GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Who can apply, age criteria, qualifications, nationality, and attempts
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Exam On - 7 Feb '26
To apply for the GATE exam, candidates need to meet the GATE eligibility criteria 2026. The eligibility conditions are prescribed by the conducting IITs to streamline the GATE admission and application process. Meeting the GATE 2026 eligibility is the first and foremost important factor before filling out the GATE application form 2026. Read below to know more about the IIT Guwahati GATE eligibility.
- Why is knowing the GATE eligibility important?
- GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification
- GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifying Degree
- GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026 for International Candidates
- GATE 2026 Supporting Documents
Why is knowing the GATE eligibility important?
Knowing the GATE eligibility is important because it determines whether a candidate is eligible to appear for the GATE exam or not. Also, not meeting the criteria can lead to rejection of the application form.
NOTE:
GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a degree equivalent to or higher than a bachelor’s degree in engineering/ technology/ architecture/ science/ humanities. Candidates can check the list of acceptable degrees below:
- B.E/ B.Tech
- B. Arch
- B. Pharma
- B.Sc(Research)/ B.S
- B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry)
- MSc/MA/MCA or equivalent
- M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc.
- Integrated ME/MTech
- Integrated MSc/Integrated BS-MS
- Integrated ME/MTech or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2)
- Pharm. D.
- Professional Society Examination (equivalent to BE/BTech/BArch)
Also read:
- Can commerce students apply for the GATE exam: check eligibility, eligible paper, career scope and more
- GATE scholarships: check eligibility, stipend guidelines, validity, steps and more
GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Authorised Professional Society
Candidates who possess certification from any of the professional societies must ensure that those examinations are approved by MoE/AICTE/UGC/UPSC as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch./B.Plan. Some of the professional Societies or Institutions that conduct examinations in various fields of engineering are given below:
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- The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE)
- The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
- The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
- The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI)
- The Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, including the Polymer and Environmental Group (IIChE)
- The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM)
- The Indian Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIIE)
GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifying Degree
Candidates can check the detailed eligibility criteria for GATE 2026 in the table below:
| Programme/Course |
Qualifying Degree/Examination |
Description of Eligible Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| BE/BTech/BPharm |
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology |
Currently in 3rd year or in final year or already completed |
| BArch |
Bachelor’s degree in architecture/ naval architecture/planning |
Currently in 3rd year or in final year, or have already passed |
| BSc (research)/B.S |
Bachelor’s degree in science |
Currently in 3rd year or in final year or have already passed |
| MSc/M.A/MCA or equivalent |
Master’s degree in any branch or equivalent |
Currently in the first year or higher or have already completed |
| Int M.E/M.Tech (Post BSc) |
Post BSc Integrated master’s degree programme in engineering/technology |
Currently in 1st/2nd/3rd/4th year or have already completed |
| Int. M.E/MTech/MPharm or Dual Degree (after diploma or 10+2) |
Integrated master’s degree programme or dual degree programme |
Currently in 3rd/4th/5th year or have already completed |
| BSc/B.Com/B.A |
Bachelor’s degree in any branch |
Currently in 3rd year or higher or have already completed |
| Int MSc/Int B.S/ M.S |
Integrated MSc or five-year integrated BS or MS |
Currently in 3rd year or higher or have completed |
| Professional Society Examinations (equivalent to B.E/B.Tech/B.Arch) |
B.E/BTech/B.Arch or equivalent examinations of professional societies recognised by MoE/UPSC/AICTE |
Completed Section “A” or equivalent of such professional courses |
| BSc (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) |
Must have done four-year programme |
Currently in 3rd or 4th year or have completed |
NOTE:
- Candidates must upload the required eligibility documents while filling out the GATE application form.
- Suppose a candidate is pursuing a higher degree or has already obtained a degree higher than that mentioned in the table above. In that case, the candidate will be allowed to appear in the GATE 2026 examination.
GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026 for International Candidates
Candidates who have obtained or are pursuing their qualifying degree from countries other than India have to meet the following eligibility criteria to appear for GATE 2026:
- Must have completed or in the final year or in pre-final year of their bachelor’s degree in engineering and technology or;
- Must have completed or in the final year or in the pre-final year of their Post Graduate degree in any relevant science subjects
No, applicants cannot opt for any paper from the combination list. Candidates can only select from the options provided by the GATE authorities in the GATE 2026 paper combination list. For example, a CS student has the free will to choose from the following set of exam papers: DA, EC, GE, MA, PH, and ST.
You can apply for two GATE papers (maximum). While filling out the GATE application form, you need to select the primary and secondary paper. The GATE secondary paper must be from the subject list prescribed by the GATE authorities. Before adding the paper, go through the subject combination list and GATE paper codes.
Candidates opting for two GATE papers will have to pay double the fees mentioned -
For example,
- If a general category candidate is applying for two GATE papers, then he/she has to pay a fee of INR 4000 (during the regular timeline) and INR 5000 (during the extended period).
- The same applies to the female, SC, ST, and PwD category candidates, INR 2000 (during the regular time period) and INR 3000 (during the extended period).
It may be noted that if any candidate has obtained a degree higher than the mentioned degree in the above eligibility table, he/she should select the minimum required degree while filling the GATE registration form.
GATE 2026 Supporting Documents
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Candidates must submit the degree certificate/provisional certificate/ course completion certificate/ professional certificate/ membership certificate issued by the institute or society they are enrolled in for the degree programme.
- Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering/Technology/Architecture (4 years or 3 years after 10+2/Post-BSc/Post-Diploma). Final-year candidates can also apply.
- Master's degree holders in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent. Final and pre-final year candidates can also apply.
Also read:
The eligible GATE 2026 two-paper combinations for XE, XH, and XL are as follows -
| GATE paper code | Eligible two paper combinations |
| XE | AE, CE, CH, CY, DA, ME, MT, PH, and PI |
| XH | ST |
| XL | BT, CY, and EY |
Qualifying mark of GATE exam usually varies every year depending on certain factors. Candidates can refer to expected cutoff based on last year's trends
- General - 25 to 32
- OBC - 22 to 28
- SC/ST/PwD - 17 to 25
Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,
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