GATE 2025 Counselling Tips and Hacks to Research Colleges Smartly: Check NIT and IITs cutoff, counselling dates and more
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Exam On - 7 Feb '26
How to research colleges and institutes smartly during GATE Counselling: If you have qualified GATE exam and confused on which college to choose during counselling? Here's a smart way to find out. As per experts advice and guidance, check out some tips on how to get into IITs and NITs with GATE scorecard.
Qualified GATE exam? Well, your GATE 2026 rank which is valid for three years, can open opportunities, if done wisely. Achieving good GATE 2026 rank is first stage. The real hustle starts after that. With so many college options, here is a complete process on how to research for colleges during GATE counselling period.
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GATE 2025 Statistics
IISc Bangalore admission is competitive due to high cutoff and limited seats. The entrance tests required for getting admission in the institute are taken by many. Hence, the chances of securing seat becomes less. Students are required to perform well in the entrance exam required for their course to get admission in the institute. In 2024, the JEE Main closing R1 cutoff for General category candidates was 903 for BSc (Research) in Physics.
No, candidate who are looking for admission at IISC Bangalore need to have a valid GATE score. However, 70% GATE score + 30% performance in written test (100% GATE based for Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Materials Engg.) + COAP counselling will be accepted. Apart from this, students might face some problems while downloading the GATE hall ticket 2024. The problem might be due to slow internet connectivity or a heavy load on the server. In such situations, candidates should try downloading the admit card after a short duration. In case any candidate forgets their application ID/Enrollment ID or password, they can reset it. In case a candidate has forgotten their password, they can reset it from the GOAPS portal.
Last year, IIT Roorkee conducted GATE 2025 exam and has showed an impressive record. More than 20 students have scored GATE score of 1000 across various branches.
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Also read:
- GATE 2025 IIT Bombay cutoff OUT
- GATE 2025 IISc Bangalore cutoff OUT
- MTech colleges accepting GATE scores in India
Know Your GATE Rank and Score
Before GATE counselling process start, check following and stay ready
- Check your GATE score and rank
- Compare with last five years GATE cutoff trends and check where you stand. Also refer to GATE top branches and cutoff trends to analyse.
Use the Shiksha GATE college predictors
Understand GATE Counselling Process
No, NIT Trichy does not provide direct admission for BTech. NIT Trichy BTech admission is entrance-based. The institute accepts admission to the BTech course through a valid score of JEE Main. Every aspirant needs to qualify for the exam in order to get admission. Selected candidates further need to take part in JoSAA counselling as well. There is no other procedure for admission.
IISc Bangalore admissions are open. Candidates are offered admission based on entrance exam scores. The institute accepts scores in IIT JAM, JEE Main, JEE Advanced, etc. for admission. The institute offers courses at UG, PG and doctoral levels.
GATE counselling is conducted by COAP and CCMT. COAP counselling portal offer admission to IITs. CCMT offers admission to NITs and others.
Also Read:
- GATE IIT MTech cutoff: category-wise GATE cutoff and more
- GATE 2025 cutoff for NITs: past-year's cutoff trends and analysis
- GATE 2025 score to rank conversion: what aspirants need to know
Identify your Priorities
Every candidate has different career goals. So, ask these three simple questions -
- What is your goal? Do you want to go for higher studies or research work?
- Do you opt for PSU jobs or corporate jobs?
- What is your preferece: IIT in a remote location or get into an IIT or NIT in city?
Now based on above questions, look for brand value, location and campus facilities, research work, placeement, and fee structure.
Did not appear GATE, but want to pursue MTech? Check how to get into IITs without GATE scores?
Research Department Based
Visit official website and look for facilities and features. Check for following -
- Course Curriculum
- Labs and Research Facilities
- Ongoing Projects
Use Online Platforms
Also go through NIRF rankings, recent graduate reviews, and GATE topper's video sharing their experiences.
Make an Institute Checklist
| College Priority | What to do? |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 - Dream Colleges |
IITs or IISc with cutoffs which is close to your GATE rank |
| Tier 2 - Target Mid Colleges |
Institutes where your score is close to past GATE cutoffs |
| Safe Colleges that accept Low GATE scores |
Select colleges where GATE cutoff is below your rank |
Here are some top institutes and their popular programmes offered -
- IIIT Hyderabad - for Computer Science
- NIT Trichy for core engineering branches
- BITS Pilani or Jadavpur University for research based programs
Also Read: GATE 2025 Topper's List
Stay Updated and Flexible with your choices
- Keep checking official website for latest updates
- Be flexible with your choices
Best MTech Engineering Colleges other than IITs and NITs
Apart from IITs and NITs, here are some top MTech colleges that one can consider for admissions through GATE scores -
- VIT Vellore
- DTU
- BITs Pilani
- Jadavpur University
- Thapar University
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
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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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
You are still eligible for M.Tech admission at SIT Pune without GATE score. In this case, you will have to take an entrance test followed by a personal interview round. Based on the combined score of entrance exam and personal interview, you will get admission.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
For the DJ Sanghvi PhD admissions, candidates will most probably be needing a valid GATE or PET score. Sponsored candidates may be considered under specific norms, as per previous records.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
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
I
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
GATE score is preferred for admissions in DJ Sanghvi M.Tech courses. If you do not have a GATE score, you can still be considered when seats remain vacant. Final selection depends on institute-level merit norms.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, you can get admission in DBS Global University M.Tech without GATE score. The university also accepts valid CUET-PG scores for M.Tech admission. Alternatively, students may appear for the university's entrance test.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
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D
Beginner-Level 3
Answered a week ago
Yes, IIT Guwahati has released GATE exam admit card 2026. The link to download GATE hall ticket is available at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates must keep their enrollment ID and password to download admission ticket of Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
The IIIT Bangalore M.Tech Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission for all categories under the All India quota. The closing cutoff in the last round for 2025 was 668 for the General AI category candidates. Whereas, in 2024, the closing cutoff in the last round was 570, indicating that the compe
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The IIIT Bangalore GATE COAP Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission to the M.Tech course specialisations for all categories under the All India quota. For the General AI category candidates, the last round cutoff score ranged from 555 to 668, wherein M.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The IIIT Bangalore GATE Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the M.Tech programmes via the COAP counselling process. The cutoff was released for all categories under the All India quota. According to the IIIT Bangalore COAP Cutoff 2025, the closing cutoff score ranged from 522 to 635 for the st
N
Contributor-Level 10
Admission to the BTech courses offered by IIT Madras are entrance-based and done on the basis of scores obtained in JEE Mains and JEE Advanced. Seats are allocated through JoSAA counselling after the results of the entrance exams are out. Students who clear the IIT Madras BTech cutoff are then required to go through document verification and pay the required fees to complete the process.