Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education Department has published the first selection merit list for admission into various postgraduate (PG) programmes in universities and colleges in Odisha for 2026-27 academic year.

As many as 58,613 students had submitted their applications for admission into PG courses in the state.

However, the state has altogether 32,563 PG seats in 135 higher education institutions, including 21 universities and 114 colleges.

In the first selection merit list, a total of 21,121 students have been selected for admission into the PG courses.

Altogether 14,202 girls, 6,918 boys and one from the transgender community have been chosen for PG admission in the first selection merit list, said the Higher Education Department on Friday.

The selected students will report to the allotted institutions for admission between August 8 and 11.

The department will publish the second merit list for PG admission in the state at 4 pm on August 17. The students will report for admission between August 18 and 20.

The classes for PG programmes for the academic year 2026-27 is scheduled to commence on August 21, said the department.