The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has opened fresh option entry for UGCET (KCET) 2026 Round 3 seat allotment. Candidates who did not secure a seat in Round 1 or Round 2, or who surrendered/cancelled an earlier seat, can now log in and fill fresh choices for engineering, architecture, agriculture, pharmacy, nursing and other allied UGCET courses.
Direct Link to Karnataka UGCET 2026 Round 3 Seat Allotment Notification
Direct Link to Karnataka UGCET 2026 Round 3 Option Entry Link
Quick Overview - Karnataka UGCET 2026 Round 3
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| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Round | Round 3 (fresh option entry) of UGCET 2026 counselling |
| Official portal | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in |
| Courses covered | Engineering (B.E./B.Tech), Architecture (B.Arch), Agriculture and allied Farm Sciences, Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Nursing and other UGCET-affiliated allied health courses |
| Choices available in Round 3 | Only Choice 1 (Accept & Freeze) is available - candidates cannot select Choice 2 or Choice 3 in this round |
| Round 3 option entry window | August 31, 2026 to September 3, 2026 |
| Round 2 final result date | August 24, 2026 |
Karnataka UGCET 2026 Round 3 - Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UGCET 2026 Round 2 final seat allotment result | August 24, 2026 |
| Round 3 fresh option entry window opens | August 31, 2026 |
| Last date to fill/ rearrange Round 3 options | September 3, 2026 |
Who Can Participate in UGCET 2026 Round 3?
Based on KEA's standard counselling pattern, the following categories of candidates are generally eligible to take part in Round 3 option entry:
- Candidates who did not get any seat allotted in Round 1 or Round 2
- Candidates who were allotted a seat but surrendered it before the Round 3 cut-off, subject to KEA's surrender rules and applicable penalty
- Candidates who selected Choice 2 (retain seat and participate further) in Round 2 and are now eligible to enter fresh options
Choices Available in Round 3 - What They Mean
Unlike Round 1, where all choices are open, KEA restricts the options available in later rounds. For Round 3, only one choice is available to UGCET candidates:
| Choice | What It Means | Available in Round 3? |
|---|---|---|
| Choice 1 - Accept & Freeze | Accept the allotted seat, pay the fee, download the admission order, and report to the college. You exit the counselling process after this. | Yes |
| Choice 2 - Accept & Upgrade | Retain the current seat while remaining eligible for a better seat in a future round | No |
| Choice 3 - Reject & Upgrade | Give up the current seat entirely to try for a different one | No |
How to Fill Fresh Options for UGCET 2026 Round 3 (Step-by-Step)
- Visit the official KEA counselling portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
- Click on the UGCET 2026 Round 3 option entry / choice filling link.
- Log in using your CET application number and the required credentials (date of birth or password, as prompted).
- Check the updated Round 3 seat matrix carefully before selecting courses and colleges.
- Enter your preferred college and course combinations in order of priority. You may add, delete, or reorder choices any number of times until the window closes.
- Submit and lock your options before the deadline. Only the choices submitted on the last day/time of the window are considered for allotment.
- Download or take a screenshot of your submitted option list for your records.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Complete document verification and download the verification slip before attempting option entry, if you have not done so already.
- Candidates who wish to surrender a seat allotted in an earlier round to participate afresh must generally do so as per KEA's surrender rules, which may include a penalty - confirm the exact process and any applicable fee on the official website.
- Only the options locked at the close of the Round 3 window (September 3, 2026) will be considered for allotment.
- Keep your CET application number and login credentials ready and secure.
- Regularly check the official KEA website for updates, as counselling schedules can be revised.