CHENNAI: Getting admitted in a medical college in Tamil Nadu will be harder and more expensive this academic year. At least 650 MBBS seats will be removed from the state’s seat matrix in 2026, as three colleges have been conferred deemed university status. Officials in the health department said the number could double, as at least three more colleges have told the state they are expecting the University Grants Commission’s approval soon.Admissions to all self-financing medical colleges affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University and state private universities are done by the state selection committee. The National Medical Commission website now lists St Peter’s Medical College (250 seats) and two other institutions — Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Srinivasan Medical College (400 seats) — as deemed universities.“Until now, these institutions shared 50% to 65% of seats with the state for admission under govt quota, including the 7.5% quota for govt school students. At least 350 govt quota seats, including 25 under 7.5% quota, will be a big loss,” a senior health official said.If three more colleges are granted deemed university status, the number will cross 700 govt quota seats and 50 seats under the 7.5% govt school students quota. Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre has announced deemed status on its website, though NMC’s official records still list it as affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.Admission to MBBS seats in deemed universities is done by the central Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), for students across the country. Besides competing with students nationwide, aspirants will have to pay at least Rs 20 lakh per annum as tuition fees. Under the existing fee structure, annual MBBS tuition at private colleges has been fixed by a fee committee at Rs 4.35 lakh to Rs 5.40 lakh for government-quota seats in self-financing colleges and state private universities, and Rs 15 lakh to Rs 16.20 lakh for management-quota seats. Fees for students from govt colleges is paid by the govt. Centre has not fixed a tuition fee for deemed universities, which charge anywhere between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 35 lakh a year.State health officials said they would write to Centre stating that deemed university status has been granted to affiliated colleges despite objections from the state university. Ever since the TN Dr MGR Medical University vice-chancellor stepped down in May, the university has been managed by a five-member committee. “No objection certificate from the university is mandatory for processing applications for deemed university status. We have not issued it to anyone,” said Dr S Pushkala, member of the university’s administration committee.However, officials from St. Peter Institute of Higher Education and Research said the status came after a legal battle. The institution had moved Delhi high court against UGC and Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University after its bid to convert its Hosur medical college into an off-campus centre was blocked. In 2025, the court ruled in the institution’s favour on a narrow procedural ground — the university’s refusal letter, though dated within the mandatory 60-day window, was communicated to the college six days after the deadline lapsed. The court held the university’s consent was deemed granted by default, quashed both UGC’s rejection and the university’s NOC refusal. “We have gone on appeal against this order. We don’t know how other colleges got deemed university status,” Dr Pushkala said.The state health department said it has applied to NMC for increase in 50 seats each in govt medical colleges in Tirupur, Tiruvallur and Namakkal. This will take the seats tally in each of these colleges to 150. “The inspections have been completed. We are awaiting their nod,” a senior official said.
