UGEE 2026: Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation Tips

Candidates interested in applying for the UGEE exam can check here all the details such as the eligibility criteria, application process, exam pattern, syllabus and preparation tips. The UGEE exam for 2026 will be held on May 2, 2026. The admit card of UGEE will be released in 10 days. Check UGEE 2026 details here.

Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation Tips

UGEE 2026: The Undergraduate Entrance Examination (in short known as the UGEE) is an entrance test conducted by IIIT Hyderabad (IIITH). The objective of the UGEE exam is to shortlist candidates for admission into its prestigious programmes. Unlike traditional engineering exams which focus solely on academic recall, UGEE is designed to identify students with high research potential and analytical thinking, hence making it a competitive yet, one of the popular engineering entrance exams in India. 

Currently the exam body is accepting the UGEE application form for the 2026 session and candidates meeting the minimum eligibility criteria can apply till the last date which is March 31, 2026. The IIITH UGEE 2026 entrance exam is scheduled to be held on May 2, 2026, 09 AM to 12 Noon. Check here all the details related to the UGEE exam such as the eligibility criteria, application process, syllabus, pattern and prep tips.

UGEE 2026 Highlights

What is the UGEE exam?

The UGEE exam is an annual entrance test conducted by IIITH to shortlist candidates for admission into its 5-year dual degree programmes. Graduates of dual degree programmes earn two degrees: B.Tech and Master of Science by Research. The Masters degree requires completion of a research thesis. The programme prepares students for research-oriented jobs and higher studies. 

Programs offered after qualifying UGEE exam

UGEE is the gateway for following dual-degree courses at IIIT Hyderabad. Shortlist candidates will be offered the following academic programmes - 

• B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering + MS by Research in CSE.
• B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering + MS by Research in ECE.
• B.Tech in Computer Science + MS by Research in Computational Linguistics.
• B.Tech in Computer Science + MS by Research in Computational Natural Sciences.
• B.Tech in Computer Science + MS by Research in Computing and Human Sciences.

UGEE 2026 Dates

From the following table candidates can check the IIITH UGEE dates for the 2026 session. By checking these dates, candidates will be able to keep track of the events.

UGEE 2026 Application Form

The exam body has released the IIITH UGEE 2026 application form and students meeting the minimum eligibility criteria can apply for the same. The application form of IITH UGEE 2026 is released on official website of ugadmissions.iiit.ac.in/ugee2026 along with the release of its notification PDF.  Students can fill the application for the 2026 session till March 31, 2026.

To submit the application form, they will have to provide their personal, academic, and contact details. They will also have to pay the application fee in online mode. 

UGEE 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Who can apply?

To apply for the IIITH UGEE 2026 exam, candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Unlike NITs or other IIITs, there is no minimum aggregate rule in UGEE as well as there is no fixed limit on number of attempts as long as the candidate meets basic age/passing year requirements.

UGEE Selection Process 2026

The selection process of the IIITH UGEE exam is simple. Candidates appear for the CBT at designated centers across India and qualify it. Based on their performance, students will be invited for an interview held on the IIITH campus. The interview will evaluate candidates conceptual depth and curiosity rather than rote memorization. Offers are made based on the combined performance in the entrance exam and the interview.

UGEE Admit Card 2026

The exam body will issue the IITH UGEE admit card to all the candidates who have successfully submitted their application form. The admit card will be issued 10 days prior to the exam date. As the exam is scheduled to be held on May 2, 2026, the admit card is expected to be released in the second week of April. 

UGEE 2026 Pattern & Syllabus

As per the exam pattern of the UGEE, the entrance test will be held in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and will last for 180 minutes (3 hours). The test will be divided into two sections - SUPR & REAP.

Both the sections in the UGEE will feature Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). There is a 25% negative marking for incorrect answers. SUPR is a qualifying round. While students must pass the SUPR cutoff for their REAP paper to be evaluated, the final shortlisting for interview will depend on REAP score.

This exam will be for three hours and has two sections:

a) SUPR – Subject Proficiency test for 60 minutes.

b) REAP – Research Aptitude test for 120 minutes.

UGEE Preparation Tips

• The difficulty level of the SUPR section is slightly easier than JEE Main and to prepare for this section, candidates must focus on NCERT fundamentals for PCM. 
• For the REAP section they must practice logical reasoning, puzzles. They must use mock tests or analytical reasoning books to get comfortable with the unique question style.
• Solve previous year IIITH UGEE papers to understand the variability in question weightage and patterns.