According to the latest instructions, the choices submitted by candidates during the previous counselling rounds will not be automatically carried forward to the third round. Eligible candidates who intend to participate in KCET Round 3 will therefore have to enter a completely fresh list of options.

KEA has also cautioned students to make their choices carefully, as accepting a seat in the third round can involve final admission obligations, while cancellation of an allotted engineering seat may result in a penalty amounting to five times the prescribed fee under the applicable rules.

KCET 2026 Round 3: Fresh Option Entry Is Mandatory

As per the notice issued by KEA, candidates participating in the KCET 2026 third-round counselling process must submit a new list of college and course preferences.

The options entered during earlier counselling rounds will not be considered automatically for Round 3. Therefore, candidates must once again log in to the official option-entry portal and select the courses and institutions they wish to be considered for during the third round of seat allotment.

Students have been advised to arrange their choices strictly according to their order of preference. Candidates should place their most preferred college and course at the top of the list, followed by other acceptable options.

KEA has emphasised that candidates should include only those colleges and courses where they are genuinely willing to take admission if a seat is allotted.

Candidates Advised to Choose Colleges and Courses Carefully

The third-round seat allotment will be prepared on the basis of the candidate's merit, eligibility and the preferences submitted during the fresh option-entry process.

Candidates should therefore carefully review the available institutions and courses before finalising their choices. They must ensure that all colleges and programmes they are genuinely willing to join are included in the preference list.

Students have also been advised not to select options simply because seats are shown as available. The availability of a particular seat should not be the only reason for including a college or course in the option list.

Before submitting their preferences, candidates should carefully evaluate their interest in the programme, college preference and willingness to complete the admission process if the seat is allotted.

Candidates must also ensure that their options are saved and submitted within the deadline prescribed by KEA.

Which Seats Will Be Included in KCET 2026 Round 3?

The KCET 2026 Round 3 seat allotment process will take into account various categories of seats available after the completion of the earlier counselling rounds.

These may include:

• Seats that remained vacant or unallotted after the previous round

• Seats becoming available due to candidates selecting Choice 4 in Round 2

• Seats cancelled by candidates

• Seats forfeited during the admission process

• Newly added seats

• Other seats becoming available under the applicable counselling process

KEA has pointed out that the number of available seats may change from time to time because of seat cancellations, forfeitures and the addition of new seats.

Therefore, candidates are advised to keep track of the latest seat availability and carefully prepare their fresh option list before participating in the third round.

Courses Covered Under KCET 2026 Round 3 Allotment

The third-round counselling and seat allotment process will cover programmes offered under the UGCET admission process and other applicable courses.

The Round 3 allotment process will include courses such as:

• Engineering

• Architecture

• Veterinary courses

• Agriculture Science

• Pharmacy

• B.Sc Nursing

• Yoga and Naturopathy

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

• BPO

• Allied Health Sciences

• Other applicable courses under the KCET/UGCET admission process

Candidates seeking admission to these programmes should carefully check the relevant eligibility conditions and available options before submitting their preferences.

No Further Opportunity to Change Options After Round 3 Allotment

One of the most important instructions issued by KEA is that candidates will not receive another opportunity to revise or modify their choices after the KCET 2026 Round 3 seat allotment result is declared.

This makes the fresh option-entry process particularly important for all participating candidates.

Students have been strongly advised to submit their final preference list only after giving careful consideration to every option. Candidates should avoid selecting colleges or courses where they are uncertain about joining.

Once the Round 3 seat allotment result is announced, candidates may not get another chance to change their submitted preferences.

KEA Warns Candidates About Seat Cancellation Consequences

KEA has also issued a warning regarding the consequences of cancelling an allotted engineering seat after the completion of the third round.

Candidates should understand the financial implications before exercising their choices during the Round 3 option-entry process. As highlighted by the authority, cancellation of an engineering seat after the applicable stage may attract a strict penalty, including payment of an amount equivalent to five times the prescribed fee under the applicable rules.

The warning is intended to ensure that candidates make responsible and well-considered choices during the counselling process and do not block seats that they have no genuine intention of accepting.

Important Advice for KCET 2026 Round 3 Candidates

Candidates planning to participate in the KCET 2026 Round 3 counselling process should remember the following key points:

• Fresh option entry is compulsory for Round 3 participation.

• Choices entered during previous rounds will not be carried forward automatically.

• Candidates should list colleges and courses according to their genuine order of preference.

• Only those options where the candidate is willing to accept admission should be selected.

• Seat availability may change because of cancellations, forfeitures and newly added seats.

• Candidates should save and submit their fresh options within the prescribed deadline.

• No further opportunity to change preferences may be available after the Round 3 allotment result.

• Cancelling an engineering seat after the applicable third-round stage may result in a significant financial penalty.

Candidates are therefore advised to complete the KCET 2026 Round 3 fresh option-entry process with extreme care. Since earlier-round preferences will not be considered automatically and further modification opportunities will be limited after allotment, students should finalise their choices only after thoroughly reviewing their preferred colleges and courses.