UCEED 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

The UCEED 2026 eligibility criteria for the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design, administered by IIT Bombay, are designed to ensure a fair selection process for aspiring design candidates nationwide. Candidates must meet all UCEED 2026 eligibility criteria regarding age, qualifying exam year, and number of attempts to be eligible for the UCEED 2026 exam. The following article provides a clear picture to the candidates regarding their UCEED 2026 eligibility criteria.

1. Age Limit

• OPEN/ EWS/ OBC-NCL category: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2000.
• SC/ ST/ PwD category: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1995.

This age relaxation ensures inclusivity for reserved category candidates and aligns with national entrance exam standards.

2. Number of Attempts

• Candidates are allowed to appear for UCEED a maximum of two times, and only in consecutive years.
• The UCEED score remains valid for one year only, and for admissions taking place in the corresponding academic year.

3. Qualifying Examination

• Candidates must qualify all subjects in their Class 10+2 (or equivalent) examination in either 2025 or 2026 for UCEED 2026.
• Students from all streams—Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities—are eligible.
• Those who appeared for their qualifying examination (Class 10+2) for the first time in 2024 or earlier are not eligible for UCEED 2026.
• For candidates who completed their Class 10+2 outside India or from a Board not specified, they must produce an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities or similar authority to confirm eligibility.

4. Nationality

• Both Indian nationals and foreign nationals may apply, provided all the above criteria are met.
• Foreign candidates who completed their qualifying examination abroad must validate equivalence with the Indian Class 10+2 examination.

5. Stream and Marks Requirement

• There is no restriction on stream—all candidates from Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities are eligible.
• Generally, there is no minimum percentage requirement mentioned for appearing in the exam, though individual institutes may require minimum criteria for admission at the B. Des program stage.

6. Reservation

• UCEED follows Government of India reservation policies for EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD categories in seat allocation at participating institutes. PwD reservations are horizontal, as per the RPwD Act 2016.

The following table is a quick representation of UCEED 2026 eligibility criteria as listed below.

FAQs

Q1. What is the age limit for appearing in UCEED 2026?

Ans. Candidates from the OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL category must be born on or after October 1, 2000. Those from SC, ST, or PwD categories should be born on or after October 1, 1995.

Q2. How many times can a candidate appear for UCEED?

Ans. A candidate can attempt UCEED a maximum of two times, strictly in consecutive years. The score is valid only for the academic year immediately following the exam.

Q3. Which qualifying examination should a candidate clear for UCEED 2026?

Ans. Candidates must have passed all subjects in Class 10+2 (or equivalent) in 2025 or should be appearing for the first time in 2026. Candidates who appeared before 2025 are not eligible.

Q4. Are students from any stream eligible for UCEED?

Ans. Yes, candidates from Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities streams are equally eligible to apply for UCEED 2026.

Q5. Can foreign candidates apply for UCEED 2026?

Ans. Foreign nationals may apply for UCEED 2026, provided they fulfil all age, attempt, and qualifying examination requirements. Those with foreign Board exams must provide an equivalence certificate from a recognized authority.