What are the requirements for the SAAT exam?

To apply for SAAT, candidates typically need to meet specific educational qualifications, age criteria, and minimum marks. Requirements vary by program, so checking the eligibility specific to each course is recommended.

Who is eligible for SOA University?

Eligibility depends on the program: for undergraduate courses, candidates must have completed 10+2 with relevant subjects, while postgraduates need a bachelor’s degree in the required field with minimum marks.

What are the SAAT eligibility criteria?

Eligibility for SAAT varies by program, including age limits, qualifying exam marks, and subject combinations. For example, B.Tech requires 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

What are the requirements for ITER admission?

For admission to the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) under SOA, applicants must qualify through SAAT or other accepted exams (like JEE Main) and meet the academic and age requirements of the chosen program.

Is the SAAT exam difficult?

The difficulty level is moderate; SAAT is designed to test foundational knowledge in subjects related to the course applied for. Preparation typically includes basic concepts covered in 10+2.

Does SAAT have negative marking?

Yes, SAAT has negative marking; usually, 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for the SAAT Exam?

SAAT eligibility criteria vary by program, covering minimum educational qualifications, age limits, and subject requirements. For instance, B.Tech requires completion of 10+2 with specific subjects.

Who Can Apply for the SAAT Exam?

Candidates who meet the course-specific educational qualifications and age criteria are eligible to apply for SAAT. Both Indian and international applicants are welcome to apply.

Are There Age Restrictions for the SAAT Exam?

Yes, certain programs have age restrictions. Generally, undergraduate programs may have upper age limits, while postgraduate programs have fewer age restrictions.

What Qualifications Are Needed for the SAAT Exam?

Qualifications differ per program. For undergraduate courses, completion of 10+2 in a relevant stream is needed, while postgraduate courses typically require a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field.

How Do I Know If I Meet SAAT Exam Eligibility?

Reviewing the official SAAT eligibility guidelines for the chosen program is the best way to confirm eligibility. Check the specific requirements like age, marks, and subjects for the course you’re interested in.

SAAT 2026 Eligibility: Age Limit, Minimum Marks, Attempts & Key Factors

The SAAT 2026 eligibility criteria defined by the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University) state that for admission in different courses, students have to complete the corresponding academic qualification to be eligible for the admission on the basis of the SAAT Exam scores 2026. The age requirements set by the authorities differ accordingly for various courses, and candidates must meet all the eligibility standards before taking the SAAT Exam 2026.

The aspirants can check this article with full information on eligibility requirements for the SAAT 2026, including qualification, qualifying marks, age limit, reservation criteria, course wise details and more.

SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview
SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course Wise Details
SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Reservation Criteria
Additional SAAT Eligibility Requirements:
Important Points to Remember:

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SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview

Students seeking admission to the undergraduate (UG), lateral entry in undergraduate programs, postgraduate (PG), and Ph.D. programs in the constituent units of Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University) must meet the eligibility prescribed according to the SAAT eligibility criteria 2026, which is determined by the conducting body of the SAAT.

SAAT scores will be accepted for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs in the following disciplines: engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, management, veterinary sciences, hotel management, nursing, and law. Lateral entry is offered in undergraduate programs in technology, pharmacy, engineering, and hotel management; and Ph.D. programs in all the disciplines.

Applicants can reference the detailed SAAT exam eligibility criteria 2026 by regarding the points listed below:

Academic Qualifications

According to the SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, the candidates must meet the requisite academic qualification listed below:

For UG Programs: Passed 12th-standard with the prescribed minimum qualifying marks or above.

For PG Programs: Graduation in the relevant discipline with the prescribed qualifying marks or above.

For Lateral Entry: Passed diploma in the relevant discipline with at least degree qualifying marks or above.

To be eligible for admission to Ph.D. Programs, the students must have qualified the relevant Master’s degree with requisite qualifying marks.

Age Limit:

As per the eligibility criteria of SAAT 2026, there is no required minimum and maximum age limit for the programs such as B.Tech, BBA and other programs Similarly, the specified age limit for admission for some of the programs through SAAT 2026 is given in the table below:

Course	Age Criteria
B.Sc (Agriculture)	Age should be minimum 16 years or above.
B.Sc (Nursing)	Minimum age to apply is 17 years.
M.Sc (Agriculture)	Candidates must be at least 19 years old or above.
5-year Integrated LL.B / 3- year LL.B	There is no upper age limit prescribed.
Paramedical Courses	Minimum Age: 17 years Maximum Age: 35 years
B.Pharm	17 years (minimum age)
Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc & A.H)	Minimum Age Limit: 17 years Upper Age Limit: 25 years Relaxation of 5 years will be given to the SC / ST / OBC students.

SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Course Wise Details

Students can check the table below for detailed course-wise eligibility of SAAT Exam:

Course

SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

B.Tech

Obtained at least 60% marks (50% for ST / SC / OBC students) in 12^th standard.
Secured minimum 55% marks (45% for SC / ST / OBC candidates) in Physics & Mathematics as mandatory subjects with Chemistry / Computer Science / Biology / Biotechnology / Information Technology / Technical Vocational subject / Entrepreneurship / Informatics Practices / Electronics / Business Studies / Engineering Graphics.

For admission in Civil Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering, students must have fulfilled the above-mentioned minimum qualifying marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics only.

For Lateral Entry:

Qualified with a 2-year / 3-year Diploma from the State Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (SCTE&VT), Odisha / other equivalent with minimum 60% marks (50% for ST / SC / OBC category).

BBA

Secured minimum 50% marks (45% for SC / ST / OBC students) in 10+2 / other equivalent in any discipline.

Note: the eligibility criteria for different courses are different. The candidates can also check the detailed course-wise eligibility criteria of the SAAT exam from the official website admission.soa.ac.in.

Students, if found not to fulfill the minimum eligibility requirement as per the guidelines of the exam conducting body, will have their admission to the desired course canceled.

SC / ST / OBC candidates have to get the Caste Certificate duly signed by the Tehsildar of the place of origin in the prescribed format available on the website of SAAT, and must submit it when called for counseling, along with the original caste certificate.

SAAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Reservation Criteria

As per the eligibility criteria of SAAT 2026, reservations will be provided to the following categories:

Category	Reserved Seats (in all Programs)
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Physically Handicapped (PH)	3% The above seats are reserved in the Engineering / Technology / MBA / MCA / MHCT / Pharmacy / Nursing / Biotechnology Programs.
Women Candidates	30% The above-mentioned percentage of seats are reserved under each category.

The reservation policy is not applicable for admission through Lateral Entry.

Special Points to Note:

Further points to take note of in regard to the SAAT reservation criteria 2026, you will find below:

Candidates applying under the SC / ST categories must belong to the particular category by birth and not by marriage/adoption.
SC / ST applicants who have migrated from the state of Odisha to a different state for the purpose of study/employment also avail reservation benefits from the original state of Odisha & not the other States, as outlined
in the Government of India letter No. B / 160 14.1.82 SC & BCD / dated 22nd February, 1985. They must produce a Caste Certificate by a competent authority at counseling.
According to Section 39 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995, students with 40% & above physical disability can apply under the Physically Handicapped (PH) Quota and must submit a Medical Certificate issued during counseling by the Medical Board.

It should be noted: Certification will be made under the chairmanship of the Dean of IMS & SH, with senior professors of the Institute's faculty and either the Director of Admissions for SOA or their representative, constituting the committee.

In accordance with the Medical Council of India guidelines, candidates with a hearing impairment / visual disability will not be eligible for admission under the PH Quota.
If any seat alterations and/or reservation criteria changes in accordance with the MHRD guidelines are implemented, information regarding such changes will be available on the official website and counseling brochure.
The number of seats for the general category students in the respective programs will be calculated after deducting all the seats for reserved categories from the total available seats in that program.

Additional SAAT Eligibility Requirements:

Age Limit: There are age requirements for certain programmes. For example, candidates for the Bachelor of Nursing must be at least 17 years of age by 31 December of the year of admission.
Nationality: The SAAT exam is open to both Indian and foreign nationals, and certain courses specifically mention eligibility for Indian nationals only.
Reservation Criteria: Reserved categories, including SC, ST, OBC and PWD candidates, often benefit from lower minimum qualification criteria.
Academic Background: For most degree programmes, candidates need a 10+2 qualification, while postgraduate programmes usually require a relevant bachelor's degree. Mathematics is often required for technical and computer science programmes.

Important Points to Remember:

Eligibility Verification: Candidates are required to submit the required documents during the admission process to verify their eligibility. Failure to comply with the eligibility requirements or to provide evidence may lead to disqualification.
Relaxation in Qualifications: Reserved category candidates benefit from a 5% relaxation in minimum qualifications in most programmes.
Programme-Specific Requirements: Certain programmes like M.Tech require a specific undergraduate degree in a related field (e.g. B.E./B.Tech) and in cases like PhD, a Master's degree in a relevant discipline is mandatory.