NEET UG 2026: Apply for vacant MBBS seats by Oct 14, 5 PM

Following the conclusion of the final round of NEET UG 2026 counselling on 14 October 2026, a total of 824 MBBS seats in deemed medical universities across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry remain vacant. Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) sources indicate that high tuition fees are the primary factor contributing to these unfilled seats. This figure represents a significant portion of the 837 MBBS seats that remained vacant nationwide after the final counselling round.

The persistent vacancies have renewed discussions among educationists and career counsellors regarding the affordability of private medical education and its impact on access for financially constrained students. The development raises questions about whether the merit-based admission process, as determined by the NEET UG examination, can ensure equitable outcomes when financial resources influence a student’s ability to secure a medical seat, according to P B Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System, Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN).

High Fees Cited as Primary Reason for Vacancies

The annual tuition fees at deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry range from ₹25 lakh to ₹35 lakh. When combined with estimated annual hostel and mess charges of ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh, the total annual expenses for an MBBS course at these institutions are between ₹26.2 lakh and ₹37.5 lakh. This cost structure is reportedly unaffordable for many students, even those with high NEET scores, leading them to forgo participation in counselling for these seats.

In contrast, government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu have annual tuition fees ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹50,000. Private colleges offering state quota seats charge between ₹4.5 lakh and ₹5.5 lakh annually, while management quota fees are ₹9 lakh to ₹15 lakh, and NRI quota fees are ₹12 lakh to ₹20 lakh per year. The significant difference in costs highlights the financial barrier presented by deemed universities.

Calls for Fee Regulation and Government College Expansion

P B Prince Gajendra Babu has advocated for increased regulation of fees at private medical institutions and an expansion of government medical colleges to address the issue of affordability and access. Tamil Nadu currently offers 13,999 MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic session, with approximately 950 new MBBS seats added in 2026. Despite this, the high cost of deemed university seats continues to be a barrier.

The state has also experienced a reduction of over 650 state-quota MBBS seats due to some private institutions transitioning to deemed status, which typically results in increased fees. This shift further limits affordable options for students. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Tamil Nadu, conducts the state’s counselling process, which received over 41,000 completed applications for NEET UG 2026 admissions.

Counselling Process and Uncertainty of Additional Rounds

The NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam was conducted on 21 June 2026, with results declared on 16 July 2026. The counselling process for Tamil Nadu included three rounds. Round 1 registration took place from 13 August 2026 to 19 August 2026, with results published on 21 August 2026. Round 2 registration was from 7 September 2026 to 8 September 2026, and results were published on 15 September 2026. Round 3 registration occurred from 28 September 2026 to 30 September 2026, with results published on 12 October 2026. The last date for joining colleges allotted in Round 3 was 14 October 2026.

As of 22 October 2026, there is no official confirmation regarding an additional counselling round to fill the 824 vacant MBBS seats. Candidates are advised by authorities to regularly check the official MCC UG Medical Counselling website for any notices, schedules, or updates concerning NEET UG 2026 admissions. A senior official from the National Medical Commission has also cautioned against illegal practices such as private medical colleges collecting advance payments for seats before official counselling, stating that such allotments are not approved by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) or the state’s selection committee.

Further reading

• NEET UG 2026 Round 3 admissions conclude for MBBS at Medical College, Kolkata
• WB AYUSH UG round 2 merit list released: admission based on NEET UG 2026 scores
• NEET cutoff: previous closing ranks and marks Next step
• KCET registration 2027 to open tentatively in January, application fee details
• KEAM 2026: Apply for 84 MBBS, 106 BDS stray seats. CEE to announce dates
• NEET: 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.

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