The demand for professional higher education  courses in the state seems to be on the ebb this year. Half way into the registration process, the number of applicants for Tancet, the entrance test for admission to MBA, MCA  and ME/MTech courses in institutions in the state, has crossed 40,000. But the number is 15,000 less than that what was clocked during the same period last year. Spot registrations close on February 25 in Chennai and on February 23 in the rest of the state.

Officials attributed a reason for the decrease in numbers. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has made it mandatory for institutions to accept their management admission test (CMAT) scores. "I'm guessing that this could be a reason for students opting to take the CMAT instead of Tancet because they will be able to apply to business schools across the country with CMAT scores. Also, we haven't taken the online registrations into account. Maybe the numbers will catch up with last year's towards the end of the registration process," said Tancet secretary G Nagarajan.

Another reason could be that AICTE has changed the educational qualifications for students who can take the MCA test. AICTE insists that only those who have taken mathematics as a core subject in higher secondary classes can aspire for an MCA degree. Though the rule was brought in last year, Anna University did not include the clause. "I wanted to apply for MCA test, but after coming here and inquiring I found that I don't meet the eligibility criteria. I am wondering whether I should give MBA a shot,"said N Srinivasan, a biotechnology student.

Around 90,000 candidates applied to take Tancet last year. While MBA and MCA aspirants can take Tancet on March 31, students who want to pursue ME, MTech, MArch or MPlan will have to take the test on April 1.