KCET registration 2027 to open tentatively in January, application fee details

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is expected to open the online registration portal for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2027, also known as UGCET, tentatively in January 2027. This registration is for admission into various undergraduate professional courses across Karnataka.

Candidates seeking admission to courses such as Engineering/Technology, Farm sciences, B.Pharma, D.Pharma, Veterinary, and B.Sc Nursing programs must register online through the official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. The expected last date for submitting the application form is in February 2027.

Application Process and Fees

The KCET 2027 registration process will be conducted entirely online. Applicants are required to visit the official KEA website to complete their registration. During the application, candidates must upload a recent photograph, signature, and left thumb impression, each with a maximum size of 50 KB in JPEG format.

The application fee can be paid online only, using debit/credit cards, net banking, UPI, and other digital payment modes. The fee structure varies based on the candidate’s category and domicile, as detailed in the table below.

For ST/SC/OBC (Category-1) candidates, an income certificate is necessary to avail the benefit of fee exemption. One mobile number should be used for one application only, and an OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number for verification.

Eligibility Criteria for Professional Courses

Specific eligibility criteria apply to different professional courses. For BArch courses, candidates must have passed the 2nd PUC / Class 12 / equivalent exam with English as one of the languages, securing 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and 50% marks in aggregate across all subjects. A relaxation to 45% aggregate marks is provided for reserved category candidates.

For BE/BTech courses, candidates must have passed the 2nd PUC / Class 12 / equivalent exam with English as one of the languages and obtained a minimum of 45% marks in aggregate in Physics and Mathematics, along with Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / Electronics / Computer. Reserved category candidates require a minimum of 40% aggregate marks.

Admission to Medical, Dental, and AYUSH courses requires candidates to qualify UG-NEET and register for UG-CET/KCET. For Architecture courses, students must qualify the NATA entrance exam and register for UG-CET/KCET. Candidates for B.P.T., BPO, B.Sc. Allied Health Sciences Courses must register for KCET-2027, but no entrance exam will be conducted for these specific programs.

Mandatory Documents and Verification Process

A complete set of documents is mandatory for KCET counselling. These include the KCET application printout, admit card/hall ticket, rank card, Class 10/SSLC marks card and certificate, Class 12/2nd PUC marks card and certificate, recent passport-size photographs, Aadhaar card or other valid photo ID, and registration fee payment proof. Mismatched photographs are a common cause of delay, per previous year’s counselling processes.

For the state quota, a 7-Year Study Certificate proving continuous study in Karnataka for at least 7 years from Class 1 onwards is required. This certificate must be on school letterhead, signed by the Principal, carry the school seal, explicitly state years attended, and be countersigned by the concerned Block Education Officer (BEO) or Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI).

Caste certificates (Form-D for SC/ST, Form-F for OBC, Form-E for Category-1) must be Karnataka-issued. Income certificates are required alongside most category claims, with an annual income limit of less than Rs. 8.00 Lakhs for claiming reservation benefits under 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B categories. It is mandatory that the candidate’s name on the SSLC marks card matches the name on the Aadhaar card and caste/caste-income certificates.

The online application functions as an application-cum-verification module. Study details will be verified through the SATS number, and Caste, Income, 371 (J), and NCLC details will be verified through the Revenue Department Web service based on the RD Number. Candidates claiming eligibility clause-a and reservation for studying 10 full academic years in Kannada medium, 10 full academic years in rural areas, 10 years for Tulu, Tamil, Telugu, Kodava Linguistic Minority reservation, or Religious Minority reservation will initially only receive a claim slip for download. These candidates must get their documents verified at their present college or any Government college before printing the complete application form. After confirming seven years of study for Government seats under eligibility clause (a), the CET-2026 application form will be available for printing on the candidate’s portal without requiring a visit to an office or college for document verification.

Supernumerary Quota (SNQ) and Other Provisions

A Supernumerary Quota (SNQ) reserves 5% of the seats in each college and in each course in all Engineering Colleges. The tuition fee prescribed by the Government in that particular college will be waived off for SNQ candidates. SNQ is not available for Architecture courses. All poor and meritorious candidates, including General Merit, are eligible for SNQ if their annual family income is less than Rs. 8.00 Lakhs. Candidates eligible for SNQ must obtain an income certificate from the concerned Tahasildar and enter the RD number.

The syllabus for CET-2026 PCMB subjects has been reviewed by subject experts of the Department of School Education (Pre-University) and published on the KEA Website. Candidates must preserve their Admit Card until admission is made in the College or Institution. Any dispute arising from the test, seat selection, admission, fees, or cancellation shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka. An appeal against an order or decision of the Executive Director under CET-2006 Rules can be made within 15 days to the Principal Secretary to Government, Education Department (Higher Education).

If a candidate surrenders a seat after the completion of the 3rd round (final round) / Casual Vacancy Round, the entire fee paid will be forfeited, and the candidate will be liable to pay a penalty of five times the annual course fee. KEA advises candidates not to trust individuals claiming to guarantee seats through unfair means, as all counselling and online seat allotments are carried out strictly if you look at the official calendar of events, under State Government rules, based solely on UGCET / UGNEET merit and candidate options.

Further reading

• KCET 2026 pharmacy admissions: Chitradurga has 1 private college, cutoffs rise for government seats
• KCET B.Pharm 2026 admissions: government college cutoffs remain competitive
• Karnataka Common Entrance Test exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• JEE Advanced 2026: Register by April 23; Aim for top 120 rank for IIT Delhi CSE
• COMEDK UGET 2027 registration to open in early February for BE/BTech admissions Applications open
• Karnataka Common Entrance Test: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →