GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026- Education Qualification, Age Limit
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- GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026
The Indian Institute of Engineering Test (IIT), Roorkee, is responsible for conducting the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. The registration process for the GATE 2026 has been started from 25th August 2025 onwards and the examination will be conducted on 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th February 2026. Those who wish to seek admission into the Master's/Doctoral program in Technology/Architecture/ Engineering fields or PSUs must apply for the GATE 2026 examination. Before applying, it is important to understand the GATE Eligibility 2026; the eligibility parameters are specified by the official authorities. Make sure you enter the right details about your eligibility in the application form, supported by the necessary documents.
GATE Eligibility 2026
Candidates need to fulfill the required GATE Eligibility 2026, if a candidate fails to meet any of the given eligibility critieria for GATE 2026, then he/she will not be allowed to appear for the exam or admission process. GATE is a national-level Post Graduate Engineering Entrance examination, which is held to offer admission to M.E., M.TECH, and PH.D. courses at IITs, NITs, IISc, GFTIs, and other reputed Universities in India. Every year, this entrance examination is organised jointly by the IISc, Bangalore, and seven IITs in support of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE. This year, the Indian Institute of Engineering Test (IIT), Roorkee, is organising this exam and considers the following parameters for evaluating a candidate's eligibility:
- Age Limit
- Educational Qualification
- Nationality
- Number of Attempts
- General Criteria
GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026- Education Qualification
The GATE 2026 exam will be held for 30 papers. Out of these, a candidate can appear only in one GATE paper. Through this post, aspirants can check the detailed information on GATE Eligibility 2026, like who is eligible for the exam, academic qualifications, age criteria, and other details.
| GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026 | ||
| Qualifying Degree | Required academic qualification | Eligible students description |
| B.Tech/ B.E. / B.Pharm. | Should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/ Technology (4 years after 10+2) Or 3 years after B.Sc./ Diploma in Engineering/ Technology | Presently appearing in the final year or already completed |
| B.Arch | Candidate should have done Bachelor’s degree in Architecture having a duration of 5 years | Presently appearing in the final year or already completed |
| Pharm. D. (After 10+2) | Candidates must have done a 6-year degree program which included residency training and internship from 3rd year onwards. | Presently appearing in the 3rd/4th/ 5th year or already completed |
| B.Sc.(Research)/ B.S | Should have passed Bachelor’s degree in Science (4 years after 10+2) Or Post Diploma in Science | Presently appearing in the final year or already completed |
| M.A./ M.Sc./ MCA or equivalent | Candidate should have done a Master’s degree in any branch of Science/ Statistics/ Mathematics/ Computer Applications or equivalent | Presently appearing in the final year or already completed |
| M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc. | Candidates who have an M.B.B.S./B.D.S./B.V.Sc. degree and are in the 5th/6th/7th semester or higher semester of these programs are eligible to apply. | 5th/6th/7th semester or higher semester or already have completed |
| B.Sc.(Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry) | 4- years program | Presently in 3rd/4th year or have already been completed |
| Int. M.E./ M.Tech/M. Pharm or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2) | Should have passed Integrated Master’s degree courses or Dual Degree program in Engineering/ Technology (5-year course) | Presently appearing in the 3rd/4th/ 5th year or already completed |
| Int. M.E/ M.Tech (Post B.Sc.) | Must have completed Post-B.Sc. Integrated Master’s degree course in Engineering/ Technology (4-year course) | Presently in any year or have completed |
| Int. M. Sc/ Int. B.S./M.S. | Candidates holding an integrated M.Sc. degree or 5- a year integrated B.S.-M.S. program are eligible to apply | Presently appearing in the final year or already completed |
| Professional Society Examinations (equivalent to B.E/ B.Tech/ B.Arch.) | Should have completed B.E/ B.Tech/ B.Arch equivalent examinations, of Professional Societies, recognized by UPSC/ MoE/ AICTE for instance AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers-India, AMIE by Institution of Engineers-India | Completed Section A or equivalent of such professional program |
| B.Com./B.Sc/B.A. | Candidates must have a three-year bachelor's degree in any of the following: Science/Arts/Commerce | Presently appearing in the final year or already completed |
GATE Exam 2026 Notification Out- Click to Check
GATE Registration 2026 Starts- Click to Apply
GATE Eligibility 2026- Age Limit
There is no age restriction for the GATE candidates who are willing to apply GATE Exam 2026. There is no minimum or maximum age limit prescribed for this examination. However, the applicants should have a qualified degree to apply for the GATE exam 2026.
GATE Eligibility 2026- Nationality
- Indian nationality candidates will be eligible.
- Candidates from other than India will also be eligible.
GATE Eligibility 2026- Number of Attempts Limit
There is no limit to attempting the GATE Exam 2026. Candidates can attempt more than one time. Till GATE 2014 percentage score validity was 2 years and from GATE 2019 onwards it is 3 years. GATE Aspirants can appear for the GATE test as many times as they want but one should try to clear it in the first or second attempt to get better jobs.
GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026 (General)
Here, below we have mentioned a few general pointers about the GATE Eligibility Criteria 2026, candidates must have a look at them before proceeding further.
Indian citizens along with international candidates from Bangladesh, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be eligible to appear in the GATE exam 2026.
The candidates must have completed or must be in their final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology or a Master’s degree in Science in any relevant subject.
There is no age limit for the GATE Exam.
There is no specified minimum pass percentage in the qualifying exam to apply for the GATE exam 2026.
To be eligible for GATE, the applicants should have cleared B.Tech/ B.E. / B.Pharm or B. Arch or B.Sc. (Research)/ B.S. or M. Sc. / M.A. / MCA or Professional Society Examination (equivalent to B.Tech/ B.E. / B.Arch) or Integrated B.S.-M.S. / Integrated M.Sc. or Integrated M.E./ M.Tech (Post-B.Sc.) or Integrated M.E./ M.Tech or Dual Degree (after Diploma or 10+2).