PGCET eligibility criteria

Last checked against the official KEA site: August 2026

PGCET eligibility is stream-specific: the qualifying degree, minimum marks, and any work-experience requirement differ for MBA, MCA, and M.Tech/M.E./M.Arch.

The figures below reflect the 2026 cycle's published criteria. Confirm the exact numbers for your year in KEA's official information bulletin before relying on them for a decision.

MBA (full-time)

A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks, relaxed to 45% for SC, ST and Category-1 Karnataka candidates.

MBA (part-time / executive)

Same academic requirement as full-time MBA.
At least 3 years of relevant work experience after the qualifying degree.

MCA

A bachelor's degree with Mathematics as a subject at the 10+2 level or at the graduation level, from a recognised university.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks, relaxed to 45% for SC, ST and Category-1 Karnataka candidates.

M.Tech / M.E. / M.Arch

A relevant engineering, technology or architecture bachelor's degree, with the specific branch eligibility varying by specialisation and college.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks, relaxed to 45% for SC, ST and Category-1 Karnataka candidates.
Some seats are also available to candidates with a valid GATE score, admitted through a separate route outside the PGCET rank list; check the specific college's intake split before assuming a PGCET rank alone determines access to every seat.

Candidature category

As with KCET and DCET, PGCET distinguishes Karnataka candidates from outside-Karnataka candidates for reservation and counselling purposes, and applies the same broad social-category reservation structure (GM, SC, ST, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B). See the glossary for what each category code means, and how reservation percentages break down for the general Karnataka framework — the same categories apply across KEA's exams, though PGCET's own official bulletin is the authority for its specific percentages.