The 2026-27 cycle is over. KCET was held on 22-24 April 2026 and its results came on 6 June. KEA's Round 1 allotment came on 15 July and Round 2 on 23-24 August, so management seats at many colleges stayed open far longer than the usual "done by early August" advice suggests. Use the week-by-week plan below for 2027, and check every date against KEA and COMEDK notices.
How the 2026-27 cycle actually ran
- 22–24 Apr 2026 KCET (UGCET) 2026 held, with the Kannada language test on 22 April.
- 9 May 2026 COMEDK UGET 2026 held.
- 30 May – 12 Jun 2026 COMEDK counselling registration, after two extensions.
- 6 Jun 2026 KCET 2026 results declared.
- 20–30 Jun 2026 KEA Round 1 option entry for engineering.
- 6–9 Jul 2026 KEA Round 1 mock allotment (6 July), then a window to add or edit options.
- 15 Jul 2026 KEA Round 1 real seat allotment.
- 28 Jul 2026 COMEDK Round 1 allotment, on a revised schedule; reporting closed on 3 August.
- 23–28 Aug 2026 KEA Round 2 provisional (23 Aug) and final (24 Aug) allotment, with admission by 28 August.
Source: KEA and COMEDK notices for 2026, as reported at the time. Under the 2026-27 consensual agreement, COMEDK starts its counselling only after KEA's first round, and seats left vacant after KEA's final round go back to the colleges to fill from eligible candidates.
A week-by-week plan to reuse for 2027
The weeks below follow the usual order of events. The 2027 dates will be different, so line them up against the official KCET 2027 and COMEDK 2027 schedules once they're out.
Early May (before and around COMEDK): Identify your top 5-10 management quota target colleges. Compare MQ fees, NAAC grade and placement data for each on our Bangalore management quota page. Prepare initial documents: Class 10 and 12 marks cards, KCET admit card, photographs. Make a contact list at each target college admissions office.
Mid-May (exam phase): KCET is usually held in April and COMEDK UGET in May (in 2026: 22-24 April and 9 May). After your test, save your admit card and downloadable score sheet. Do not commit to any management quota seat yet — your KCET / COMEDK rank determines your bargaining position with private colleges.
Late May to early June (result phase): Results usually arrive in late May or early June (KCET 2026 results came on 6 June). Once you have your rank, work out your realistic alternative: what would counselling allot you? Check last year's cutoffs for your target colleges and branches before deciding how much a management seat is worth to you.
Early June (first approach): Contact your top 5 target colleges admissions offices via WhatsApp or phone. Share your KCET rank, COMEDK rank, Class 12 percentage and target branch. Ask for current MQ fee, available branches and seat availability. Collect 5+ quotes before committing.
Mid-June (option entry): In 2026, KEA ran Round 1 option entry from 20 to 30 June and published the real Round 1 allotment on 15 July. Colleges are supposed to publish their management and NRI fees before option entry opens, so collect them now. If you get an allotment you accept (Choice 1), you can stop pursuing a management seat. If you decline it or get nothing, keep your management options open in parallel.
Late June (comparing offers): Many families finalise their shortlist now. Well-known colleges such as RVCE, BMSCE, MSRIT and PES usually quote their published fee and rarely discount it. A good KCET or COMEDK rank helps your application, but don't expect it to cut the fee.
End of June (option entry closes): Don't assume fixed dates for later KEA rounds until they're announced. In 2026, Round 2 didn't come until late August. Colleges with unfilled management seats may become more flexible as the cycle goes on.
Early July (confirming a seat): If you have decided on a management seat, this is when many families lock in. Pay the seat confirmation amount the college asks for, only to the college's account, against a receipt, and get the refund policy in writing. Submit copies of all required documents to the college admissions office. Begin arranging the rest of the first-year fee payment.
Mid-July (Round 1 results): In 2026, the KCET Round 1 mock allotment came on 6 July, options could be edited until 9 July, and the real allotment followed on 15 July. Popular branches at well-known colleges often fill around now; other colleges keep management seats open for longer.
Second half of July (reporting): Pay the remaining first-year fees, submit original documents and collect your formal admission letter. Class start dates depend on the university calendar, so ask the college when the first semester begins.
Late July to August (later rounds): COMEDK's later rounds and KEA's second round run in this period (in 2026, COMEDK Round 1 came on 28 July and KEA Round 2 on 23-24 August). Seats that stay vacant after KEA's final round go back to the colleges to fill, so management seats can stay available into late August.
After admission: Orientation, hostel allocation and the start of classes, on the dates your college and university announce.