M.Arch Admission Process: Eligibility and M.Arch Entrance Exam

• Updated on  Jul 21, 2025, by Vasudha Sharma

Master of Architecture is a two-year course that is offered under postgraduate studies to students who have completed a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) so that they can develop their knowledge in architecture design, theory, and research. The M.Arch admission in India is mainly through entrance examination, the most common being national-level examinations such as GATE and CEED, though some state-level entrance examinations are also conducted, such as TANCET, Karnataka PGCET, and TS PGECET etc.

 

The MArch eligibility criteria normally include that the candidate must have a recognized B.Arch degree and must have at least 50% of the marks in graduation. The M.Arch admission process includes the steps as completion of online form, submitting the required documents, which are mandatory, and passing the respective entrance examination. Shortlisted applicants will be subjected to counselling or interview, and in a few institutes, a portfolio of architectural work might be evaluated. Some of the top MArch colleges in India are IIT Roorkee, Chandigarh University, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, etc.

 

Table of Contents

  1. M.Arch Eligibility Criteria
  2. M.Arch Entrance Exams
  3. M.Arch Admission Process
  4. M.Arch Admission FAQs

 

M.Arch Eligibility Criteria

Before moving forward with the M.Arch admission process, the candidates need to fulfill the M.Arch eligibility criteria first. The eligibility criteria for most M.Arch colleges are the same; however, they can vary on some factors. The detailed M.Arch eligibility criteria are given below:

  • The candidates are required to complete the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) from a recognized college/university.
  • The candidates need to score a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in B.Arch, and some colleges might require more marks (55% or 60%).
  • Final year B.Arch students are also eligible to apply, though they should finish in time before the cut-offs of the colleges are released.
  • In addition to this, the candidates are required to pass a relevant entrance examination (GATE, CEED, or a state /university exam).

 

M.Arch Entrance Exams

To take admission in the top M.Arch colleges in India, the candidates need to appear for the M.Arch entrance exams, either national-level, state-level, or university-level exams. The complete details of the entrance exams are given below.

 

National-level Entrance Exams

Exam Name

Registration Date (Tentative)

Exam Date (Tentative)

Registration Fee

GATE 2026

Sep–Oct 2025

Feb 2026

1800 (Gen/OBC), 900 (SC/ST/PwD/Female)

CEED 2026

Oct–Nov 2025

Jan 2026

1900 (Gen/OBC), 950 (SC/ST/PwD/Female)

 

State-level Entrance Exams

Exam Name

State

Registration Date (Tentative)

Exam Date (Tentative)

Registration Fee

TANCET 2026

Tamil Nadu

Jan–Feb 2026

Mar 2026

General: INR 1000 (),

 

SC/SCA/ST of Tamil Nadu: INR 500 ()

Karnataka PGCET 2026

Karnataka

May–Jun 2026

Jul 2026

Gen/OBC: INR 700 (),

 

SC/ST/Cat-I of Karnataka: INR 500 ()

TS PGECET 2026

Telangana

Mar–Apr 2026

May 2026

Gen/OBC: INR 1100 (),

 

SC/ST: INR 600 ()

MAH M.Arch CET 2026

Maharashtra

Mar–Apr 2026

May 2026

General: INR 1000,

 

SC/ST/OBC of Maharashtra: INR 800 ()

AP PGCET 2026

Andhra Pradesh

Mar 2026

June 2026

General: INR 1200, OBC: INR 900, SC/ST/PH: INR 700

PGETA 2026 (COA)

Council of Architecture

Jul–Aug 2026

Sep 2026

Gen/OBC: INR 2000 (),

 

SC/ST: INR 1000 ()

OJEE

Odisha

Jan 2026

April 2026

INR 1000

 

University-level Entrance Exams

Exam Name

University

Registration Date (Tentative)

Exam Date (Tentative)

Registration Fee

JMI Entrance Test

Jamia Millia Islamia

Mar 2026

May 2026

INR 1000

 

M.Arch Admission Process

The candidates need to follow a simple admission process to take admission in the top M.Arch colleges in India. The M.Arch admission process at IIT Roorkee is given below.

 

Step 1: The candidates need to fulfill the M.Arch eligibility requirements first.

 

Step 2: The candidates need to apply online on the official GATE website by registering for the GATE exam.

 

Step 3: The candidates need to appear for the exam and wait for the results.

 

Step 4: On getting a valid GATE score, the candidates have to fill the M.Arch admission form for IIT Roorkee.

 

Step 5: The candidates need to visit the official website of IIT Roorkee.

 

Step 6: The candidates need to fill in the required details and upload the scanned copy of documents.

 

Step 7: The candidates need to pay the application fee and submit the application form.

 

Step 8: After receiving the applications, the short-listed candidates are further invited to other rounds, which would either include document verification or an interview.

 

Step 9: The candidates should attend centralized counselling (COAP) according to IIT norms, where one can get an offer of admission based on the GATE score, conducted in the interview, and availability of a seat.

 

Step 10: Once the seat is allocated to the candidates, they need to pay the course fee and confirm their admission.

 

Documents Required

The candidates need to take the following documents for the document verification process:

  • Class 10th and 12th marksheet
  • Graduation Marksheet
  • Birth Certificate
  • Caste Certificate, if applicable
  • Domicile Certificate
  • GATE Scorecard
  • Photograph
  • Signature
  • Admission Form
  • Allotment Letter.

Want to explore the specializations of MArch? Check MArch Urban Design

 

M.Arch Admission FAQs

Can I participate in M.Arch admission without GATE?

Yes, several private colleges and colleges in some states accept students depending on the results obtained in their particular entrance examinations or merit in B.Arch. So, the candidates do not need to appear for the GATE exam.

What are the core subjects included in the MArch syllabus?

The major subjects included in the MArch syllabus are advanced architectural design, research methods, urban planning, green architecture, protection of heritage, material, building construction, disaster planning, landscape design, computer modeling, and dissertation subjects.

Which are some of the top MArch private colleges in India?

Some of the popular and renowned MArch colleges are SRM University, Manipal University, Lovely Professional University, Amity University, and BBDU. These colleges provide quality education and placement assistance.

What MArch jobs can the postgraduates opt for?

The candidates can opt for jobs as an architect (firms), urban planner, sustainability consultant, academician/ professor, research associate, construction project manager, government architect, BIM specialist, and set designer. The top levels consist of a senior architect or director of the firm.

What is the M.Arch salary for entry-level roles in India?

The entry-level salary for M.Arch jobs is between INR 3 to 7 lakh per annum, depending on the spread between fresh graduates, although more is realized in individual consultancies, large companies, or teaching positions. Salaries can be followed to higher levels based on experience, as the job is in senior design or in a project role.

What is the difference between M.Arch and MBA/ MSc in Architecture?

M.Arch focuses on creative design, research, and technical expertise. MBA (Construction/Project Management) has a focus on business /management. MSc Architecture is research and/or technology-oriented and less practice-oriented design.

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