IIMB UGAT 2026: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme & Selection Process (Complete Guide)

The IIMB Undergraduate Admissions Test (UGAT / UG-AT) 2026 is a national-level computer-based entrance exam conducted by IIM Bangalore for admission to its undergraduate programmes. Launched in July 2025 for the academic cycle 2026–2030, it offers two programmes: B.Sc. (Hons.) in Economics with a Minor in Data Science & Business Studies, and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Data Science with a Minor in Economics & Business Studies. The institute offers 4-year residential courses, though students have an exit option after 3 years with a Bachelor's degree. The programme is hosted at the Jigani campus near Bannerghatta National Park, Bengaluru.

The current cohort size is small, with 40 students in each course. Currently, only the fees for the first two years are available, which are ₹8.5 lakh per annum; for the third and fourth years of the degree, there will be a significant increase in the fees.

IIMB UGAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

IIMB-UGAT 2026 is open to all students across all streams—Science, Arts, and Commerce—and various boards, such as State Boards, CBSE, IGCSE, and IB, provided they have met a certain percentage and are under the age of 20. For SC/ST/PwD candidates, there is an age relaxation of two years, meaning they can apply until the age of 22.

This exam is open to all students; those who have already passed or are currently appearing for their 12th board exams can apply, provided they receive their results before the final admission process. Additionally, candidates must have had Mathematics as one of their subjects during their +2 education.

IIMB UGAT 2026 Exam Pattern

It's a 120-minute computer-based test with 60 questions only, designed to judge the basic aptitude and language proficiency of candidates. It is conducted in a multiple-choice question format, and no other language options are available other than English.

Here QADI is the deciding section as the 50% of weightage is of this section.

Final Selection in IIMB UGAT 2026

IIMB-UGAT follows a merit-based admission process where IIM Bangalore releases a shortlist; following this, students undergo a Personal Interview (PI). The shortlist is solely based on the IIMB-UGAT test score. For this stage, the overall cutoff is the deciding factor, and no sectional cutoffs are taken into consideration.

IIM Bangalore releases its final merit list based on a composite score, which is calculated as follows:

• UGAT Score: 60%
• Personal Interview (PI): 40%

Reservation Policy for IIMB UGAT 2026

Admissions to IIM Bangalore are strictly governed by the Government of India (GoI) reservation policy. The distribution of seats across various categories is as follows:

Offer Acceptance and Withdrawal

Students who appear on the merit list must accept the admission offer by paying the Offer Acceptance Amount (OAA) within the stipulated timeframe. This fee is later adjusted against your First Year Programme Fee.