Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The B.Tech Lateral Entry programme in Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) at the Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a 3-year full-time on-campus programme (Semesters III to VIII) designed for diploma holders who wish to upgrade to a degree-level qualification. The programme covers core areas such as analog and digital electronics, signal processing, communication systems, VLSI design, embedded systems, and microprocessors, with a strong emphasis on hands-on laboratory work and industry-relevant curriculum. The total intake for ECE (regular B.Tech) is 180 seats, with lateral entry seats governed by ACPC, Government of Gujarat (DDCET). Fees for the All India category are Rs. 2,75,000 per annum, making the total programme cost approximately Rs. 8,51,700 (excluding refundable security). The programme is popular among diploma engineers in Gujarat seeking a reputed private university degree with strong placement support and NBA-accredited curriculum.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are currently in progress. The DDCET-2026 registration window opened on February 9, 2026 and closes on March 30, 2026. The DDCET exam is scheduled for April 26, 2026. Candidates must apply separately to ACPC, Government of Gujarat via the official portal (gujacpc.admissions.nic.in). Seat allotment and counselling rounds are expected to be conducted from June to August 2026, based on the previous year's schedule.

Key Points:

Lateral entry students are admitted directly into Semester III (Second Year) of the B.Tech programme, saving one year compared to the regular 4-year route.
Students admitted through lateral entry must clear three mandatory pre-requisite courses prescribed by the Institute: Computer Programming, Foundation Mathematics I, and Foundation Mathematics II.
All B.Tech programmes at ITNU are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) under Tier-I category.
The ECE department has dedicated labs including microcontroller labs, communication labs, VLSI labs, and signal processing labs.
Students can pursue interdisciplinary minor specialisations in Computer Engineering, Marketing, Finance, Robotics, and Entrepreneurship alongside the core ECE curriculum.
The institute has an active Electronics and Communication Organisation (ECO) student chapter and IEEE student branch.
Lateral entry students are eligible for all institute scholarships, subject to meeting the prescribed academic criteria.
The 85% attendance requirement applies strictly to both lectures and lab sessions.

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FAQs

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad Latest Updates and News

11 Apr, 2026 Gujarat ACPC DDCET Engineering 2026 exam date revised. The exam will now be held on May 5, 2026 for BTech lateral entry admissions.

ITNU B.Tech Lateral ECE Fees

The fee structure for B.Tech Lateral Entry (ECE) at Nirma University follows the same structure as the regular B.Tech programme, since lateral entry students join from Semester III. For the All India category, the tuition fee is Rs. 2,75,000 per annum, while ACPC State Quota students pay Rs. 2,05,000 per annum (Rs. 1,02,500 per semester). The total programme cost over 3 years (6 semesters) for All India category students is approximately Rs. 8,51,700 excluding the refundable security deposit.

Fee Structure

Sr. No.	Fee Component	All India Category (per annum)	ACPC State Quota (per annum)
1	Tuition Fee	Rs. 2,75,000	Rs. 2,05,000
2	Examination Fee + Semester Grade Report	Rs. 7,000	Rs. 7,000
3	Initial Enrollment Fee (One Time)	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 1,000
4	Seminar, Orientation, Welcome Kit (One Time)	Rs. 1,200	Rs. 1,200
5	Alumni Association Membership Fee (One Time)	Rs. 3,500	Rs. 3,500
6	Refundable Security Deposit (One Time)	Rs. 7,000	Rs. 7,000
	Total Fees (3 Years - All India Category)	Rs. 8,58,700	Rs. 6,38,700

The Refundable Security Deposit of Rs. 7,000 is fully refundable at the time of leaving the institute.
Total fees excluding refundable security: All India Category - Rs. 8,51,700; ACPC State Quota - Rs. 6,31,700.
One-time fees (Enrollment, Orientation Kit, Alumni Membership) are charged only once during the programme.
Examination fee of Rs. 7,000 per annum is charged each year.
Fees are subject to approval by the Government of Gujarat and may be revised.
All payments must be made via Demand Draft / At Par Cheque / Local MICR Cheque as per CTS-2010 norms, in favour of "Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad."
Hostel facility is NOT available for B.Tech (including lateral entry) male students on campus. Female students are provided on-campus hostel accommodation on a 100% basis. Male students need to arrange off-campus accommodation independently.
No EMI facility is officially mentioned; payment is typically made semester-wise.
Eligibility certificate fee (if required): Rs. 1,000 (additional, if applicable).

ITNU B.Tech Lateral ECE Admission 2026

Admissions to the B.Tech Lateral Entry programme at Nirma University are conducted through two routes: the ACPC DDCET (for State Quota seats) and the institute's own process (for any All India category lateral seats, if applicable). The primary route for most candidates is through ACPC, Government of Gujarat, via the DDCET (Diploma to Degree Common Entrance Test). The DDCET-2026 registration is currently open and closes on March 30, 2026. Candidates must register on the ACPC portal and appear for the DDCET exam on April 26, 2026. Seat allotment is done through online counselling rounds conducted by ACPC after the results are declared.

Admission Schedule

Sr. No.	Activity	Date
1	DDCET-2026 Registration Opens	February 9, 2026
2	DDCET-2026 Registration Closes	March 30, 2026
3	DDCET-2026 Admit Card Download	April 18, 2026 onwards
4	DDCET-2026 Examination	April 26, 2026
5	DDCET-2026 Result Declaration	May 2026 (Tentative)
6	ACPC D2D Counselling Round 1	June 2026 (Tentative)
7	ACPC D2D Counselling Round 2	July 2026 (Tentative)
8	ACPC D2D Counselling Round 3 / Vacant Round	August 2026 (Tentative)
9	Reporting to Institute / Batch Commencement	August 2026 (Tentative)

DDCET Exam Dates

Sr. No.	Event	Date
1	DDCET-2026 Registration Opens	February 9, 2026
2	DDCET-2026 Registration Closes	March 30, 2026
3	Admit Card Download	April 18, 2026 onwards
4	DDCET-2026 Exam Date	April 26, 2026
5	Result Declaration	May 2026 (Tentative)

Note: DDCET is a Paper-Based Test (PBT) with 100 questions (200 marks, 150 minutes). It consists of two papers: BE 01 - Basics of Science and Engineering (50 questions, 100 marks) and BE 02 - Aptitude Test - Mathematics and Soft Skill (50 questions, 100 marks). Negative marking of -0.5 marks per wrong answer applies.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidate must have passed a Diploma in Engineering from the Technical Examination Board (TEB), Gujarat or a recognised Board/University/Institute approved by AICTE and situated in Gujarat State, with the minimum aggregate marks as prescribed by AICTE for lateral entry.
Diploma holders from other states are eligible only for 5% Government seats (as per AICTE norms).
B.Sc. / Diploma Vocational candidates are also eligible as per AICTE norms.
Candidates with backlog subjects or awaiting results can also apply for the DDCET; however, admission confirmation is subject to clearing all backlogs as per ACPC rules.
As per AICTE rules, Diploma Engineering candidates can apply to any Degree Engineering discipline; merit is based on DDCET-2026 score.

Admission Process:

Register on the ACPC portal (gujacpc.admissions.nic.in) and pay the registration fee of Rs. 250 (non-refundable).
Download the admit card from April 18, 2026 onwards and appear for the DDCET-2026 exam on April 26, 2026.
After result declaration, register for ACPC online counselling and fill in college/branch choices.
Participate in seat allotment rounds; accept the allotted seat and pay the token tuition fee online to confirm admission.
Report to the Institute of Technology, Nirma University with all required original documents for document verification and final admission confirmation.
Clear the three mandatory pre-requisite courses (Computer Programming, Foundation Mathematics I, Foundation Mathematics II) as prescribed by the institute.

ITNU B.Tech Lateral ECE Scholarships 2026

The Institute of Technology, Nirma University offers a comprehensive range of scholarships for undergraduate students, including lateral entry students, to support meritorious and financially needy students. Scholarships are renewed annually based on academic performance (minimum PPI of 7.0) and overall conduct. The MYSY (Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana) scholarship by the Government of Gujarat is also applicable for eligible students admitted through ACPC.

Scholarship Details

Sr. No.	Scholarship Name	Amount	Eligibility
1	Nirma Merit Scholarship (Top 5 students)	Rs. 1,00,000 per annum	Top 5 students by merit (department-wise)
2	Nirma Merit Scholarship (Next 20 students)	Rs. 90,000 per annum	Rank 6-25 by merit (department-wise)
3	Nirma Merit Scholarship (Next 25 students)	Rs. 50,000 per annum	Rank 26-50 by merit (department-wise)
4	Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (Top 25)	Rs. 90,000 per annum	Top 25 students; family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh
5	Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (Next 25)	Rs. 50,000 per annum	Next 25 students; family income up to Rs. 4 lakh
6	Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (Next 25)	Rs. 25,000 per annum	Next 25 students; family income up to Rs. 6 lakh
7	100% Interest-Free Loan Scholarship	Full interest reimbursement on education loan	Family income up to Rs. 3 lakh
8	50% Interest-Free Loan Scholarship	50% interest reimbursement on education loan	Family income up to Rs. 5 lakh
9	NITAA Alumni Scholarship	Rs. 30,000 per annum	Branch-wise 2 students; PPI 7.5+; no other scholarship
10	Earn While You Learn	Monthly stipend (amount as per university norms)	No other financial benefit; family income up to Rs. 10 lakh; max 10 hrs/week work
11	Needy Student Fund Scholarship	As per university norms	Financially needy students
12	MYSY Scholarship (Govt. of Gujarat)	Up to Rs. 50,000 per annum	ACPC-admitted students; family income up to Rs. 6 lakh; covers exam fees, books, transport, etc.

Scholarship renewal is subject to maintaining a minimum PPI (Performance Point Index) of 7.0, fulfilling minimum attendance requirements, and not using unfair means in examinations.
NITAA Alumni Scholarship requires a PPI of 7.5 and the student must not be receiving any other scholarship.
MYSY students are also eligible for the Merit-cum-Means scholarship, which provides support for examination fees, books and stationery, transport fees, and more, up to a maximum of Rs. 50,000 per annum.
The Earn While You Learn scheme requires students to work a maximum of 10 hours per week in an assigned section of the university.
All scholarship applications must be submitted within the deadlines announced by the institute each academic year.

Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad B.Tech {Lateral} Electronics & Communication Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#131 out of 500 in India 2025

#1st in Ahmedabad

#6 in Gujarat

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ITNU B.Tech Lateral ECE FAQs

Ques. I completed my Diploma in Electronics from a college outside Gujarat. Am I eligible for B.Tech Lateral Entry at Nirma University through ACPC?

Ans. Diploma holders from states other than Gujarat are eligible only for 5% of Government seats under the ACPC D2D process, as per AICTE norms. However, if Nirma University has All India category lateral entry seats (filled by the institute directly), you may be eligible for those. It is advisable to check the latest ACPC seat matrix and the institute's admission page for the current year's seat availability for out-of-state candidates.

Ques. Do lateral entry students at Nirma University have to attend the first year again, or do they directly join the second year?

Ans. Lateral entry students are admitted directly into Semester III (the second year) of the B.Tech programme. However, they are required to clear three mandatory pre-requisite courses prescribed by the institute: Computer Programming, Foundation Mathematics I, and Foundation Mathematics II. These are additional courses that must be cleared alongside the regular curriculum.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation available for B.Tech lateral entry male students at Nirma University?

Ans. No, on-campus hostel accommodation is NOT available for B.Tech (including lateral entry) male students at Nirma University. Hostel facility on campus is available only for female students on a 100% basis. Male students need to arrange their own off-campus accommodation. The institute does provide a bus transport facility from various routes in Ahmedabad on a payment basis.

Ques. What is the DDCET exam pattern, and how is the merit list prepared for lateral entry admissions?

Ans. DDCET (Diploma to Degree Common Entrance Test) is a Paper-Based Test (PBT) with 100 questions carrying 200 marks, to be completed in 150 minutes (2.5 hours). It has two papers: BE 01 (Basics of Science and Engineering - 50 questions) and BE 02 (Aptitude Test - Mathematics and Soft Skill - 50 questions). Each correct answer carries 2 marks, and there is a negative marking of -0.5 marks for each wrong answer. The merit list for ACPC D2D admissions is prepared based on the DDCET-2026 score as per ACPC Admission Rules.

Ques. Are lateral entry students at Nirma University eligible for scholarships?

Ans. Yes, lateral entry students are eligible for all institute scholarships, including the Nirma Merit Scholarship, Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, Interest-Free Loan Scholarship, NITAA Alumni Scholarship, and the Earn While You Learn scheme, subject to meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria (minimum PPI of 7.0, attendance requirements, etc.). Students admitted through ACPC are also eligible for the Government of Gujarat's MYSY scholarship (up to Rs. 50,000 per annum) if they meet the income criteria.

Ques. Can a lateral entry ECE student at Nirma University pursue a minor specialisation or participate in international programmes?

Ans. Yes, lateral entry students joining from Semester III can pursue interdisciplinary minor specialisations offered by the institute, such as Computer Engineering, Marketing, Finance, Robotics, and Entrepreneurship, alongside their core ECE curriculum. They can also participate in the institute's pre-approved MS admission programmes at universities like SUNY Binghamton, University of Southern California, Iowa State University, and Florida Atlantic University, subject to meeting the respective eligibility criteria.