Applications have been invited for polytechnic admissions for the 2023-24 academic year. The single-window website to apply is www.polyadmission.org and the last date is June 30.
Students who have cleared Class 10 can earn a professional diploma in engineering or commerce from the polytechnic colleges in three years.
Allotment process
The number of allotments has been reduced to two this year, from last year’s three. However, there would be district-level counselling and two spot admissions. If there are more than 30 per cent vacant seats in government/aided colleges even after these rounds, the respective colleges can carry out admissions on their own.
There would be more seats this year, compared to last year as a new government polytechnic college is starting at Naduvil in Kannur and also at some other places.
Meanwhile, applications are being invited for the architecture course expecting recognition from the Council of Architecture.
10 new diploma courses
Polytechnic colleges in Kerala are offering 10 new diploma courses from this year. They are on Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil and Rural Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electrical Vehicle Technology, Environmental Engineering, Food Processing Technology, Integrated Circuit Design and Fabrication, Mechatronics and Civil Engineering and Planning.
With the addition of these programmes, 37 courses are available at polytechnic colleges in Kerala. Appendix 1 in prospects has details of the courses available at each college and the number of seats.
Management quota
There are 15 per cent management quota seats in private aided colleges and 50 per cent seats in private self-financing colleges which could be filled by the management with students who have minimum qualifications.
To apply for these seats, candidates have to submit another online application in the link ‘APPLICATION TO MANAGEMENT QUOTA SEATS’ and present a hard copy to the college.
Earn a BTech degree later
Diploma-holders can earn a BTech degree through evening classes while working. They can also join a regular BTech course in the second-year classes through ‘lateral entry’ and gain a degree.
A polytechnic diploma is adequate to join BArch and apply for admissions to IITs through JEE (Advanced).
Those having a diploma also can earn Institute membership, which is considered equivalent to BTech, through private study.
Lateral entry
Students who have cleared Class 12 can apply for admissions to second year of the three-year engineering/technology courses in polytechnic colleges in Kerala through lateral entry. The last date to apply is June 26. These students can complete the three-year diploma courses in two years.
The website to apply is www.polyadmission.org/let
In Kerala, 101 polytechnic colleges offer 27 engineering courses for lateral entry and 2,487 seats are available, of which 1,940 are government seats. Admission will also be conducted for lateral entry in seats vacant in first year from last year’s admissions.
The eligibility to apply for second-year lateral entry is Plus Two (Class 12) with Maths and Physics or VHSE with a minimum of 50 per cent marks in the relevant subjects. Students who have earned two-year trade qualifications from the National Council for Vocational Education (NCVT), State Council of Vocational Training (SCVT) or Kerala Government Certificate Examinations also will be considered subject to some conditions.
Students should have cleared the qualifying exam within two chances. There is no entrance exam and selection will take place based on the marks scored in the qualifying exam. However, students have to study the bridge courses and clear the exams conducted by the college.