UPES DAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Check Age Limit, Marks Required, No of Attempts, Important Factor

UPES DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

UPES DAT eligibility criteria 2026 are prescribed by the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies to select only eligible students for the selection rounds. The UPES DAT 2026 can only be taken by students who meet all the eligibility requirements. Candidates can find the official eligibility criteria on the official website of UPES.

Since UPES offers different courses, the eligibility requirements also vary. For the BDes program, candidates must have passed their classes 10 & 12 securing at least 50% marks from any stream and a recognized board. For the MDes program, the candidate is required to have passed classes 10 & 12 with a minimum aggregate of 50% in their bachelor’s degree in design, interior design and other related disciplines. Refer to the detailed UPES DAT eligibility criteria 2026 on this page.

UPES DAT Eligibility 2026 Highlights

Students are advised to check the UPES DAT eligibility criteria 2026 highlights before referring to the detailed requirements. Check below for more details:

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UPES DAT Eligibility 2026 Requirements

UPES DAT eligibility criteria are the basic requirements prescribed by the conducting body. These requirements are different for BDes and MDes programs, so students need to check out the ones they are planning to apply. It includes educational qualifications, age and other factors. 

Students can be eligible for admission at UPES either through an exam pathway or a non-exam pathway. Check out the details below:

Exam Pathway

Students should have scored a minimum of 50% marks in classes 10 and 12 from any stream. 

Non-Exam Pathway

Candidates who have scored a minimum aggregate of 60% marks in classes 10 and 12 from any stream or with valid UCEED/NIFT/JEE/NID scores are eligible.

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Age Criteria for UPES DAT 2026

Candidates applying for either the BDes or MDes programs must be of the prescribed age to be eligible for admission. Check out the pointers below:

• For the BDes program, any student whose date of birth is on or after October 1, 2000, is eligible for admission. 

• Though there is no age limit specified for the M.Des program, students must read the application form carefully while applying for admission.

UPES DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for B.Des Programmes

The UG and PG design programs' eligibility criteria are different from each other. Students applying for the BDes program must check out the UPES DAT eligibility criteria 2024 mentioned below:

Academic Qualification

• Applicants must have scored a minimum of 50% marks in their classes 10 and 12 from any stream and a recognised state or national board. 
• However, candidates who want to take the non-exam pathway for the BDes programme must fulfil either of the below criteria:
• Board Exam Merit: They must have secured an aggregate of at least 60% in classes 10 and 12. 
• UCEED/JEE Main Merit: A minimum score of 50% in classes 10 and 12. Also, they must have qualified JEE Main or UCEED entrance exam. Apart from these entrances, candidates with valid NIFT or NID scores are also eligible to apply for this undergraduate programme. 

UPES DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for M.Des Programmes

Students intending to apply to the MDes program are advised to check the official  UPES DAT eligibility criteria before applying for admission. Check out the detailed requirements below:

Academic Qualification

• Candidates must have scored a minimum of 50% marks in classes 10 and 12 to be able to appear for this entrance exam. 
• Also if they have taken a Bachelor’s programme in Design/Interior Design/Architecture/Engineering: 10+2+4 years or a minimum of 4 years of bachelor course with 50% score are eligible. 
• Or they must have done 2 years of MSc /MTech in Computer Science & Engineering can apply for this programme. 
• The non-exam pathway for admission in the MDes programme is only if the candidate has a valid CEED score making them eligible for the same. So, with a valid CEED score, applicants just have to appear for the personal interview and portfolio presentation round. They don't have to appear for the UPES DAT entrance.

UPES Admission Through CEED 2026: Eligibility Criteria

Students who appear for CEED and qualify for it with a score of 40.5 or above based on past cutoffs will not have to sit for the UPES DAT exam. However, for admission, the conducting body will conduct only personal interviews and portfolio evaluation rounds for them. Candidates have to perform well in these selection rounds to get direct admission to any design course at UPES.

UPES DAT Application Form 2026

UPES DAT 2026 registration will be released in October 2026. Candidates fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criteria can apply at UPES. The application form can be easily accessed on the official site by filling in the required information and uploading it before the tentative deadline in April 2026.

Indian students have to pay an application fee of INR 1,350 through net banking/ credit card/debit card, or a demand draft. Candidates can follow the simple steps below to fill out the registration form:

• Step 1. Registration: The first step is to complete the registration process on the official website of UPES.

• Step 2. Personal Details: Then, they are required to enter personal details on the application form. 

• Step 3. Academic Details: Candidates also have to fill in their academic details.

• Step 4. Application Fee payment: The application fee must be paid by the candidate to proceed to the last step.

• Step 4. Submit the application form: Lastly, submit the application form after double-checking. 

• Step 5. Download the application form: It is also advised to download the application form and keep a printout for future reference.