The Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education & Research, Chennai, has released the tentative Round 3 counselling schedule for MBBS and BDS admission and opened the resignation portal. Registration and payment run from 28th to 30th September 2026, choice filling from 1st to 9th October, results on 12th October, and joining closes on 14th October 2026 at 5:00 PM (Source: Selection Committee, DME&R, Chennai, notifications dated 23.09.2026 and the Round 3 schedule).
What is the Tamil Nadu Round 3 schedule?
Registration and payment (if not already paid): 28th to 30th September 2026, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Choice filling and locking: 1st to 9th October 2026, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Processing of virtual vacancies: 30th September 2026.
Processing of seat allotment: 10th and 11th October 2026.
Publication of result: 12th October 2026.
Downloading the provisional allotment order: 12th October 2026 to 14th October 2026, 12:00 Noon.
Last date of joining: 14th October 2026, 5:00 PM.
Who needs to register again for Round 3?
Candidates already registered who got no seat, or who were allotted but did not join in Round 1 or 2, do not need to register again. Candidates who joined a Round 2 seat and already chose upgradation on the portal also do not need to register again; their seat is treated as a virtual vacancy. Candidates who joined Round 2, chose "No" for upgradation, but now want to upgrade must log in during the registration window to confirm participation, or they will not be eligible for upgradation. Fresh registration is open to candidates who did not register in Round 1 or 2, but only if their name is already in the published Merit List.
What is a virtual vacancy?
If a Round 1 or Round 2 allottee opts for upgradation in Round 3, their current seat is shown as a virtual vacancy, and any candidate can choose it during choice filling. It becomes a real vacancy only if that original candidate actually vacates or upgrades. If re-allotted, the candidate must give up the Round 1 or 2 seat, and that seat is then passed to other candidates in descending order, not ascending order.
What happens once you join a Round 3 seat?
Once joined, upgradation or resignation from a Round 3 seat is not allowed, and allotted candidates are not eligible for the subsequent Stray Vacancy round. If a candidate downloads the allotment order but does not join, they are treated as joined and forfeit the registration fee, security deposit, and tuition fee, and are barred from further rounds. If a candidate is allotted but never downloads the order, the same forfeiture and bar apply.
What are the resignation rules for Round 1 and Round 2 seats?
The resignation portal opened on 28th September 2026 for candidates who joined in Round 1 and were retained in Round 2, and for candidates who joined in Round 2. It does not apply to candidates who never joined their allotted seat. Candidates download the resignation letter from their login and submit it to the college to collect original certificates. The last date for free exit, meaning no forfeiture of fees, will be announced separately. Resigning after that date means forfeiting the security deposit and tuition fee already paid, plus a discontinuation fee under clause 23 of the Government Quota Prospectus or clause 21 of the Management Quota Prospectus. Once resignation is submitted, the seat becomes vacant in the next round and cannot be reclaimed, so the notice advises candidates to be careful before submitting.
What to do now
Decide before the free-exit deadline is announced whether you want to keep, resign, or upgrade your current seat.
If applying fresh, confirm your name is already in the published Merit List before registering.
Lock choices only when certain, since choices cannot be edited after locking, and unlocked choices auto-lock at 5:00 PM on 9th October.
Keep original certificates ready for in-person verification at the allotted college.
Before finalising choices, comparing recent cutoff trends across Tamil Nadu's medical and dental colleges can help you rank preferences more realistically.
This article is based on official notices from the Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education & Research, Chennai, for Tamil Nadu MBBS/BDS Round 3 counselling, 2026-27. Candidates should verify all dates and the free-exit deadline on www.tnmedicalselection.net.
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