If you are comparing BBA, BCA, Economics or Liberal Arts options after Class 12, the SET Colleges List 2026 is probably the first thing you need. One entrance test, the Symbiosis Entrance Test, opens the door to many Symbiosis institutes across five cities. But which institute offers which course? Do all of them ask for the same marks? And is the score useful if you are planning for next year?
This guide answers those questions using the official SET information, so you can shortlist Symbiosis colleges under SET with confidence instead of guessing from scattered lists.
Quick Summary: SET Colleges List 2026 at a Glance
- 13 Symbiosis institutes accepted SET General scores in the 2026 cycle, in Pune, Noida, Nagpur, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
- Courses covered: BBA, BBA (IT), BCA, B.A. Mass Communication, BBA (Media Management), B.Sc. Economics, B.Sc. Applied Statistics and Data Science, B.Sc. and BBA in Artificial Intelligence, Liberal Arts, Sport and Exercise Science, and BBA in Hospitality and Culinary Management.
- Eligibility: Class 12 pass with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates).
- Exam: 60 questions, 60 marks, 60 minutes, computer-based, no negative marking.
- Selection: SET score (60 marks, scaled to 70) plus 30 marks for the personal interaction round.
- Score validity: The SET 2026 score is valid only for the 2026-27 academic year. For 2027 admission you need to appear again.
What Is SET and Why Does the SET Colleges List 2026 Matter?
SET stands for Symbiosis Entrance Test. The official SET overview describes it as a common, mandatory computer-based test for the undergraduate programmes of the participating institutes of Symbiosis International (Deemed University).
The important point for students is that SET works as a gateway, not a guarantee. Your score gets you shortlisted. After that, each institute runs its own admission rounds. So knowing which institutes belong to the SET colleges list, and how each one selects students, matters as much as the score itself.
If you are reading this in late 2026, the SET 2026 cycle is complete. The list below is still the best guide for what the institutes offered, and it is the base you will use to plan for SET 2027.
SET Colleges List 2026: All Symbiosis Institutes Accepting SET Scores
Here is the complete list of SET participating institutes, meaning the colleges accepting SET scores, and the programmes they offered through SET General in 2026.
| # | Institute | City | Programmes offered through SET |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) | Pune | BBA (Hons / Hons with Research); BBA Global Dual Degree with Deakin University |
| 2 | Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) | Noida | BBA (Hons / Hons with Research); BBA Global Dual Degree with Deakin University |
| 3 | Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) | Nagpur | BBA (Hons / Hons with Research) |
| 4 | Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) | Bengaluru | BBA (Hons / Hons with Research); BBA Dual Degree with Deakin University |
| 5 | Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) | Hyderabad | BBA (Hons / Hons with Research) |
| 6 | Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR) | Pune | BCA; BBA (Information Technology) |
| 7 | Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication (SCMC) | Pune | B.A. (Mass Communication); BBA (Media Management) |
| 8 | Symbiosis School of Economics (SSE) | Pune | B.Sc. (Economics); B.Sc. (Economics) Dual Degree with University of Bristol |
| 9 | Symbiosis Statistical Institute (SSI) | Pune | B.Sc. (Applied Statistics and Data Science) |
| 10 | Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA) | Pune | B.A. (Liberal Arts); B.Sc. (Liberal Arts) |
| 11 | Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII) | Pune | B.Sc. (Artificial Intelligence); BBA (Artificial Intelligence) |
| 12 | Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences (SSSS) | Pune | B.Sc. (Sport and Exercise Science) |
| 13 | Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts and Nutritional Sciences (SSCANS) | Pune | BBA (Hospitality and Culinary Management) |
A note on rows 12 and 13: The official SET pages mention these two institutes in different places. The SET overview lists SSCANS’s BBA among SET programmes, while the colleges-and-programmes page lists SSSS. Both programmes appear in the official programme list, so we have included both. Before you apply, confirm the current status in the latest SET bulletin.
SCMS campuses: which one fits you?
Five of the 13 SET colleges are SCMS campuses, and they all offer the same BBA (Honours) degree structure. The difference is mostly location, campus culture and how competitive the cutoff is. SCMS Pune is the flagship and typically sees the highest cutoffs, while the Nagpur and Hyderabad campuses have been reported to close at lower scores. The Pune and Noida campuses also offer a Global Dual Degree with Deakin University, spending one year at SIU Pune or Noida, one year at SIU Dubai and two years at Deakin.
Specialised SET colleges beyond BBA
If management is not your path, the Symbiosis SET colleges list has strong alternatives:
- SICSR for BCA or BBA (IT) if you like technology.
- SCMC for mass communication and media management.
- SSE and SSI for economics, statistics and data-driven careers.
- SAII for B.Sc. or BBA in Artificial Intelligence.
- SSLA for a multidisciplinary Liberal Arts degree.
- SSSS for sport and exercise science.
Symbiosis Institutes That Do Not Accept SET Scores
Not every Symbiosis programme is on the SET colleges list 2026. Some students lose time by preparing for the wrong test, so check this table.
| Programme area | Entrance route |
|---|---|
| B.Tech at Symbiosis Institute of Technology (Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad) | SITEEE, or JEE Main / a state engineering entrance exam |
| Law (BBA LL.B., B.A. LL.B.) | SLAT |
| Design (B.Des., Pune and Nagpur) | Own process; SEED is among Symbiosis tests |
| Health sciences, Nursing, Visual Arts and Photography | SET not mandatory; follow each institute’s own process |
| B.Sc. Hospitality and Culinary Management (SSCANS) | SET not mandatory |
The SITEEE paper is separate from SET: 60 questions across Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for a total of 120 marks, held from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on the same two test dates.
Eligibility for Symbiosis Colleges Under SET
Eligibility is straightforward for most institutes on the SET colleges list:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board |
| Minimum marks | 50% (General); 45% for SC/ST candidates |
| BCA at SICSR | 10+2 or an equivalent government-approved diploma in Engineering/Technology |
| B.Sc. Applied Statistics and Data Science (SSI) | Mathematics as one of the Class 12 subjects |
| Honours with Research | Requires a CGPA of 7.5 or above at the end of Semester 6 |
Liberal Arts (SSLA) also accepts IB and GCE/IGCSE qualifications on defined criteria, so international-board students should read the bulletin closely.
SET 2026 Exam Pattern for These Colleges
SET is short and fast, so time management matters more than deep subject knowledge.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 16 | 16 |
| Quantitative | 16 | 16 |
| General Awareness | 16 | 16 |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning | 12 | 12 |
| Total | 60 | 60 |
The test runs for 60 minutes, is computer-based and carries no negative marking, so attempting every question is a sensible default. Calculators and electronic devices are not allowed.
How Admission Works at SET Participating Institutes
Clearing the exam is only step one. Here is how the process works at the institutes on the SET colleges list:
- Take SET. You can appear on one or both test dates; the higher score is used.
- Register for programmes. You pay a separate programme registration fee for each institute you choose.
- Get shortlisted. Each institute sets its own cutoff for each programme, so one score can shortlist you at one campus and not another.
- Attend the selection rounds. These may include a Writing Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion, Studio Test and Personal Interview, depending on the institute.
- Merit list. Combined performance decides the merit and wait lists.
According to the official bulletin, the merit calculation at the SET institutes uses the 60-mark entrance score scaled up to 70, plus 30 marks for the personal interaction round, for a total of 100. The bulletin marks this as subject to change, and some institutes also consider academic performance or other factors, so always check your chosen institute’s own notice.
It is mandatory to attend every component of the selection process. Missing even one makes you ineligible for the merit list.
If you want help preparing for the interview stage, our PI and WAT preparation guide covers common questions.
SET Cutoff for Top SET Colleges (Expected, Not Official)
Symbiosis institutes do not publish a single national cutoff. Each one announces its own shortlisting cutoff, and it shifts with the number of applicants and paper difficulty. The figures below are unofficial estimates compiled from several education portals for the General category, out of 60. They differ between sources, so treat them as a rough range, not a promise.
| Institute and programme | Approximate range (out of 60) |
|---|---|
| SCMS Pune, BBA | 36 to 50 |
| SCMS Noida, BBA | 38 to 48 |
| SCMS Bengaluru, BBA | 39 to 45 |
| SCMS Hyderabad, BBA | 34 to 42 |
| SCMS Nagpur, BBA | 32 to 42 |
| SICSR Pune, BBA (IT) | 40 to 46 |
| SICSR Pune, BCA | 29 to 34 |
| SCMC Pune, BBA (Media Management) | around 32 |
The range for SCMS Pune is wide because sources disagree. The safest reading: a score in the mid-40s or higher keeps most campuses in play, while a score in the mid-30s keeps you in the race mainly for newer or less crowded campuses.
Key Dates: SET 2026 and What to Expect for SET 2027
For reference, the official SET 2026 schedule was:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and payment closed | 15 April 2026 |
| Admit cards live | 24 April (Test 1) and 30 April 2026 (Test 2) |
| SET Test 1 | 2 May 2026, 9:00 to 10:00 am |
| SET Test 2 | 10 May 2026, 9:00 to 10:00 am |
| Result declared | 20 May 2026 |
The registration fee in the 2026 cycle was ₹2,250 for the test plus ₹1,000 for each programme registration, and both are non-refundable.
What about SET 2027? As of 28 October 2026, the official schedule for SET 2027 was not available on the pages we checked. Several education portals expect registration to open around December 2026 and the tests to be held in May 2027, but that is a forecast based on last year’s pattern, not an announcement. Keep an eye on the official SET website.
How to Choose From the SET Colleges List 2026
Rather than applying everywhere, filter the SET colleges list 2026 with these five questions:
- What do you want to study? Match the programme first; the city comes second.
- Which cutoffs are realistic? Pick a mix: one ambitious campus, a few likely ones and one safe option.
- Can you relocate? SET colleges span five cities, so budget for living costs, not just tuition. Fees vary by institute and year, so check each institute’s current fee page.
- Do you want an international pathway? The Deakin and Bristol dual degrees have their own conditions, such as a minimum Weighted Average Mark and an English-language requirement, so read the bulletin before counting on them.
- How strong is your interview prep? The PI and WAT carry 30% of the weight in the official scheme, so a decent SET score plus strong interview skills can outperform a high score with weak interaction rounds.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying only the SET fee. The test fee alone does not make you eligible for shortlisting. You also need to pay the programme registration fee for each institute.
- Trusting old cutoffs blindly. Last year’s numbers are a guide, not a rule.
- Assuming one score means one college. You may be shortlisted for several programmes and must attend the PI for each separately.
- Believing agents who promise seats. Symbiosis states it does not charge capitation fees and has not authorised anyone to guarantee admission.
Summary on SET Colleges List 2026
The SET Colleges List 2026 covers 13 Symbiosis institutes offering BBA, BCA, Economics, Statistics, AI, Media, Liberal Arts, Sports Science and Hospitality programmes across Pune, Noida, Nagpur, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. You need 50% in Class 12 (45% for SC/ST), a 60-question computer-based test with no negative marking, and a successful personal interaction round. B.Tech and Law use different tests. The SET 2026 score does not carry over to 2027.
SET Colleges List 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
Which colleges accept SET scores in 2026?
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) institutes accept SET General scores. In 2026 these were SCMS in Pune, Noida, Nagpur, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, plus SICSR, SCMC, SSE, SSI, SSLA, SAII, SSSS and SSCANS, all in Pune. B.Tech at SIT uses SITEEE instead.
Is SET mandatory for admission to Symbiosis BBA?
Yes. The official overview describes SET as a common, mandatory computer-based test for the programmes of the participating institutes, including BBA at the SCMS campuses.
What is a good SET score for SCMS Pune?
There is no official figure, and estimates vary from the high 30s to about 50 out of 60. For the most competitive campuses, aiming for the mid-40s or higher is a sensible target.
What is the SET application fee?
In the 2026 cycle the test registration fee was ₹2,250, with a further ₹1,000 for each programme registration. Both are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Is the SET 2026 score valid for 2027 admission?
No. The official bulletin states that the score is valid only for admission to the 2026-27 academic year, so you must appear again for SET 2027.
Is there a personal interaction round after SET?
Yes. Candidates shortlisted on their SET score go through the institute’s selection rounds, which can include WAT, group discussion, studio test and personal interview. Attending every component is mandatory.
Can I get into Symbiosis without SET?
For some programmes, yes. SET is not mandatory for health sciences, nursing, visual arts and photography, or design, and B.Tech uses SITEEE or JEE Main and state exams. Law uses SLAT.
SET Colleges List 2026 Conclusion
The SET Colleges List 2026 is more than a list of names. Whether you are comparing colleges accepting SET scores for BBA or exploring the Symbiosis SET colleges for AI, media or economics, it shows which Symbiosis institute offers which programme, what each one expects, and how the admission path works after the test. Start by choosing your programme, shortlist institutes with realistic cutoffs, and prepare equally for the entrance test and the personal interaction.
If you plan to apply for the next cycle, use this list as your base and confirm every detail in the latest official bulletin once SET 2027 is announced. Check the official SET 2026 bulletin for the exact wording of eligibility and selection rules.
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