UCEED 2027 eligibility criteria released: what changes for Class 12 students

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the conducting body for the Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED), released the eligibility criteria for UCEED 2027 today, November 1, 2026. These criteria outline the requirements for Class 12 students seeking admission to Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programmes across participating institutes.

The UCEED 2027 Information Brochure, which includes these details, was released on October 1, 2026, and is primarily available digitally. The examination supports admissions to B.Des. programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur, among other institutes that recognise the UCEED score card.

Eligibility for UCEED 2027 Examination

To be eligible for UCEED 2027, a candidate must have appeared for their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2026 or 2027. Students from all academic streams, including Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities, are eligible to appear for the examination. Candidates who appeared for their qualifying examination for the first time in 2025 or earlier are not eligible for UCEED 2027.

An exception applies to candidates whose Class 12 examination Board declared results for the academic year 2024-25 on or after September 30, 2025; these candidates are eligible for UCEED 2027, provided all other criteria are met. However, if a Class 12 examination Board declared results for the academic year 2024-25 before September 30, 2025, and a candidate’s result was withheld, that candidate is not eligible for UCEED 2027.

B.Des. Admission Requirements and Stream Eligibility

For admission to B.Des. programmes, candidates must have passed the qualifying examination (Class 12 or equivalent) in either 2026 or 2027. Foreign nationals are included in the eligibility criteria, with seats allotted to them being supernumerary and capped at 10% of the total seats in a program. Applications from foreign nationals holding OCI/PIO cards issued before March 4, 2021, are considered under the OPEN category.

The eligibility for specific participating institutes varies based on the academic stream pursued at the 10+2 level. Candidates from the Science Stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are eligible for all seven participating IITs. However, candidates from other streams, including Science without Mathematics or Physics or Chemistry, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities, are eligible for IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Indore.

Important Dates and Application Process

UCEED 2027 qualified candidates are required to apply separately for B.Des. admissions, as UCEED and B.Des. admissions are distinct activities. The UCEED 2027 score is valid exclusively for admission to programmes in the academic year 2027-2028. Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination in 2027 must ensure all parts of their final examination are completed by the application date for admission.

Proof of passing the qualifying examination with the required eligibility must be submitted to the admitting institute by September 30, 2027. In cases where a qualifying Examination Board awards only letter grades without passing grade information, candidates are advised to obtain a certificate from the Board specifying the passing grade and upload it. The High Court of Bombay alone holds exclusive jurisdiction for claims or disputes regarding UCEED 2027.

B.Des. Programmes at IITs

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the organizing institute for UCEED 2027, offers a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) Program through its IDC School of Design. This program, which began in 2015, is structured as a four-year/eight-semester course. Also, the IDC School of Design provides a five-year/ten-semester dual degree option, combining a B.Des. With an M.Des. Students admitted to the B.Des. Program at IIT Bombay are not permitted to change their branch to any other undergraduate program.

At IIT Delhi, the Department of Design (DoD) offers a range of programs including B.Des., B.Tech in Design, M.Des., and PhD degrees. Both the B.Des. and B.Tech in Design programs at IIT Delhi are four-year, eight-semester courses. These institutions are among the seven participating IITs that use UCEED scores for admission to their B.Des. programs, alongside IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur.

Further reading

• UCEED 2027 registration extended: apply by 5 November
• UCEED 2027: Register by October 31 to avoid late fee
• UCEED application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• NIFT 2027 lateral entry admission registration open; apply by November 16
• JEE Main 2027: Submit new application to correct errors by November 22
• IICD Jaipur: Apply for 2027 B.Design & M.Design admissions now Applications open

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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