As of 14 June 2026, the e‑counselling window for IIMC’s MA and PG diploma programmes is halfway through its second round - the first merit list is already out, and the second allotment drops on 16 June. If you aimed for a seat this year, the single most important date you still control is the acceptance deadline. If you’re planning for the next cycle, what you need is the full timeline so you don’t misplace a single deadline.
This page lays out every confirmed date from the 2026‑27 admission process - the CUET PG registration window, admit card release, exam schedule, IIMC’s counselling rounds, and the deadlines you cannot afford to miss. No speculation. Only official sources and the numbers that appeared on iimc.gov.in and the NTA portals.
IIMC 2026 Admission: The Big Picture
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a deemed‑to‑be‑university under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, offers six MA programmes and four PG diploma programmes across its campuses in New Delhi, Dhenkanal, Aizawl, Amravati, Jammu, and Kottayam.
Admission to most of these programmes now flows through the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduates (CUET PG). As the 2026 admission cycle shows, you do not write a separate IIMC‑organised test for English journalism, Hindi journalism, radio & TV journalism, advertising & public relations, or the new MA streams. Your CUET PG score in Mass Communication & Journalism (COQP 17) - and in some cases, scores in allied subjects like Economics, Commerce, or Political Science - forms the 85% weightage for final merit.
IIMC conducts its own entrance exam only for four regional‑language PG diploma programmes: Odia, Marathi, Malayalam, and Urdu journalism.
Every piece of advice in this article traces back to the official prospectus (2025‑26/27), the admission notice (2026‑27), CUET PG bulletins, and the PIB release dated 03 June 2026.
CUET PG 2026: The Gateway Exam - Registration Dates, Admit Card & Exam Schedule
If you target any IIMC MA or PG diploma course except the four regional‑language programmes, CUET PG is non‑negotiable. The NTA handled everything: registration, admit card issuance, exam conduct, result declaration.
CUET PG 2026 Key Dates at a Glance
The admit card carried your roll number, exam centre address, shift timing, and reporting instructions. You had to carry a printed copy along with an original photo ID - without both, the centre turned you away.
Registration Fee for CUET PG 2026 (India Centres)
The fee varied by category and the number of test papers. Since you needed only Mass Communication & Journalism (COQP 17), you paid for one paper at the following rates (for centres in India):
Payment was accepted only online - credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI.
IIMC’s Own Entrance for Regional‑Language Journalism
For PG diploma in Odia, Marathi, Malayalam, or Urdu journalism, IIMC runs a separate descriptive test. The notification for this exam appears directly on iimc.gov.in.
Based on the institute’s pattern, the application forms for the 2026 cycle opened in February 2026 and closed by the fourth week of February. The exam was tentatively scheduled for the second week of March 2026, with results expected by late March. The admit card for this test was downloadable from IIMC’s admission portal using your registration credentials.
The question paper carried 100 marks, mixing short, long, and objective‑type questions, with a duration of three hours. Since the exam is language‑specific, you need native‑level command of the chosen medium.
IIMC 2026 E‑Counselling: Dates, Rounds, and What You Must Do Now
After the CUET PG result on 24 April 2026, IIMC opened its own online counselling registration. The process is entirely electronic - there is no walk‑in admission.
Complete Counselling Calendar (2026‑27 Cycle)
Seat acceptance fee: ₹20,000 (non‑adjustable if you withdraw after the cut‑off). The remaining programme fee must be paid within the timeline specified in the allotment letter.
How to Register for IIMC Counselling
- Go to
https://iimc.admissions.nic.in/. - Register using your CUET PG application number and date of birth.
- Pay the one‑time counselling registration fee online.
- Fill in your preferences for courses and campuses (all six campuses appear in the drop‑down; you must rank them).
- Upload documents in the prescribed format.
- Lock your choices before the deadline - unlocked choices are auto‑locked but it is safer to lock manually.
- After allotment, download the provisional admission letter and choose ‘freeze’ (accept) or ‘float’ (wait for a better campus/course in subsequent rounds).
Requests for change of preference after submission are not entertained. The institute allocates seats strictly on merit‑cum‑preference, following the reservation norms of the Central Educational Institutions Act.
IIMC 2026 Eligibility and Age Limits
Because the 2026‑27 admission rules have been published precisely, you can check yourself against these requirements.
MA Programmes (all specialisations)
- Indian national with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
- Minimum 55% marks in graduation.
- No upper age limit.
- Final‑year students can apply; they must submit provisional marks sheet by 30 September 2026.
In addition to the basic eligibility, certain programmes reserve seats for candidates from specific CUET PG test papers:
- MA Media Business Studies: up to 10 seats for General‑Management (COQP 12), 5 seats each for Economics (COQP 10) and Commerce (COQP 08). Remaining vacancies go to Mass Communication & Journalism (COQP 17) candidates.
- MA Strategic Communication: up to 8 seats for Political Science (HUQP 18).
- MA New Media Communications: up to 5 seats each for Data Science / AI / Cyber Security (MTQP 04), Computer Science & IT (SCQP 09), and Applied Arts (HUQP 03).
PG Diploma Programmes (CUET PG route - English, Hindi, Radio & TV, Advertising & PR, Corporate Communication & Brand Management)
- Graduate in any discipline.
- Valid CUET PG score in Mass Communication & Journalism (COQP 17), except for Corporate Communication & Brand Management which also accepts Economics (COQP 10) and Commerce (COQP 08) for up to 11 seats each.
- Age limits (as on 1 August 2026):
- General: 25 years (born on or after 01/08/2001)
- OBC: 28 years (born on or after 01/08/1998)
- SC / ST / PwD: 30 years (born on or after 01/08/1996)
PG Diploma Programmes (IIMC’s own entrance - Odia, Marathi, Malayalam, Urdu)
- Graduate in any discipline.
- Indian national.
- Age limits identical to the CUET‑based PG diploma courses (25 / 28 / 30 years depending on category).
All reserved category candidates must produce valid certificates (non‑creamy layer certificate for OBC not older than six months from the date of registration).
Fee Structure for MA and PG Diploma Programmes (2026‑27)
One of the sharpest decision‑points is the total programme cost. The prospectus lays out the semester‑wise fee schedule; the tables below give you the cumulative figure. All amounts are in Indian rupees.
MA Programmes (two years, four semesters)
The first‑semester payment includes 25% of tuition, 50% of students’ welfare fee, full library fee, 25% examination fee, and full development and convocation fees. The balance spreads across the remaining semesters.
PG Diploma Programmes (one year, two semesters)
Library deposit: ₹3,000 refundable + ₹2,000 non‑refundable is included in the totals above for the Delhi‑based programmes. Regional‑campus fees are lower because of smaller student‑welfare and development components.
International students and NRI‑sponsored candidates pay in US dollars: MA approximately 4,600 (regional languages) to $14,000 (digital media). Check the prospectus for exact dollar values.
Documents Required for Counselling and Final Admission
You will be asked to upload soft copies during the e‑counselling round and to carry original documents when you report to the campus. Get this folder ready now.
- Class 10 mark sheet and certificate (date of birth proof)
- Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
- Bachelor’s degree mark sheet and provisional/final certificate
- CUET PG 2026 scorecard printout
- CUET PG 2026 admit card printout
- Category certificate (SC / ST / OBC‑NCL / EWS / PwD) as applicable
- Government‑issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, driver’s licence)
- Recent passport‑size photographs (the same as uploaded during registration)
- Character certificate
- Migration / transfer certificate (if applicable)
- Undertaking and indemnity bonds (available in the prospectus annexures)
If you are awaiting final graduation results, you can submit a provisional certificate from your institution. However, admission will stay provisional until you produce the degree certificate.