Chandigarh University Bachelor of Engineering [BE]{Hons.} {Lateral} Computer Science and Engineering (with Specialization in Internet of Things & Artificial Intelligence): Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. Yes, diploma holders from Electronics and Communication Engineering are generally eligible for the BE (H) CSE (IoT & AI) Lateral Entry program, as IoT and AI are closely related to ECE. However, if there are any deficient prerequisite subjects from the first-year CSE curriculum that were not covered in your diploma, you will be required to complete bridge courses as specified by the university's equivalence committee. It is advisable to contact the admissions office directly at admissions@cumail.in or call 1800-121-288800 to confirm your specific diploma branch's eligibility before applying.

Ans. The CUCET scholarship is applied directly as a waiver on the semester fee at the time of fee payment. For example, if you score between 80-90 percentile in CUCET, you get a 50% waiver, meaning you pay Rs. 83,250 per semester instead of Rs. 1,66,500. The scholarship is credited against your fee invoice each semester, provided you maintain a minimum 7.5 CGPA with no E, F, or I grades. The scholarship is not paid as cash but as a direct reduction in the fee payable to the university.

Ans. The IBM-collaborated curriculum and associated IBM certifications are part of the program structure at the Apex Institute of Technology and are included within the course framework. However, students should confirm with the admissions or academic office whether specific IBM certification exam fees (if any) are included in the semester fee or charged separately, as this can vary by batch and certification type. It is best to get this clarified in writing at the time of admission.

Ans. The Lateral Entry program is specifically for diploma holders who get direct admission into the 2nd year (3rd semester), completing the degree in 3 years instead of 4. The regular BE (H) CSE (IoT & AI) program is a 4-year program for students coming after 10+2. Both programs are offered under the Apex Institute of Technology with IBM collaboration, but the lateral entry route saves one year of study and proportionally reduces the total fee outgo. The curriculum from the 3rd semester onwards is largely the same for both tracks.

Ans. Graduates from the BE CSE (IoT & AI) program at Chandigarh University typically find placements in roles such as IoT Developer, Embedded Systems Engineer, AI/ML Engineer, Data Analyst, Cloud Solutions Architect, and Software Developer. Recruiters include companies like Microsoft, Amazon, TCS, Wipro, HCL, Dell, and Infosys. The university has reported highest packages of up to 59.9 LPA (Atlassian) for its engineering programs overall. However, for lateral entry IoT & AI graduates specifically, average packages typically range between Rs. 4-8 LPA for fresher roles, with top performers securing higher offers.

Ans. Yes, CUCET is conducted in multiple phases and students can appear in Phase 2 (starting June 2026) if they miss the Phase 1 deadline of April 30, 2026. However, it is strongly recommended to appear in Phase 1 as seats and scholarship availability may be higher in the earlier phase. Regarding multiple attempts, CUCET allows students to choose their exam date flexibly within the phase window, but the scholarship is awarded based on the score obtained. If you have already appeared and wish to improve your score, you should check with the CUCET portal (cucet.cuchd.in) for re-attempt policies, as these can change by session.