BSc Nursing is a four-year undergraduate course designed for students interested in healthcare and patient care. The course trains the students to become proficient nurses who can work in hospitals, clinics, and community centres.
The admission process for B.Sc Nursing in Karnataka begins after the announcement of the Class 12 results. The students should have taken Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English in Class 12. The students are required to achieve at least 45% marks. Some colleges and universities hold entrance exams such as KCET, NEET or their exam. The students are required to register for these exams, fill out the application form, and pay the registration fee.
Colleges publish merit lists after the entrance exam based on the scores obtained and academic marks compiled. Short-listed students are invited for counselling or interviewing. When students are counselled, they have to present their original documents to be verified. When the documents are authenticated and admission fees remitted, students get their seat confirmation, and they are good to proceed in the course.
Table of Contents
Karnataka BSc Nursing Eligibility Criteria
B.Sc Nursing is a very popular course amongst students who are interested in developing a career in the healthcare industry. The eligibility rules are more or less the same in all colleges, but the minor differences are possible according to the Institute or the entrance exam.
- Educational Qualification: Students are to pass Class 12 or its equivalent from a recognised board. They are to study Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as prescribed subjects in class 12. They have to obtain at least 45% marks in aggregate in physics, chemistry, and biology. The reservation students (SC/ST/OBC) can be exempted from the minimum marks as per government norms.
- Age Limit: The students must be at least 17 years of age as of December 31 of the year of admission. Some of the colleges have an age restriction of 35 years.
- Entrance Exams: The students have to sit for the entrance examination of the college or university, as required. KCET, NEET UG, AIIMS B.Sc Nursing and university-level exams are some of the common entrance exams.
- Nationality and Domicile: The students must be Indian. For state quota seats, the students have to be domiciled in Karnataka.
- Medical Fitness: It is a requirement that the students are medically fit, and they may be required to produce a medical fitness certificate.
Also read about Post Basic BSc Nursing
Karnataka BSc Nursing Entrance Exams
There are several entrances that students need to qualify for to get admission in B.Sc Nursing in Karnataka. They consist of national, state, and university-level exams.
National Exams
These are the national-level exams accepted by Karnataka nursing colleges.
State Exams
Here are the state-level exams specific to Karnataka.
University Exams
These are the universities that conduct their entrance tests.
Karnataka BSc Nursing Admission Process 2025
There is a state exam conducted by the Karnataka Government for B.Sc Nursing. Interested students need to follow the admission procedure to get into the course. Here is the detailed procedure for the same:
Step 1: Students are required to register for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2025. The registration is online based on the KEA official website.
Step 2: Students fill in the personal and academic details in the online application form. They have to upload the necessary documents and pictures as indicated. Make an online payment of the application fee before the deadline and keep the application number for your future use.
Step 3: Then, the students will download the admit card from the KEA website.
Step 4: The students have to appear in the KCET exam on the specified date. The exam is to be taken in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Step 5: KEA will declare the results online. A provisional merit list will be made, which will be compiled according to the exam scores and 12th-grade marks.
Step 6: Shortlisted students are required to authenticate their documents in nodal centres or through online mode.
Step 7: Students go for counselling according to their position on the merit list. They have to confirm their seats by paying an admission fee.
Step 8: After seat allotment, students proceed to the allotted nursing college. Remit all originals and fill all admission formalities.
Document Required:
- Class 10 mark sheet (proof of date of birth)
- Class 12 mark sheet and passing certificate
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Valid ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.)
- Transfer Certificate (TC) from the last school
- Caste/category certificate (if applicable)
- Income certificate (if claiming fee concession)
- Domicile or study certificate for Karnataka residency
- Migration certificate (if applicable)
- Medical fitness certificate
BSc Nursing in Karnataka FAQs
Is the KCET exam compulsory for BSc Nursing admission in Karnataka?
For any BSc Nursing entrance in Karnataka, the KCET exam is now compulsory for all students. This entrance test is conducted by the KEA for admissions to both government as well as private nursing colleges.
Can students from other states apply for BSc Nursing in Karnataka?
Yes, students from other states in India can seek admission to BSc Nursing programs in Karnataka. Non-Karnataka students can apply for the seats under the private or management quota and are ineligible for seats under the government quota.
What is the seat matrix for government and private quotas in nursing colleges?
In private nursing colleges, two-tenths of the seats are normally reserved for the government quota, which is usually filled in the KEA counselling. The rest 80 per cent is under the private or management quota, in which a part of it is filled up through KEA and the rest of it is filled by the colleges themselves.
Can students get direct admission without the KCET exam in Karnataka?
It is not possible in general to seek direct admission to BSc Nursing courses without taking the KCET exam. But some private colleges may have a management seat whereby admissions on direct may be based on Class 12 marks and other stipulations that may be specified by the individual colleges.
