IIMC Entrance Exam 2025: Dates, Fees, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus, Results

The institute offers several MA and PG Diploma courses in the field of Mass Communication. However, since 2022, the entrance tests for these have converged with CUET-PG which is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). IIMC still conducts the IIMC Entrance Exam but only for PG Diploma in Journalism in 4 regional languages. IIMC is a one-of-a-kind, prestigious institution. Employers give quite some consideration to IIMC graduates. Students from around the country wish enrol and apply for admissions at the institute. Since, the number of seats available per programme is enormously less than the number of applicants, entrance tests become increasingly more competitive each year. 

The exam consists of MCQs and objective-type questions. Students who clear the written tests have to appear for a Personal Interview (PI) and counselling (based on their preferred courses) and those who clear both these rounds are admitted to various courses offered at IIMC. The courses offered at IIMC are given below:

Popular Film & Media Competitive Exams:

• ACJ Entrance Exam
• FTII JET
• JMI Entrance Exam

Students who aspire to study at IIMC can check some key information about the institute about the institute from the table below.

Also read:

• IMC Important Dates

As per official notifications, only Indian nationals are allowed to appear for the IIMC Entrance Exam. However, five additional seats are available in each course for NRI/ NRI-sponsored kids. The IIMC Entrance Exam application process is as follows:

Step 1: Fill out the Registration Form For IIMC (CUET PG)

Candidates must register for the Online Application Form and note down the system-generated Application Number. They must provide the required details while filling out the Online Application Form. They are also needed to create a password, choose a Security Question and enter his/ her Answer. After successfully submitting the personal details, an Application number is generated and used to complete the remaining Steps of the Application Form. It is also used for all future reference/ correspondence (admit cards, results, etc.). This application number is also used/ referred for both the Sessions of CUET (PG) 2025. For subsequent logins, the candidates can login directly with the system-generated Application Numbers and created Passwords.

Step 2: Fill out the Application Form For IIMC (CUET PG)

The candidates must log in with the system-generated Application Number and pre-created Password to complete the Application Form including filling up personal details, applying for the Paper, choosing the Examination Cities, providing the details of Educational Qualifications, and uploading the images and documents (if any). The applicants are required to fill out only one form, indicating all of their course choices, making a combined/ cumulative payment of the application fee.

Step 3: Upload the required documents

Candidates must upload their scanned images of Photograph and Signature as per the rules mentioned below:

i. The recent photograph should be either in colour or black & white with 80% face (without mask) visible including ears against a white background.

ii. The scanned photograph and signature should be in JPG/ JPEG format (clearly legible).

iii. The size of the scanned photograph should be between 10 kb to 200 kb (clearly legible).

iv. The size of the scanned signature should be between 4 kb to 30 kb (clearly legible) 

Note: In case, it is found at any time in the future that the Candidate has used/ uploaded the photograph and signature of someone else in his/ her Application Form/ Admit Card, or he/ she has tampered with his/ her Admit Card/ Result/ Score Card, these acts of the candidate shall be treated as Unfair Means (UFM) Practices and he/ she shall be subject to actions as contemplated under the provisions of the Information Bulletin relating to Unfair Means Practices.

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

After completing the above-mentioned steps, the candidates have to pay the requisite examination fee. The fee should be submitted only online through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI Services. Processing charges and GST as applicable are chargeable to the candidate (in addition to the examination fee) by the concerned Bank/ Payment Gateway Integrator. The examination fee details are as follows:

The Confirmation Page of the online Application Form is generated only after successful payment of the application fee. In case the Confirmation Page is not generated after payment of the fee, then the candidate must approach the concerned Bank/ Payment Gateway (on their helpline number and/ or e-mail) to ensure the successful payment or to obtain the refund of duplicate/ multiple payments. 

Note:

(i) Candidates are required to Download, save and print a copy of the Confirmation Page of the Application Form (which is downloadable only after successful remittance of fee) for future reference. 

(II) Candidates are also requested to download and install the SANDES application as a secondary channel to receive time-to-time notifications from NTA. SANDES APP can be downloaded and installed on Mobile Devices from the Google Play Store.

(III) NTA facilitates all candidates with an additional platform of Umang and DigiLocker to download their documents like Confirmation Page, Admit Card, Score Cards, etc. Instructions are provided in subsequent phases. Candidates are advised to visit the NTA Website and check their e-mails regularly for the latest updates.

Step 5: Download the IIMC Entrance Exam Admit Card

Aspirants have to download their IIMC Entrance Exam admit card from the official website of NTA or CUET (PG). Candidates need to note that they are not allowed to enter their examination hall if they are not carrying their valid admit card, issued by the college. 

Step 4: Appear for the IIMC Entrance Exam (CUET PG)

CUET PG exam is held at an all-India level. CUET PG exam for PG Diploma courses in IIMC is of two hours duration and there is no standardized pattern for the exam. Candidates are advised to check the exam pattern, syllabus and marking scheme before appearing for the entrance exam. The CUET PG exam for IIMC PG Diploma courses was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates were advised to carry only the following with them into the examination venue:

i. Admit card downloaded from the NTA Website (a clear printout on A4 size paper) duly filled in.

ii. A simple transparent ballpoint pen.

iii. Additional photograph (same as uploaded on the Online Application Form) to be pasted on the attendance sheet.

iv. Any one of the authorized photo IDs (must be original, valid, and non-expired) – School Identity Card/ PAN card/ Driving License/ Voter ID/ Passport/ Aadhaar Card (With photograph)/E-Aadhaar with photograph/Ration Card with photograph/ Class 12 Board Admit Card with photograph/ Bank Passbook with Photograph.

v. PwBD certificate issued by the authorized medical officer, if claiming the relaxation under PwBD category.

vi. Personal transparent water bottle

Step 5: Declaration of Entrance Exam Results

The results for IIMC entrance exams for Journalism, TV & Radio Journalism as well as Advertising and Public Relations courses are declared on the official website of NTA. Candidates can check their results using their registered email ID/ roll number and their dates of birth. 

IIMC Entrance Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria

Indian nationals possessing a Bachelor's Degree awarded by a recognised university are eligible to apply. Students who have appeared/ are appearing for the Final year/ semester examination of their Bachelor's Degree are also eligible to apply. If selected, their admission will be subject to their producing at least a Provisional mark sheet/ Certificate in original from their college/ university (extendable in genuine cases after ascertaining the reasons). On completion of the course, the Diploma will be awarded only if the Original Degree Certificate is produced for verification at IIMC's office.

NRI Quota: Five additional seats were available in each course for NRI/ NRI-sponsored candidates. The eligibility criteria and age limits for NRI quota candidates are the same as above. However, the applicants under the NRI/ NRI-sponsored quota could directly appear for an Online Interview by applying/ writing directly to the IIMC (NOT through NTA) by depositing an entry fee of US $50.

Reservations: (i)15% of the seats Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates (ii) 7.5% seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates (iii) 27% seats for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) candidates as per the Central List (iv) 10% of the seats for General Economically Weaker Sections (General -EWS) candidates (v) Reservation for Kashmiri Migrant (subject to notification from Ministry of Education for Academic Session 2024-25).

Each category mentioned above will have 5% reservations for the candidates with 40% or more disability as defined in Sections 2 (r) and 2(zc) of the Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.

IIMC Entrance Exam 2025 Admission Process

The selection of candidates (other than the NRI quota) is solely based on their performance in the CUET conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). After the merit list is issued by the NTA, the IIMC organizes centralized counselling sessions to guide the students so that they may get their preferred programme and centre. There is no Interview or Group Discussion for admissions. The final category-wise and course-wise Rank List and admission are decided based on the candidates' overall score out of 100 marks. If two or more candidates secure equal marks, the candidate senior in age is given preference in the rank list.

Step 1: Appear For Counselling

Once the result is announced by NTA, IIMC will issue the merit list. The students have to fill out a counselling form showing their preference for the Programme and the centre. A list of candidates to be provisionally admitted to each course and at each campus is prepared on the basis of the category-wise merit list, as per course/ seat allocation criteria will be published on IIMC websites www.iimc.gov. The allocation of the Campus (applicable to English, Hindi Journalism and Digital Media) will be on the basis of Merit-cum-Preference. Candidates are advised to rank all the Regional Campuses in the order of their preference at the time of counselling. In the event of a candidate leaving the choice of campus blank, IIMC will allocate the campus to the candidate on the basis of an alphabetical roster.
Successful candidates will be given a maximum of seven days' time to secure their admission by depositing the prescribed fees online along with the necessary documents. Candidates claiming reservation under the Economically Weaker Section scheme should produce the Income & Asset Certificate issued by a designated authority in the prescribed format. Depending upon the number of admissions secured, further rounds of results would be announced. If any seats remain vacant in any of the campuses, the same shall be offered to any of the interested candidates as per the category-wise merit list. Reservation of seats will be as per Government of India orders/rules for SC, ST, Differently-abled and EWS.

Step 2: Pay the admission fee

The first instalment of the course fee must be deposited within the prescribed time period. The second instalment of tuition fees is to be paid within the given deadline. Late fees will be charged with a fine at the rate of INR 20 per day after the deadline. The names of the defaulters will be struck off the rolls after the due date for failing to remit the fee along with the late fee. Re-admission fee of INR 500 will be charged on re-admission after the prescribed timeline The right of re-admission is reserved with the Institute. The paid-up instalment(s) of fees shall not be refunded if a student discontinues the studies during the course.

Test Centres: It is mandatory for candidates to select three cities of their choice while filling Online Application Form for IIMC Admissions.

The IIMC entrance exam admit card is released on the official website of the institute and the National Testing Agency. Only those students who have successfully submitted their applications are issued the admit card. It is necessary that the students carry their IIMC entrance exam admit cards to the exam centres. Students who fail to do so are not allowed to take the exam.

There will be two separate Entrance Exams in two separate sittings on the same day. One for 4 courses other than regional language journalism, i.e., for PG Diploma in Hindi Journalism, PG Diploma in English Journalism, PG Diploma in Public Relations & Advertising, and PG Diploma in Radio & Television. Another will be for Regional Language Journalism courses (Odia, Marathi, Malayalam and Urdu).

Students will be given three hours to attempt 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) on General Knowledge & General Aptitude including a few general questions from the field of Media & Communication. Each question will carry one mark. The IIMC Entrance Exam Pattern is explained in detail in the table below:

Indian Institute of Mass Communication has specified some broad topics for entrance exams. Get detailed information about the IIMC Entrance Exam syllabus and prepare for the exam accordingly. The MCQs will cover the following topics/ subjects: 

• General Awareness of the Indian Political and Economic Environment.
• International Developments (Political and Entertainment)
• Information Communication Technologies and its Application in Media Industry.
• Indian History and Social Science
• Awareness of current Public issues.
• Mass Media and Society

While preparing for the IIMC entrance exam, candidates need to have a plan in mind. This is how candidates should prepare for the IIMC entrance exam: 

• Have a proper preparation strategy in place.
• Know the IIMC entrance exam pattern thoroughly and go through sample papers and syllabi for the entrance exam.
• Pick the best journalism test books to prepare.
• The aim should be to score well in the entrance exam.
• Focus on your time management skills and improving the speed of answering questions based on English and General knowledge.
• Solve as many sample papers and previous years' question papers as possible to know your strong and weak areas for the exam.

The result of the IIMC Entrance Exam is declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) through the Common University Entrance Test for Post Graduates (CUET PG) (except for the Journalism courses in regional languages, for which the results are declared on the IIMC website). Candidates can check their scorecards on the official website of NTA.

Based on the IIMC Entrance Exam results, candidates who pass the examination are called for counselling. Shortlisted candidates have to register for the online counselling process which is conducted in two rounds depending upon the number of candidates and empty seats. Candidates who register for counselling have to submit their choices of institute/ campus and programs/ courses in order of their preference.

The IIMC cut-off marks are the minimum marks that candidates need to score to clear the IIMC entrance exam. Candidates need to score equal to or more than the IIMC cut-off to get shortlisted for the next phase. Based on the cutoff marks, the institute prepares a merit list. During counselling rounds, the institute announces course-wise opening and closing ranks/ cut-off. Students who have registered for counselling on the IIMC website and fall into this range of opening and closing ranks are selected for admission.