MAT September 2026 Eligibility: Degree, Minimum Percentage and Age Limit

MAT September 2026 eligibility requires graduation in any discipline from a recognised university — AIMA sets no minimum percentage and no age limit for the test itself.

The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) four times a year — in February, May, September and December. The September 2026 session is open to graduates of any discipline as well as final year students of undergraduate programmes. While AIMA keeps the eligibility bar broad, individual B-schools that accept MAT scores set their own percentage thresholds for shortlisting.

• Qualifying degree: Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university — no stream restriction.
• Minimum percentage: Not set by AIMA; individual B-schools specify their own thresholds — typically 50% for General category and 45% for SC/ST.
• Age limit: No age bar — AIMA prescribes no upper or lower age limit.
• Final year students: Eligible to appear provisionally; admission is confirmed on submission of the final degree certificate.
• Work experience: Not required by AIMA.

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MAT September 2026 Eligibility at a Glance

AIMA prescribes a uniform set of eligibility conditions across all MAT sessions. The table below captures the official requirements for MAT September 2026 as published on the AIMA website.

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Qualifying Degree for MAT September 2026

The only academic requirement set by AIMA for MAT 2026 is graduation in any discipline from a recognised university. There is no restriction on stream or subject. AIMA’s official criterion is graduation in any discipline from any recognised university or equivalent recognised degree — no stream preference, no minimum marks requirement at the entrance-test level.

• All graduation streams qualify — BA, B.Com, B.Sc, B.Tech, B.E., BBA, LLB, B.Pharm and any other undergraduate degree from a university recognised by UGC or an equivalent statutory body.
• Integrated programmes — students in five-year integrated UG-PG programmes are eligible once the UG component is complete.
• Foreign degrees — degrees from foreign universities are accepted if recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or an equivalent authority.
• Distance and open university degrees — eligible if the university is recognised by UGC or the Distance Education Bureau.

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Minimum Percentage Required for MAT September 2026

AIMA does not prescribe a minimum graduation percentage for appearing in MAT September 2026. However virtually every B-school that accepts MAT scores sets its own minimum aggregate percentage as part of its admission criteria. Typical thresholds are shown below.

These thresholds are based on norms followed by participating B-schools in the 2025 cycle and are expected to remain similar for September 2026. Refer to the admission prospectus of your target institute for the exact minimum percentage applicable to your category.

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Age Limit for MAT September 2026

There is no age bar for MAT September 2026 as per AIMA’s official eligibility criteria. You can register and appear in the exam at any age as long as you hold a qualifying degree or are in the final year of your graduation programme.

Some participating B-schools may specify an upper age limit as part of their own admission criteria — particularly for executive MBA programmes. Before applying to a specific institute, review its prospectus to check for any age conditions at the admission stage.

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Final Year Students Eligibility for MAT September 2026

Students in the final year of their bachelor’s degree are eligible to register and appear in MAT September 2026 on a provisional basis. AIMA explicitly permits this across all graduation streams. The following conditions apply:

• You can register and sit the exam before your final year results are declared.
• B-schools will consider your MAT score and shortlist you for group discussion and personal interview rounds while your degree is pending.
• Admission offered at this stage is provisional — it becomes confirmed only when you submit your final mark sheet and degree certificate to the institute.
• If your final results show that you do not meet the institute’s minimum percentage requirement, the provisional admission is liable to be cancelled.
• The deadline for submitting final documents is set by each B-school — typically one to three months after the programme start date.

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B-School Level Eligibility Variations for MAT 2026

MAT scores are accepted at over 600 B-schools across India. AIMA’s eligibility norm is the floor; each participating institute applies additional criteria on top of it. Common variations are shown below.

Verify the admission eligibility on the official website of each B-school before submitting your MAT score and application.

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