HPCET 2027 is the Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test that Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU), Hamirpur holds for B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, hotel management, MBA, MCA and M.Sc. seats in its affiliated colleges. It is still held every year, in pen and paper mode. The 2027 dates are not out; the test is expected in May 2027.
HPCET 2027
This page covers HPCET 2027 expected dates, how to apply, the fee, eligibility, how seats are filled, the exam pattern and counselling.
| Full name | Himachal Pradesh Common Entrance Test (HPCET) 2027 |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU), Hamirpur |
| Courses / Purpose | B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, BHMCT, B.Sc. (HM & CT), MBA, MBA (T&HM), MCA, M.Sc. Physics, M.Sc. Environmental Sciences |
| Exam date | Expected May 2027 (9 and 10 May in 2026) |
| Application | Expected March 2027, online at counselling-hptu.hp.gov.in |
| Application fee | Rs 1,600 per course; Rs 800 for SC, ST, BPL (2026 fee) |
| Eligibility | UG: 10+2 with 45% (40% reserved); PG: bachelor's degree with 50% (45% reserved) |
| Mode | Offline, pen and paper (OMR), English only |
| Questions and marks | B.Tech/B.Pharm: 150 of 180 MCQs, 600 marks; MBA/MCA: 75 MCQs, 300 marks; others: 100 MCQs, 100 marks |
| Duration | 3 hours 15 minutes (B.Tech/B.Pharm); 2 hours (all other papers) |
| Negative marking | 1 mark (B.Tech, B.Pharm, MBA, MCA); 0.25 mark (hotel management, M.Sc.) |
| Official website | himtu.ac.in |
HPCET 2027 Important Dates
HPTU has not announced the HPCET 2027 schedule yet; the dates below are expected from the 2026 cycle, when the exam date was notified on 10 December 2025 and the test was held on 9 and 10 May 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| HPCET 2027 exam date notice | December 2026 Expected |
| Online application | March 2027 Expected |
| e-Admit card | May 2027 Expected |
| HPCET 2027 exam | May 2027 Expected |
| Answer key and complaints | May 2027 Expected |
| Result | May 2027 Expected |
| Counselling | June 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for HPCET 2027
You apply for HPCET online on the HPTU admission portal through a Him Access login. In 2026 the form was open from 13 March to 19 April, so the 2027 form is expected in March 2027. A submitted form cannot be edited.
Apply Online for HPCET 2027
Applications for HPCET 2027 are expected in March 2027.
- Open the HPCET application portal (Apply for HPCET) and choose to register as a student.
- New users sign up on the Him Access portal with Aadhaar eKYC and an OTP, then note the Unique Him Access ID.
- Log in and complete your profile: applicant details, address, Class 10, 12 and graduation marks, photo and signature (JPG or PNG, 60 to 100 KB).
- Log out and log in again, open the Courses List and click Apply against your course or course combination.
- Choose your quota (HP State Quota, All India, NRI or Kashmiri Migrant) and category, save the draft and check it.
- Submit the form and pay the fee online, then download the PDF of your form from My Applications.
| Course choice (2026 fee) | General and others | SC / ST / BPL |
|---|---|---|
| Any one course (B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, hotel management, MBA, MBA (T&HM), MCA, M.Sc.) | Rs 1,600 | Rs 800 |
| Two courses together (e.g. B.Tech and B.Pharmacy, MBA and MCA) | Rs 3,200 | Rs 1,600 |
| MBA, MBA (T&HM) and MCA together | Rs 4,800 | Rs 2,400 |
The fee is not refunded, and a change of exam centre costs Rs 2,000 and is allowed only on genuine grounds. Form queries go to the Dean (Academic), HPTU, at [email protected] or 01972-226914 and 226911.
Who can apply for HPCET 2027?
Each course has its own minimum qualification, and students in their final 10+2 or degree year can also apply. These are the 2026 rules from the HPTU Prospectus Part-I.
| Course | Minimum qualification |
|---|---|
| B.Tech | 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics plus one listed subject (such as Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology), 45% in these subjects (40% reserved); or D.Voc in the same sector |
| B.Pharmacy | 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry plus Mathematics or Biology, 45% (40% reserved); age 17 by 31 December of the admission year |
| B.Sc. (HM & CT), BHMCT | 10+2 in any stream with 45% (40% reserved) |
| MBA, MBA (T&HM) | Bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years with 50% (45% reserved) |
| MCA | Any bachelor’s degree with 50% (45% reserved), preferably with Mathematics at 10+2 or degree level |
| M.Sc. Physics | B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, or Honours in Physics, with 50% (45% reserved) |
| M.Sc. Environmental Sciences | Any bachelor’s degree in basic or applied sciences, engineering, medical sciences, pharmacy or architecture with 50% (45% reserved) |
- For B.Tech, Civil and Mechanical Engineering need Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at 10+2; computer and electrical branches need Physics and Mathematics plus one listed subject.
- Percentages in fractions are rounded off to the nearest figure.
Is HPCET still held, or does HPTU admit through JEE Main?
HPCET is still held: HPTU conducted it on 9 and 10 May 2026 and fills most of its courses from the HPCET merit. Only B.Tech is shared with JEE Main, as the 2026 admission brochure sets out.
| Course | How seats are filled (2026 rules) |
|---|---|
| B.Tech (direct entry) | First 50% of seats on JEE Main merit, the other 50% on HPCET merit; seats still vacant go on 10+2 merit |
| B.Pharmacy | HPCET merit |
| B.Sc. (HM & CT), BHMCT | HPCET merit |
| MBA, MBA (T&HM), MCA | HPCET merit; vacant seats on bachelor’s degree merit |
| M.Sc. Physics, M.Sc. Environmental Sciences | HPCET merit; vacant seats on bachelor’s degree merit |
| M.Tech, M.Pharmacy, B.Arch | Not through HPCET: GATE, GPAT, and NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 respectively |
So a B.Tech aspirant from Himachal Pradesh should take both JEE Main and HPCET to compete for the full set of seats. The minimum marks to qualify are on the HPCET result page.
What is the HPCET 2027 exam pattern?
HPCET is an offline OMR test in English, with a separate paper for each course group. This is the 2026 pattern; HPTU confirms the 2027 pattern in its next prospectus.
| Course | Sections | Questions to attempt | Marks | Time | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech, B.Pharmacy | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology: 60 questions each (20 compulsory + any 30 of 40) | 150 of 180 | 600 | 3 h 15 min | +4 / -1 |
| MBA, MBA (T&HM), MCA | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, DI and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude: 25 each | 75 | 300 | 2 h | +4 / -1 |
| B.Sc. (HM & CT), BHMCT | General English, General Knowledge, Reasoning, Data Interpretation and Graphs: 25 each | 100 | 100 | 2 h | +1 / -0.25 |
| M.Sc. Physics | Four sections of 25 questions (mathematical methods and mechanics; optics, electricity and magnetism; modern and nuclear physics; atomic, thermal, solid state and electronics) | 100 | 100 | 2 h | +1 / -0.25 |
| M.Sc. Environmental Sciences | Earth Sciences 25, Physical and Chemical Sciences 25, Life Sciences 50 | 100 | 100 | 2 h | +1 / -0.25 |
- In the B.Tech and B.Pharmacy paper, Physics and Chemistry are compulsory; B.Tech candidates must take Mathematics, and B.Pharmacy candidates take Mathematics or Biology.
- If you answer more than 30 questions in a Section B, only the first 30 you attempted are marked.
- Calculators, log tables, mobile phones and electronic watches are not allowed in the hall.
In 2026 the B.Tech and B.Pharmacy test was held at centres in ten districts of Himachal Pradesh and in Chandigarh; the other papers were held in Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Solan districts. Topic lists are on the HPCET syllabus page.
How does HPCET counselling work?
HPCET qualifiers must fill a separate online counselling-cum-admission form after the result; HPTU does not admit you from the entrance form alone. In 2026 this form opened on 18 June on the HP e-counselling portal.
- Log in to the counselling portal (HPTU counselling portal) with your HPCET credentials; your HPCET marks are fetched automatically.
- Pick the course, your quota and the basis of admission (HPCET, national test or qualifying exam).
- Fill personal and academic details and add up to 20 college and branch preferences for B.Tech or B.Pharmacy, then lock them.
- Upload your documents, including the HPCET scorecard, and submit the form.
- Pay the HPTU fee of Rs 3,000 a year plus Rs 1,500 one-time registration when you are allotted a seat, and report to the college.
No counselling form fee is charged if you apply only on the basis of HPCET. Applying on a national test or qualifying-exam basis cost Rs 1,600 (Rs 800 for SC, ST, BPL) in 2026.
HPCET 2027 Official Notices and Downloads
- PDFHPCET 2026 Prospectus Part-I Information Brochure (latest) (18 March 2026)Official site · himtu.ac.inOpen
- LINKHPCET page on the HPTU official websiteOfficial site · himtu.ac.inOpen