How to get admission in IIT without JEE entrance exams?

Introduction

How do I get admission in IIT without JEE entrance exams? I pondered on this question for years until I found out engineering is not the sole gateway behind getting admission to IIT without JEE.

Though I am doing well in my professional career, I can’t deny that there was a time when all my thoughts revolved around how I could get admission to IIT without JEE.

I was not worried about the JEE entrance exams, but I knew I was too lazy to study 15 hours a day and compete with 15 lakh students who study 18 hours a day!

That brought me to the point where I spent time scrolling around the Internet, finding easy and lazy ways to get admission into IIT without JEE entrance exams. If at all, not lazy ways, easy ways than cracking JEE Mains and Advanced.

Fast forward to today. I am a content writer, and what better time is there to lay down my research in words? So, buckle up as we dive deep and explore 10 different avenues to get admission in IIT without JEE.

Can you get admission in IIT without JEE?

Though this was a far-fetched dream a few decades back, with the integration of NPTEL and online IIT certificate courses, JEE is no longer a mandate to be part of the prestigious institute.

Though JEE entrance is the most common type of exam to get admission in IITs, there are 10 different ways to get admission in IIT without JEE, which we will uncover in this blog.

Undoubtedly, the Indian Institute of Technology is one of the best engineering institutes in the country. Every year, more than a million students appear for JEE mains, and only around 25% of students cut JEE Advanced.

Whether you want to dodge the high pressure of JEE exams or break the barrier of scoring low, the best way is to embrace the alternative ways to get admission in IIT without JEE entrance exams.

How to get admission in IIT without JEE?

I have already broken the ice for you. If you are not JEE, there are 10 different pathways to being a part of the most prestigious institute in India. We will uncover everything from online IIT courses to entrance exams such as GATE and CAT.

Integrated education platforms such as NPTEL and how IIT online certificate courses are making a difference, as well as the various entrance exams besides JEE and their eligibility criteria - we will open hats to all!

1. IIT online courses

As per my research, this has to be my favourite one and thus occupies the top spot on my list. Enroll in any IIT online certificate courses and learn directly from the IIT professors and faculty members.

The best part? It does not require you to sit for any entrance exam! Yes, you might have to meet the eligibility criteria for some courses, such as having a 4-year college degree, a high school diploma, or even nicer - just a 12th pass certificate.

To be honest, it depends! Depends majorly on the course topic, the complexity and the curriculum of the course. The fanciest part about some of these online IIT courses is you get campus immersion, which means you get an exclusive invite to the IIT campus and be part of all their major events and fests.

A few of the IIT online courses are credit programs, which means you get credit points as you progress through the course, just as you would get a full-time college degree, and the same can be transferred to your Academic Bank of Credits.

For Instance, the Minor in AI course by IIT Ropar & Minor in CSE & Next Gen Technologies come with 15 transferable credits and a 5-day IIT campus immersion.

Top 7 best IIT online courses

2. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

GATE is a national-level entrance exam conducted in India and is held once a year, usually in February.

The exam works as a primary gateway for admission into postgraduate programs such as M.Tech, MS, ME, and PhD. in engineering, technology, architecture, etc, at institutes like IITs, NITs, IISc, and a wide array of other premier institutes.

GATE is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted online. The exam is jointly administered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) on behalf of the National Coordination Board - GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE).

The GATE exam offers 30 subjects (papers) ranging from Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnology, and Computer Science to Mechanical Engineering and more.

Candidates appearing for the exam can choose any paper relevant to their field. The exam contains 100 marks, later converted to a GATE score of 1000.

The candidate needs to secure the minimum qualifying marks to be eligible for admission to IITs. Following the previous year’s cutoffs, students should aim to score a GATE rank of 200 or lower for admission to IITs.

The exam is also useful for recruitment to PSU companies such as BHEL, GAIL, ONGC, IOCL, etc.

Another important note is that a few IITs offer direct admission to students with exceptional GATE scores without any further rounds of tests or interviews. In contrast, for others, further rounds may be conducted.

Eligibility Criteria for the GATE Exam

To be eligible for the GATE exam, you must have completed or be in your final year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Technology, or Architecture (4 years degree after completing 10+2).

Candidates with a Master’s Degree in Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Applications, or equivalent are also eligible for the exam.

There is no upper age limit to appear for GATE. Besides Indians, foreign nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and UAE can also appear for the exam.

Career Opportunities in IIT after GATE

After successfully clearing the exam, students can choose from a canopy of academic options.

1. M.Tech/ME/Ph.D. Programs - Admission to postgraduate engineering, technology, architecture, and science programs.

2. Direct Admission to Doctoral Programs - Candidates with exceptional GATE scores can be offered direct admission to Ph.D. programs in technical fields without necessarily completing a Master’s Degree.

3. Fellowship Programs - Some Government Institutions offer fellowship opportunities to candidates for research-based careers based on their GATE scores.

How to get Admission in IIT after GATE?

1. Application Process - Each IIT releases its cut-off score yearly for GATE. After GATE scores are announced, candidates can apply for M.Tech or Ph.D. programs individually via their respective admission portals.

2. COAP (Common Offer Acceptance Portal) - COAP is a streamlined approach for IIT admissions. Specifically for M.Tech admissions, IITs and a few other institutes use COAP, where candidates can view and accept offers from different institutes based on their GATE scores.

3. Direct Admission - As mentioned earlier, few candidates can be offered direct admission based on their exceptional GATE scores without requiring further tests or interviews.

IITs that accept GATE scores for admission

3. CAT (Common Admission Test)

CAT is another national-level entrance exam conducted annually by IIMs (Institute of Management) in India. Though this exam primarily targets management studies, few IITs also accept CAT scores for admission to their MBA programs.

CAT is an alternative route to enter IIT without JEE, needing no engineering background. However, you will be admitted to their MBA programs, not their B.Tech or M.Tech courses.

CAT is the primary gateway for admission to postgraduate programs such as MBA and PGDM programs in top IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) and B-Schools.

The exam is primarily known for its rigour and competitive nature, and cracking the exam opens new doors to endless opportunities for management studies across India and abroad.

CAT scores are reported in percentile, in contrast to absolute marks. The percentile shows your relative performance in the exam compared to others.

For example, a 95 percentile indicates that you scored 95% higher than the other candidates. IITs typically require a cut-off of more than 90 percentile for you to qualify for admission in IIT.

Here are the final cut-off scores required to get admission to IIT MBA programs.

Eligibility criteria for CAT exam

If you have completed your Bachelor's and are looking to do a Master's from IIT in any Management stream, CAT is among the best ways to get admission in IIT without the JEE entrance exam.

The eligibility criteria are that you should hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised University at the time of application with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PWD candidates).

Final-year undergrad students can also apply. Candidates from any stream can sit for the exam, and there is no age bar.

How to get admission in IIT after the CAT exam?

As mentioned above, IITs seek students with a high CAT percentile. After the CAT exam, candidates are shortlisted for further rounds, viz. Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI) based on their percentile.

The final selection depends on these factors.

1. CAT score (cut-off score varies from institute to institute)

2. Past Academic Record

3. Previous work experience (if applicable)

4. Overall performance in GD, WAT, and PI

5. Diversity factors such as gender and academic background

4. JAM (Joint Admission Test for Masters)

The JAM (Joint Admission Test for Masters) is yet again a national-level entrance exam in India conducted for admission in postgraduate programs at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and other institutes.

It primarily offers students the opportunity to pursue a MSc, Joint MSc-PhD, MSc-PhD Dual Degree, and other postgraduate degrees in science and technology.

The JAM exam is an online computer-based test and consists of a total of 7 papers - Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), Economics (EN), Geology (GN), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS), and Physics (PH).

Students can appear for one or two papers depending on their eligibility and interest. There is no fixed passing percentage for the exam. Instead, the cutoff marks vary every year depending on the difficulty level of the exam and the candidate’s performance.

Their performance determines the All India Rank (AIR) of the candidates. Each IIT sets its very own cutoff score for different courses. Based on the performance, a merit list is prepared.

The merit list determines which candidates will qualify for further admission rounds directly depending on the available seats. The candidate’s JAM rank, preferred course, and institute selection are considered for final admission to the IITs.

Some Master’s Programs also require an Interview post-JAM exam clearance for final selection.

Eligibility criteria for JAM exam

JAM is considered one of the most sought-after ways to get admission in IIT without JEE entrance exams. Both Indians and Foreign Nationals can appear for the exam. The exam requires candidates to hold a Bachelor’s Degree mandatorily, preferably from any field.

However, some programs might require a specific Undergraduate Degree or coursework as an eligibility criterion.

At least 55% aggregate marks or 5.5/10 CGPA (50% or 5.0/10 CGPA for SC/ST, PwD candidates) is required to be eligible for the exam. There is no specific age limit for appearing for the exam.

Career Opportunities in IIT After JAM Exam

After clearing the final admission selection, you can choose from the following Master’s Degree courses at the IITs.

1. MSc (Masters of Science) in the following disciplines - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biotechnology, Geology, etc.

2. MSc-PhD Dual Degree programs.

3. Joint MSc-PhD Programs.

4. MSc-MTech Dual Degree programs in specialized fields like - Data Science, Energy Studies, Nanotechnology, Environmental science, and more.

5. Integrated PhD programs (especially in IISc Bangalore)

6. MTech, ME, MSc-MS (Research) Programs.

JAM scores are primarily accepted for postgraduate programmes in these Institutes:

1. IITs (2-year MSc programs and dual degrees)

2. IISc Bangalore

3. NITs and CFTIs (through Centralized Counseling for MSc/MTech admissions, CCMN)

How to get admission in IIT through JAM?

After clearing the JAM exam, candidates can apply to their preferred postgraduate programs offered by IITs via a centralised application process called JOAPS (JAM Online Application Process).

1. Fill out the admission form - After clearing the exam, candidates can apply to postgraduate programs at their preferred IITs via a centralised admission process called the JAM Online Application Process, also known as JOAPS.

2. Seat Allotment - After you fill out the admission form, there is a centralised counselling process. Here, you are allotted seats based on your course preference, JAM rank, and seat availability.

3. Admission letter - Once you are allotted a seat, you must pay the acceptance fee and complete the required formalities to get admitted to the respective IIT.

IITs that accept JAM scores

If you are eager to know how to get admission to IIT without JEE entrance exams, then explore our list below to see the seat availability in each course based on your JAM 2025 scores and which IITs you can get admitted to!

5. CEED (Common Entrance Examination For Design)

Now, let’s skip Engineering and Management for some time and take a more creative approach - Design! Do IITs have design courses, too? Guess what? IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Bombay are among India's top 10 design colleges!

But how do you leverage that? By appearing and passing the CEED exam. CEED is a national-level entrance exam conducted by IIT Bombay on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

The exam primarily tests students on their design aptitude and skills for postgraduate programs in Design. If you are pursuing design, NID Ahmedabad (National Institute of Design) and NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) are your best fits.

However, if passing out from IIT was your far-fetched dream, CEED is your gateway! The exam is conducted primarily to evaluate candidates on their design, creativity, problem-solving, and visual communication skills.

After clearing CEED, the major career pathways you can move forward with are Master of Design (M.Des) and PhD programs in Design.

The exam is conducted in Part A (Online, computer-based test) and Part B (offline, pen & paper). Part A primarily focuses on MCQ questions to assess a candidate’s overall visual aptitude, general knowledge, and logical reasoning.

Part B is where the primary evaluation criteria occur, wherein candidates are judged based on their drawing skills, creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking. This portion is typically judged based on the quality of sketches and designs.

Part A is the screening test, and candidates who clear Part A are evaluated on Part B. The overall CEED exam score is calculated by giving 25% weightage to Part A and 75% to Part B.

Eligibility Criteria for the CEED Exam

Candidates must have completed any degree/diploma/postgraduate program for at least 3 years (after completing 10+2) or be in the final year of any such program at the time of application.

There is neither any specific age bar to appear for the exam nor any maximum limit of attempts.

How to get admission in IIT after the CEED exam?

Though the typical admission process remains the same, just like the above-mentioned - Counselling, Interviews, and Admission, there are some prerequisites to keep in mind.

1. Portfolio & Interview - Institutes like IIT Bombay require you to submit a portfolio and appear for interviews in addition to your CEED score.

2. Program-specific requirements - Some Institutes may also scrutinise your undergraduate course (field of study) or a particular skill set, which they judge based on your CEED score and your portfolio/interview process.

IITs that accept CEED scores

6. UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination For Design)

CEED and UCEED are two sides of the same coin, except that UCEED is primarily conducted for admission in Bachelor of Design (B.Des) courses, while CEED is for Master of Design (M.Des) courses.

However, the exam pattern, structure, and scoring evaluation remain the same, with minor changes. Unlike CEED, where 75% of weightage was given to Part B, UCEED puts more weight on Part A.

Candidates must be qualified in both parts to be included in the merit list. The final merit list is drawn on the combined scores of Part A + Part B.

There is no fixed passing mark for the exam, but IIT Bombay publishes the minimum qualifying marks after the exam for each category (General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD).

UCEED is a highly competitive exam and follows the reservation policy laid down by the government of India, unlike other exams conducted to gain admission to IIT’s postgraduate programs.

Hence, some seats are reserved for candidates from SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and PwD categories.

Eligibility Criteria for the UCEED Exam

Candidates appearing for the UCEED exam should have mandatorily passed their 12th standard or equivalent in any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts) from a recognised board.

General and OBC-NCL candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1999. SC/ST/PwD candidates' age limit is relaxed to 5 years, i.e., born on or after October 1, 1994.

A candidate can only attempt UCEED a maximum of 2 times in consecutive years.

How to get admission in IIT without JEE after the UCEED exam?

UCEED is one of the most competitive yet creative pathways to admission in IIT without JEE entrance exams. If you have a good grasp of design and visual communication, UCEED is worth it.

Here’s how you can grip your spot in IITs after you clear the UCEED examination.

1. Clear the UCEED exam by scoring above the cutoff marks.

2. You need to participate in the joint seat allocation process conducted by the UCEED-CEED Implementation Committee.

3. The final allocation of seats is done based on merit, seat availability, and the candidate's preference submitted during counselling.

IITs that accept UCEED scores

7. HSEE (Humanities & Social Sciences Entrance Examination)

Last but not least, I would like to conclude my range of options at HSEE and how you can leverage the exam to get admission in IIT without JEE.

HSEE is an entrance test conducted by IIT Madras for admission to its integrated 5 years’ Master’s Program in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

After successfully clearing the HSEE exam, you can opt for the following 2 streams at IIT Madras.

1. 5-Year Integrated MA in Development Studies: This course focuses on development economics, sociology, and public policy.

2. 5-Year Integrated MA in English Studies: This course puts the limelight on literary studies, linguistics, and cultural studies.

Eligibility Criteria for the HSEE Examination

Candidates should have completed their 10+2 or equivalent from any stream at the time of application or appearing for the same in the qualifying year. They must have passed with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate (55% for SC/ST/PWD candidates).

You must be born on or after October 1, 1999, to be eligible for the exam, with a relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/PwD categories. Both Indians and Foreign Nationals can apply.

Admission in IIT without JEE via HSEE Exam

The unique entry point to IIT Madras' integrated M.A. programs is HSEE. HSEE cannot be used to gain admission to other IITs or to other IIT courses (like B.Tech or M.Tech).

Nonetheless, IIT Madras's interdisciplinary training in M.A. programs gives you a prominent IIT identity while preparing you with critical thinking and problem-solving abilities applicable to various fields, such as public policy, economics, and media.

Takeaway

I hope I have cleared your clouds that entrance exams are not the only roadmap to getting admission to the most prestigious engineering institute in the country.

There are an array of pathways that you can embrace to get admission in IIT without JEE entrance exams. Today's date, being a part of IIT, even though you don't have a technical background, is not a far-fetched dream anymore!

Although entrance exams are still the gateway if you want to be a part of IIT through GATE, CEED, or HSEE, the only difference is that you will be enrolled in their management or design courses, not engineering.

However, if you want to dunk the hectic pressure of exams and still flaunt the IIT tag on your resume and enhance your employment and career prospects, IIT online courses are hands down the best way to move forward.

The rigorous course curriculum IITs are known for, alongside being taught by IIT professors and faculty members, and self-paced online recorded lectures and live sessions by industry experts are a few of the many reasons IIT online certificate courses stand out.

Choose wisely - whether you want to study at IIT or be a part of IIT and take your big career jump today!