CUET UG 2027
Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate), conducted by the National Testing Agency
CUET UG is the NTA test for undergraduate admission to central universities and many other participating universities. For engineering aspirants it matters mostly for B.Sc and other science degrees, because IIT, NIT and IIIT B.Tech seats come through JEE Main and JoSAA, not CUET.
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education, Government of India
- Mode
- Computer Based Test (CBT) at exam centres, in multiple shifts
- Frequency
- Once a year (May-June)
- Duration
- 60 minutes per test paper; up to 5 papers per candidate
CUET UG 2027: Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern
Updated on 18 October 2026 · Compiled from official National Testing Agency notices
CUET UG replaced separate university entrance tests with one national exam. Your CUET score is only a ticket to apply; each university runs its own counselling and sets its own eligibility.
About CUET UG
The Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate) is a computer based exam conducted by the National Testing Agency for undergraduate admission to central universities and many state, deemed and private universities. Candidates take up to five papers from languages, domain subjects and a General Aptitude Test. NTA publishes scores only; each university runs its own counselling and sets its own eligibility. For engineering aspirants it matters mainly for B.Sc programmes and as a backup, since IIT, NIT and IIIT B.Tech seats come through JEE Main and JoSAA. The 2026 result was declared on 23 June 2026. The 2027 bulletin is not out yet, and a January registration window is likely but unconfirmed.
CUET UG 2027 at a glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate), conducted by the National Testing Agency |
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Frequency | Once a year (May-June) |
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) at exam centres, in multiple shifts |
| Duration | 60 minutes per test paper; up to 5 papers per candidate |
| Language | 13 mediums: Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu (Sanskrit is not translated) |
| Courses | Undergraduate programmes at central, state, deemed and private universities, including B.Sc (Hons) in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science and Life Sciences, B.A., B.Com and a few integrated or professional programmes |
| Accepted by | All central universities (such as Delhi University, BHU, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia, AMU, University of Hyderabad) plus other participating state, deemed and private universities. NTA reported 244 participating universities in 2026, up from 241 in 2025 |
| Official website | cuet.nta.nic.in |
Key dates
NTA advance exam calendar for 2027
Expected around September-October 2026
CUET UG 2027 bulletin and registration
Expected early January 2027
CUET UG 2027 exam
Expected May 2027
CUET UG 2027 result
Expected June 2027
What CUET UG is
The Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate) is a computer based test run by the National Testing Agency. According to the 2026 Information Bulletin, it is used for admission to undergraduate programmes in all Central Universities and in participating state, deemed and private universities for the academic year 2026-27.
NTA does not allot seats. It publishes normalised scores, and each university then admits students through its own portal, such as the CSAS portal of Delhi University.
Where CUET fits for B.Tech and B.Sc aspirants
B.Tech seats in IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs are filled through JEE Main or JEE Advanced and JoSAA counselling. CUET UG is not the route for those seats.
CUET becomes relevant if you want a B.Sc (Hons) in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science or similar at a central university, if you want a backup to engineering, or if a particular participating university lists CUET for a technology or integrated programme. Always read the programme page of the university, because the bulletin states that each university's own eligibility, subject combinations and reservation policy apply.
- Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are separate domain papers (codes 322, 320 and 316 in the 2026 bulletin), so a PCM student can pick up to three science papers plus a language or the General Aptitude Test.
- Computer Science / Information Practices is another domain paper useful for B.Sc Computer Science and similar degrees.
- You may choose any subject irrespective of what you studied in Class 12, but the university decides which subjects count for a programme.
Do not confuse the two routes
A good CUET score does not give an IIT, NIT or IIIT B.Tech seat. Those are allotted by JoSAA on JEE ranks. Use CUET for central university science degrees and as a parallel option.
2026 cycle at a glance
| Item | CUET UG 2026 |
|---|---|
| Registered candidates | 15,68,867 |
| Appeared candidates | 11,64,098 |
| Participating universities | 244 |
| Exam cities | 321, including 13 international cities |
| Subjects offered | 37 (13 languages, 23 domain subjects, 1 General Aptitude Test) |
| Result | 23 June 2026 |
Source: NTA press release of 23 June 2026 (result declaration), which gives 15,68,867 registered, 11,64,098 appeared, 244 universities, 321 cities and 37 subjects. The exam ran 11 to 31 May 2026 with re-scheduled sessions on 6 and 7 June.
Explore CUET UG 2027
- CUET UG DatesRegistration, exam and result timeline
- CUET UG Application FormSteps, fee, documents and photo rules
- CUET UG EligibilityWho can apply, attempts and age
- CUET UG Exam PatternSections, marks and marking scheme
- CUET UG SyllabusSubject-wise units and topics
- CUET UG Admit CardDownload steps and exam-day carry list
- CUET UG ResultScorecard, rank and what comes next
- CUET UG CutoffQualifying marks and admission cutoffs
- CUET UG CounsellingRounds, choice filling and documents
- CUET UG PreparationStudy plan, strategy and mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Is CUET UG required for B.Tech admission?
No for IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, which admit through JEE Main or JEE Advanced and JoSAA. CUET UG is mainly for B.Sc, B.A., B.Com and similar programmes at central and other participating universities. A few universities may accept it for some technology programmes, so check the university brochure.
Who conducts CUET UG?
The National Testing Agency conducts it, and the official site is cuet.nta.nic.in.
When will CUET UG 2027 registration start?
It has not been announced. In 2026 the bulletin and portal opened on 3 January, so early January 2027 is likely, but wait for the official notice.
What is the CUET UG 2026 exam pattern?
Computer based test; up to five papers; 50 compulsory questions of 60 minutes each; +5 for a correct answer and -1 for an incorrect one. There are 37 papers: 13 languages, 23 domain subjects and 1 General Aptitude Test.
How many subjects can I choose?
A maximum of five, including languages and the General Aptitude Test, irrespective of the subjects you studied in Class 12. Your chosen university decides which subjects it accepts for each programme.
What is the application fee?
For 2026, Rs 1,000 for General, Rs 900 for OBC-NCL and EWS, and Rs 800 for SC, ST, PwBD and Third gender candidates for up to three subjects, with Rs 400, Rs 375 and Rs 350 for each additional subject. Centres outside India charged Rs 4,500 plus Rs 1,800 per extra subject.
Is there an age limit?
NTA sets none. Universities may have their own age criteria for specific programmes.
Is Class 12 required before the exam?
No. Candidates who have passed Class 12 or are appearing in the year of the exam can write CUET UG, subject to the university's eligibility for admission.
Is there negative marking in CUET UG?
Yes. The 2026 bulletin gives +5 for a correct answer and -1 for an incorrect answer. Unattempted questions get 0.
When was the CUET UG 2026 result declared?
On 23 June 2026. Scorecards could be downloaded from the NTA site with the application number and password.
Is there a CUET rank or minimum qualifying score?
No overall rank is published. Scores are normalised and given per subject. Universities set their own cut-offs and merit methods.
Can I use CUET and JEE Main together?
Yes. They are separate exams and processes. JEE Main leads to B.Tech counselling, while CUET leads to university-run admissions, so many students use CUET as a backup for science degrees.