SLIET SET Ph.D. 2026 Cutoff Marks: Minimum Score to Qualify Written Entrance Test

The SLIET SET Ph.D. 2026 written entrance test (SET-V) has an official minimum qualifying cutoff of 50 marks out of 100 (50%) for General/Others/EWS students and 45 marks (45%) for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and PwD students, as specified in the official SLIET Ph.D. 2026 Information Brochure.

Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET) conducts SET-V — the Ph.D. written entrance test — for students who do not hold a valid GATE or UGC/CSIR-JRF NET qualification. The 100-mark test is divided equally between Research Methodology and subject-specific questions. Qualifying the written test is the first step; it carries 70% weightage in the final selection merit, making a strong score critical for Ph.D. admission.

• SET-V is a 100-mark, 100-question MCQ test of 2 hours with no negative marking.
• Minimum qualifying marks: 50/100 for General/EWS; 45/100 for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD.
• The written test carries 70% weightage in the final selection merit for non-GATE/NET students.
• Students with valid GATE (2022 onwards) or UGC/CSIR-JRF NET are exempt from SET-V and go directly to the interview.
• SLIET SET-V 2026 written test is scheduled for 6 August 2026 at SLIET Longowal campus.

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About SLIET SET-V Ph.D. 2026 Written Entrance Test

SLIET SET-V is the Ph.D. written entrance test conducted offline at SLIET Longowal campus. It is mandatory for students without an exempting national-level qualification. The test covers two equal sections — Research Methodology (common for all disciplines) and a subject-specific paper. Key parameters of the test are below:

The Research Methodology section is identical for all disciplines. It tests Research Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Statistics, IT, Numerical Ability, and understanding of the Higher Education System. Students should give equal preparation weight to both sections since each carries 50 marks.

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SLIET SET Ph.D. 2026 Official Minimum Qualifying Marks

SLIET has officially specified the minimum qualifying marks for SET-V in the Ph.D. 2026 Information Brochure. These are the statutory thresholds that every student must meet to be eligible for the subsequent interview round. They apply uniformly across all disciplines.

Meeting the minimum qualifying marks does not guarantee shortlisting for the interview. SLIET shortlists students based on merit ranking among all who qualify, in proportion to available Ph.D. seats per discipline. Students should aim to score well above the qualifying minimum to be competitively positioned for the interview round.

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Expected Competitive Score for SLIET Ph.D. 2026 Selection

While the official qualifying mark is 50% for General and 45% for reserved categories, the effective competitive threshold — the score needed to be shortlisted for the interview from among all who qualify — is expected to be higher. This varies by discipline based on applicant volume and available seats.

The table below shows the expected competitive score range students should target, based on previous admission trends:

The expected competitive score range is based on previous year trends and varies by discipline. High-demand disciplines such as Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering attract more applicants and tend to have higher effective shortlisting thresholds. Disciplines with fewer applicants or seats may see lower effective competition levels. Since the written test carries 70% weightage in final selection, targeting scores in the 65–75 range for General category gives a meaningful advantage in the merit list.

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SLIET Ph.D. 2026 Selection Process and Weightage

The SLIET Ph.D. 2026 selection process follows two distinct pathways depending on whether students hold an exempting national-level qualification. The weightage breakdown for each pathway is as follows:

Key dates for the SLIET Ph.D. 2026 selection process:

• Written test (SET-V): 6 August 2026 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at SLIET Longowal)
• Written test result: 7 August 2026
• Interview and counselling: 7 August 2026, afternoon (Dean R&C Office, SLIET Longowal)

GATE and NET exemption applies only to students with a valid GATE score (2022 onwards, i.e., within the last 5 years) or a UGC/CSIR JRF or ASRB NET fellowship. Students who have cleared NET without a JRF fellowship are not exempt and must appear in SET-V.

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Factors Affecting SLIET SET Ph.D. Cutoff 2026

The effective competitive cutoff for SLIET SET Ph.D. 2026 is not fixed and can vary each admission cycle. The following factors influence where the shortlisting threshold lands each year:

• Number of applicants per discipline: A larger applicant pool in a department increases competition and raises the effective competitive threshold above the statutory 50%.
• Available Ph.D. seats: Disciplines with fewer sanctioned seats have higher effective competition even among those who meet the qualifying marks.
• Paper difficulty level: An easier test tends to push the score distribution higher and raises the effective shortlisting threshold; a harder test may lower it.
• Proportion of GATE/NET-exempt applicants: In disciplines with many GATE-qualified applicants, the written test pool is smaller, which can reduce the written test competitive pressure somewhat.
• Category-wise seat distribution: Reserved category seats are filled by merit-ranked qualified students within each category, creating separate effective competitive thresholds per category.