The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially begun the Round 3 choice filling process for MBBS and BDS admissions. If you’re an aspiring medical student waiting for your next chance, this round could be crucial. Let’s break down everything — from eligibility and security deposits to vacant seats and expected cut-offs — so you can make the smartest move in your admission journey.
Important Dates and Notification Highlights :
The official KEA notification, released on 6th October, marks the start of Round 3 activities. According to it, candidates can pay the medical course (security) deposit and complete their choice filling between:
October 7 to October 13 (till 12:00 noon)
This period is critical because only those who pay the required caution deposit will be allowed to participate in choice filling and seat allotment.
Security Deposit: Higher Stakes This Round
One of the biggest updates in this round is the increased security deposit amount. KEA has clearly mentioned that if a candidate is allotted a seat in Round 3 but fails to complete admission formalities, their entire deposit will be forfeited, along with an additional penalty.
Here’s the breakdown:
Karnataka Domicile Candidates: ₹1,00,000
Non-Karnataka (Open Category) Candidates: ₹2,00,000
Private Universities (High-Fee Colleges): ₹20 to ₹25 lakh per year tuition = ₹17 lakh deposit
Other Quota Candidates (Management/NRI): ₹25 lakh deposit
Applicants: ₹1,00,000 deposit only
Who Is Eligible and Who Is Not:
Understanding eligibility is key to avoiding disqualification later. KEA has listed several important eligibility clauses:
Eligible Candidates:
Those who did not get a seat in Round 2, even after paying ₹1 lakh caution deposit.
Candidates who have not been admitted in any All India or Deemed University round.
Candidates willing to apply for different courses (MBBS/BDS) within KEA’s counselling.
Not Eligible:
Those who already got admission in Round 1 or Round 2 and did not participate further.
Students who have taken admission under All India Quota or Deemed Universities.
Candidates admitted to a dental course cannot apply again for a dental seat (though they can try for MBBS).
In simple terms, once admitted under KEA or All India Quota, you cannot participate again in Karnataka Round 3 for the same course.
KEA and MCC Coordination Rule:
KEA has stated that its Round 3 result will be released only after MCC (All India Counselling) Round 3 results are declared.
If a student receives a seat in both MCC and KEA rounds, they must personally visit the KEA office within one day after the provisional result and submit a written request to retain the KEA seat.
Failing to do this will automatically cancel their KEA seat allotment. So, coordination and timing are very important for students participating in both rounds.
Choice Filling Window and Process:
The choice filling (option entry) has also started alongside the caution deposit window. Candidates can lock their options between October 7 and 13.
One key point: even if a college currently shows no vacant seats, include it in your choice list. Why? Because seat cancellations and back-end processing often add new seats just before final allotment.
So, always fill all possible colleges in your preference order, not just those showing vacancies today.
Vacant Seats in MBBS (Open Category):
This year, Round 3 MBBS open category seats are quite limited. After Round 2, most seats were already filled, as few candidates withdrew.
Here are some highlights:
Kempegowda Medical College: 4 seats
BR Ambedkar Medical College: 1 seat
Akash Institute of Medical Sciences: 1 seat
Oxford Medical College: 3 seats
Kanachur Medical College: 2 seats
KVG Sullia: 3 seats
Sri Devi Medical College: 1 seat
Siddaganga Institute: 1 seat
SR Patil Medical College: 1 seat
In private universities, vacancies are similarly low:
Saptagiri Institute: 7 seats
BGS Global: 5 seats
Srinivas University: 21 seats
SDM Dharwad: 1 seat
MS Ramaiah: 0 seats
Total Open MBBS Vacancies: Approx. 65 seats across the state.
Vacant Seats in MBBS (Other Quota):
Under the Other Quota (Management/NRI), the total number of vacant seats is around 242.
Breakdown:
MVJ Medical College, Bengaluru: 34 seats
Kanachur Medical College: 16 seats
SSIMS Davangere: 14 seats
Sri Devi Medical College: 18 seats
Akash Institute: 24 seats
Mahadevappa Rampure: 8 seats
Oxford Medical College: 26 seats
In private universities:
PS University: 19 seats
Saptagiri: 2 seats
BGS Global (new campus): 7 seats
Dayanand Sagar: 5 seats
Even in government colleges, only 6 NRI quota seats remain vacant — one each in Belgaum and Chickballapur, and three in Raichur.
Vacant Seats in BDS (Open & Other Quotas):
Surprisingly, BDS seats are also in high demand this year. Two years ago, hundreds of dental seats went vacant — now the situation is completely reversed.
BDS Open Category Vacancies: 44 seats
Srinivas Institute (Bengaluru): 29 seats
Rajiv Gandhi Dental College: 3 seats
BR Ambedkar Dental: 2 seats
HKDET Dental College (Bidar): 2 seats
BIDS Bengaluru, Oxford, Dayanand Sagar, SDM Dharwad: 1 each
Even big names like RV Dental, RajaRajeswari, Vaidehi, and AJ Dental show zero vacancies, with cut-offs rising significantly.
BDS Other Quota Vacancies: 65 seats
Al-Badar Dental College, Gulbarga: 13 seats
KBN Dental, Gulbarga: 13 seats
Rajiv Gandhi (Bengaluru): 5 seats
SDM Dharwad: 4 seats
MS Ramaiah: 3 seats
Bapuji Dental: 2 seats
Sri Hasanamba (Hassan): 3 seats
Total: Around 109 BDS seats are vacant across all categories — a much smaller number than in previous years.
Expected Cut-Off Trends for Round 3 :
Given the low number of vacant seats, Round 3 cut-offs are expected to rise slightly in both MBBS and BDS courses.
Predicted Trend:
MBBS (Open Category): Cut-offs likely higher than Round 2 by 5–10 marks.
MBBS (Other Quota): Minimal movement, high fees keeping demand selective.
BDS: Strong demand, so cut-offs will stay on the higher side.
In short, the lowest cut-offs were already achieved in Round 2, so Round 3 will be more competitive.
Official Link: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ugneet2025
