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SET Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026: Complete Criteria Breakdown
March 19, 2026
Quick Answer: Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) 2026 requires candidates to have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board. Minimum marks are 50% for General and 45% for SC/ST. There is no official upper age limit, but candidates must be at least 17 years old.
Key Takeaways
- Qualification: Class 12 passed or appearing from a recognized board.
- Minimum Marks: 50% (General), 45% (SC/ST) with programme-specific variations.
- Age Limit: Minimum 17 years; no upper age limit.
- Reserved Category Documentation: Required during PI/WAT rounds.
- International Students: 20% seats reserved; specific eligibility criteria apply.
- Programme-Specific Requirements: Certain courses may require specific subjects, CGPA or additional criteria.
Table of Contents
SET Exam Eligibility 2026: Quick Answer
SET Exam Eligibility (Symbiosis Entrance Test) generally requires candidates to have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board. There is no official upper age limit for most SET programmes, and candidates are typically expected to be 17+ years. Minimum marks commonly referenced are 50% for General and 45% for SC/ST, subject to programme/institute rules and the latest admission notifications.
SET Exam Eligibility Snapshot
| Qualification | Passed / Appearing in Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board |
| Minimum Marks | Commonly 50% (General) and 45% (SC/ST) (final criteria depends on programme/institute rules) |
| Age Limit | Usually no upper age limit for SET programmes; candidates are generally expected to be 17+ years |
| Appearing Students | Yes, Class 12 appearing candidates can apply (final admission subject to result verification) |
Tip: Always cross-check the latest programme-wise rules in the official SET/college admission notice before submitting the form.
What is the SET Exam Eligibility Criteria For Different Courses 2026?
Read More | Detailed Syllabus for SET Exam
You can go through the detailed SET exam eligibility criteria for different courses below:
| Sr. No. | Programme | Institute(s) | Basic Eligibility | Additional Requirements / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBA (Honours / Honours with Research) | SCMS Pune, SCMS Noida, SCMS Nagpur, SCMS Bengaluru, SCMS Hyderabad | 10+2 (any stream) from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 (as per University rules) |
| 2 | BBA – Global / Dual Degree with Deakin Univ. | SCMS Pune, SCMS Noida, SCMS Bengaluru | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | To transition to Deakin: (a) Complete 2 years at Symbiosis with WAM 55 / CGPA 6.25; (b) IELTS ≥ 6 |
| 3 | BBA (Information Technology) – Honours | SICSR | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 4 | BCA – Honours / Honours with Research | SICSR | 10+2 OR govt-approved Diploma in Engineering/Technology with 50% (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 5 | B.A. (Mass Communication) – Honours | SCMC | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 6 | BBA (Media Management) – Honours | SCMC | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 7 | B.Sc. (Economics) – Honours | SSE | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 8 | B.Sc. (Applied Statistics & Data Science) | SSI, Pune | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% (45% for SC/ST) with Mathematics as one subject | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 9 | B.Sc. (Sport & Exercise Science) – Honours | SSSS | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% (45% for SC/ST) | Sports participation at District/State/National/International level is desirable; 7.5 CGPA for Honours with Research |
| 10 | B.A. / B.Sc. (Liberal Arts) – Honours | SSLA | 10+2 (CBSE/ICSE/HSC) with 50% (45% for SC/ST) | IB & GCE/IGCSE/GCSE accepted with minimum credits & subject mix (3 HL + 3 SL etc., as per detailed SSLA norms) |
| 11 | B.Sc. (Artificial Intelligence) – Honours | SAII, Pune | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
| 12 | BBA (Artificial Intelligence) – Honours | SAII, Pune | 10+2 from recognised board with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) | For Honours with Research: 7.5 CGPA and above at end of Semester 6 |
Minimum Qualifying Marks
The third criterion on the list is the qualifying marks.
As per Symbiosis entrance test eligibility criteria, if you belong to the general category, you must have scored at least 50% of the marks or an equivalent grade in the qualifying examination.
As per the SET official notification, a 5% relaxation is provided in minimum qualifying marks for the reserved category.
You must have scored 45% marks in the qualifying examination if you belong to the SC/ST category.
The table below provides the eligibility criteria for Symbiosis SET Exam 2026
| Category | SET Exam Eligibility Criteria |
| Minimum Age | The authorities mention no upper limit, but the candidate's minimum age should be 17 years. |
| Educational Qualification | The candidate should have passed XII (10+2) or an equivalent examination from a recognized board. |
| Minimum Marks in Qualifying Exam | The candidate should have at least 50% in the XII (45% in the case of SC/ST). |
Refer These | SET Entrance Exam Books 2026
SET Reservation Policy 2026
Symbiosis International University provides reservations per the UGC guidelines for aspirants in the SC/ST/PwD category.
The reservation rules for admissions at SIU are tabulated below:
| Category | Reservation |
| Scheduled Caste | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe | 7.5% |
| Differently-abled students | 3% |
| Armed Forces Dependents (Wards of Serving/Retired) for SLS-Pune and SICSR | 5% |
| Kashmiri Migrants | 2 seats over and above |
| International Aspirants | 20% |
Know More | Short tricks to crack the SET exam on the first attempt
SET Reservation Policy 2026 for Nagpur Domicile
According to the official SET exam eligibility notice, 25% of seats are reserved for those domiciled in Nagpur for five years or more and have completed Class 12 or equivalent exams from the Maharashtra Board.
If you fall under this category, you must carry the following documents during PI and WAT rounds.
- Domicile certificate issued by the competent authority (Collector's office)
- Standard class 12th Marksheet
- If you appear for the Class 12 exam, you must submit a Bonafide certificate from the current institute and a Class 10 mark sheet.
Read More | SET Exam Pattern 2026
SET Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 for International Students
As mentioned in the SET 2026 exam eligibility, SIU has set aside 20% of the total seats for international students, including Foreign Nationals (FN), Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Card Holders, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card Holders, and Non-Resident Indians (NRI).
Let us look at the detailed criteria for those who are eligible for the SET exam in these categories:
Know More | Important Topics for SET entrance exam
Foreign Nationals (FN)
As per SET exam eligibility, you are eligible to apply as a Foreign National (FN) if you are a citizen of any country other than India and hold a foreign passport.
Person of Indian Origin (PIO)
As per the notification released by the Government of India on 9th January 2015, all registered persons of Indian origin shall be treated as Overseas Citizens of India cardholders.
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)
If you are granted Overseas Citizenship of India and have an OCI card, you can apply for SET Exam 2026 as an OCI.
Non-Resident Indian (NRI)
If you belong to the NRI Category, you must have appeared either for class X or XII (10+2) examination (equivalent to the Indian 10th or 12th) outside India.
SET Participating Colleges 2026
Below is the list of the different campuses of Symbiosis University and the respective courses offered by them.
| Name of the Institute | Courses Offered | Seat Intake |
| SICRS: Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research | BCA | 180 |
| BBA (Information Technology) | 120 | |
| SCMS - Pune: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Pune | BBA | 300 |
| SCMC: Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication | BBA (Media Management) | 60 |
| BA (Mass Communication) | 120 | |
| SSE: Symbiosis School of Economics | BSc (Economics) | 150 |
| SCMS - Noida: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies | BBA | 300 |
| SCMS - Nagpur: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies | BBA | 180 (45 reserved for Nagpur Domicile) |
| SCMS - Hyderabad: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies | BBA | 120 |
| SCMS - Bengaluru: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies | BBA | 120 |
| BBA (Dual Degree) | 15 | |
| SSI: Symbiosis Statistical Institute | BSc (Applied Statistics and Data Science) | - |
Before filling out the application form, make sure you meet the specified SET exam eligibility requirements for 2026.
In some cases, even if you are not eligible, the application moves forward, and you are notified about your ineligibility in the PI/WAT or SET counseling rounds, thus wasting time and money.
Get Your Tips | SET Preparation Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
I am appearing for the class 12 board exams in 2026. Am I eligible for the SET Exam 2026?
What is the minimum percentage required as per SET Exam Eligibility 2026?
Is there any age limit to appear for SET Entrance Exam 2026?
What is the SET exam eligibility criteria for BCA course?
Is SIU providing reservation in SET 2026 Exam?
Q7. What is the SET Exam Eligibility Criteria for foreign or NRI students?
Aishwarya Mehra
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