CUSAT CAT 2027 Notification: Key Dates, Application Schedule, Eligibility, Fees & Seat Allotment Details at Manabadi

The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) will officially release the notification and prospectus for the upcoming Common Admission Test (CUSAT CAT) cycle on its dedicated portal admissions.cusat.ac.in.

CUSAT CAT is a premier university-level entrance examination conducted in online Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for candidates seeking admission to various B.Tech, 5-Year Integrated M.Sc, BBA LL.B, B.Voc, and Postgraduate programs across CUSAT campuses (Main Campus at Kalamassery, Kallenkara Campus, and Pulincunnoo CUCEK Campus).

1.Schedule & Important Dates

Below is the expected complete timeline for the upcoming CUSAT CAT admission cycle:

Stage / Event	Tentative Timeline	Status
Official Prospectus & Notification Release	2nd – 3rd week of January	Tentative
Online Application & Registration Opens	Last week of January	Tentative
Last Date to Apply Online (Without Late Fee)	1st week of March	Tentative
Last Date to Apply Online (With Late Fee)	2nd – 3rd week of March	Tentative
Online Application Fee Payment Deadline	3rd week of March	Tentative
Admit Card Download Window	2nd week of April – May	Tentative
CUSAT CAT Examination (CBT Mode)	1st / 2nd week of May	Tentative
Provisional Answer Key Release	3rd week of May	Tentative
Answer Key Challenge/Objections Window	3rd – 4th week of May	Tentative
Declaration of Results & Merit Ranks	1st week of June	Tentative
Option Registration (Choice Filling)	June	Tentative
First Seat Allotment Round	Late June / Early July	Tentative
Spot Admission Rounds	August	Tentative

2. Who Can Apply? (Detailed Eligibility Criteria)

A. Academic Requirements for B.Tech Programs

• General Candidates: Must have passed Class 12 / 10+2 (Plus Two) from a recognized board (Kerala Higher Secondary, CBSE, ICSE, or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
  • Aggregate PCM Requirement: Minimum 60% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics combined.
  • Individual Subject Requirement: Minimum 50% marks in Mathematics separately.
• SEBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Candidates: Entitled to a 5% relaxation in aggregate PCM marks (minimum 55% required).
• Kerala SC/ST Candidates: Eligible with minimum pass marks in the qualifying examination.

B. Special Program Eligibility Rules

• B.Tech Marine Engineering:
  • Minimum 60% aggregate in PCM and at least 50% marks in English in Class 10 or Class 12.
  • Must possess a physical fitness and eye fitness certificate approved by DG Shipping.
  • Maximum age limit of 25 years as of September 1 of the admission year.
• B.Tech Naval Architecture & Ship Building / Polymer Science: Minimum 60% aggregate in PCM with Physics, Chemistry, and Math.

C. Minimum Qualifying Exam Score Rule

• General and SEBC category candidates must score a minimum combined total of 10 marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in the CUSAT CAT entrance examination to be eligible for inclusion in the rank list.
• SC/ST candidates are exempt from minimum qualifying score requirements.
• Direct Disqualification: Submitting a completely blank answer script (0 attempted questions) results in immediate disqualification.

3. Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme (Test Code 101 – B.Tech)

The exam follows an online Computer-Based Test (CBT) pattern consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) mapped to Class 11 and Class 12 standard syllabi.

Subject	Number of MCQs	Total Marks	Duration
Mathematics	90 Questions	270 Marks	90 Minutes
Physics	75 Questions	225 Marks	60 Minutes
Chemistry	60 Questions	180 Marks	30 Minutes
Total (PCM)	225 Questions	675 Total Marks	3 Hours (180 Mins)

Marking & Score Rules

• Correct Answer: +3 marks
• Wrong Answer: -1 mark (Negative marking applies)
• Unattempted Question: 0 marks

Score Normalization Method

Since CUSAT CAT is conducted across multiple shifts and sessions, raw test scores are normalized using a standard percentile formula to ensure equal difficulty distribution and fairness across all exam batches before compiling the final rank list.

4. Seat Quotas & Categories

CUSAT maintains diverse admission quotas across its programs:

1. State Merit (SM): Reserved for candidates who are Kerala origin/domicile.
2. All India Quota (AIQ): Open to candidates from any Indian state/union territory (Non-Kerala candidates).
3. Socially & Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC): Reserved for Kerala Non-Creamy Layer categories (Ezhava, Muslim, OBH, LC, etc.).
4. Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST): Statutory reservations for eligible Kerala candidates.
5. Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Quota: Reserved seats for candidates sponsored by NRI parents or relatives.
6. Supernumerary Quotas: Includes Special Sports Quota, Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CGW), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

5. Application Fee Structure (Tentative)

Category	Application Fee
General / SEBC Candidates (State & All India)	₹1,100
Kerala SC / ST Candidates	₹500
NRI Quota Applicants	₹5,500
CGW / Gulf Worker Quota Candidates	₹6,100

Fee payment can be completed online via UPI, Credit/Debit Card, or Net Banking.

6. Step-by-Step Application & Allotment Process

1. Registration: Create a candidate profile on admissions.cusat.ac.in using a valid email and mobile number.
2. Profile Creation & Document Upload: Fill in personal details, reservation details, and upload a recent passport photo and scanned signature.
3. Course & Test Selection: Select the desired degree programs and choose your entrance exam test code (e.g., Test 101 for B.Tech).
4. Fee Payment & Confirmation: Pay the application fee online and download the printout of the application summary page.
5. Admit Card: Log in prior to exam week to download and print the computer-based test hall ticket.
6. Entrance Exam: Attend the online exam at your assigned center.
7. Option Registration: After results are declared, log in to register your choice of colleges and branches in order of priority.
8. Seat Allotment & Payment: Check allotment results across multiple rounds, pay the seat acceptance fee, and complete document verification to secure admission.

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can students outside Kerala apply for B.Tech at CUSAT?

Yes. Candidates from outside Kerala can apply under the All India Quota (AIQ) seats through CUSAT CAT.

Is there negative marking in CUSAT CAT?

Yes. Each correct answer awards +3 marks, while each wrong answer deducts 1 mark.

Where can candidates check official notifications?

All official notifications, answer key objection links, rank lists, and option registration windows are hosted exclusively on the official CUSAT admissions portal: admissions.cusat.ac.in.