The Selection Committee under the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Chennai, has announced the tentative schedule for the Stray Vacancy Round of Tamil Nadu MBBS and BDS counselling for the 2026–27 academic session.

The counselling covers seats in Tamil Nadu government medical and dental colleges, government quota and management quota seats in self-financing medical and dental colleges, and state private universities.

According to the notification, online registration, choice filling and locking began on October 18, 2026, at 12:01 PM. Eligible candidates must complete the process by October 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Seat allotment processing and result publication are scheduled for October 22, 2026.

Candidates should carefully check the eligibility conditions, security deposit requirements and joining rules before participating in the stray vacancy round.

Tamil Nadu NEET UG Counselling 2026: Important Dates

The committee has stated that downloading the provisional allotment order is considered joining for this round. Candidates must still report to the allotted institution within the prescribed deadline.

Rank and NEET Score Range Mentioned in the Schedule

The tentative schedule specifies the following general rank and NEET score ranges for the stray vacancy round:

Candidates should refer to the official counselling notification and merit list to confirm their eligibility and applicable quota.

Who Can Participate in the Stray Vacancy Round?

According to the notification, candidates who are not holding any MBBS or BDS seats under either the All India Quota or Tamil Nadu State Quota are eligible to participate, subject to the committee's conditions.

The following candidates are not eligible:

• Candidates who have already joined an MBBS or BDS seat under the All India Quota or State Quota, including government quota, management quota or NRI quota.

• Candidates who did not join a seat allotted to them during Tamil Nadu State Counselling Round 3.

Candidates must also have applied to the Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee and have their names included in the published merit list. Fresh registration for choice filling does not replace the requirement to have applied for admission.

Additional Security Deposit and Registration Fee

Candidates participating in the stray vacancy round must pay the applicable additional security deposit and, where required, the registration fee.

The additional security deposit is payable through the online bank payment portal. It will not be refunded if a candidate receives an allotment but fails to join.

Candidates belonging to SC, SCA, ST or SCC categories whose parents' or guardians' annual income is below INR 2.5 lakh, and who submitted the required income certificate with their application, are exempt from the additional security deposit specified in the notification.

The registration fee applies to candidates who have not previously registered and participated in online choice filling. They must already have applied to the committee and be included in the published merit list.

Choice Filling and Locking Instructions

Candidates can select colleges and courses only under the quota categories for which they applied. For example, candidates who applied under both government and management quotas may fill choices under both categories.

The committee has advised candidates to review available vacancies and arrange their choices according to preference.

Important instructions include:

• Candidates may edit their choices any number of times before locking.

• Once choices are locked, they cannot be edited.

• If candidates do not lock their choices by October 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM, the system will automatically lock them.

• Candidates should select only colleges and courses they are prepared to join if allotted.

Seat allotment will be conducted online based on rank and the applicable reservation rules.

Seat Allotment, Tuition Fees and Joining Rules

Candidates allotted seats during the stray vacancy round must complete the required admission formalities within the specified period.

For MBBS and BDS seats, candidates generally have to pay the applicable tuition fee online through debit card, credit card or net banking to download the provisional allotment order. The notification provides an exemption from upfront fee payment for eligible SC/SCA/ST/SCC candidates meeting the specified income and documentation conditions who are allotted seats under the government quota or management quota in self-financing medical colleges.

For BDS seats in self-financing dental colleges, the notification states that tuition fees must be paid directly to the college at the time of admission, in accordance with the applicable government order.

Candidates who receive an allotment must note the following:

• Downloading the provisional allotment order is considered joining under the stray vacancy rules.

• Candidates must report to the allotted institution by the deadline stated in the allotment order.

• Failure to report may be treated as discontinuation and can result in a discontinuation fee under the relevant prospectus clause.

• Candidates who fail to join or discontinue after allotment may forfeit the security deposit, additional security deposit and tuition fee, in addition to the applicable discontinuation fee.

• Such candidates may also be barred from participating in Tamil Nadu undergraduate medical counselling for the subsequent academic year.

Candidates should maintain sufficient funds and suitable transaction limits in their bank accounts before making fee payments.

Documents Required for Reporting to the Allotted College

Certificate verification will be conducted at the allotted college. Candidates must bring their original certificates in person, along with scanned copies of the original documents for verification.

The selected candidates must also submit a self-declaration confirming that their admission may be cancelled if suppression of facts or misrepresentation is discovered during or after admission.

Candidates should follow the instructions in their provisional allotment order and ensure that all required documents and payments are completed on time.

Where to Check Tamil Nadu MBBS/BDS Counselling Updates

Candidates can check the official counselling website for the complete schedule, vacancy position, fee structure, results, notices and other admission-related announcements.

Official Website: https://www.tnmedicalselection.net

The Selection Committee has stated that candidates will not be contacted individually regarding updates. Applicants should therefore check the official website regularly for any changes to the schedule or further instructions.

For Counselling & Admission Guidance, Call or WhatsApp: 9340961481

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