The IIMC 2026 counselling process is not a future event you need to wait for. It is already running-registration closed on 7 June 2026, and the first round of seat allotment happened on 9 June 2026. If you applied through the e-counselling portal at iimc.admissions.nic.in, your seat status is already live. If you missed the registration window, do not close this tab yet: multiple rounds of allotment will follow as candidates surrender or fail to pay fees, and you need to know exactly how the system works so you do not miss the next opportunity.

This article covers the IIMC counselling structure for 2026-27 in full: the programmes, seat matrix, reservation quotas, fee structure, document verification requirements, refund policy, and the exact steps you must take after receiving an allotment. Because IIMC became a Deemed to be University on 31 January 2024, the academic structure now includes both two-year MA degrees and one-year PG Diploma programmes-a change that directly affects which documents you need, how much you pay, and whether an interview applies to your course.

What Changed in 2026: Deemed University Status and CUET-PG Integration

For decades, IIMC ran its own standalone entrance exam for all programmes. That ended in 2022 when the institute shifted mainstream PG Diploma admissions to CUET-PG scores. Since 2026, the transformation is complete: IIMC is now a Deemed to be University, and CUET-PG scores (specifically the Mass Communication and Journalism paper, COQP 17) are the primary admission gateway for all its MA programmes and for four PG Diploma programmes.

Three new MA programmes were introduced this year: MA in Health Communication, MA in Media and Communication Governance, and MA in Corporate Communication and Brand Management. These join the existing MA in Media Business Studies, MA in Strategic Communication, and MA in New Media Communications. The PG Diploma slate includes English Journalism, Hindi Journalism, Radio & TV Journalism, Advertising & Public Relations, and Digital Media-all routed through CUET-PG scores and the e-counselling portal. Regional language journalism programmes (Odia, Marathi, Malayalam, Urdu) continue under a separate IIMC-conducted entrance exam and are not part of the e-counselling system.

2026 Counselling Timeline: What Happened and What Comes Next

The e-counselling process for 2026-27 opened on the official portal (iimc.admissions.nic.in) in late May 2026. The last date to register was 7 June 2026. The first seat allotment was declared on 9 June 2026. Here is the confirmed schedule for the remaining steps, based on the IIMC admission process flow and the official PIB release dated 3 June 2026.

If you received a seat in the first round, your immediate task is to pay the seat acceptance fee of ₹20,000 and upload the required documents within the deadline stated in your provisional allotment letter-typically 7 days. Failure to do either means forfeiture of that seat, which then moves to the next candidate on the merit list.

No interview applies to PG Diploma programmes admitted through CUET-PG. Selection is purely on the basis of CUET-PG score, category, and the preferences you submitted during e-counselling. MA programmes, however, require an interview in addition to the CUET-PG score: the final merit list for all MA courses is prepared with 85% weightage to CUET-PG and 15% to the interview score.

Programmes and Seat Matrix: Where the Seats Are

The official seat matrix for the PG Diploma programmes as of 6 April 2026 totals 632 seats across six campuses. The table below includes the category-wise break-up for each programme, which is essential to interpret your allotment chances if you belong to a reserved category.

Additionally, 5 supernumerary seats per programme are available for NRI/NRI-sponsored candidates. MA programmes have separate seat allocations: Media Business Studies (40), Strategic Communication (40), New Media Communications (120 across four campuses), Health Communication (40), Media and Communication Governance (at Dhenkanal), and Corporate Communication and Brand Management (40). These MA seats are filled through the same e-counselling portal but require the interview step.

Eligibility: Who Qualifies for What

Before you proceed with fee payment or document upload, you must verify that you meet the eligibility conditions. IIMC will cancel admission at any stage if a candidate is found ineligible, with full fee forfeiture.

For MA programmes:

• Indian nationals with a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
• Minimum 55% aggregate marks in the qualifying degree.
• Must have a valid CUET-PG score in Mass Communication and Journalism (COQP 17), with some programmes accepting allied subjects: Media Business Studies accepts Economics, Commerce, General Management; Strategic Communication accepts Political Science; New Media Communications accepts Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Arts; Health Communication accepts a wide range of science and social science subjects.
• No age limit.

For PG Diploma programmes (CUET-PG route):

• Graduates in any discipline from a recognised university (no minimum marks specified).
• Must have a valid CUET-PG score in Mass Communication and Journalism (COQP 17).
• Age limit (as on 1 August 2026): General category candidates must be born on 1 August 2001 or later (maximum 25 years). OBC candidates: born on 1 August 1998 or later (28 years). SC/ST/PwD candidates: born on 1 August 1996 or later (30 years).

Final-year students awaiting results can apply but must produce a provisional marksheet/certificate by 30 September 2026. The degree will be awarded only after submission of the original degree certificate for verification.

How the E-Counselling Process Works

Unlike the multi-round algorithmic counselling of JoSAA or NEET, IIMC's e-counselling is a merit-cum-preference system based directly on your CUET-PG score and the choices you submitted during registration.

Step 1: Registration and preference filling You registered at iimc.admissions.nic.in, entered your CUET-PG details, and ranked your campus and programme preferences. The portal allowed you to edit your preference order until the locking deadline (7 June 2026). If you did not manually lock, the last saved preference was auto-locked. Requests to change preferences after submission are not entertained.

Step 2: First seat allotment The system allocates seats based on your CUET-PG score, category, reservation rules, and the order of preferences you submitted. The list of provisionally admitted candidates was published on 9 June 2026 on the IIMC portal. You can check your allotment status by logging in.

Step 3: Seat acceptance fee payment If allotted, you must pay a seat acceptance fee of ₹20,000 online within the deadline (approximately 7 days). This amount is adjusted against your total programme fee. If you fail to pay, the seat is cancelled and offered to a waitlisted candidate.

Step 4: Document upload and verification Along with the fee, you must upload scanned copies of all required documents through the portal. The list includes:

• Class 10 certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 marksheet
• Graduation marksheets and degree/provisional certificate
• CUET-PG 2026 admit card and scorecard
• Aadhaar card or other government photo ID
• Category certificate (if applicable): SC/ST/OBC-NCL (central format, non-creamy layer certificate not issued earlier than six months before registration), EWS (valid for FY 2026-27), PwD certificate
• Passport-size photograph
• Character certificate from the last attended institution

Documents must be clear, all four corners visible, and in JPG/JPEG or PDF format within the prescribed size limits. Any mismatch in name or date of birth across documents will be flagged; if you have a name discrepancy, keep a notarised affidavit ready.

Step 5: Centralised document verification and admission slip After provisional admission, IIMC conducts a centralised document verification process on campus. You must bring a printout of the NIC form filled during counselling, with your parents' ink signature. Once your original documents are verified, an admission slip is issued. This slip confirms your seat.

Step 6: Subsequent rounds If seats remain vacant after the first round-because some candidates did not pay fees or failed document verification-IIMC will announce further rounds. Candidates who were not allotted in the first round or who were waitlisted will be considered automatically based on the existing merit list. You do not need to re-register. Check the IIMC portal regularly for round-wise vacancy updates.

Fees: What You Will Pay After Acceptance

The total fee for each PG Diploma programme includes tuition, a library fee (partially refundable), a students' welfare fund, examination fee, development fee, and convocation fee. Payment is split across two semesters. The following amounts are from the 2025-26/27 prospectus.

*Note: Some regional language programmes have updated fee totals of ₹72,000 as per the 2025-26/27 prospectus. Verify the exact amount for your programme from the latest notification. The seat acceptance fee of ₹20,000 is deducted from the first-semester instalment.

For MA programmes, the total fee ranges from ₹2,82,000 (Media Business Studies, Strategic Communication) to ₹3,42,000 (New Media Communications) for the full two-year programme, paid in four instalments.

Reservation Policy

IIMC follows the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation of Seats) Act 2006: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%. A 5% horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD, minimum 40% disability) cuts across all categories. Candidates who qualify for a general-category seat based on merit are treated as general category candidates, freeing up the reserved seat for another candidate of the same category.

Reservation benefits are conditional on submitting a valid certificate at the time of admission. A state-format OBC certificate without the central non-creamy layer specification will be rejected. An EWS certificate must be valid for the current financial year. If you cannot produce the certificate immediately, IIMC may allow an undertaking, but you must submit the original certificate within the stipulated period. Failure to do so will result in reallocation of the seat.

Refund Policy: What You Lose If You Withdraw

IIMC's refund policy is unforgiving after the course begins. As per the official refund policy updated 20 March 2026:

• If you submit a withdrawal request in writing at least one day before the course commencement, you receive a refund after deduction of ₹1,000 as a processing fee.
• If admission is granted in a spot round, the entire fee is forfeited upon withdrawal.
• If you withdraw after the course has commenced, the tuition fee is completely forfeited.

There is no sliding window for refunds once classes begin. If you are considering multiple offers, make your decision before the reporting date.

What to Do Right Now (If You Registered Before 7 June)

If you received an allotment on 9 June, your action checklist is:

1. Log in to iimc.admissions.nic.in and download the provisional allotment letter.
2. Pay ₹20,000 seat acceptance fee online using net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI, within the deadline printed on the letter. Keep the payment receipt.
3. Upload all required documents in the portal, exactly as per the format guidelines. Double-check that your name and date of birth match across the Class 10 certificate, graduation marksheet, and photo ID.
4. Watch for the document verification call. IIMC will notify you of the date for centralised physical verification. You must attend this in person with original documents and one set of self-attested photocopies.
5. Do not stop checking iimc.gov.in. If you are waitlisted or did not get your first preference, further rounds may offer you a better seat. The counselling process moves fast-a missed deadline means a lost seat.

If you missed the 7 June registration deadline, you cannot participate in the current e-counselling rounds for CUET-PG programmes. However, the regional language journalism programmes (Odia, Marathi, Malayalam, Urdu) are admitted through a separate IIMC-conducted entrance exam. Check iimc.gov.in for separate admission notifications for those programmes. Additionally, supernumerary NRI seats may be filled through direct application by writing to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there an interview for PG Diploma programmes in 2026?

A: No. PG Diploma programmes admitted through CUET-PG scores do not require an interview. Selection is based solely on CUET-PG score, category, and campus preferences. MA programmes do require an interview, with 85% weightage to CUET-PG and 15% to the interview.

Q: What happens if I do not pay the ₹20,000 seat acceptance fee by the deadline?

A: Your provisional admission will be cancelled automatically, and the seat will be offered to the next candidate on the merit list. You will not be reconsidered for subsequent rounds unless fresh vacancy-based counselling is announced.

Q: Can I change my campus preference after the first round if I am not satisfied with my allotment?

A: No. Preference changes are not allowed after the registration deadline. However, if you are selected in a lower preference but a higher-preference seat becomes available in a subsequent round due to withdrawals, you may be automatically upgraded. There is no float/freeze option; the system upgrades based on merit-cum-preference.

Q: What is the age limit for PG Diploma in Journalism (English) for an OBC candidate?

A: You must be born on 1 August 1998 or later, meaning a maximum age of 28 years as of 1 August 2026.

Q: How many seats are there for English Journalism at the Delhi campus?

A: 68 total, with 25 general, 10 SC, 5 ST, 18 OBC, 7 EWS, and 3 PwD seats. These numbers are from the April 2026 seat matrix.

Q: Can I join IIMC if I am awaiting my final graduation results?

A: Yes. You must produce at least a provisional marksheet by 30 September 2026. Final degree must be submitted later. Failure to meet the deadline can lead to admission cancellation.

Q: When does the academic session start for PG Diploma courses?

A: The academic session commences on 5 August 2026 with registration and orientation on 5-6 August, followed by classes from 11 August 2026 (as per the 2025-26 calendar; 2026-27 likely follows the same schedule).

Q: What if I have a gap in my education after graduation?

A: You should be ready to explain the gap during document verification if asked. A gap certificate or affidavit stating the reason may be required. It is not a ground for rejection unless the gap creates a doubt about your academic eligibility.

Q: How do NRI-sponsored candidates apply?

A: NRI quota candidates can apply directly by writing to [email protected] with proof of NRI status and a $50 entry fee. They may appear for an online interview. Up to 5 supernumerary seats are available per programme.

Q: Where do I get the official IIMC admission notification and schedule?

A: Only from iimc.gov.in. The admission notice, prospectus, seat matrix, fee structure, and counselling updates are all posted there. The e-counselling portal is iimc.admissions.nic.in. No other source is authorised.