Key facts
- CUSAT CAT is the university’s Common Admission Test for its UG, PG and integrated programmes; the 2026 test was held on 9–11 May 2026.
- CUSAT CAT has test centres in several Indian cities and every Kerala district headquarters, so many candidates never need to travel to the campus for the test itself.
- The CUSAT main campus is in South Kalamassery, about 1 km from Cochin University metro station.
- Aluva is the nearest major railway station for express trains; the metro runs from Aluva to Cochin University station.
First: do you actually need to come to the campus?
CUSAT CAT, the admission test, is held at many centres – in 2026 these included New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and other cities, plus all fourteen Kerala district headquarters, according to education portals that reported the official list. Your centre is printed on your admit card. If your centre is Ernakulam, it may or may not be on the main campus, so read the admit card carefully before booking anything.
Visits that do usually bring you to the main campus include spot or counselling-stage admissions, certificate verification at the department, PhD entrance interviews, faculty and project-staff interviews, and viva voce examinations. For all of these, the department’s notice is the authority on time and venue.
Getting to CUSAT
From Cochin International Airport
The airport is at Nedumbassery, north of Aluva. The simplest route is a prepaid taxi or app cab straight to the campus; a cheaper option is a bus or cab to Aluva and then the metro to Cochin University station. Our airport to Kalamassery guide covers the choices.
By train
Express trains from the north and from other states stop at Aluva; from the Aluva metro station, Cochin University is a short ride south. See Aluva railway station to Kalamassery. If you arrive at Ernakulam Junction or Ernakulam Town, take the metro north instead – details in Ernakulam stations to Kalamassery.
On campus
From the Cochin University metro station the main campus is about 1 km, roughly 15 minutes on foot, according to the university. The campus covers some 180 acres, so the department you need may be a further walk inside the gate. Ask the security desk or a student for your building, and allow 20–30 minutes spare.
A simple timetable for a one-day visit
- Arrive the evening before, eat early and lay out your documents.
- Print two copies of everything: admit card or call letter, ID, certificates, photographs. A photocopy shop near campus may be busy on admission days.
- Leave so that you reach the gate 45 minutes before the reporting time.
- Carry water, an umbrella (the monsoon runs into the admission season) and a light snack.
- After you finish, check whether you need to come back the next day before you check out.
Late-night arrivals: if your train or flight lands after 10 pm, read arriving in Kalamassery late at night before you travel.
Food on the day
There are canteens on the campus and small restaurants and tea shops outside the gates and along NH 544. A Kerala meal or a plate of appam and curry is cheap and filling. For more ideas see places to eat near Kalamassery and tea shops and bakeries.
Staying a night or two – what to ask
Ashraf Gents Hostel is a men-only boys’ hostel and PG on NAD Road, at the signal in Kalamassery, on the HMT side of town. It mainly rents month to month to students, staff and working men, so ask on the call whether a short stay is possible for your dates – do not assume it. If you are joining CUSAT afterwards, it is also worth asking about a monthly room while you wait for a university hostel seat; our CUSAT hostel guide explains why many first-years need one.
The indicative monthly rate on the public profile is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head, negotiable, with one month’s advance, confirmed on the call. Rooms in the photos are twin-sharing with cots and mattresses. Phone or WhatsApp +91 90746 23855.
Frequently asked questions
Is CUSAT CAT held only at the Kalamassery campus?
No. It is held at centres in several Indian cities and every Kerala district headquarters. Your admit card shows your centre.
Which metro station should I get off at for CUSAT?
Cochin University station on NH 544. The main campus is about 1 km away, around 15 minutes’ walk.
Which railway station is best for CUSAT?
Aluva, where most express trains stop, then the metro to Cochin University. Ernakulam Junction and Town also work, with the metro going north.
Can I stay just one night at Ashraf Gents Hostel?
The hostel mainly offers monthly stays for men. Ask on the call to +91 90746 23855 whether a short stay is possible for your dates.
Related guides
Sources
- Careers360: CUSAT CAT 2026 exam from May 9 to 11
- Careers360: CUSAT CAT test centres
- CUSAT: Main campus
- Wikipedia: Aluva railway station
Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed . How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.