MICAT 2027 Phase 1: Dates, Deadline and Who Can Apply

Exam Updates

MICAT is the entrance test of MICA, Ahmedabad, for its PGDM programmes, and its first phase has a deadline that falls before CAT. If MICA is on your list, you have to register before you have a CAT score, and the window is short.

This guide collects the reported dates, fee, eligibility and exam pattern for MICAT 2027 phase 1, notes where the sources disagree, and lists what to confirm on the official MICA site. The figures come from Careers360, KollegeApply and CareerLauncher, which are third party sources. We could not open mica.ac.in in this session, so check every date there before you act.

What MICAT Is and Why Phase 1 Matters

MICAT is conducted by MICA for admission to its management, marketing, advertising and communication programmes. It runs in two phases, with a separate registration, fee and exam in each. A candidate can take part in one or both. Phase 1 is the earlier one, and it falls right around CAT.

The timing is the notable thing. The reported last date for phase 1 registration is 21 November 2026, which is eight days before CAT on 29 November. The reported exam date is 5 December, a few days after CAT. So you register before you sit CAT, and you take MICAT while you are still waiting for your CAT result.

This is a good moment to decide whether MICA is for you. The test has its own pattern, which differs from CAT, and the selection process has several parts. The sections below set out what is reported, and where you should check.

Phase 1 Dates as Reported

Careers360 and KollegeApply report the following for phase 1. Registration is already open, with the last date on 21 November 2026 up to 11:50 PM. The admit card is expected on 3 December, the exam on 5 December, and the score declaration on 18 December 2026.

One headline we saw says to apply by 22 November. The body of the reports and the other sources say 21 November. When sources disagree on a deadline, assume the earlier date, and confirm on the official MICA site. A day lost to a mistaken deadline costs more than a day gained.

Phase 2 dates are also reported. Registration is said to start on 25 November 2026 and close on 30 January 2027, with the admit card on 10 February, the exam on 12 February and the score declaration on 28 February 2027. If you miss phase 1, phase 2 is the second chance, though it is later and has its own fee.

Event	Phase 1 (reported)	Phase 2 (reported)
Registration starts	September 2026	25 November 2026
Last date to apply	21 November 2026, 11:50 PM	30 January 2027
Admit card	3 December 2026	10 February 2027
Exam	5 December 2026	12 February 2027
Score declaration	18 December 2026	28 February 2027

Who Can Apply

Careers360 reports that a candidate needs a bachelor degree of three years after 10+2, or an equivalent degree in any discipline from a recognised university. For the MBA type programmes, an aggregate of 50 percent is reported. Final year students can also apply. There is no age limit for the online test.

A condition that surprises many applicants: the report says that you must have appeared in at least one of CAT 2026, XAT 2027 or GMAT for admission to the PGDM or PGDM-C programmes. That means MICAT is an additional test, and not a stand alone route. A candidate who plans to take CAT on 29 November satisfies the condition once the exam is taken.

Rules can differ by programme, and the official brochure lists them. Read the section on your target programme, and confirm the percentage rules for your category, the status of final year students, and any work experience conditions.

Fee and Application

The reported application fee is Rs 2,500 for one programme, payable by debit card, credit card or net banking. KollegeApply reports an extra Rs 500 for each additional programme, and says that phase 1 and phase 2 need separate fees. Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.

Candidates are asked to rank at least three exam centres in order of preference, as reported. Think about the date and travel before you choose, since the exam is on 5 December, a few days after CAT. Our guide on CAT 2026 exam day guidelines shows a checklist that applies to any centre based exam.

Pay only through the official portal and keep the receipt. Never pay through a link that comes by message. Keep a copy of your confirmation page, and note the registration number.

The MICAT Pattern, as Expected

CareerLauncher describes the MICAT 2027 pattern as expected to be the same as MICAT 2026, so the figures are provisional until MICA confirms them. There are three parts. Section A is a psychometric test with 150 objective questions in 30 minutes, with no negative marking, and it serves as a qualifying round for the group exercise and interview shortlist.

Section B is a descriptive test with 4 questions in 25 minutes. Section C is an aptitude test with 80 objective questions in 80 minutes, with plus 1 for each correct answer and minus 0.25 for each wrong one. It has four parts of about 20 questions each: divergent and convergent thinking, verbal ability, quantitative ability and data interpretation, and general awareness. The total is reported as 234 questions in 135 minutes.

This is quite different from CAT. The aptitude section is shorter and has a lower penalty, there is a descriptive part, and there is a psychometric part that you cannot study for in the usual way. Check the official notice for the final pattern.

How MICA Selects, and a Caution

A Careers360 page includes a student question and answer that gives an indicative weightage: CAT, XAT or GMAT at 35 percent, MICAT at 25 percent, group exercise at 10 percent, personal interview at 20 percent, academics at 5 percent and extracurriculars at 5 percent. The page itself says this is not from the official notice.

We would treat that as a rough description only. MICA publishes its own criteria, and they can change each year. Read the official selection criteria before you build any plan around a weight.

What the structure does suggest is that MICAT is one input among several. A weak MICAT does not close the door if your other parts are strong, and a strong one does not replace the interview. Prepare for the whole process, including the group exercise and interview. Our guide on 50 common IIM interview questions is a good starting point for the interview.

The Next Five Weeks on One Page

Count the dates from today, 30 October. CAT admit cards begin on 4 November. The reported MICAT phase 1 deadline is Saturday, 21 November, which is three weeks away. CAT is on Sunday, 29 November. The reported MICAT admit card is on 3 December and the exam on Saturday, 5 December, six days after CAT.

That compresses a lot into a short span. If you plan to take phase 1, finish the form by the middle of November, so that the last week before CAT is free for revision. Treat the form as a task with a date, and not as something to do when you feel ready.

After CAT, give yourself one rest day, and then a short block of MICAT practice focused on the parts that differ from CAT: the descriptive test and the psychometric section. Keep the plan light, and drop it if you decide on phase 2.

Should You Apply in Phase 1?

The case for phase 1 is that you finish early and get a result in December. The case for phase 2 is that you have more time and know your CAT result. Neither is better for everyone. If you are certain about MICA and can handle the exam a few days after CAT, phase 1 is reasonable. If you want to wait for your CAT result before spending effort, phase 2 may suit you.

Think about the cost, which is not only the fee. The days after CAT are often used for rest and for planning the next stage. Adding an exam on 5 December takes time out of that. Plan the days between 29 November and 5 December in advance.

Whichever you choose, do not let MICAT affect your CAT preparation in November. CAT comes first, and the result affects many applications. A week of focused MICAT practice after CAT is a reasonable plan for most candidates.

For help deciding how to sequence your tests, you can talk to a CAT mentor, or send your plan for a strategy review. For other tests in the season, see our guide on CAT, XAT, NMAT and SNAP.