The admission year at a glance

Dates change each year, so read this as a rhythm, not a calendar.

Boards and the long wait

The year starts with school board exams, usually in February and March. Many students are preparing for entrance exams at the same time, so the next few months are a balancing act between the two.

Entrance exam season

Entrance tests are spread across the first half of the year. Engineering exams often run in more than one session, medical and university entrance tests follow, and management and law tests come later in the year. Each has its own registration window. Missing the window is the most avoidable way to lose a year.

Results and ranks

After each exam, scores and ranks are published. A rank is not an admission. It is the ticket you use in counselling.

Counselling

Counselling is where seats are actually allotted. It runs in rounds and rewards students who keep to deadlines, understand their options and fill their choice lists carefully. Read our guides on JoSAA and NEET counselling.

Reporting and joining

After allotment, you pay fees, submit documents and report to the college. Seats can be lost at this stage by missing a date or a document.

The money side

Fees, hostel costs and scholarships need planning from the start. Use the budget calculator, the EMI calculator and our scholarship guide.