In Karnataka, professional degree admissions are primarily handled by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). While KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) covers engineering, pharmacy, and farm sciences, NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is the mandatory gateway for all medical and dental programs.
Here is a breakdown of the courses you can enroll in based on these two exams:
1. Courses Through KCET
KCET is the primary entrance for technical and professional courses in Karnataka (excluding MBBS/BDS).
* Engineering & Technology: B.E. / B.Tech in various branches (Computer Science, Mechanical, Civil, AI & Machine Learning, etc.).
* Architecture: B.Arch (Note: You must write KCET for counseling, but admission is based on NATA or JEE Paper 2 scores).
* Pharmacy: * B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
* Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy - 6-year course)
* Farm Sciences (B.Sc. Hons):
* Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, and Forestry.
* Community Science.
* B.Tech in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, and Agricultural Engineering.
* B.F.Sc (Bachelor of Fisheries Science).
* Veterinary Science: B.V.Sc. & A.H. (Admission is based on KCET marks).
2. Courses Through NEET
For all medical-related degrees, even within Karnataka's state quota (85%), a valid NEET score is mandatory.
* Medical & Dental:
* MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
* BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)
* AYUSH Courses:
* BAMS (Ayurvedic Medicine)
* BHMS (Homeopathic Medicine)
* BUMS (Unani Medicine)
* BNYS (Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences)
* Nursing & Allied Health: * B.Sc. Nursing (Now requires NEET qualification in Karnataka).
* BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy).
* B.Sc. Allied Health Sciences (Includes Medical Lab Technology, Radiology, etc.).
Comparison of Eligibility
| Feature | KCET | NEET |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | State-level (Karnataka only) | National-level |
| Primary Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Math/Biology | Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Ranking | 50% CET + 50% Board marks (usually) | 100% Entrance Score |
| Domicile | Strictly for Karnataka residents* | Open to all (All India Quota) |
> Note: For certain courses like B.Sc. Nursing and Allied Health, KEA has recently mandated NEET qualification, moving away from purely board-based or KCET-based entries.
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This video provides a detailed walkthrough of how the KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority) manages the seat allotment process for both KCET and NEET candidates.
