• Updated on Aug 01, 2025 by Amrita Das
UCEED 2026 Eligibility Criteria: The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design is conducted by IIT Bombay to offer admission into B.Des programs at participating institutes. The UCEED 2026 Registration will begin from the first week of October 2025. The official notification of UCEED 2026 will be released on October 01, 2025. The UCEED Eligibility Criteria 2026 include age limit, the number of attempts allowed, and qualifying examination criteria, which applies equally to Indian and foreign nationals. Candidates must check to meet the eligibility criteria before filling out the UCEED 2026 Application Form. Read further to know more about the eligibility criteria of UCEED 2026 in detail.
UCEED 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To appear for UCEED 2026, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements related to age, academic qualifications, and examination attempts. The candidate should have passed their Class 12 or equivalent exam in 2025 or 2026 from any stream like Science, Commerce, or Arts. Candidates who first appeared for the qualifying exam in 2024 or earlier are not eligible. Reservation is provided to candidates belonging to EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD categories as per the Government of India norms. A 5-year age relaxation is given to SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Check out the table below for UCEED 2026 Eligibility.
Criteria | Details |
Age Limit |
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Number of Attempts |
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Qualifying Exam Year |
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Eligible Streams |
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Foreign Nationals |
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UCEED 2026 Institute-Specific Eligibility Criteria
Apart from the general eligibility criteria, each participating institute may have its own subject requirements. Science stream students with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics can apply to all participating institutes. Students from non-science streams can apply to certain institutes only. Foreign nationals also need to meet the same subject requirements as per the institute they are applying to. Check out the following table for the institute-specific eligibility criteria for UCEED 2026.
Institute | Eligibility Criteria |
Open to students from all streams (Science, Commerce, Arts). | |
Open to students from all streams (Science, Commerce, Arts). | |
Open to students from all streams (Science, Commerce, Arts). | |
Only for Science stream students with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. | |
Only for Science stream students with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. |
UCEED 2026 List of Qualifying Exams
To be eligible for the UCEED 2026 exam, candidates must have passed or be appearing in a recognized qualifying examination. The list of accepted exams differs slightly for Indian nationals and foreign nationals. For Indian nationals, the accepted qualifications include various state, central, and recognized diploma boards. For foreign nationals, equivalent international qualifications are accepted. Candidates must ensure their qualification is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Check out the following table for the list of qualifying exams for UCEED 2026.
For Indian Nationals | For Foreign Nationals |
Final exam of 10+2 system recognized by Central/State Board or AIU. | Public school, board, or university exam recognized as equivalent to 10+2 by AIU. |
Final exam of 2-year NDA Joint Services Wing course. | General Certificate Education (GCE) at Advanced (A) Level (London, Cambridge, Sri Lanka). |
Senior Secondary School Exam by NIOS with at least 5 subjects. | High School Certificate from Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma. |
Intermediate/Pre-University exam recognized by a board or university. | Equivalent certificate from AIU for exams not mentioned above. |
HSC vocational exam or AICTE/state-recognized 3-year diploma. | Must have passed at least one public exam if Class 12 was not a public exam. |
Check UCEED 2026 Registration Here
UCEED 2026 Seat Reservation
UCEED 2026 follows the Government of India reservation policy for seat allocation in participating institutes. The reservation is applicable to Indian nationals only. Categories such as EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD are given fixed percentage reservations. PwD reservations are horizontal, meaning they cut across all categories. Foreign nationals are not eligible for reservation benefits.
Category | Percentage of Seats Reserved |
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
Other Backward Class - Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
Persons with Disability (PwD) | 5% (horizontal) |
UCEED 2026 Eligibility Criteria FAQs
Who is eligible for UCEED 2026?
To be eligible for UCEED 2026, candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024 or be appearing for it in 2026. They must also meet the age limit and attempt restrictions set by IIT Bombay. Students from Science, Commerce, and Arts streams can apply as per institute-specific rules.
Does UCEED 2026 have an age limit?
Yes, UCEED 2026 has an age limit. Candidates from the OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL category must be born on or after October 1, 2000, while SC/ST/PwD candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1995. A 5-year relaxation is given to SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
Can I give UCEED 2026 twice?
Yes, candidates can attempt UCEED 2026 a maximum of two times. These attempts must be in consecutive years. The UCEED score is valid only for one academic year.
Who is eligible for UCEED at IITs?
For IITs, candidates must meet UCEED 2026 eligibility rules and specific institute subject requirements. Science stream students can apply to all IITs, while non-science students can apply only to IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Hyderabad. Foreign nationals must also meet these requirements.
Does UCEED 2026 require a specific qualifying exam?
Yes, candidates must have passed or be appearing for a recognized Class 12 or equivalent qualifying exam. This includes state, central, or AIU-recognized boards, NIOS, or AICTE-approved diplomas. Foreign nationals must hold equivalent international qualifications.
Is UCEED 2026 tougher than JEE?
UCEED 2026 and JEE are different in focus and difficulty. While JEE is more technical and math-heavy, UCEED tests design aptitude, creativity, and visualization skills. The difficulty depends on candidates’ strengths and preparation.
How many seats are available in UCEED 2026?
The number of seats for UCEED 2026 varies across participating institutes. Each IIT releases its own seat matrix during the admission process. The total seats are divided based on category-wise reservations.
Does UCEED 2026 have seat reservations?
Yes, UCEED 2026 follows the Government of India reservation policy. This includes EWS (10%), OBC-NCL (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), and PwD (5% horizontal reservation). Foreign nationals are not eligible for reservation benefits of UCEED 2026.
Can foreign nationals apply for UCEED 2026?
Yes, foreign nationals can apply for UCEED 2026. They are considered under the OPEN category and must meet the same eligibility criteria as Indian nationals. No special quota or relaxation is given to foreign candidates.
Can I apply for UCEED 2026 if I am from a non-science stream?
Yes, non-science stream students can apply for UCEED 2026, but eligibility depends on the institute. IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Hyderabad accept students from all streams, while IIT Guwahati and IIITDM Jabalpur require a science background.