PRIST Deemed University (Thanjavur, with Chennai and Puducherry campuses) and AVIT — Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Paiyanoor, the engineering faculty of Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, are both UGC-recognised Deemed to be Universities. Because deemed universities admit under their own ordinances, B.Tech admission is granted on direct merit from 10+2 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics marks — a JEE Main or state engineering entrance rank is not a precondition.
B.Arch is the single exception. The Council of Architecture mandates a valid NATA score alongside 10+2 with Mathematics, and no institution may waive it. The COA-approved five-year B.Arch runs at PRIST. M.Tech admission at both universities is open to B.E / B.Tech graduates of any UGC-recognised university on direct merit, with GATE-qualified candidates considered for scholarship categories. Diploma holders enter B.Tech laterally at the 3rd semester under standard AICTE lateral-entry norms.
AICTE-approved specializations across the two campuses cover Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, Computer Science & Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics & Automation, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering. Applications open from March and merit seats are allotted on a rolling basis until the sanctioned intake fills, typically by August — AI & Data Science and CSE close earliest. Every degree awarded is UGC-recognised and both institutions are AIU members, so the qualification is accepted for PSU and government recruitment, postgraduate admission in India, and overseas study after WES or ECA evaluation.