GATE Exam Eligibility - A Complete Guide

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Author at PW

July 05, 2025

GATE Exam Eligibility: Students who want to pursue an M.Tech or PhD course, and get a job in any PSU. They have to appear in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. GATE Exam Eligibility includes educational qualification and age limit. Students interested in appearing in GATE to get admission in IITs and NITs for M.Tech and PhD course programs. No age limit for students to take the GATE Exam. Eligibility for the GATE Exam based on the educational qualification depends on the paper for by the candidates are applying. Students should complete a bachelor's/master's degree, depending on the paper applied for in GATE. IIT Guwahati is the conducting authority for GATE 2026.

Check Out: GATE Books

GATE Exam Eligibility Overview

IIT Guwahati is the conducting institution in India for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2026). A table is compiled with the information regarding the GATE Exam Eligibility Overview. It includes education criteria, age limit, and number of attempts to be included in GATE Eligibility.

GATE Exam Eligibility Overview
Conducting Body	Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Exam Name	GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) 2026
Languages	English
Educational Qualification	Pursuing 3rd year or completed undergraduate degree program
Age Limit	No Age Limit
Number of Attempts	No Limit
Mode of Exam	Online
Mode of Question Papers	MSQ/MCQ/NAT
Exam Duration	3 Hours
Official Website Link	gate2026.iitg.ac.in

GATE Eligibility Criteria

GATE Eligibility Criteria is one of the important aspects not to be missed by any student interested in appearing in the exam. The educational requirements depend on the paper applied by the candidate for the exam. It is compulsory that students should meet the minimum educational qualification as provided as mentioned in the eligibility criteria for the GATE Exam.

GATE Exam Age Limit

No limit on the minimum and maximum is kept on the GATE Age Limit. Students of any age group after meeting the minimum educational qualification requirements. They become eligible to appear in the GATE exam. They should have the educational documents as proof of the degree achieved in the last years.

Check Out: GATE & ESE Books

GATE Exam Educational Qualification

GATE Exam Educational Qualification is a primary eligibility criterion to give the exam. Valid Certificates should be available to the students. The exam conducting authority can ask the students to submit the documents in the application process.

GATE Exam Educational Qualification
Degree/Program	Qualifying Degree/Examination	Eligible Candidates	Expected Year of Completion
Int. M.Sc. / Int. B.S. / M.S.	Integrated M.Sc. or 5-year Integrated B.S.-M.S.	Currently in 3rd year or higher or already completed	2027
B. Arch.	Bachelor’s in Architecture (5-year)/Naval Architecture/Planning (4-year)	Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed	2027 (5-year), 2026 (4-year)
M. Sc. / M.A. / MCA or equivalent	Master’s degree in Arts/Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications	Currently in the first year or higher or already completed	2026
Professional Society Examinations (AMIE, etc.)	Equivalent to B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch., recognized by MoE/UPSC/AICTE	Completed Section A or equivalent	Enrolled up to 31st May 2013*
B.Sc. / B.A. / B.Com.	Bachelor’s degree in Science/Arts/Commerce (3-year)	Currently in the 3rd year or already completed	2026
B.Sc. (Research) / B.S.	Bachelor’s degree in Science (Post-Diploma / 4 years after 10+2)	Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed	2026
Int. M.E. / M.Tech. (Post-B.Sc.)	Integrated Master’s in Engineering/Technology (4-year post-B.Sc. program)	Currently in any year	Any year
Int. M.E. / M.Tech. / M.Pharm / Dual Degree	Integrated/Dual degree in Engineering/Technology (5-year)	Currently in 3rd/4th/5th year or already completed	2027
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry)	4-year program	Currently in the 3rd/4th year or already completed	2026
M.B.B.S. / B.D.S.	Degree holders or in the 5th/6th/7th semester or higher	5th, 6th, 7th or higher semester or already completed	2026
D. Pharm. (after 10+2)	6-year degree with internship/residency from third year onwards	Currently in the 3rd/4th/5th/6th year or already completed	2027
B.E. / B.Tech. / B. Pharm.	Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / Technology (4 years after 10+2 or 3 years after B.Sc./Diploma)	Currently in the 3rd year or higher or already completed	2026

Also Check: ESE Books

GATE Nationality

Nationality is one of the important factors not to be missed in determining eligibility for the GATE Exam. Indian Students can appear in the Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering Exam in 2026. Candidates coming from the other countries are listed below. They are eligible to take the GATE Exam.

India
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Nepal
UAE
Ethiopia
Singapore

GATE Exam Number Of Attempts

IITs did not keep any limit on the GATE Exam Number of Attempts. Candidates are eligible to take the exam only if they meet the nationality and educational requirements. No age limit barrier is for the GATE aspirants to take the exam organised every year. They can appear in the paper anytime by filling out the application form to fulfil thier dream to join any reputed NITs or IITs for higher studies. GATE scores are accepted for getting jobs in PSU companies in India.

Documents Required For GATE Exam

In the application form, Students are required to upload the documents to apply for the GATE exam. It is to demonstrate the educational qualification, age, and nationality to be eligible for the GATE Exam 2026.

Documents Required For GATE Exam
Qualifying Examinations (Completed/Ongoing)	Degree Certificate / Provisional Degree Certificate / Course Completion Certificate / Membership Certificate
Expected Qualifying Examinations	Provisional Certificate Letter /Mark Card for Section A of AMIE
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)	PwD Certificate issued by a recognized authority
Backlogs in Qualifying Examinations	Final Year Mark Sheet issued by the Institute (no internet-downloaded copies)
SC/ST Category	Valid SC/ST Certificate issued by an authorized official
Dyslexic Candidates	A certificate stating the dyslexia condition issued by a recognised authority

GATE Exam Eligibility For International Students

Candidates from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Ethiopia, or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can appear in the GATE 2026 Exam.
Students should be in the 3rd year of the degree course program.
They should have completed their Bachelor’s in Engineering/Arts/Commerce/Science.
They should have completed their Master's Degree in the relevant fields provided above.

GATE Exam Eligibility FAQs

What are the factors included GATE Exam Eligibility?

Educational Qualification is one of the primary factors used to determine GATE Eligibility for any student to write the exam.

Who can give the GATE Exam?

Any candidate who has completed 10+2+2 or 10+3+1 educational qualification and is currently studying in the final year of the undergraduate degree can give the exam. A Graduate Degree should be in a relevant government-approved field.