Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) has explained revised counselling rules for MBBS and BDS admissions in Andhra Pradesh for the 2026-27 academic year, days after the application window for the courses closed on August 14. In a video message released on August 16, the university said that candidates who do not join the seat allotted to them will no longer be barred from later counselling rounds, and urged applicants to select as many colleges as possible while filling in web options to improve their chances of securing a seat.
Key Rule Changes You Must Know
- Enter Web Options for Multiple Colleges: Candidates should list multiple MBBS/BDS colleges in their preferred order to improve their chances of securing a seat.
- Non-Joining No Longer Means Disqualification: Under the revised rules, candidates who do not join an allotted seat can still participate in subsequent counselling rounds.
- Previously Skipped College Cannot Be Re-selected: Candidates cannot choose the same college or seat they were previously allotted but did not join.
- Preference Order Can Be Revised: Candidates can modify their college preference order in subsequent counselling phases.
- Late Web Options Allowed: Candidates who missed the initial web-option entry can submit their choices in later counselling phases.
- Free Exit and Seat Retention: Candidates can opt for free exit before Phase III or retain their allotted seat by submitting an online self-declaration, which ends further counselling eligibility.
- Fees and Discontinuation Charges: Candidates must pay a non-refundable ₹12,600 allotment fee, while discontinuation penalties are ₹3 lakh for MBBS and ₹1 lakh for BDS.
- Course Duration and Completion Rules: MBBS requires 4.5 years plus a one-year internship, while BDS requires four years plus a one-year internship, with specified completion limits.
- Reservation Structure: The counselling follows prescribed vertical and horizontal reservations, including BC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD and women’s reservations, along with local-candidate provisions.
- Strictly Online Counselling: Applications, payments and document submissions are completely online, with no changes permitted after the final merit list is published.
What Has Changed
Earlier, a candidate who was allotted a seat but failed to join it was disqualified from participating in subsequent rounds of counselling. Under the revised rules, this restriction has been removed. Candidates now get another opportunity to choose a college in every later round, provided they do not attempt to re-select the specific seat they were allotted earlier and did not join.
The university has also allowed candidates who missed entering web options in the first phase to do so in later phases. Additionally, candidates can change the order in which they rank their preferred colleges at each stage, rather than being locked into their original choices.
NTRUHS reiterated that entering options for a larger number of colleges, arranged in order of genuine preference, increases a candidate’s likelihood of securing an allotment. The university has asked applicants to read the official web options notification carefully and check its website regularly for updates.
Background
NTRUHS had invited online applications for MBBS and BDS admissions under the Competent Authority (Convenor) quota for 2026-27. Registration without late fee ran from 5 PM on August 5 to 9 PM on August 12, followed by a late-fee window, with a fee of ₹20,000, from 7 AM on August 13 to 1 PM on August 14. The application fee was ₹3,000 for OC and BC candidates and ₹2,400 for SC and ST candidates, apart from bank charges.
As per the official notification, the provisional merit list, final merit position, and dates for web options and seat allotment will be announced separately. Classes for the new batch are scheduled to commence on September 8, 2026, with admissions to close by October 10, 2026.
Official Website and Important Links
- Dr NTR University of Health Sciences: drntr.uhsap.in
- MBBS/BDS Admissions Portal: apuhs-ugadmissions.aptonline.in/MBBS/Home/Home
- Sources: Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (video), NTR UHS MBBS/BDS Admissions Portal
