fixed syllabus for REAP; it rewards how you think, not what you have memorised.
Both sections carry a 25% negative marking. SUPR awards 1 mark per correct answer, deducting 0.25 for each wrong one. REAP awards 2 marks per correct answer, deducting 0.5 for each wrong one. The total marks are 150 (50 from SUPR, 100 from REAP).
SUPR acts as a filter. You must clear a minimum cut-off in SUPR before your REAP score is even considered. Those who cross that threshold are ranked purely on REAP performance for interview shortlisting. Once shortlisted, the interview alone decides admission. The interview panel’s decision is final.
UGEE 2026: The Confirmed Timeline
IIIT Hyderabad released the official UGEE 2026 schedule early in the year. All dates are now past, but they serve as a template for 2027.
The admit cards were downloadable from the official admissions portal. The exam was computer-based, held in a single shift across multiple centres in India.
Programmes Offered Through UGEE
All UGEE-admitted students join a five-year dual-degree programme. The institute assigns a programme at the time of seat allotment based on your preference order and interview rank.
Total seats available in the UGEE channel for 2026 were 120. This is a small number, which makes the process intensely competitive.
Eligibility: Who Could Apply in 2026
IIIT Hyderabad’s eligibility criteria for UGEE 2026 were straightforward.
- You must have passed or be appearing for Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- The year of passing must be between 2023 and June 2026. Candidates who passed Class 12 in 2022 or earlier were not eligible.
- There was no minimum percentage requirement for board marks. You simply needed to pass.
International students and those from non-Indian boards should verify equivalence through the IIIT Hyderabad admissions office.
Application Process and Fee
Applications were submitted online through the UG admissions portal. The steps were:
- Register with a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill personal, academic, and programme preference details.
- Upload scanned photograph and signature.
- Pay the application fee online.
The application fee for 2026:
- Male applicants: ₹3,100
- Female applicants: ₹1,550
The fee was non-refundable. The reduced fee for women was part of IIIT Hyderabad’s diversity initiative, which also targets at least 25% women among interview-shortlisted candidates.
Candidates had to select programme preferences at the time of application-similar to filling choices in counselling-so careful ordering mattered.
Admit Card
Admit cards were released on 21 April 2026. Candidates downloaded them using their application number and password. The hall ticket listed:
- Candidate’s name, photograph, and roll number
- Exam centre address
- Reporting time and exam timing (9:00 am to 12:00 noon)
- Instructions for the test day
Candidates were required to bring a printed copy of the admit card and a valid government-issued photo ID to the centre. Electronic copies were not accepted.
UGEE 2026 Exam Pattern in Detail
The exam was a 3-hour computer-based test with two sections. There was no break between them.
SUPR (Subject Proficiency Test)
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Questions: 50 multiple-choice
- Marks: 1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 for incorrect
- Total marks: 50
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (Class 11-12 level, NCERT-based)
- Syllabus emphasis: core concepts, application-oriented questions, not lengthy calculations
REAP (Research Aptitude Test)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Questions: 50 (including some fill-in-the-blank type)
- Marks: 2 marks per correct answer, -0.5 for incorrect
- Total marks: 100
- Content: logical reasoning, data interpretation, pattern recognition, puzzles, coding-decoding, analytical ability, linguistic reasoning, and creative problem-solving
- No fixed textbook; practice with aptitude and reasoning material is essential
The total exam was worth 150 marks.
Shortlisting and Interview Process
Shortlisting had two steps. First, candidates were filtered by SUPR score. Only those above a certain threshold had their REAP papers evaluated. Then, candidates were ranked by REAP score to create the interview shortlist.
Interviews were conducted on the IIIT Hyderabad campus from 4 to 6 June 2026. Each candidate faced a panel of faculty members. The panel assessed:
- Conceptual depth in Physics and Mathematics
- Logical reasoning and problem-solving approach
- Research curiosity and intellectual maturity
- Communication clarity and coachability
The final offer of admission rested entirely on interview performance. The written exam only decided who got a seat in the interview room. No weightage was given to SUPR or REAP scores after shortlisting.
Previous Year Cutoffs and Selection Ratio
IIIT Hyderabad does not publish cutoff scores officially, but memory-based data from multiple cycles reveals the following interview shortlist thresholds.
Earlier years (before 2023) used a combined mark out of 150: the cutoff ranged from 80 to 104. The shift to separate SUPR and REAP cutoffs reflects the institute’s emphasis on research aptitude as the primary differentiator.
An estimated 30,000 to 60,000 candidates appear for UGEE each year. With only 120 seats, the selection ratio is roughly 0.2% to 0.4%-around 1 in every 300 to 500 applicants. This makes it statistically tougher than many IIT programmes.
Fee Structure and Financial Assistance
The official tuition fee for dual-degree programmes in the academic year 2026-27 is ₹5,00,000 per annum. In addition, students pay approximately ₹6,000 per month for hostel and ₹5,000 per month for mess. Fees are payable semester-wise before the start of each term.
For the fifth year, meritorious students are expected to receive tuition fee support from their research advisor, centre, or institute funds.
Financial assistance is available:
- SBI Scholar Loan: IIIT Hyderabad’s SBI branch guarantees a collateral-free education loan of up to ₹40 lakh for any admitted student, even if the family has existing loans.
- Alumni-Supported Financial Assistance Fund: Need-based support for students with family income below ₹8 lakh per annum, starting from the second semester. It operates on a pay-it-forward model: after graduation, beneficiaries contribute to support future students. Families above the ₹8 lakh threshold may still apply if a special committee approves.
The combination of loan guarantee and alumni funding ensures that financial constraints rarely block admission.
How to Prepare for UGEE
If you are targeting the 2027 cycle, your preparation must run on two tracks.
Track 1: SUPR
SUPR is aligned with JEE Main-level Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. NCERT textbooks are the best starting point. Supplement with standard reference books like HC Verma for Physics, RD Sharma for Mathematics, and OP Tandon for Chemistry. Focus on conceptual clarity and application. Since SUPR is a filtering section, a strong JEE Main preparation will usually carry you through.
Track 2: REAP
This is where potential candidates separate themselves. REAP is not formula-heavy. It tests:
- Logical reasoning puzzles (arrangements, sequences, coding-decoding)
- Data interpretation (charts, tables, graphs)
- Pattern recognition (visual and numerical)
- Linguistic reasoning (analogies, critical reading)
- Creative problem-solving (unfamiliar scenarios, estimation)
Practice daily with reasoning books, puzzle sets, and sample papers. IIIT Hyderabad’s official website provides sample SUPR and REAP questions, plus a mock test. Additional memory-based question banks are available through student communities, but always verify their accuracy.
Time management is crucial. REAP’s 120 minutes for 50 questions means roughly 2 minutes per question, but some puzzles demand more time. Practice full-length mocks under timed conditions.
Exam Day Instructions
Candidates had to report to the test centre at least 60 minutes before the scheduled time. They carried:
- Printed admit card
- Valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, etc.)
- Passport-size photograph (as uploaded)
Electronic devices, calculators, smartwatches, and any study material were strictly prohibited. Only a transparent water bottle and simple stationery were allowed.
After the Exam: Results, Seat Allotment, and Reporting
UGEE results were declared in May 2026 (the 2025 cycle announced results on 8 May). Shortlisted candidates received interview call letters via the portal.
Post-interview, the institute released a merit list. Seat allotment happened in multiple rounds. Key points:
- Candidates who were allotted a seat had to accept by paying ₹20,000 (₹10,000 seat allocation fee + ₹10,000 advance towards tuition) within the deadline.
- They could lock the seat if satisfied or float for an upgrade.
- Those who did not receive a seat in a round could continue by giving consent and paying the one-time continuation fee.
- Cancellation and refund policies: full refund of the first-semester tuition fee (₹2,25,000) was possible if cancelled within the early deadline of the round of first allotment, subject to providing a valid offer letter from another institute. Without an offer letter, deductions applied.
Candidates could apply through multiple channels (JEE Main, UGEE, etc.) but could hold only one seat across all modes. Accepting a UGEE seat and later a JEE mode seat required cancelling the UGEE seat first.
Final reporting to campus happened in July. Students had to present original documents and complete admission formalities.