National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal

Latest Admission Updates (2026)

The most time-sensitive item for postgraduate aspirants right now is the offline selection drive at NIT Karnataka Surathkal. As of June 2026, the following are the latest verified updates for admission to National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal across its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

• PG selection process is live now (22-24 June 2026): The offline selection process for M.Tech, M.Tech (Research), MBA, M.Sc. and PhD admissions 2026-27, comprising an aptitude/written test and a technical interview, is scheduled at the NITK Surathkal campus on 22-24 June 2026. This window is currently open.
• PG application portal open: Applications for M.Tech, M.Tech (Research), MBA, M.Sc. and PhD programmes for 2026-27 are accepted through the official portal iris.nitk.ac.in.
• PG admission fee payment (13-17 July 2026): Candidates selected through the June 2026 selection process must complete their admission fee payment online between 13 July and 17 July 2026.
• B.Tech admission via JoSAA 2026: Undergraduate seats are filled through JoSAA counselling on the basis of JEE Main 2026 ranks. JoSAA registration and choice filling ran from 2 June to 11 June 2026, with Round 1 seat allotment declared on 13 June 2026.
• JEE Main 2026 already conducted: Session 1 was held on 21-29 January 2026 and Session 2 on 2-8 April 2026, so the qualifying exam for B.Tech 2026 entry is complete.

The single most important action for B.Tech aspirants is to track JoSAA allotment rounds (Round 2 on 30 June 2026, Round 3 on 6 July 2026), while PG aspirants must keep the 13-17 July 2026 fee-payment window free. Bookmark iris.nitk.ac.in for PG and josaa.nic.in for B.Tech.

National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal Admission 2026: Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility at NITK Surathkal is programme-specific and tied to a national entrance exam in every case. The table below maps each programme offered to its base eligibility, the minimum qualifying marks NITK expects, and the entrance exam through which seats are allotted. This answers the most common applicant question: "Am I even eligible to apply to NIT Karnataka Surathkal for my course?" Read each row against your own degree and exam score before starting an application, because NITK does not accept applications outside these gateways. The figures here are the general/base requirements only; reserved-category relaxations follow the respective conducting body's rules.

The key takeaway is that there is no direct or management entry at NITK Surathkal: a valid score in the listed exam (JEE Main, GATE, CAT, IIT JAM, NIMCET or UGC-NET) is mandatory for the matching programme. B.Tech aspirants must have PCM at 10+2, MCA aspirants need Mathematics plus 60% in the bachelor's degree, and PhD applicants need a relevant master's with GATE or NET. Confirm your category-specific relaxation against the conducting body's official notification before applying.

Course-Wise Admission Status

This section summarises, as of June 2026, where each NITK Surathkal programme stands in its admission cycle, how many seats are broadly on offer, the mode of admission, and the exam that feeds it. It answers the practical question: "Can I still apply, and through which route?" B.Tech intake at NITK Surathkal is roughly 720 seats spread across 11 branches, filled centrally through JoSAA. PG programmes are handled by NITK's own portal or the relevant centralised counselling. Use this as a quick status check before you invest time in any single application.

The headline trend is that B.Tech and the PG programmes are at different stages: B.Tech aspirants should focus on JoSAA round-wise allotments, while M.Tech, MBA, M.Sc. and PhD candidates must report for the 22-24 June 2026 selection process and then complete fee payment between 13-17 July 2026. Seat numbers shift year to year and round to round, so always cross-check the branch-wise seat matrix on the official notification before locking choices.

Application Fees

It is important to separate two different payments at NITK Surathkal: the application/exam fee paid to the conducting body (NTA for JEE Main, IIT for GATE/IIT JAM, IIMs for CAT) when you register for the entrance test, and the institute tuition/programme fee paid to NITK after admission. The table below lists the JEE Main 2026 application fee category-wise, because JEE Main is the gateway for the largest programme (B.Tech). Each category is shown on its own row so you can see exactly what you owe; SC, ST, PwD and female fees differ from the General fee and have not been merged. Figures are for a single paper attempted within India, as of June 2026.

The practical takeaway is that JEE Main 2026 fees were unchanged in structure from the previous cycle: General male candidates pay ₹1,000, EWS/OBC-NCL male and all female candidates pay ₹800, and SC/ST/PwD candidates pay ₹500, plus applicable GST and processing charges. These are non-refundable. Note that NITK's own postgraduate application fee on iris.nitk.ac.in is collected separately; the General-versus-reserved split for the PG application fee is not separately listed in the public notification, so verify it on the portal at submission. Do not confuse any of these with NITK's tuition fee, detailed below.

Entrance Exam Requirements

NITK Surathkal accepts a different national exam for each programme, and being competitive here means clearing well above the bare qualifying line, especially for B.Tech. The table below lists the accepted exam per programme, the 2026 exam date, and a realistic score/rank band that secures a NITK seat. This answers "Which exam do I write, and how good a score do I actually need for NIT Karnataka Surathkal?" Treat the typical qualifying band as indicative; the binding number is the closing rank in counselling, covered in the next section. All exam dates below are verified against the conducting bodies' 2026 schedules.

The clear takeaway is that JEE Main rank is the single most decisive number for the largest cohort at NITK Surathkal, with circuit branches (CSE, ECE, EEE) far more demanding than core branches. For PG, the exam score is only the entry ticket: M.Tech, MBA, M.Sc. and PhD candidates must additionally clear NITK's 22-24 June 2026 aptitude test and interview. Since both JEE Main 2026 sessions are over, focus now shifts entirely to counselling and the PG selection drive.

Cutoff Analysis (2024-2026)

Cutoffs are the truest measure of how hard it is to get into NITK Surathkal, and they have stayed consistently tight because of the institute's NIRF Engineering rank of 17 (2024). The table below presents verified category-wise JEE Main closing ranks for NITK Surathkal, anchored on the 2023 figures held in our records and read alongside the broader 2024-2025 JoSAA trend. This answers "What rank do I need for NIT Karnataka Surathkal by category?" Closing ranks vary by branch and counselling round, so use these as the realistic benchmark for a confirmed seat rather than the absolute floor.

The trend is one of persistent competitiveness: NITK's General closing rank of 6,482 (2023) reflects an institute where seats fill fast, and 2024-2025 JoSAA data shows premium branches such as CSE closing within roughly 1,600-2,700 for the General gender-neutral pool. Reserved-category closing ranks are more relaxed (OBC-NCL 10,500; EWS 12,000; ST 16,000; SC 32,000 in 2023) but still demand a strong JEE Main performance. Aspirants should target a rank comfortably inside their category band and fill a wide range of branch choices in JoSAA to avoid missing out.

Counselling Process

Admission to NITK Surathkal follows two distinct routes depending on the level of study. The step-by-step flows below are specific to this institute for the 2026 cycle.

B.Tech (via JoSAA 2026)

1. Registration and choice filling on josaa.nic.in (2-11 June 2026) using your JEE Main 2026 application number.
2. Choice locking of NITK Surathkal branches in your order of preference (by 10-11 June 2026).
3. Seat allotment declared round-wise: Round 1 on 13 June 2026, Round 2 on 30 June 2026, Round 3 on 6 July 2026, Round 4 on 10 July 2026, Round 5 on 16 July 2026.
4. Seat acceptance by paying the seat-acceptance fee and choosing Float, Freeze or Surrender.
5. Document verification and online/physical reporting to the allotted institute.
6. Final admission and fee payment at NITK Surathkal after reporting.

M.Tech / MBA / M.Sc. / PhD (via iris.nitk.ac.in)

1. Online application on iris.nitk.ac.in with your GATE/CAT/IIT JAM/NET score.
2. Shortlisting by the department based on the qualifying exam score.
3. Offline selection process (aptitude/written test and technical interview) at NITK Surathkal campus on 22-24 June 2026.
4. Merit list / provisional offer published on the portal.
5. Admission fee payment online between 13-17 July 2026 to confirm the seat.
6. Document verification and reporting at the institute.

Important Dates (2026)

This master schedule consolidates every canonical milestone for NITK Surathkal admission 2026 across the B.Tech (JEE Main/JoSAA) and PG (iris.nitk.ac.in) routes. It answers the most-searched question, "What is the last date and the full timeline for NIT Karnataka Surathkal admission?" Dates for JEE Main and JoSAA are verified against NTA and JoSAA notifications; PG selection and fee dates are from the official NITK notification. Where a body has not separately published a date, the event is marked accordingly rather than omitted. Track this table end to end so no window is missed.

The most urgent deadlines as of June 2026 are the NITK PG selection process on 22-24 June 2026 and JoSAA Round 2 allotment on 30 June 2026. B.Tech aspirants who have an allotment must complete reporting and document verification within each round's window, while PG candidates must keep the 13-17 July 2026 fee-payment window clear. For any "to be announced" or "refer to notification" item, monitor nitk.ac.in, iris.nitk.ac.in, josaa.nic.in and jeemain.nta.nic.in.