AP PGECET 2026 counselling is being conducted by Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, on behalf of APSCHE, for admission into M.Tech., M.Pharmacy, and Pharm.D (PB) programmes across university engineering colleges, pharmacy colleges, and their AICTE-approved affiliated institutions in Andhra Pradesh. Every detail in this guide has been cross-checked against the official APSCHE notification rather than being recycled from other portals, so it can genuinely be relied upon for planning admissions. Manabadi will continue to track every update in this counselling cycle as it is officially released.
Contents
Official Counselling Portals
| Purpose | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Exam registration entry point | sche.ap.gov.in/pgecet |
| Counselling, web options, seat allotment | cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/PGECET |
| APSCHE parent portal | apsche.ap.gov.in |
Both counselling-related links are operated under APSCHE.
Complete Fee Structure – Two Fees, Not One
A. AP PGECET Exam/Registration Fee (Officially Confirmed)
| Category | Base Fee |
|---|---|
| OC | ₹1,200 |
| BC | ₹900 |
| SC/ST | ₹700 |
Late Fee Slabs (added over base fee, officially notified):
| Window | Additional Late Fee |
|---|---|
| First late window | ₹1,000 |
| Second late window | ₹2,000 |
| Third late window | ₹4,000 |
| Final late window | ₹10,000 |
B. Counselling/Web-Options Fee (Previous-cycle data — verify for 2026)
| Category | Fee (last cycle) |
|---|---|
| OC/BC | ₹1,000 |
| SC/ST | ₹500 |
This is charged separately during the web-options/counselling stage, announced closer to the counselling schedule — not at exam registration.
C. Objection Fee (Answer Key Stage)
| Purpose | Fee |
|---|---|
| Per question objection | ₹300 (refundable only if objection is upheld) |
The 85:15 Rule
- 85% of seats in every course are reserved for local candidates, as per the Andhra Pradesh government order for 2026-27.
- The remaining 15% of seats are kept unreserved for non-local candidates.
- GATE/GPAT-qualified candidates get first preference for seat filling in each branch.
- Only seats left unfilled after GATE/GPAT allotment are given to AP PGECET-ranked candidates by merit.
- Local/non-local status is determined strictly as per current Government of AP orders — candidates should confirm their status before applying.
Participating Universities
| University | Role | M.Tech Fee (previous-cycle, verify current) | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam | Conducting body + participating college | ~₹1.09 lakh/year | andhrauniversity.edu.in |
| JNTU Kakinada (JNTUK) | Largest affiliated college network | ~₹60,000 (full course, varies by branch) | jntuk.edu.in |
| JNTU Anantapur (JNTUA) | Major participating university | ₹1.2 lakh–₹2 lakh (full course) | jntua.ac.in |
| Sri Venkateswara University (SVU), Tirupati | Participating + past exam-conducting body | Varies by branch | svuniversity.edu.in |
| Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU), Guntur | Participating university | Varies by branch | anu.ac.in |
Beyond these five, 200+ AICTE-approved private and self-financing colleges – mostly affiliated to JNTUK and JNTUA – participate in the same counselling. The exact, round-wise seat matrix (college + branch + category-wise count) is published only on the official CETs portal after registration closes.
Branch/Test-Paper Streams Covered
| # | Stream |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bio-Technology |
| 2 | Chemical Engineering |
| 3 | Civil Engineering |
| 4 | Computer Science & Information Technology |
| 5 | Electrical Engineering |
| 6 | Electronics & Communication Engineering |
| 7 | Food Technology |
| 8 | Geo-Engineering & Geo-Informatics |
| 9 | Instrumentation Engineering |
| 10 | Mechanical Engineering |
| 11 | Metallurgical Engineering |
| 12 | Nano Technology |
| 13 | Pharmacy |
Documents Required for Verification
- AP PGECET / GATE / GPAT rank card and admit card
- Degree certificate / provisional degree certificate
- Qualifying exam consolidated marks memo
- SSC / 10th certificate (date of birth proof)
- Study certificate
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
- Income certificate (if applicable)
- EWS certificate, issued by Tahsildar (if applicable)
- PH/PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Local/non-local status proof
- Passport-size photographs
- Valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport)
Quick Action Points for Candidates
- Enter the maximum possible number of college-branch combinations during web options.
- Carry both originals and self-attested photocopies of every listed document.
- Track only the official CETs portal for the confirmed 2026 counselling fee and schedule.
- Confirm local/non-local status before applying, since it directly affects seat eligibility under the 85:15 rule.
- Remember GATE/GPAT candidates are prioritized – AP PGECET-only candidates should track branch-wise vacancy trends closely.
FAQs
Q1: What is the official AP PGECET 2026 counselling portal?
cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/PGECET is the official portal for web options, document verification, and seat allotment.
Q2: Is the exam fee the same as the counselling fee?
No. The exam application fee (₹1,200/₹900/₹700 by category) is separate from the counselling/web-options fee, which is announced later.
Q3: What is the AP PGECET exam fee for OC candidates?
₹1,200 as officially notified.
Q4: What is the AP PGECET exam fee for SC/ST candidates?
₹700 as officially notified.
Q5: What happens if I miss the regular registration deadline?
Late fee slabs of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹4,000, and ₹10,000 apply in successive late windows, added to the base fee.
Q6: What is the 85:15 rule in AP PGECET counselling?
85% of seats in every course are reserved for local candidates, and the remaining 15% are unreserved for non-local candidates.
Q7: Do GATE-qualified candidates get priority over AP PGECET-ranked candidates?
Yes. GATE/GPAT-qualified candidates are given first preference; remaining seats go to AP PGECET candidates by merit.
Q8: Which universities participate in AP PGECET counselling?
Andhra University, JNTU Kakinada, JNTU Anantapur, Sri Venkateswara University, and Acharya Nagarjuna University, along with 200+ affiliated colleges.
Q9: How many branches/streams are covered under AP PGECET?
13 streams, including Computer Science & IT, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, and Pharmacy, among others.
Q10: What documents are required for AP PGECET document verification?
Rank card, admit card, degree certificate, marks memo, SSC certificate, category/income/EWS/PH certificates (if applicable), local/non-local proof, photographs, and photo ID.
Q11: Is the objection fee refundable during the answer key stage?
Yes, but only if the raised objection is found valid by the committee; otherwise it is non-refundable.
Q12: Where can the final, updated college and seat list be checked?
Only on cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/PGECET, published after registration and web-options open for the 2026 cycle.
AP PGECET 2026 counselling is shaping up to be a competitive but well-structured process, and being informed early — on the right colleges, the correct fee structure, and rules like the 85:15 local-nonlocal reservation — can make the difference between a rushed decision and a well-planned one. Candidates are encouraged to treat the official CETs portal as their final word on every step, while relying on a trusted source for simplified explanations along the way. That’s precisely the role Manabadi has been playing for exam and counselling updates across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and this AP PGECET 2026 cycle will be tracked here in the same way, round by round, right up to the final seat allotment. Bookmark Manabadi and stay a step ahead this admission season.