IIIT Hyderabad’s UGEE 2026 cycle has concluded-the exam was held on 2 May, interviews ran from 4 to 6 June on campus, and final seat offers will be out shortly. If you’re reading this in 2027 or later, you have one clear advantage: you now know exactly how the process works, what the eligibility rules are, and where the hidden filters sit. This guide captures every confirmed detail from the 2026 admissions cycle so you can prepare without chasing rumours.
What UGEE Actually Is
UGEE-the Undergraduate Entrance Examination-belongs exclusively to IIIT Hyderabad. It is the only route into the institute’s five-year dual-degree programmes, where graduates earn a B.Tech and an MS by research. The programmes covered are:
- CSD: B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering + MS by Research in CSE
- ECD: B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering + MS by Research in ECE
- CLD: B.Tech in Computer Science + MS in Computational Linguistics
- CND: B.Tech in Computer Science + MS in Computational Natural Sciences
- CHD: B.Tech in Computer Science + MS in Computing and Human Sciences
- CGD: B.Tech in Computer Science + MS in Geospatial Technology
Seats across these six programmes totalled 110 in 2026: CSD 35, ECD 25, and 15 each for CLD, CND, CHD, and CGD. [s:36, s:38, s:52]
The exam is not a single test. It is a two-section computer-based assessment, followed by an interview that decides everything. The two written sections are:
- SUPR (Subject Proficiency Test): 60 minutes, testing Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at the Class 11-12 level.
- REAP (Research Aptitude Test): 120 minutes of critical and creative thinking problems.
Both sections carry a 25% negative marking penalty. [s:36, s:38, s:52]
UGEE 2026 Dates (For Reference)
The official timeline released by IIIT Hyderabad will give you a reliable pattern for planning future attempts.
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All applications were submitted online through ugadmissions.iiit.ac.in. No offline forms existed. The admit card was downloadable from the same portal.
Eligibility Criteria: The Only Rules That Matter
Forget about guessing minimum percentages or age caps. IIIT Hyderabad published a clean, unambiguous eligibility statement for UGEE 2026.
Academic Qualification
You must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry as compulsory subjects. The passing year must fall between 2023 and June 2026-both inclusive. If you cleared Class 12 in 2022 or earlier, you are not eligible.
There is no minimum board percentage requirement. No 60%, no 75%, no top-20-percentile rule. You simply need to have passed. This was confirmed explicitly in the official 2026 notification. [s:36, s:38, s:52, s:54, s:56]
If you are appearing for your Class 12 board exams in 2026, you are provisionally eligible. You must submit the final mark sheet at the time of admission, and your passing year must be verified.
Age Limit
No upper age limit was prescribed for UGEE 2026. Candidates of any age who satisfy the educational qualification could apply. This aligns with historical UGEE cycles and differs markedly from JEE Advanced, which enforces a birth-year cut-off. [s:42, s:43, s:52]
Number of Attempts
UGEE is held once a year. You may appear as many times as you wish, provided you meet the eligibility criteria each year. There is no lifetime attempt cap. If you attempted in 2025 and did not secure a seat, you were free to apply again in 2026.
Nationality and OCI/PIO Status
The UGEE channel is primarily for Indian nationals. The official 2026 notification did not explicitly bar OCI or PIO cardholders, but it also did not create a separate category for them. Based on broader government regulations, OCI cardholders are generally eligible for all-India entrance exams but cannot claim Indian-citizen reserved seats-a moot point here because IIIT Hyderabad does not have category-based reservations in the first place.
Foreign nationals and students who completed Class 11 and 12 outside India should use the DASA (Direct Admission for Students Abroad) channel, not UGEE. DASA has its own application timeline, SAT score requirements, and fee structure. [s:32, s:40, s:50]
Reservation: None
IIIT Hyderabad’s admission policy is unambiguous: all admissions are strictly merit-based and in the open category. There is no reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD candidates under UGEE. The institute’s own FAQ states: “is there any sc/st/bc, women, physically challenged etc. quota for iiit admissions? no, there is no sc/st/bc, women, physically challenged etc. quota or reservation of any kind for iiit admissions. all admissions are strictly merit based and in open category.” [s:38, s:38_faq]
The only diversity measure is a target-not a seat reservation-of at least 25% women among those shortlisted for interviews. This is achieved by evaluating all candidates on merit and, where marks are tied, giving weight to the diversity objective. The application fee for female candidates was halved to ₹1,550. [s:36, s:52]
The UGEE Exam in Detail
Understanding what you’ll face inside the test centre is more useful than eligibility alone.
SUPR - Subject Proficiency Test
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (Class 11 and 12 syllabus)
- Question type: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
- Approximate number of questions: 40 (typical pattern observed across recent years)
- Marks per correct answer: +1
- Negative marking: -0.25 (25% penalty)
SUPR is the gatekeeper. Your REAP paper is evaluated only if you clear the SUPR cut-off. The questions are concept-based, comparable to easier JEE Main problems, but the time constraint-40 questions in 60 minutes-rewards quick, accurate thinking. [s:42, s:44, s:46]
REAP - Research Aptitude Test
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Focus: Critical and creative thinking, logical reasoning, data interpretation, linguistic puzzles, and research-oriented problem-solving
- Question type: MCQs
- Approximate number of questions: 50
- Marks per correct answer: +2
- Negative marking: -0.5 (25% penalty)
REAP carries double the weight of SUPR and is the primary rank-determining section. The questions are not formula-drill. They might ask you to decode a made-up language, interpret a multi-step graph, or reason through a scientific scenario you’ve never seen before. This section is what separates UGEE from every other Indian engineering entrance exam. [s:42, s:44, s:46, s:54]
Exam Centres
UGEE 2026 was conducted across multiple cities in every state. The full list included all major metros and many tier-2 cities. Candidates selected their preferred centre during application.
Shortlisting and the Interview: How Selection Works
This is the part most candidates misunderstand. UGEE does not have a single rank list that determines admission. The process is:
- SUPR cut-off: You must first score above the qualifying threshold in SUPR. If you don’t, your REAP score is not even considered.
- REAP ranking: Among those who clear SUPR, candidates are ranked based on REAP scores. This rank determines who gets an interview call.
- Interview: Shortlisted candidates attend an on-campus interview. The final offer of admission is based solely on interview performance. Your written exam score, once it earns you the interview, no longer determines your fate. [s:36, s:38, s:52, s:54]
This means two things: a high SUPR+REAP combined score can get you into the room, but it cannot guarantee a seat. And a candidate who barely clears the cut-off can still earn admission if they dazzle the panel.
Interview Dates and Mode
In 2026, interviews were held on campus from 4 to 6 June. During the pandemic years, they went online, but from 2026 onward, IIIT Hyderabad has returned to in-person interviews. [s:36, s:38]
The panel typically consists of two or three professors. They assess conceptual depth, problem-solving approach, research curiosity, and coachability-how you respond when given hints. The interview is not a viva of memorised facts. It is a conversation where you may be asked to derive a concept, explain your thought process aloud, or tackle a novel puzzle. [s:44, s:45, s:46, s:47, s:48]
Diversity Target
The institute aimed to shortlist at least 25% women for interviews in 2026. This is achieved within the merit framework-no separate quota exists, but the shortlisting process is calibrated to meet the target where scores allow.
Past UGEE Cut-offs: What Numbers Look Like
Cut-offs vary every year based on paper difficulty and applicant pool. Here are the official interview shortlisting cut-offs from recent cycles, expressed as qualifying marks out of the respective section totals.
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For 2026, the SUPR pattern returned to ~40 questions with 40 marks, and REAP to ~50 questions with 100 marks. The cut-off will have been determined by candidate performance. As a future aspirant, aim for at least 18-20 in SUPR and 70+ in REAP to build a comfortable margin.
Application Fee and Diversity-Related Fee Reduction
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The fee is non-refundable. Payment was accepted online via debit card, credit card, or net banking. There was no fee waiver for reserved categories because the institute does not operate a reservation system.
Financial Assistance for Admitted Students
IIIT Hyderabad charges tuition of ₹4,50,000 per annum for the 2026-27 academic year (for the 2025 batch; fees are typically revised annually). Hostel charges are approximately ₹4,000 per month, and mess charges about ₹5,000 per month. These are payable semester-wise. [s:42, s:52]
The institute offers financial support through two main channels:
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SBI Scholar Loan: The State Bank of India branch on campus guarantees an education loan of up to ₹40 lakhs with no collateral required, no processing charges, and repayment beginning after the course plus a moratorium period. Interest rates floated around 7.90% with a co-applicant (parent). [s:42, s:52]
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Alumni-Supported Financial Assistance Fund (ISFAS): Students from families with annual income below ₹8 lakhs can receive tuition support from the second semester onward, on a pay-it-forward basis. Students above the income threshold may also apply if a committee deems their case meritorious. The scheme is funded by alumni contributions and institute allocations. [s:42, s:52]
Additionally, dual-degree students often receive financial support for the fifth year through teaching assistantships or funded research projects, provided their academic performance is satisfactory. [s:38_faq, s:42]
What Makes UGEE Different from JEE (And Why That Changes How You Prepare)
You cannot prepare for UGEE the same way you prepare for JEE Main. Here is a side-by-side that explains why.
The preparation implication: your JEE Main revision gives you the SUPR base, but REAP requires a separate, dedicated effort. Practise logical reasoning, linguistic puzzles, data interpretation, and abstract problem-solving. Read about how research is done. Learn to explain your thinking aloud-because the interview will demand exactly that.
Applying in Future Cycles: A Checklist
When UGEE applications open-typically in February-you’ll need:
- A scanned passport-size photograph
- Scanned signature
- Class 10 mark sheet (for date of birth)
- Class 12 mark sheet (if already passed) or Class 12 hall ticket/admit card (if appearing)
- A valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence)
- Payment method for the online fee (₹3,100 for male, ₹1,550 for female)
You’ll register on the portal, fill in personal and academic details, choose your exam centre preference, and pay. The application also asks you to answer two subjective questions-these are read by the interview panel later, so think carefully before submitting. You’ll also rank the dual-degree programmes in order of preference; this order is used during seat allocation if you reach that stage.