UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design)

Content Writer Priya Singh
Updated On Date: Jul 14, 2026

UCEED 2026 Counselling

UCEED 2026 – Counselling

 

The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) is a national-level entrance test administered by IIT Bombay on behalf of the Ministry of Education. It serves as the gateway for admissions into the four-year Bachelor of Design (B.Des) program at premier participating institutes, including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Roorkee, and IIITDM Jabalpur. The UCEED 2026 examination was conducted on January 18, 2026, and the results were declared alongside the release of official scorecards on March 10, 2026. Joint Seat Allocation registration took place between March 14 and April 10, 2026.

Important Features of UCEED 2026 Counselling

  • Mode:Entirely online
  • Rounds:Five seat allotment rounds anticipated; no spot admissions at IITs (possible only at IIITDM Jabalpur depending on vacancies).
  • Schedule:Counselling typically starts in late March or April 2026 immediately after UCEED results
  • Participating Institutes:IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, among others.

Step-by-Step Joint Seat Allocation Process

1.Online Application Registration: March 14 - April 10.

Log onto the B.Des admission portal on the official website (uceed.iitb.ac.in). Fill in personal information, qualifying exam academic details, and select your target IIT campuses in strict order of preference.

2.Seat Allotment Status: IIT Bombay Portal.

At the beginning of each round, check the allocation lists on the candidate portal. A provisional allotment email and letter are generated for candidates who successfully secure a seat.

3.Willingness Option (Freeze or Float): Decide to Lock or Upgrade.

Choose how you want to handle the offered seat. Select Freeze if you accept the college and do not want to participate in further rounds. Select Float to accept the seat but remain open to a higher-preference college in subsequent rounds.

4.Payment of Seat Acceptance Fee: Mandatory Step to Hold Seat.

Confirm your seat by paying the non-refundable seat acceptance fee online before the round’s specific deadline. If you do not pay on time, your allotment will be cancelled, and you will exit the entire system.

5.Physical Reporting: At Assigned Campus.

Report to your final allotted institute with original certificates, pay the remaining institutional tuition fees, and complete enrollment formalities to start the academic term.

Required Documents for Verification

Candidates must upload digital copies during registration and carry original documents along with photocopies during physical reporting:

  • Signed copy of the completed B.Des Application Form
  • UCEED 2026 Scorecard & Rank Card
  • Class 10 Certificate or Marksheet (Proof of Date of Birth)
  • Qualifying Exam (Class 12 or equivalent) Marksheet and Passing Certificate
  • Category Certificate (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS), if applicable, matching the prescribed formats in the brochure
  • PwD Certificate (UDID card or relevant physical disability form), if applicable
  • OCI/PIO card, if applicable.

UCEED 2026 Joint Seat Allotment Schedule

Round

Allotment Date

Acceptance Fee Deadline

Withdrawal/Exit Last Date

Round I

April 21, 2026

April 21 to April 29, 2026 

April 30 to May 11, 2026

Round II

May 19, 2026

May 19 to May 27, 2026 May 28 to June 9, 2026

Round III

June 10, 2026

June 10 to June 14 2026

June 15 to June 19 2026

Round IV Revised

June 24, 2026 June 24 to July 3, 2026 July 4 to July 6, 2026

Round V Revised

July 9, 2026

July 9 to July 13, 2026

Not Applicable

  

Counselling & Seat Acceptance Fees

The application processing fee is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of registering for the B.Des joint seat allocation:

  • Application/Registration Fee: Rs.4,000 for all candidates.

If you are allotted a seat, you must pay the following Seat Acceptance Fee to secure it:

  • General / OBC-NCL / EWS Categories: Rs.60,000
  • SC / ST / PwD Categories: Rs.15,000

 

UCEED Counselling 2026 FAQs

Q1. What happens if I get allotted my first-choice institute and choose to decline it?

A: If you are allotted your first preference and choose to decline or do not pay the seat acceptance fee, your current seat will be cancelled. Additionally, you will not be considered for any subsequent rounds of UCEED seat allocation.

Q2. If I choose the "Float" option, do I need to pay the seat acceptance fee again if I get upgraded?

A: No. If you pay the seat acceptance fee during your first allotment round and then get upgraded to a higher-preference institute in a later round, your payment is transferred automatically. You do not need to pay the fee a second time.

Q3. Can I withdraw my accepted seat and get a refund?

A: Yes, but only within the designated withdrawal windows for Rounds I through IV. Seat withdrawals are strictly barred once Round V (the final round) seat allotment is announced on July 9, 2026. Refunds are processed after deducting a nominal administrative fee.

Q4. Is there an institutional "Spot Admission Round" in IITs after the five counselling rounds?

A: No, IITs do not conduct spot rounds of admission for B.Des programs once joint seat allocation concludes. However, IIITDM Jabalpur may host its own institutional-level spot round if seats remain vacant after the completion of Round V.

Q5. I missed the April 10 deadline for registering for the B.Des program. Can I register during the counselling rounds?

A: No. If a qualified candidate misses the registration portal window (March 14 to April 10, 2026), they will not be considered for admission or seat allocation under any circumstances. There are no provisions for late registrations.

 

 

 

 

 

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