CUET PG Counselling 2026: Registration, Choice Filling and Round-Wise Seat Allotment

CUET PG 2026 counselling is conducted independently by each participating university using NTA-declared scores from the exam held March 6–27, 2026. With the result declared on April 24, 2026, over 191 universities are now running active admission processes — BHU, JNU, Delhi University, and the University of Hyderabad are among those with open or imminent deadlines in June–July 2026.

• CUET PG 2026 result is out (April 24, 2026) — download your scorecard from pgcuet.samarth.ac.in or DigiLocker.
• There is no single centralized counselling — you must register separately at each university’s admission portal.
• JNU registration is open until June 15, 2026 at jnuee.jnu.ac.in — only five days remain.
• DU CSAS PG fee payment deadline is June 15, 2026 at pgadmission.uod.ac.in.
• BHU CAP PG 2026 registration closed on June 4; the first merit list releases on July 14, 2026 at bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in.
• University of Hyderabad Round 1 merit list is expected on July 9, 2026 at uohydcuet.samarth.edu.in.

Reservation of Quotas for CUET PG Counselling 2026

All central universities participating in CUET PG 2026 follow the Government of India reservation policy as mandated by UGC. Reservation applies to the total sanctioned intake of each programme; the PwD horizontal reservation cuts across all vertical categories.

Key points when applying under a reserved category:

• OBC-NCL certificate must be dated on or after April 1, 2025 to be valid for 2026 admissions under central government norms.
• EWS income and asset certificate must be issued in financial year 2025–26 (on or after April 1, 2025).
• SC and ST certificates have no expiry but must be issued by the competent authority in the prescribed format for each state.
• PwD students must hold a disability certificate indicating a minimum 40% disability, issued by a government medical board or notified authority.
• State universities participating in CUET PG may add state-level reservations on top of central norms — check individual prospectuses for the full category breakdown.

How to Apply for CUET PG Counselling 2026?

Registering for counselling is mandatory — your CUET PG score alone does not guarantee a seat. Because counselling is decentralised, you must register on the portal of every university you wish to be considered at. Each university sets its own registration window, fee, and document requirements independently.

The five steps below apply broadly across participating universities. University-specific portals, deadlines, and variations are detailed in the University-Wise Schedule section.

Step 1: Download Your CUET PG 2026 Scorecard

Your CUET PG 2026 scorecard is the single most important document for the entire admission process. It carries your Application Number, subject-wise scores, and NTA-assigned rank — all of which every university’s registration form will require.

• Visit pgcuet.samarth.ac.in and log in with your application number and password.
• Alternatively, access your scorecard through DigiLocker using your Aadhaar-linked credentials.
• Download and keep multiple printed copies — universities require self-attested hard copies at document verification.
• Check all details (name, date of birth, category, subject scores) for accuracy. Report any discrepancy to NTA immediately via the official helpdesk at exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg.

Step 2: Visit University Admission Portals

Each participating university has its own dedicated admission portal. You cannot apply to multiple universities through a single registration — each portal requires a fresh account, a separate application form, and an independent fee payment. Prioritise universities based on your CUET PG score, programme preference, and previous years’ closing scores.

• BHU (CAP PG 2026): bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in — registration closed June 4, 2026
• JNU: jnuee.jnu.ac.in — registration open until June 15, 2026
• Delhi University (CSAS PG 2026): pgadmission.uod.ac.in — registration closed June 9; fee payment due by June 15, 2026
• University of Hyderabad: uohydcuet.samarth.edu.in — registration closed June 8, 2026
• Jamia Millia Islamia: jmi.ac.in — admission expected to open in August 2026
• All other participating universities: check the full list at exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg and visit each university’s official website for its portal link and schedule.

Step 3: Register and Fill the Application Form

On each university portal, create a new account or log in using your CUET PG 2026 application number. Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and programme preferences with care.

• Enter your CUET PG 2026 Application Number and score exactly as shown on your scorecard.
• Select the programmes (courses) you wish to apply for, in order of preference where the portal permits.
• Fill all mandatory fields precisely — errors in category, subject, or qualifying marks can invalidate your application.
• Preview and verify all entries before final submission. Most portals do not permit edits after the form is submitted.

Step 4: Upload Documents and Pay Application Fee

After completing the form, upload scanned copies of required documents and pay the university’s non-refundable application fee within the same session.

• Upload documents in the format and file size specified by the portal (typically JPEG or PDF, under 200 KB per file).
• Application fees are non-refundable and vary by university and category — see the Fees section for confirmed figures.
• Keep the payment receipt and form submission confirmation number safely. You will need these at every subsequent stage.
• Do not exit the session before payment is confirmed — a submitted form without fee payment is typically rejected automatically.

Step 5: Track Merit List and Confirm Your Seat

Once the application window closes, universities prepare merit lists based on CUET PG scores. Check the university portal regularly after the announced merit list date — you typically have only 24–48 hours to accept a seat after the list is published.

• Log in to the university portal and check your allotment status on and after the announced merit list date.
• If offered a seat, click "Accept" and pay the seat acceptance / confirmation fee within the given deadline.
• BHU gives only 24 hours from merit list publication to accept a seat. Missing this window forfeits your allotment in that round.
• If not offered in Round 1, wait for subsequent rounds. BHU runs 3 merit lists and 2 spot rounds; DU runs multiple CSAS allocation rounds.
• After seat confirmation, report physically to the university with all original documents on the date notified by the university.

How to Fill University Preferences — Step-by-Step Guide

Universities such as BHU (CAP PG) and Delhi University (CSAS PG) use preference-based seat allocation — you submit an ordered list of programmes, and the system matches you to the best available seat based on your CUET PG 2026 score and preference order. Fill at least 10–15 programme preferences to maximise your chances across all allotment rounds.

Step 1: Log In to the University Portal

• Visit the official university admission portal (e.g., bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in or pgadmission.uod.ac.in).
• Enter your registered application number or email ID and password.

Step 2: Navigate to Programme Preference / Choice Filling

• Look for "Programme Preference", "Choice Filling", or "Course Selection" in the dashboard menu.
• Read the on-screen instructions before starting — each portal has specific rules on the maximum number of preferences allowed and editing windows.

Step 3: Add and Order Your Preferences

• Search for programmes by department name, subject, or course code.
• Add programmes in descending order of preference — place your most-desired programme first.
• Include both top-choice and fallback programmes; any programme not listed will not be considered for you in any round.
• Do not restrict yourself to only highly competitive options — include realistic choices to avoid going unallotted in Round 1.

Step 4: Save and Preview Your Preference List

• Use the Save / Preview option to review your complete preference list before final submission.
• Verify programme names, codes, and the order carefully — errors here directly affect your allotment.

Step 5: Lock Your Preferences

• Click "Lock Preferences" or "Final Submit" to freeze your list.
• A confirmation OTP or pop-up will appear — confirm only when you are fully satisfied with your preference order.
• Once locked, preferences cannot be changed for the current round at most universities.

Once confirmed, the system uses your CUET PG 2026 score, category, and preference order to allocate seats in each round. The table below summarises the preference model used by major universities.

CUET PG Counselling Documents Required 2026

Carry all documents in original and as self-attested photocopies at the time of document verification and physical reporting. Missing or invalid documents at reporting can result in cancellation of admission — even after a seat has been formally allotted to you.

• CUET PG 2026 Scorecard (downloaded from pgcuet.samarth.ac.in or DigiLocker — printed copy)
• Class 10 (Matriculation) certificate and marksheet — serves as date of birth proof
• Class 12 (Intermediate / Higher Secondary) certificate and marksheet
• Bachelor’s degree certificate and all semester / year-wise marksheets
• Provisional degree certificate (if the final degree has not yet been issued at time of reporting)
• Category certificate (if applicable):
  • SC / ST certificate — issued by competent authority in prescribed format
  • OBC-NCL certificate — issued on or after April 1, 2025
  • EWS income and asset certificate — issued on or after April 1, 2025 (FY 2025–26)
  • PwD / Disability certificate — minimum 40% disability, issued by a government medical board
• Character certificate from the last attended institution
• Migration certificate from your previous university (required at enrollment)
• Transfer certificate (TC) from your previous institution
• Recent passport-size photographs (at least 6–8 copies in the size and format specified by the university)
• Government-issued photo ID proof (Aadhaar card, passport, or Voter ID)
• Domicile / Residence certificate (if applying under state quota or specific supernumerary categories)
• Income certificate (if claiming fee concession or university-level scholarship)
• Gap certificate / Affidavit (if there is an academic gap between qualifying exam year and the present application)
• University application form printout and fee payment confirmation receipt

Note: Each university may require additional documents specific to certain programmes (e.g., portfolio for MVA at UoH, or fitness certificate for physical education programmes). Download the official document checklist from each university’s portal before attending verification.

How Much Money is Needed for CUET PG Counselling 2026?

CUET PG counselling involves fees at two separate stages: the application / registration fee paid to each university when you apply, and the seat acceptance fee paid after allotment to block your seat. Application fees are non-refundable under all circumstances; seat acceptance fees are partially or fully refundable depending on the stage at which you withdraw.

Non-Refundable Fees

These are processing charges paid at the time of application and are not returned regardless of whether you receive a seat allotment.

Refundable Security Deposit

After receiving a seat allotment, you pay a seat acceptance or security deposit to confirm the seat. This amount is refundable in part or full depending on when you withdraw relative to the counselling timeline.

Note: If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the refund amount differs significantly across BHU, DU, JNU, and other institutions. Never assume you will receive a full refund — read the specific refund clause in the university’s information bulletin before making a withdrawal decision.

University-Wise CUET PG 2026 Admission Schedule

The table below consolidates the latest known admission schedules for major CUET PG 2026 participating universities. Registration windows at BHU, DU, and UoH have already closed as of June 10, 2026 — JNU’s deadline of June 15, 2026 is still active. Students who applied to JNU must complete their registration at jnuee.jnu.ac.in before June 15.

Note: This table reflects officially announced schedules as of June 10, 2026. Universities that have not yet published their schedules are marked "To be announced." Verify directly with the university’s official admission portal for the latest updates before applying.

Upgrade, Freeze, or Withdraw — What Should You Do?

Universities running multiple merit list rounds — BHU (3 lists + 2 spot rounds) and DU (CSAS PG multiple rounds) — give you a decision after each allotment: upgrade to a higher-preference programme in the next round, freeze your current seat, or withdraw entirely. Making the wrong choice can cost you a confirmed seat or result in avoidable fee forfeiture — understand each option before deciding.

Additional guidance specific to CUET PG 2026 university counselling:

• BHU gives only 24 hours after a merit list is published to accept your allotted seat online. Missing this window cancels your allotment for that round — your next opportunity is the subsequent merit list, not guaranteed to offer the same programme.
• BHU’s spot admission rounds (2 rounds, expected August 2026) offer remaining seats on a first-come, first-served basis and do not follow the preference-order model of the main rounds.
• For DU’s CSAS PG, the system automatically evaluates your higher preferences in each subsequent allocation round if you have accepted a seat — no separate "upgrade" action is needed from your side.
• If you have applied to multiple universities simultaneously and received a better offer elsewhere, withdraw formally from the less preferred university before its final round to free the seat for the next student on the merit list.
• UGC refund norms: withdrawal before the start of the academic session qualifies for partial refund of tuition and other fees (after deducting a processing charge). No-show after physically reporting and completing enrollment generally results in full fee forfeiture.