Three private medical colleges in Tamil Nadu have secured Deemed University status, shifting 650 MBBS seats out of the state quota and into All India Deemed Counselling — with tuition fees set to rise sharply for local students.

What Has Changed

Tamil Nadu's medical admissions landscape has taken a significant turn this counselling season. Three existing private medical colleges — Srinivasan Medical College and Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences (Second Campus), together accounting for 400 seats, and St. Peter's Medical College, with 250 seats — have now been granted Deemed University status by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Together, these institutions account for roughly 650 MBBS seats that will move out of the Tamil Nadu state counselling system.

This shift is being enabled by recent changes to NMC regulations, which have simplified the process for colleges to gain deemed status and expand seat capacity. As a result, admissions to these colleges will no longer go through the Tamil Nadu state selection committee. Instead, they will be filled through the Medical Counselling Committee's (MCC) All India Deemed Counselling, opening these seats to candidates from across the country.

Why This Matters for Tamil Nadu Students

Until now, these colleges offered a significant share of their seats — including government quota and management quota seats — at relatively affordable rates, with government quota fees typically in the range of ₹4.5 lakh per year. With the transition to Deemed status:

• These seats exit the Tamil Nadu state quota entirely, including the reserved 7.5% quota for government school students
• Annual tuition fees are expected to rise sharply, with estimates placing Deemed status fees in the range of ₹20–25 lakh per year per seat — and in some cases even higher
• Local Tamil Nadu candidates lose guaranteed access to seats that were previously reserved for them at more affordable rates
• Candidates from other states gain increased access, since Deemed university seats are filled through centralized All India counselling rather than state-level processes

State education authorities have raised concerns over this development, given its impact on affordability and access for Tamil Nadu's own NEET aspirants.

The Bigger Picture: More Deemed Seats on the Way

This isn't an isolated development. Sources indicate that additional colleges in Tamil Nadu are also in the process of seeking deemed status approval, and industry estimates suggest that Deemed college seats nationwide could rise by 1,500 to 2,000 seats in the coming counselling cycles. For NEET UG aspirants, this signals a broader trend: state quota seats are gradually shrinking in number even as more seats become available through the more expensive Deemed and Central pathways.

What This Means for Your NEET Counselling Strategy

If you're a NEET UG 2026 aspirant — from Tamil Nadu or elsewhere — this development has real implications for how you plan your counselling choices:

• Tamil Nadu candidates should factor in reduced state quota availability when setting realistic rank and college expectations
• Budget planning matters more than ever — families should account for the significantly higher cost structure of Deemed university seats before including them in their preference list
• Out-of-state candidates now have a wider pool of Tamil Nadu-based Deemed seats to consider through All India counselling
• Verify college status carefully — always confirm a college's current category (state, deemed, or private university) directly through the official NMC website before making counselling decisions

Get Verified Guidance Before You Choose

With college categories, seat matrices, and fee structures changing rapidly, relying on outdated or unofficial information can cost students a seat — or a lot of money. Om Educare helps NEET UG aspirants and their families navigate exactly these kinds of shifts, with verified, up-to-date guidance tailored to your rank, budget, and category.

For personalized NEET UG counselling guidance, connect with Om Educare at our offices in Gurugram, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Prayagraj, or call our helpline: 7676610620.

Fraud Alert: Om Educare never guarantees seats in deemed or private colleges through agents or advance payments. Always verify college status, fee structure, and counselling schedules through the official NMC and MCC websites.