I was on campus at HSNC University Mumbai this week when I noticed something. The local students were stressed. Phones out, group chats buzzing. MHT CET 2026 was running, and for Maharashtra's domestic students, the next few weeks would determine which college they get into. But nobody was telling Sri Lankan students what any of this meant for them. So let me do that now.

What Is MHT CET and Why Does It Matter?

MHT CET — the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test — is the state-level entrance examination that determines admission to engineering, pharmacy, and planning programmes at colleges across Maharashtra for the academic year 2026-27. It is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell under the Government of Maharashtra, and it covers courses including Bachelor of Engineering and Technology, B.Pharm, Pharm.D, B.Planning, and integrated postgraduate programmes.

The exam is computer-based, held at centres across Maharashtra, and tests students in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Biology depending on their chosen stream. Hundreds of colleges, including HSNC University Mumbai, admit students based on MHT CET percentile scores through a centralised admission process.

That is the picture for Maharashtra students. Now here is the part that matters for Sri Lankans specifically.

Do Sri Lankan Students Need to Sit MHT CET?

Sri Lankan students apply to Maharashtra universities through a completely separate international admissions pathway. The gateway for this is fn.mahacet.org — the official government portal managed by the State CET Cell. Everything from eligibility verification to course selection and the centralised admission process happens through this single portal.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for Sri Lankan Students?

Since you are applying as a foreign national, the requirements are simpler than the domestic pathway. For engineering and technology programmes, including those at HSNC University Mumbai, you need to have passed your 10+2 equivalent examination — meaning your Sri Lankan A Levels — with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with Chemistry, Biology, or a related technical subject, and have obtained at least 45 percent marks in those subjects combined.

For pharmacy programmes, you need 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and either Mathematics or Biology as subjects. The same 45 percent aggregate applies.

You do not need a CET score. You do not need JEE Main. You apply directly through the international pathway on fn.mahacet.org.

What Is HSNC University Mumbai and Why Does It Belong in This Conversation?

HSNC University is a government-approved university in Mumbai offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across commerce, arts, science, and professional streams. For Sri Lankan students who want to study in Mumbai rather than Pune, HSNC is one of the universities accessible through the Maharashtra admissions system. Mumbai as a city offers a different experience from Pune — larger, more cosmopolitan, with a strong professional ecosystem — and HSNC sits within that environment.

As with all Maharashtra universities, the admission pathway for foreign nationals goes through fn.mahacet.org. The portal lists available programmes, fee structures, and the steps required for international applicants.

What Sri Lankan Students Should Actually Do Right Now

The timing matters. Maharashtra's domestic admissions season is active right now. While local students are completing their CET exams, the centralised admission process that follows will open seats across all categories, including the international quota. The window for Sri Lankan applicants to register and complete their documentation on fn.mahacet.org runs alongside this domestic cycle.

Waiting until domestic results are announced and then scrambling to apply is a pattern that costs students seats. The students I know who got into good Maharashtra programmes — HSNC, SPPU colleges, MU-affiliated institutes — started their fn.mahacet.org process early.

Visit fn.mahacet.org, navigate to the international student section, verify your eligibility against the 2026-27 requirements, and begin your registration. The portal is government-administered, free to use, and does not require an agent.

The fact that MHT CET is running right now does not create a barrier for Sri Lankan students. It creates a moment. Local students are locking in their pathway this week. This is the right time for you to lock in yours too.