IIMC: Indian Institute of Mass Communication

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)

General / Central Universitiessubject_specificNational Scope 2+ colleges

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Written by Admission Guardian Editorial Team•Updated 13 Jun 2026

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

Event	Date (DD/MM/YYYY)
Online registration start date	Late December 2025 (specific date varied by programme; general window opened around 28‑30 December 2025)
Last date to apply without late fee	20 January 2026
Application correction window	28 January - 30 January 2026
Advanced city intimation slip availability	First week of March 2026
Admit card download	Released about one week before the exam (by the first week of March 2026)
CUET PG exam window (COQP 17)	06 March - 27 March 2026
Display of provisional answer key and response sheet	11 April 2026
Objection window closure	14 April 2026
Final answer key & result declaration	24 April 2026

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):

Category	Fee (₹)
General / Un‑reserved	1,200
General‑EWS / OBC‑NCL	1,000
SC / ST / 3rd Gender	900
PwBD	800

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)

Activity	Dates
First‑round registration, one‑time fee payment, and choice filling	26 May - 07 June 2026
First‑round choice locking	06 June - 07 June 2026
First‑round seat allotment	09 June 2026
Willingness submission (freeze/float), document upload, seat acceptance fee payment & IIMC verification (Round 1)	09 June - 14 June 2026
Second‑round seat allotment	16 June 2026
Willingness, document upload, fee payment & verification (Round 2)	16 June - 20 June 2026 (document verification until 21 June)
Third‑round seat allotment	23 June 2026
Willingness, document upload, fee payment & verification (Round 3)	23 June - 26 June 2026 (verification until 27 June)

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)

Programme	Total Fee (₹)
MA in Media Business Studies	2,82,000
MA in Strategic Communication	2,82,000
MA in New Media Communications (Delhi)	3,42,000
MA in New Media Communications (Jammu, Aizawl, Kottayam)	3,42,000

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)

Programme	Fee (₹)	Note
PG Diploma in Journalism (English)	1,15,000	Delhi & other campuses same fee
PG Diploma in Journalism (Hindi)	1,15,000
PG Diploma in Radio & TV Journalism	1,75,000
PG Diploma in Advertising & PR	1,45,000
PG Diploma in Corporate Communication & Brand Management	1,45,000	Dhenkanal campus
PG Diploma in Journalism (Malayalam)	57,500
PG Diploma in Journalism (Marathi)	72,000
PG Diploma in Journalism (Odia)	72,000
PG Diploma in Journalism (Urdu)	72,000

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 $16,000 (two instalments); PG diploma ranges from$ 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did IIMC 2026 counselling registration start and end?

Registration and choice filling for the first round opened on 26 May 2026 and closed on 07 June 2026. The second‑round allotment is scheduled for 16 June 2026, and those who missed the first round’s registration cannot participate in subsequent rounds - it was a one‑time registration window.

What is the CUET PG exam date for IIMC admission?

For the 2026‑27 cycle, the CUET PG exam (Mass Communication & Journalism - COQP 17) was held between 06 March and 27 March 2026. Your exact date and shift appeared on the NTA‑issued admit card.

How do I get the IIMC admit card?

For programmes using CUET PG, the admit card was issued by the NTA on its official portal `exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/`. You logged in with your application number and password to download it. For IIMC’s own entrance test (regional‑language journalism), the admit card was released on `iimc.gov.in` or the IIMC admissions portal, using the registration credentials provided after you submitted the IIMC application form.

Is there negative marking in the IIMC entrance (CUET PG)?

Yes. The CUET PG paper carried 4 marks for every correct answer and deducted 1 mark for each incorrect answer. The total paper had 75 MCQs and 90 minutes’ duration.

What was the last date to apply for CUET PG 2026?

The application portal closed on 20 January 2026 (without late fee). A correction window opened from 28 January to 30 January 2026 for minor edits. No registration was accepted after that.

What is the IIMC counselling seat acceptance fee?

₹20,000. This amount must be paid within the window specified in your allotment letter to confirm your seat. The remaining programme fee (as per the fee structure) is payable by the dates announced in the admission slip.

What happens if I float my seat in IIMC counselling?

If you choose ‘float’ after an allotment round, you remain in the candidate pool for a higher‑preference course or campus in the next round. Your currently allotted seat is not released until a better option is confirmed. However, if you miss the deadline to pay the seat acceptance fee or fail to lock your choice, you lose the allotment entirely.

When will the IIMC 2026 final merit list be published?

The final course‑wise and campus‑wise merit lists are published by IIMC at the conclusion of each counselling round. The third‑round allotment on 23 June 2026 is expected to be the last, with document verification until 27 June. After that, the final admission list will be compiled. Classwork begins tentatively on 05 August 2026.

I applied for MA programmes using a Commerce CUET PG score. Will I get priority over Mass Communication candidates?

Yes, but only within the reserved seat matrix. MA Media Business Studies, for example, reserves a fixed number of seats for Commerce and Economics candidates. If those reserved seats remain vacant after the allotted rounds, they are filled by Mass Communication & Journalism candidates. The same principle applies to Strategic Communication (Political Science) and New Media Communications (Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Arts).

Can I apply for both an MA and a PG diploma programme simultaneously?

Yes, you could have applied to multiple programmes through CUET PG provided you met the eligibility criteria and paid the required test fees. During IIMC e‑counselling, you could also fill preferences for different courses and campuses. However, you can accept only one seat in the end. If you are selected for more than one programme, you must freeze only one before the acceptance deadline.

Is hostel accommodation guaranteed at IIMC?

No. Each campus has limited hostel capacity. Allotment rules are announced separately after admission. You should not assume hostel availability when accepting a seat; budget for off‑campus accommodation as a backup.

What is the age limit for PG diploma courses in 2026?

General category candidates must be born on or after 01 August 2001 (maximum 25 years as on 01/08/2026). OBC candidates get three years’ relaxation (born on or after 01/08/1998), and SC/ST/PwD candidates get five years’ relaxation (born on or after 01/08/1996). There is no age limit for MA programmes.

Where can I check the official IIMC 2026 admission schedule?

`http://www.iimc.gov.in` is the primary source. The admissions portal for e‑counselling is `https://iimc.admissions.nic.in/`. All official notices, merit lists, and document‑verification schedules appear there. Do not rely on screenshots shared on messaging platforms.

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