Admissions at CUSAT are based on both merit and entrance examinations. The university administers the CUSAT CAT, or Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test, to select candidates for certain programs. Additionally, entrance exams are held at the university level for lateral entry into BTech courses. Besides CUSAT CAT, Cochin University also accepts scores from CAT, GATE, KMAT, and others for admission into specific courses. For PhD, post-doctoral, and PG diploma program admissions, CUSAT conducts the Department Admission Test (DAT). The university provides over 50 courses at the UG, PG, PhD, post-doctoral, and PG diploma levels across various fields such as Science, Technology, and Management.
CUSAT Admission 2025: Highlights
The university offers programs both on campus and through affiliated colleges. Candidates can apply online for their desired courses. Below are the key highlights for CUSAT admission:
Particulars  | CUSAT Admission Highlights 2025  | 
|---|
Mode of study  | Full-time/ Offline | 
Programmes Offered  | 50+ | 
Fee Range  | UG courses: INR 53,600 - INR 8.6 lakh PG courses: INR 5,000 - INR 2.8 lakh  | 
How to apply?  | https://cusat.ac.in/index  | 
Level of programmes offered  | UG, PG, Diploma & PhD | 
Popular programmes  | MBA| BTech | BSc| MSc| MCA | 
CUSAT Admission 2025: Eligibility & Selection Criteria
The admission criteria at CUSAT differ by course. CUSAT CAT is a primary criterion for admission to most courses. In addition to the entrance exam, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements. A minimum of Class 12 is required for UG courses, while graduation is necessary for PG courses. Below are some popular CUSAT courses along with their eligibility and selection criteria:
| Course Name | Common Eligibility | Selection Criteria | 
|---|
| BTech | Class 12 examination of the state of Kerala or any other examination accepted as equivalent thereto with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as optional subjects with at least 50% marks separately and 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SEBC candidates of Kerala) | CUSAT CAT | 
| MBA | Bachelor's degree in any subject with at least 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SEBC candidates of Kerala State who are certified as belonging to the non-creamy layer) | CUSAT CAT/ KMAT/ CMAT/ and IIM-CAT + GDPI | 
| BSc | Class 12 in relevant subjects with at least 50% aggregate to 75% aggregate (5% relaxation for Kerala SC/ ST) | CUSAT CAT | 
| MSc | BSc degree in relevant subjects with at least 55% aggregate (50% aggregate to Kerala SC/ ST) | CUSAT CAT | 
| MCA | BCA/ Bachelor's degree in CS/ BSc/ BCom/ BA/ BVoc Data Analytics with Mathematics with at least 50% aggregate (45% aggregate to Kerala SC/ ST) | CUSAT CAT | 
| BVoc | Class 12 or equivalent with at least 65% aggregate with Mathematics/ Statistics as one of the Subjects (60% aggregate for SC/ ST candidates belonging to Kerala) | CUSAT CAT | 
CUSAT Fees 2025: Affordability & ROI
The fees at CUSAT encompass various components such as tuition, library, lab, and quasi fees. A one-time caution deposit is also required at the time of admission. There is a fee concession for SC/ST candidates. Below are the CUSAT fees for top courses:
| Course Name | Total Tuition Fee (Investment) | Average Package (Return) | 
|---|
| BTech | INR 85,800 - INR 8.6 lakh | INR 3 lakh - INR 5.7 lakh | 
| MBA | INR 1.2 lakh - INR 4.7 lakh | INR 4 lakh - INR 6.1 lakh | 
| BSc | INR 53,600 - INR 2 lakh | INR 4.3 lakh | 
| MSc | INR 5,000 - INR 2 lakh | INR 4 lakh - INR 4.3 lakh | 
| MCA | INR 12,300 - INR 1.3 lakh | INR 3.2 lakh - INR 4.1 lakh | 
| BVoc | INR 1.3 lakh | INR 2.4 lakh - INR 2.5 lakh | 
| MTech | INR 22,000 - INR 1.9 lakh | INR 2.9 lakh - INR 4.9 lakh | 
Note: This information is sourced from the official website/sanctioning body and is subject to change.
CUSAT Seats 2025
The intake at CUSAT varies by course. The university allocates a percentage of seats under various categories, including State Merit Seats, All India Merit Seats, and All India Quota. Seats are also reserved for sports persons, differently-abled candidates, children of CUSAT staff, and children of ex-servicemen, among others. Below is the CUSAT seat intake for top courses:
| Course Name | Intake | 
|---|
| BTech | 766 | 
| MBA | 150 | 
| BSc | 100 | 
| MSc | 805 | 
| MCA | 90 | 
| BVoc | 30 | 
| MTech | 463 | 
Note: This information is sourced from the official website/sanctioning body and is subject to change.
CUSAT Seat Reservation 2025
Among the total intake for each course, some seats are supernumerary. Below is the category-wise reservation for CUSAT:
| Category | Reservation % | 
|---|
| State Merit Seats | Out of the total approved seats of Self-financing BTech programmes 50% are earmarked as State Merit Seats with lower rate of fees | 
| All India Merit Seats | Out of the total approved seats of Self-financing BTech programmes 45% seats are earmarked as All India Merit Seats with higher rate of fees | 
| All India Quota | For the regular BTech Programmes viz. BTech in (Naval Architecture and Ship Building), BTech (Instrumentation and Control Engineering) and BTech (Polymer Science and Engineering) and for all programmes other than self-financing B Tech Programmes 10% of the total approved seats are earmarked as All India Quota | 
Steps for CUSAT Admission Process 2025
The CUSAT admission process consists of multiple steps. Candidates must register, participate in selection rounds, and ultimately secure their seats by paying the program fee. Below is the step-by-step CUSAT admission process:
Step 1: CUSAT Application Process 2025: Candidates can apply online for their chosen course on the official CUSAT website. Below is the application fee that candidates need to pay to register for a course.
Category  | Application Fee  | 
|---|
General  | INR 1,100  | 
Kerala SC/ ST candidates  | INR 500  | 
Step 2: Selection Rounds
CUSAT selects candidates for most courses based on the results of the CUSAT CAT. The CUSAT CAT, or Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test, is a computer-based test designed to shortlist candidates for various courses. In addition to CUSAT, the university also considers scores from national-level entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, CMAT, KMAT, GATE, etc., for specific courses.
Step 3: Rank List
CUSAT publishes a rank list based on candidates' performances in the selection rounds. The university employs a tie-breaking policy to differentiate candidates with the same rank.
Step 4: Admission Confirmation
After the rank list is released, selected candidates must attend document verification and CUSAT CAT counseling. They are required to pay a program fee to confirm their seat at the university.