Engineering Entrance Exam

Hi.

CU admissions for B.E./B.Tech (and most UG courses) are based on its own entrance test CUCET. 

According to CU's 2026 admission criteria page, to get admission you must apply through CUCET; that's the standard path for all engineering programmes. 

While CU does accept JEE Main rank/scores, that acceptance is primarily for the purpose of scholarship eligibility (merit-based fee waiver) rather than for seat allotment.

The official “JEE-Mains Performance Based Scholarship” scheme mentions that at most 5% of total intake seats in each course are offered under that scheme.

CUCET is mandatory for admission — you can't skip it just because you have a JEE Main score. 

The 5% “JEE-based” seats are scholarship-seats, not a separate admission quota that reserves seats for JEE-qualified students regardless of CUCET.

The rest of the seats (≈ 95%) are allotted based on CUCET performance; all applicants, JEE-qualified or not, compete in those seats equally through CUCET.

Hi.

CUCET = Primary & Mandatory Admission Route

For all B.Tech/B.E. programs, including CSE and its specialisations, CU treats CUCET as the official and required entrance test for admission.

CUCET decides the following:

Eligibility for admission

Merit ranking / seat allotment

Scholarship slab (CUCET-based)

If you want a seat, especially in high-demand branches (CSE, AI/ML, DS, Full-Stack, IoT-AI, Cybersecurity, etc.), your CUCET score is what matters for admission.

2. JEE Main = Optional (Used for Scholarships, Not for Admission)

Chandigarh University accepts JEE Main scores, but only for:

Scholarship benefits (based on percentile / AIR)

Merit consideration
(Not as a replacement for CUCET)

JEE Main does NOT replace CUCET for admission.
Even JEE-qualified students must appear for CUCET to secure a seat.

Hi.

Yes — if a student doesn't qualify (or doesn't take) JEE Main, they can still get admission to Chandigarh University (CU / B.E. / B.Tech) via CUCET (the university's own entrance test), under certain conditions. 

How it works at CU

• For B.E. / B.Tech and other engineering courses, CU considers CUCET as the primary entrance exam for admission.

• If you don't take JEE Main (or don't get a good percentile), you can simply write CUCET (provided you meet basic 10+2 eligibility, e.g. Physics + Maths in 12th). 

• Also, for students who scored high in 10+2 (≥ 90%), CU may provide exemptions from CUCET — but that's based on board marks, not JEE.

Hi.

Yes — JEE Main qualifiers are eligible

CU lists a “JEE-Mains Performance Based Scholarship” among its merit-based scholarship schemes. 

Under this scheme, depending on All-India Rank (AIR), students can get anywhere from 10% up to 100% fee waiver (for top ranks) — although only a small portion of seats (typically up to 5% per course intake) are reserved under this scheme.

This scheme is described generically as “for Engineering Courses, ” which implies it's not limited to core/traditional branches only. 

 Branch-agnostic (Specialised branches included)

The scholarship scheme does not explicitly restrict eligibility based on branch. It is linked to JEE Main rank (or other merit criteria) and course intake seats, not to whether you choose ECE, CS, AI/ML, Mechatronics, etc.

So whether you join a “growth-oriented” or “industry-aligned” branch (e.g. AI/ML, specialisations under Computer Science, emerging-tech branches), JEE Main qualification + a good AIR should make you eligible for the merit scholarship — subject to other constraints (seat quotas, CGPA maintenance, etc.).

Hi.

JEE Main Percentile Consideration

Primary Admission Criteria: For many engineering colleges in India, including CU, the JEE Main percentile is often considered as a key parameter for shortlisting candidates for admission to various branches, especially the popular and competitive ones like ECE, Electrical, and Mechatronics.

Higher Percentile Advantage: A higher JEE Main percentile can give you a better chance of securing admission to the more sought-after branches. For example, candidates with percentiles above 90 generally have a higher chance of admission into these branches, as they are considered to be more competitive.

Cutoffs: The specific JEE Main percentile cutoff for each branch will depend on the number of applicants and overall demand for the course. Typically, the cutoff percentiles for these branches might range from 80 to 95, depending on how competitive the applicant pool is in a given year.

2. Other Admission Routes (CU Entrance Exam, Board Marks, and Other Criteria)

CUET (Chandigarh University Entrance Test): CU also offers admission through its own entrance test (CUET), which evaluates your aptitude and knowledge in various subjects. If you have a low JEE Main percentile, this might be a viable alternative for you.

Board Marks: CU also takes into account your Class 12 board exam marks, and some students with outstanding board marks but lower JEE percentiles still manage to get into competitive branches.

Lateral Entry: If you're already pursuing a Diploma in a related field, CU may also offer lateral entry opportunities for second-year admissions, which doesn't necessarily require JEE Main performance.

3. Impact of JEE Main Percentile on Branch Selection

Popular Branches like ECE and Electrical: These branches are typically in high demand, so JEE Main performance is very important to secure a seat. If your percentile is on the lower side, you might still be able to get admission, but you may have to settle for lower preference branches or might not get the most popular branches right away.

Mechatronics: Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field (combining mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering) that is gaining popularity. While the demand for Mechatronics is high, the competition may not be as fierce as the traditional ECE and Electrical branches. Still, a good JEE percentile will increase your chances of securing a seat in this branch.

4. Other Factors

Reservation and Category: If you belong to any reserved category (SC/ST/OBC), the percentile requirements may be slightly lower.

State Quota: CU often reserves seats for students from specific states, and this may influence the cutoff percentile.