KSET Eligibility 2026: Qualification, Marks and Age Limit

KSET eligibility comes down to one main requirement: a Master's degree with the required percentage. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts KSET to certify candidates as eligible for Assistant Professor posts in Karnataka, and the 2026 cycle was notified on 10 August 2026, with the exam held on 11 October 2026.

This page explains the KSET eligibility criteria in detail: the qualification and marks you need, how the percentage is read, the rules for final-year students, subject choice, the age rule, and the common reasons candidates turn out to be ineligible after the result. Eligibility is checked at document verification, so it pays to confirm every condition before you apply in the next cycle.

Table of Contents

• KSET eligibility at a glance

• Educational qualification

• Age limit

• Subject choice and other conditions

• Who is not eligible

• Fee and documents

KSET eligibility at a glance

Educational qualification

You need a Master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a university or institution recognised by the UGC. The degree should normally be in the subject you choose for KSET, or in a subject the notification treats as related.

Minimum percentage

The percentage is taken without rounding off. A General candidate with 54.95% does not meet the 55% rule. If your university awards grades or CGPA, use the conversion formula your university has notified and keep the conversion certificate ready for verification.

Final-year and result-awaited candidates

Candidates in the final year of a Master's degree, or whose results are awaited, can apply. If they qualify, the result is provisional. The eligibility certificate is issued only after they prove they passed the Master's degree with the required marks within the period set by the notification; reports of recent notifications put this at two years from the KSET result, so confirm the exact period in the current notification.

Age limit

There is no upper age limit for KSET. Working professionals, teachers in other posts and candidates who finished their Master's degree years ago can all apply, provided they meet the qualification and marks rule. Age limits may apply separately when you apply for an Assistant Professor job after qualifying.

Subject choice and other conditions

• Subject of your Master's degree: Choose the KSET subject that matches your postgraduate degree. A subject mismatch is one of the main reasons for rejection at verification.

• One subject per cycle: A candidate with more than one Master's degree can still appear in only one subject in a cycle.

• No repeat in a qualified subject: If you have already qualified KSET in a subject, you cannot appear again in the same subject. You can appear in a different eligible subject.

• Candidates from other states: They can apply only under the General category. Karnataka reservation and the 50% relaxation do not apply to them.

• Category certificates: Karnataka category claims need valid caste and income certificates in the format the notification specifies, issued by the competent authority.

• No changes after submission: Subject, category and exam centre generally cannot be changed once the application is submitted.

Who is not eligible

• Only a Bachelor's degree: Graduates without a Master's degree, or not in the final year of one, cannot apply.

• Marks below the threshold: A General candidate with less than 55%, or a reserved-category candidate with less than 50%, after no rounding.

• Unrecognised degree: A Master's degree from a university or programme not recognised by the UGC.

• Wrong category claim: Claiming Karnataka reservation without a valid certificate, or as a candidate from another state.

• Already qualified in the same subject: Repeat attempts in a subject you have already cleared.

Fee and documents

The KSET 2026 fee was Rs. 750 for General, Category II-A, II-B, III-A, III-B and candidates from other states, and Rs. 500 for Category-I, SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, PwD and transgender candidates covered by the notification. Keep your Master's degree marks cards, degree or provisional certificate, category certificates and a valid photo ID ready, because they are checked at verification.

Always confirm eligibility rules in the current notification on the KEA website.