IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026: Dates, Exam Pattern, Application

Updated on 17 January 2026

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Aarushi Mehra

Updated on 17 January 2026

IIT Bombay (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay) offers a wide range of programs across undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), doctoral, certificate, and diploma levels. IIT Bombay admissions are primarily based on national-level entrance exams, with some programs requiring institute-conducted tests or interviews. Below is a detailed breakdown of the IIT Bombay entrance exams accepted or conducted for each category, based on official information from the institute's academic and admissions portals.

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026: Important Dates

The table below showcases the IIT Bombay entrance exam dates for 2026:

Entrance Exam / Test	Program(s) at IIT Bombay	Key Important Dates (2026 Cycle)
JEE Advanced	B.Tech., Dual Degree B.Tech.+M.Tech., B.S. (most disciplines)	- Registration: April 23 – May 2, 2026 (tentative extended period) - Exam Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026 (Papers 1 & 2) - JoSAA counseling start: Tentative June 2, 2026 onwards
UCEED	B.Des.	- Exam Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026 (already conducted) - Admit Card: January 2, 2026 onwards - Result: March 6, 2026 (tentative) - B.Des. application & seat allotment: March 14 – June 2026 (rounds)
INMO (via Olympiad route)	B.S. in Mathematics	No fixed single exam date (qualifiers from prior INMO); admissions via centralized process (already aligned with JEE/JoSAA for 2025-26 entrants)
GATE	M.Tech., M.Tech.+Ph.D. Dual Degree, M.S. by Research (shortlisting)	- Exam Dates: February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026 (already conducted) - Admit Card: January 2/13, 2026 - Results: March 19, 2026
CEED	M.Des.	- Exam Date: January 18, 2026 (already conducted) - Admit Card: January 2, 2026 onwards - Result: March 4, 2026
JAM	M.Sc., M.Sc.+Ph.D. Dual Degree	- Exam Date: February 15, 2026 (already conducted) - Admit Card: January 5/13, 2026 - Results: March 20, 2026
CAT	MBA (Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management)	- Exam Date: Tentative last Sunday of November 2026 (e.g., November 29, 2026; exact date to be confirmed in 2026 notification) - Registration: Expected August–September 2026 - Results: Expected December 2026/January 2027
Institute-conducted Written Test + Interview (Ph.D.)	Ph.D. (all disciplines; department-specific)	- Spring Semester 2025-26 (ongoing/near completion): - Advertisement: September 5, 2025 - Application deadline: October 17, 2025 (regular); October 21, 2025 (extended) - Shortlist display: October 31, 2025 - Written Test/Interview: November–December 2025 (department-specific, e.g., December 4 in some depts.) - Result/Fees: December 19–24, 2025 - Reporting/Registration: January 1–2, 2026 - Semester start: January 5, 2026 - Autumn Semester 2026-27: Tentative advertisement mid-2026; exact dates to be released on acad.iitb.ac.in/admissions/research

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026 For UG Courses

Admissions to UG programs at IIT Bombay are handled through national-level exams. There are no institute-conducted entrance tests for these programs. The selection is based on exam scores and centralized allocation processes like JoSAA for JEE Advanced. The eligibility typically for IIT Bombay admission to UG courses requires passing Class XII (or equivalent) in the relevant year, with specific criteria varying by program. The detailed insights of IIT Bombay entrance exams for UG courses are showcased below:

Program	Entrance Exam Accepted	Notes
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.)	JEE Advanced	For engineering disciplines; includes Dual Degree (B.Tech. + M.Tech.) programs.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)	JEE Advanced (except for Mathematics)	For disciplines like Chemistry, Economics, etc.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mathematics	Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO)	Specific to Mathematics program.
Bachelor of Design (B.Des.)	Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED)	For design stream; eligibility includes passing Class XII in any stream.

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026 For PG Courses

PG admissions at IIT Bombay involve national-level exams for most programs, followed by possible institute-level written tests or interviews for some. Offers are often made via portals like COAP for GATE-based programs. Applicants apply through the IIT Bombay portal, with some programs requiring direct offers or further evaluations. Check the IIT Bombay entrance exams for PG courses from table below:

Program	Entrance Exam Accepted	Notes
Master of Technology (M.Tech.)	Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)	Includes M.Tech. + Ph.D. Dual Degree; may involve additional written test/interview by academic units. Full-time or part-time options available.
Master of Design (M.Des.)	Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED)	For design specializations; eligibility includes a minimum 3-year degree/diploma after 10+2.
Master of Science (M.Sc.)	Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM)	For sciences like Biotechnology, Chemistry, etc.; includes M.Sc. + Ph.D. Dual Degree. No additional test required beyond JAM for most.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	Common Admission Test (CAT)	Offered by Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management; may include personal interview based on CAT score. GMAT accepted for international candidates.
Master of Science (M.S.) by Research (e.g., in CSE)	GATE + Institute-conducted written test and interview	For research-oriented streams; GATE cutoff applies, followed by stream-specific test (e.g., 8 questions from chosen specialization).
Master of Public Policy (MPP)	Institute's own process (may include written test/interview)	No national exam specified; based on application and potential additional evaluation.
Master of Arts by Research (MA.Res.)	Institute's own process (may include written test/interview)	No national exam specified.

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026 for Doctoral Courses

Doctoral admissions at IIT Bombay primarily involve institute-conducted processes rather than a single national exam.

Ph.D. Programs: IIT Bombay admission is based on the institute's own written test (approximately 2.5 hours) followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates. A valid GATE score is required for candidates without a Master's degree from an IIT (with CPI above 8.0) or equivalent. For specific departments (e.g., Management), the test focuses on aptitude. Admissions occur twice a year (Autumn and Spring semesters). NOC from employer is required for employed candidates.

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026 for Certificate and Diploma Programs

These are offered through IIT Bombay's Continuing Education Programmes (CEP), targeted at working professionals, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners. There are no national-level entrance exams accepted. The institute conducts its own selection process, primarily based on applications and eligibility checks (e.g., professional background). No standardized institute-conducted entrance tests or interviews are mentioned; selection often involves registration forms and, in some cases, faculty consent.

Program Type	Entrance/Selection Process	Notes
Professional Certificate Programmes	Based on application; no entrance exam or test mentioned	Industry-relevant; e.g., Network Security. Requires minimum 80% attendance for certificate.
e-Postgraduate Diploma (ePGD)	Based on application; no entrance exam or test mentioned	36-credit programs in fields like AI & Data Science, E-Mobility, IC Design. Offers IIT Bombay alumni status upon completion.
Postgraduate Courses (for certificates/credits)	Based on registration form and faculty consent; no entrance exam	Credit-based; open to professionals. Involves exams for grade card.
GIAN Courses	Based on application; no entrance exam or test mentioned	Short-term (5-10 days) on emerging topics; credit-based with hands-on elements.
Open Courses	Based on application with prerequisite check; no entrance exam	Non-credit; durations from 1 day to 1 year; contact or online mode.
In-House Courses	Organization-requested; restricted to sponsor's personnel; no individual entrance	Tailored for companies; durations from 1 day to 1 year.

For all CEP programs, certificates are issued based on participation or completion criteria (e.g., 80% attendance or evaluations). Contact the Educational Outreach Office for program-specific details, as requirements may vary.

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026: Exam Pattern

IIT Bombay accepts various national-level entrance exams for admissions to its UG, PG, and doctoral programs, with some programs involving institute-conducted tests or processes. Below is a detailed overview of the exam patterns, based on official sources. Certificate and diploma programs generally do not require entrance exams.

UG Courses

Program	Entrance Exam	Exam Mode	Duration	Total Marks	Key Sections / Question Types	Marking Scheme Highlights
B.Tech. / Dual Degree B.Tech.+M.Tech. / B.S. (most disciplines)	JEE Advanced	Computer-Based Test (CBT)	6 hours (2 papers × 3 hours each, both compulsory)	Varies annually (~366 total)	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics in each paper; MCQ (single/multiple correct), Numerical, Matching	+3/+4 correct (varies by type); -1 for some incorrect MCQs; partial/no negative for others
B.Des.	UCEED	Part-A: CBT; Part-B: Offline	3 hours total (Part-A: 2 hours; Part-B: 1 hour)	300	Part-A: NAT (14 q), MSQ (15 q), MCQ (28 q); Part-B: Sketching (1 q, 50 marks), Design Aptitude (1 q, 50 marks)	Part-A: NAT no negative; MSQ partial/full +4/-1 in some cases; MCQ +3/-0.71; Part-B subjective (partial possible)
B.S. in Mathematics	INMO (via Olympiad route)	Offline (pen-paper)	4.5 hours	102	6 descriptive problems (proof-based)	Subjective evaluation; no negative marking

PG Courses

Program	Entrance Exam	Exam Mode	Duration	Total Marks	Key Sections / Question Types	Marking Scheme Highlights
M.Tech. / M.Tech.+Ph.D. Dual Degree	GATE	CBT	3 hours	100	General Aptitude (15 marks) + Subject (85 marks); MCQ, MSQ, NAT	GA & subject: +1/+2 per q; -1/3 or -2/3 for incorrect MCQ; no negative for MSQ/NAT
M.Des.	CEED	Part-A: CBT; Part-B: Offline answer book	3 hours total (Part-A: 1 hour; Part-B: 2 hours)	250	Part-A: NAT (8 q), MSQ (10 q), MCQ (26 q); Part-B: 5 subjective (Sketching, Creativity, Form/Visual Sensitivity, Problem Identification)	Part-A: NAT +4/0; MSQ partial +1 to +4/-1; MCQ +3/-0.5; Part-B subjective (partial possible, no negative)
M.Sc. / M.Sc.+Ph.D. Dual Degree	JAM	CBT	3 hours	100	Section A: 30 MCQ; Section B: 10 MSQ; Section C: 20 NAT	A: -1/3 or -2/3 for wrong MCQ; B & C: no negative/partial (B no partial)
MBA	CAT	CBT	120 minutes (40 min per section)	204	VARC (24 q), DILR (22 q), QA (22 q); MCQ & TITA	+3 correct; -1 incorrect MCQ; 0 for TITA/unanswered
M.S. by Research (e.g., CSE, others)	GATE (shortlisting) + Institute Written Test & Interview	Institute test: Written (stream-specific)	Varies (typically 1-2 hours written)	Varies	Stream-specific questions (e.g., 8+ from chosen area like algorithms/networks); may include programming test	Department-specific; often short-answer/fill-in; cutoff for interview
MPP / MA.Res.	Institute process (no national exam)	Institute Written Test + Interview	~2 hours (written)	Varies	Aptitude/policy/current affairs (subjective/objective); humanities-focused for MA.Res.	Department-specific evaluation

Doctoral Courses

Program	Entrance / Selection Process	Exam Mode	Duration	Key Features	Marking / Notes
Ph.D. (all disciplines)	Institute Written Test + Interview (GATE may be required for non-IIT Master's without high CPI)	Offline/Department-specific written test	2–2.5 hours (written)	Department-specific: fill-in/short-answer, aptitude/subject knowledge (e.g., core topics like signals/circuits in EE; 31 q with blanks in CSE example)	Cutoff marks for interview (e.g., 9+ in some depts.); followed by research proposal discussion/interview

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam 2026: Application Process

The application process for admissions to IIT Bombay varies by program level and the specific entrance exam used. IIT Bombay does not conduct a single unified entrance exam; instead, it accepts scores from national-level exams (e.g., JEE Advanced, GATE, UCEED, CEED, JAM, CAT) for most programs, followed by centralized counseling or institute-specific application and selection steps. For some PG and doctoral programs, the institute conducts additional written tests and/or interviews. The step-by-step guide for application process of IIT Bombay entrance exam is as follows:

Appear for the relevant national entrance exam (e.g., JEE Advanced, GATE, etc.) and qualify/secure the required score/rank.
Apply/register through the appropriate portal:

Centralized counseling portals (e.g., JoSAA for UG engineering, COAP for GATE-based PG) for many programs.
IIT Bombay's own online application portal for direct applications in PG, PhD, and some others.

Shortlisting based on entrance exam scores, followed by additional steps like written tests/interviews (institute-conducted for some PG/PhD) or seat allocation.
Offer acceptance via the relevant portal and payment of fees.
Document verification and registration at IIT Bombay (including physical reporting for new entrants).

Application fees are typically non-refundable, paid online (e.g., ₹150–800 depending on category and extension period). Hard copies are usually not required.

IIT Bombay Entrance Exam FAQs

Q1. What entrance exams are accepted for admission to IIT Bombay in 2026?

IIT Bombay accepts national-level entrance exams depending on the program level:

UG Programs (B.Tech., B.S., B.Des.): JEE Advanced (for most B.Tech./B.S.), UCEED (for B.Des.), and INMO route (for B.S. Mathematics).
PG Programs (M.Tech., M.Des., M.Sc., MBA, etc.): GATE (M.Tech./M.S.), CEED (M.Des.), JAM (M.Sc.), CAT (MBA).
Ph.D. Programs: Institute-conducted written test + interview (GATE often required for non-IIT Master's candidates). No single IIT Bombay entrance exam exists; admissions rely on these national tests plus institute processes for some PG/Ph.D. programs.

Q2. What is the entrance exam for B.Tech at IIT Bombay in 2026?

The primary entrance exam for B.Tech, Dual Degree B.Tech.+M.Tech., and most B.S. programs at IIT Bombay is JEE Advanced 2026.

Exam Date: May 17, 2026 (Papers 1 & 2).
Registration: April 23 – May 2, 2026 (tentative).
Admissions follow through JoSAA counseling. Qualify JEE Main first, then appear for JEE Advanced.

Q3. Is there any common entrance exam conducted by IIT Bombay itself?

No unified "IIT Bombay entrance exam" exists. IIT Bombay conducts UCEED and CEED (for design programs nationwide) and department-specific written tests/interviews for some PG/Ph.D. admissions. Most programs use national exams like JEE Advanced, GATE, JAM.

Q4. Can foreign nationals apply for IIT Bombay entrance exams?

Yes, most exams (JEE Advanced, UCEED, CEED, JAM, GATE) are open to foreign nationals with no age limit in many cases. Check eligibility on respective official websites (e.g., JAM 2026 brochure confirms openness to all nationals).