institute-logo

Panjab University PG Admission 2026: Eligibility, Entrance Exams & How to Apply

user-picverifiedTick
Updated on - July 8, 2026 3:23 PM

Planning to pursue a postgraduate course at Panjab University in 2026? Explore complete details on PG Admission 2026, including eligibility criteria, entrance exams like PU-CET (PG), application process, important dates, required documents, counselling, and admission tips for various PG programmes.

news image

Panjab University, Chandigarh admits postgraduate students to programmes like M.A., M.Sc., M.Com., MCA, M.Tech., LL.M., M.Ped., B.Ped., and MBA primarily through its own Common Entrance Test — PU-CET (PG) — conducted for admission across the university's departments and 188 participating colleges. A separate, two-step process applies: first, clearing the PU-CET (PG) entrance test, and second, submitting a distinct online admission form for the specific course.

This article explains the official eligibility criteria, PU-CET (PG) exam pattern, important dates, application fees, and the complete apply-online process for Panjab University PG Admission 2026, based on the university's official prospectus and admission portals.

Panjab University PG Admission 2026: Quick Overview

Particular

Detail

UniversityPanjab University, Chandigarh
PG Entrance TestPU-CET (PG) — cetpg.puchd.ac.in
PG Admission Form Portalonlineadmissions.puchd.ac.in
Popular PG ProgrammesM.A., M.Sc. (incl. Hons.), M.Com. (incl. Hons.), MCA, M.Tech., LL.M., M.Ped., B.Ped., MBA
Participating CollegesPanjab University departments + 188 participating colleges
Selection BasisPU-CET (PG) score (generally combined with qualifying degree marks); MBA also requires GD/PI
Minimum PU-CET (PG) Qualifying Marks35% in the Entrance Test

PG Admission Routes at Panjab University

Postgraduate admission at Panjab University isn't a single unified process, it depends on the programme:

Route

Applicable Programmes

PU-CET (PG) — University Entrance TestLL.M., MCA, M.A. (incl. Journalism & Mass Communication), M.Tech., M.Sc., M.Sc. (Hons.), M.Com., M.Com. (Hons.), M.Ped., B.Ped., and select MBA-linked programmes
CAT / PU-MET — for flagship MBAMBA at University Business School (UBS) — via CAT score; MBA at UIAMS — via PU-MET
Merit-Based (Qualifying Degree Marks)Select M.A. specializations and other PG courses not covered under PU-CET (PG), as specified in the official Handbook of Information

Important: As per the official PU-CET (PG) prospectus, qualifying the entrance test does not automatically grant admission. Every candidate must separately fill and submit an online Admission Form on onlineadmissions.puchd.ac.in for their chosen course, in addition to appearing for and clearing PU-CET (PG).

Panjab University PG Eligibility Criteria 2026

General PG Eligibility (PU-CET-based Programmes)

  • Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate from a recognized university.
  • Candidates in their final year/semester of the qualifying degree are also eligible to apply, subject to meeting the eligibility conditions at the time of admission.

Programme-Specific Eligibility

Programme

Eligibility Requirement

M.A. (various specializations)Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with minimum prescribed marks (varies by subject; check subject-wise criteria in the official prospectus)
M.Sc. / M.Sc. (Hons.)Bachelor's degree with the relevant science subject combination and minimum 50% marks
M.Com. / M.Com. (Hons.)Bachelor's degree in Commerce or a relevant discipline with minimum prescribed marks
MCABachelor's degree with Mathematics as a subject at 10+2 or graduation level
M.Tech.B.E./B.Tech. in the relevant engineering discipline (Chemical/Computer/Electrical/Electronics/Mechanical/Production/Instrumentation/Biomedical or equivalent), or M.Sc. in a relevant field, as applicable to the specialization
LL.M.LL.B. degree from a recognized university
MBA (UBS)Bachelor's degree in any discipline with minimum prescribed marks; selection via CAT score + GD + PI
MBA (UIAMS)Bachelor's degree in any discipline with minimum prescribed marks; selection via PU-MET + GD + PI
M.Ped. / B.Ped.Relevant Bachelor's/Master's qualification in Physical Education as prescribed

PU-CET (PG) 2026: Exam Pattern and Important Dates

As per the official PU-CET (PG) – 2026 Prospectus:

Exam Pattern

Parameter

Detail

ModeOffline (Paper-Based Test)
Number of Questions75 objective-type (multiple-choice) questions
Duration1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes)
MediumEnglish only
Negative MarkingNone
Minimum Qualifying Marks35% in the Entrance Test
Additional Subject OptionCandidates may apply for more than one subject/course, at extra cost

Important Dates (PU-CET PG 2026)

Activity

Date

Last date for online registration (to generate Login ID/Password)09 June 2026
Last date for claiming SC/ST/PwD/PU Employee fee concession (by post/hand)10 June 2026 (up to 4:00 PM)
Admit Card downloadFrom 14 June 2026
PU-CET (PG) Exam Dates19, 20 & 21 June 2026
Answer Key Release23 June 2026
Result DeclarationJuly 2026
Last date to submit separate online Admission Form (post-CET)As specified on onlineadmissions.puchd.ac.in — for the 2026-27 session, PG admission form submission was open up to 21 July 2026

Note: These dates apply to the 2026 PU-CET (PG) cycle and will shift for subsequent sessions. Always verify the current schedule on cetpg.puchd.ac.in before applying.

PU-CET (PG) Application Fee 2026 (Official)

As per the official prospectus, the PU-CET (PG) fee structure is:

Category

Fee (Non-Refundable)

General CategoryINR 2,850
SC/ST/PwD CategoryINR 1,425
Additional Subject (per extra subject applied for)INR 810

Note: PU Regular Employees (Class B/C) and their eligible dependents can also claim the 50% fee concession, similar to SC/ST/PwD candidates, by submitting the required documentation before the specified deadline.

How the PG Merit List Is Prepared

  • For most PU-CET (PG) programmes, the final merit is generally based on a combination of the Entrance Test score and the qualifying degree marks, as per the specific weightage formula defined for each course in the official prospectus.
  • Exception — M.A. Economics: As per the official prospectus, admission to M.A. Economics is made purely on the basis of the Entrance Test score, with no physical counselling conducted for this programme.
  • MBA programmes additionally require candidates to clear a Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) round after the entrance test/CAT score stage — this applies to both UBS and UIAMS routes.
  • For M.Tech. programmes under the Honours School framework, seat availability can vary depending on the number of Panjab University B.Sc. (Hons.) students already eligible for promotion to the corresponding M.Sc./M.Tech. programme.

MBA Admission at Panjab University: Two Separate Routes

Panjab University's 2-year, full-time MBA is offered through two different schools, each with its own entrance route:

Institute

Entrance Route

Additional Requirement

University Business School (UBS)CAT scoreGroup Discussion (GD) + Personal Interview (PI)
University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS)PU-MET (Panjab University Management Entrance Test)Group Discussion (GD) + Personal Interview (PI)

Both routes require a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks in any discipline. Clearing the entrance test/CAT cutoff alone does not guarantee admission — the GD/PI performance is factored into the final selection.

How to Apply for Panjab University PG Admission 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Register and Appear for PU-CET (PG)

  1. Visit cetpg.puchd.ac.in and click "Register."
  2. Enter your basic details and generate your password via OTP sent to your mobile/email.
  3. Log in and carefully fill the PU-CET (PG) application form, selecting your subject/course.
  4. Upload your scanned photograph and signature as per the prescribed format.
  5. Pay the non-refundable entrance test fee online.
  6. Download your Admit Card once released (no admit card is sent by post).
  7. Appear for the PU-CET (PG) exam at your allotted centre, carrying a printed admit card and valid photo ID.
  8. Check the provisional answer key, raise objections if needed, and await your result/scorecard.

Step 2: Submit a Separate Online Admission Form

  1. Visit onlineadmissions.puchd.ac.in — note this is a different portal from the CET website.
  2. Register and fill the Admission Form for your specific PG course, even if your CET result hasn't been declared yet.
  3. Complete academic and personal details, upload required documents, and pay the applicable admission processing fee.
  4. Confirm your form before the deadline — once confirmed, details cannot be edited.

Step 3: Counselling / GD-PI (as applicable)

  • For most PU-CET-based programmes, attend counselling as per the schedule announced after the merit list is published.
  • For MBA candidates, attend the Group Discussion and Personal Interview round as scheduled by UBS/UIAMS.

Step 4: Document Verification and Fee Payment

  • Carry all original documents for verification during counselling.
  • Pay the programme fee within the stipulated period to confirm your seat.

Panjab University PG Admission Form Fee (onlineadmissions.puchd.ac.in)

Separately from the PU-CET (PG) entrance fee, the PG Admission Form fee (charged per number of courses applied for) is:

Number of Courses Applied

Application Fee

1 CourseINR 300
2 CoursesINR 400
3 CoursesINR 500
4 CoursesINR 600
5 CoursesINR 900
6 CoursesINR 1,000
7 CoursesINR 1,100
8 CoursesINR 1,200

A 50% fee concession applies for SC/ST/PwD candidates on this admission form fee as well.

Panjab University PG Course Fee (Indicative)

Panjab University does not publish one unified PG tuition fee table — fees vary by department, specialization, and whether the course runs at a university department, constituent college, or affiliated college. Based on publicly available fee data:

Programme

Total Fee (Full Course Duration)

M.A. / M.Com. (Regular)INR 20,000 – INR 50,000
M.Sc. / M.Sc. (Hons.)INR 20,000 – INR 1,00,000
MCAINR 25,000 – INR 60,000
M.Tech.INR 40,000 – INR 1,00,000
MBA (UBS/UIAMS)INR 1,00,000 – INR 2,50,000
LL.M.Varies by department; confirm via official fee notification

Important: These are indicative figures compiled from publicly available sources, not an official fixed table. Confirm the exact applicable fee via the official Fee Structure notification or the concerned department.

Documents Required for PG Admission

  • Bachelor's/Master's Degree Detailed Marks Certificate(s)
  • 10th and 12th Marks Certificates
  • Category Certificate (for reserved category candidates, if applicable)
  • Character Certificate from the institution last attended
  • Gap Certificate (if applicable)
  • Scanned photograph and signature (as per specified dimensions)
  • CAT/PU-MET scorecard (for MBA applicants)
  • Any additional document specified in the programme's official prospectus
     

FAQs

No. Qualifying the PU-CET (PG) entrance exam alone does not guarantee admission to Panjab University. As per the official admission guidelines, candidates must also complete and submit the online Admission Form through the university's admission portal within the prescribed deadline. Final admission depends on meeting the programme-specific eligibility criteria, securing the required merit rank, document verification, and seat availability.

Candidates must score at least 35% marks in the PU-CET (PG) entrance examination to qualify. However, achieving the minimum qualifying marks only makes a candidate eligible for consideration and does not ensure admission. Final selection is based on the merit list and course-specific admission criteria.

No. PU-CET (PG) does not have any negative marking for incorrect answers. Candidates are awarded marks only for correct responses, making it beneficial to attempt all questions if they are reasonably confident about the answers.

Several postgraduate programmes at Panjab University require candidates to appear for an entrance examination. These include LL.M., MCA, M.A. (various specializations), M.Tech., M.Sc./M.Sc. (Hons.), M.Com./M.Com. (Hons.), M.P.Ed., and B.P.Ed., which are primarily admitted through PU-CET (PG). For management programmes, MBA at University Business School (UBS) accepts CAT scores, while MBA at University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS) admits students through PU-MET, followed by Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).

No. Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) are not mandatory for all postgraduate courses. These rounds are specifically conducted for MBA admissions at UBS and UIAMS. Admissions to most other PG programmes are based on the entrance examination score and qualifying degree marks, without any separate GD or PI process.