MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Age Limit, Reservation

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 was released by All India Management Association for the September session exam 2026 at the official website. As registration process is still ongoing, interested candidates who met the eligibility criteria can apply for PBT and CBT mode exams through the official website before the deadline. Candidates who wish to apply for the MAT 2026 exam must have a graduation degree from an approved university. Additionally, candidates in the final year of any degree can also apply for the MAT exam 2026. The registration window for MAT 2026 September session is active for both PBT and CBT till September 7, 2026 and September 14, 2026, respectively.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview

Candidates who wish to appear in the MAT 2026 exam must meet all the eligibility criteria as mentioned below. All India Management Association conducts AIMA MAT 2026 four times a year in PBT and CBT modes. The criteria include academic qualification, category reservation, relaxation, upper age limit, and work experience. Interested candidates must meet the academic qualifications for the MAT 2026 exam below:

• Candidates willing to appear for the MAT exam must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognised university.
• Candidates appearing in the final year of their bachelor's degree or awaiting the final examination result are also eligible to apply for the MAT exam.
• According to the AIMA MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, there is no upper age limit to apply for the AIMA MAT exam. However, there is a lower age limit of 20 years old, which is equivalent to a graduate.
• AIMA has not declared any number of attempts for the MAT exam. Eligible candidates can appear in the exam, irrespective of the number of attempts. The score of the latest attempt will be taken into consideration for admission.
• There is no such eligibility criterion of work experience for the MAT 2026 exam. But it carries an extra weightage in the selection process for all top MBA colleges.

Also Check: AIMA MAT 2026 Results

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Minimum Percentage Required

AIMA does not set a strict pass percentage to take the exam.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Reservation

AIMA has released the reservation criteria for the MAT 2026 exam (September session). The eligibility criteria will be the same for the upcoming MAT sessions 2026. No changes have been introduced from the previous year. Candidates can check the category-wise minimum percentage to proceed to the next round in the table below:

Check AIMA MAT 2026 Registration

MAT Reservation Criteria 2026 for PwD Candidates

The All India Management Association (AIMA) does not have a central reservation policy for the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) itself, as it functions solely as an examining body. However, the B-schools and universities accepting MAT scores strictly follow the Government of India's reservation guidelines during their admission and shortlisting processes. Candidates of the PwD category have 5% of seats reserved for them in most of the higher education institutes. Candidates can check the disabilities listed for PwD Candidates in the AIMA MAT Reservation Criteria 2026 below:

• Blindness and low vision.
• Deaf and hard of hearing.
• Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy, cured dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
• Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness.
• Multiple disabilities among persons aged one to four.
• Other ‘specified disabilities’ mentioned in ‘The Schedule’ of the RPwD Act 2016.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Participating Institutes

The MAT exam has no specific eligibility criteria for the participating colleges. However, some of the colleges have set up their own eligibility criteria for admission. Some of those criteria are mentioned below.

• Candidates must secure a minimum of 50 to 60% in graduation.
• There will be some relaxation for the professional degree holders.
• Candidates with work experience will be given more weightage.
• Women candidates will get more weight to promote gender diversity.
• Candidates with excellent performance in classes 10 and 12 will be given a good weightage.

Check AIMA MAT Syllabus 2026

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Rules for Final Year Students

You can apply for MAT 2026 even if you have not finished college yet.

• Eligibility: Students in the final year or final semester of their bachelor's degree can apply.
• Condition: You must complete all your final exams before the college admission process begins.
• Proof Required: You must submit your final graduation marksheet and passing certificate at the time of final admission.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Work Experience RequirementsWork experience is optional for MAT candidates.

• Fresh Graduates: Candidates with zero job experience can apply.
• Working Professionals: Candidates with work experience can also apply.
• Admission Weightage: Some B-schools award extra points for work experience during the personal interview round.

MAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Stream-Wise 

Candidates from any educational background can write the MAT exam.

• Arts, Commerce, and Science: Graduates from BA, B.Com, and B.Sc streams are eligible.
• Professional Degrees: Engineering (B.Tech/BE), Management (BBA/BMS), and Computer Applications (BCA) graduates can apply.
• Medical and Law: Students holding MBBS, BDS, or LLB degrees can also appear for the test.
• Equal Treatment: AIMA treats all academic streams equally during exam registration.

Qualification for MAT Exam for Distance Education and Online Degrees

Students with open university or online degrees can apply for MAT 2026.

Key Condition: Your distance or online degree must be recognized by UGC-DEB or AICTE.

Document Verification for Eligible Candidates

You must show valid proof of your eligibility during the final college admission rounds.

• Class 10 and 12 Marksheets: Proof of your date of birth and basic education.
• Graduation Degree/Marksheet: Shows that you passed your bachelor's degree.
• Provisional Certificate: Issued by your college if you have not received your final degree certificate yet.
• Category Certificate: Mandatory for SC, ST, OBC, or PwD candidates seeking fee or cutoff relaxation at colleges.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Ineligibility Rules

Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet basic guidelines.

• Unrecognized Universities: Degrees from universities not recognized by UGC make you ineligible.
• Unclear Backlogs: Failing to clear all college backlogs before final admission leads to cancellation of your seat.
• Incorrect Information: Giving false details about your marks or identity during registration leads to direct cancellation.

MAT Eligibility Criteria for Executive MBA Programs

Some participating institutes offer Executive MBA (EMBA) programs through MAT scores.

• Graduation Degree: Must hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• Work Experience: Minimum 2 to 3 years of full-time work experience is mandatory for Executive MBA courses.
• Different Rules: Standard PGDM/MBA courses do not require job experience, but Executive MBA courses strictly demand it.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs