MAT 2026 PBT Registration Closes Today: Fees, Steps and What Happens Next

Registration for the September 2026 Paper-Based Test (PBT) session of the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) closes today, September 7, 2026, on the official AIMA portal, mat.aima.in. Candidates who want to sit the PBT exam on September 13 need to complete registration, document upload and fee payment before the window shuts. If you're aiming for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) instead, you have more runway — CBT registration stays open through September 14, with that exam held on September 20.

Quick Facts: MAT September 2026

Don't Mix Up the Two Deadlines

This is the detail most likely to trip candidates up: PBT registration and CBT registration are two separate deadlines, a week apart. If you're set on the paper-based exam, today is genuinely your last chance. If you'd rather take the computer-based version — or you're going to miss today's cutoff regardless — CBT registration is still open until September 14, with the exam itself on September 20. Candidates can also register for both modes in the same session through a single form, for a combined fee.

How to Register for MAT 2026

1. Go to the official AIMA MAT website - mat.aima.in and select "Register."
2. Enter your name, phone number and email ID, and set a password.
3. Verify the registration using the OTP sent to your email/phone.
4. Log in with the credentials received by email to open the application form.
5. Upload a recent passport-size photograph and a scanned signature.
6. Select up to five MBA/PGDM colleges from the list provided — choosing more than five attracts an extra fee.
7. Pay the applicable MAT fee via debit card, credit card or net banking.
8. Fill in personal details, academic details and address on the next page.
9. Tick the declaration checkbox to complete submission.

MAT 2026 Application Fee

The fee must be paid in full at the time of submission — the form will not go through without it — and no concession or waiver applies to any candidate category. Payment is accepted online only, and the fee is non-refundable once paid.

Who Can Apply: MAT 2026 Eligibility

Candidates need a bachelor's degree from a recognized university to register for MAT. Final-year students can also apply. AIMA does not apply a minimum percentage cut-off for eligibility, and there's no restriction based on the candidate's undergraduate subject stream.

Document Specifications to Keep Ready

• A recent passport-size photograph, typically required as a scanned JPEG between roughly 10–50 KB.
• A scanned signature, typically between roughly 5–20 KB, also in JPEG format.
• A valid, currently accessible personal email ID and phone number for OTP verification and all further communication.

Candidates should double-check file size and format before uploading — a mismatched file is one of the more common reasons forms get stuck close to a deadline.

What Happens After You Register

Once submitted, AIMA sends a confirmation email — worth saving as proof of registration. The PBT admit card becomes available for download from the candidate dashboard on September 10, and the CBT admit card follows on September 17. On exam day, candidates must carry both the printed admit card and a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN card, passport, or driving licence); entry isn't permitted without both. MAT results are issued as a scorecard rather than a separate rank list, with the September session's outcome typically expected within three to four weeks of the CBT exam date.

If You Miss Today's PBT Deadline

Missing the PBT cutoff doesn't mean waiting for the next MAT cycle. CBT registration for the same September session is open until September 14, with the exam on September 20 — a straightforward fallback if the paper-based window closes before you finish applying. AIMA also runs MAT four times a year (February, May, September and December), so a missed or underwhelming attempt in one session doesn't derail an entire admission cycle.

Facing Registration Issues?

For payment or upload problems, candidates should contact AIMA only through its official channels rather than third-party numbers or links, and should recheck their dashboard status before attempting a second payment if a transaction appears to fail, to avoid duplicate charges.