With these colleges moving under the deemed university category, admissions to their MBBS seats will now be conducted through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) instead of the Tamil Nadu state counselling process. As a result, thousands of students competing for government quota seats may face tougher competition and significantly higher tuition fees.

Tamil Nadu NEET UG Counselling 2026: State Seat Matrix Likely to Shrink

The Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 counselling process is currently underway for admissions to undergraduate medical courses. However, candidates participating in the counselling should note that the state's MBBS seat matrix may undergo a major change this year.

According to available information, three self-financing medical colleges in Tamil Nadu have been granted deemed university status, resulting in a substantial reduction in the number of seats available under the state's counselling process.

Previously, these colleges contributed a considerable number of seats to the Tamil Nadu government quota, enabling eligible state candidates to secure admission at comparatively affordable tuition fees.

Three Medical Colleges Granted Deemed University Status

According to details available on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website, the following institutions have received deemed university status:

• St. Peter's Medical College – 250 MBBS seats

• Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences

• Srinivasan Medical College

The latter two institutions together account for approximately 400 MBBS seats, taking the total number of affected seats to around 650.

Before being granted deemed university status, these colleges allocated 50% to 65% of their seats to the Tamil Nadu State NEET Counselling process.

The state quota also included the 7.5% reservation for students from government schools, a scheme introduced to improve access to medical education for economically disadvantaged students.

Tamil Nadu May Immediately Lose Hundreds of Government Quota Seats

Officials have indicated that Tamil Nadu could immediately lose around 350 government quota MBBS seats, including nearly 25 seats reserved for government school students under the special reservation policy.

In addition, reports suggest that three more private medical colleges are awaiting similar approvals for deemed university status. If these institutions also receive approval, the total reduction in state counselling seats could exceed 700 MBBS seats.

Such a development would considerably alter the state's medical admission landscape.

MBBS Fees Likely to Increase Significantly

One of the biggest concerns arising from the shift is the expected increase in tuition fees.

Once institutions become deemed universities:

• Admissions are conducted through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) at the national level.

• Students from across India become eligible to compete for the available seats.

• The fee structure changes substantially compared to state quota admissions.

Currently, government quota seats in private medical colleges in Tamil Nadu generally carry annual tuition fees ranging between ₹4.35 lakh and ₹5.40 lakh.

However, deemed universities typically charge annual tuition fees between ₹20 lakh and ₹35 lakh, making medical education considerably more expensive for many students.

As a result, candidates who would earlier have secured admission through the state quota at a lower fee may now have to pay several times more for comparable seats.

Impact on Tamil Nadu Medical Aspirants

The reduction in government quota seats is expected to have multiple consequences for MBBS aspirants in the state, including:

• Increased competition for the remaining government quota seats.

• Reduced opportunities under the Tamil Nadu state counselling process.

• Higher financial burden due to increased tuition fees in deemed universities.

• Greater competition from candidates across India through MCC counselling.

• Reduced availability of seats reserved for government school students.

Students aiming for affordable MBBS education in Tamil Nadu may therefore face greater challenges during the 2026 admission cycle.

State Government Opposes the Decision

The Tamil Nadu Government has reportedly expressed strong reservations regarding the conversion of these colleges into deemed universities.

According to reports:

• The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University has not yet issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the concerned institutions.

• The State Health Department is actively contesting the development.

• The Tamil Nadu Government has filed an appeal challenging the decision.

The outcome of the legal and administrative proceedings may determine whether the changes to the seat matrix remain in force for the current admission cycle.

What Students Should Know

Candidates participating in Tamil Nadu NEET UG Counselling 2026 should closely monitor official announcements regarding the revised seat matrix and counselling schedule.

They are advised to:

• Keep track of updates issued by the state counselling authorities.

• Monitor changes in the MBBS seat matrix.

• Understand the revised counselling process if seats shift to MCC.

• Consider the financial implications before opting for deemed university seats.

• Stay informed about any court orders or government decisions affecting admissions.

The grant of deemed university status to these institutions could significantly reshape Tamil Nadu MBBS Admissions 2026, influencing both the availability of government quota seats and the affordability of medical education for aspiring doctors across the state.