Admission to post graduate programmes at engineering and other professional colleges in the country such as IISc Bangalore, IITs, NITs and NIPER are open to those who qualify through GATE. Students who wish take admission in masters courses such as M.Tech, M.E. or M.Pharm in India have to take GATE.

GATE qualified candidates in Engineering disciplines are also eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. Some government organizations prescribe GATE qualification as a requirement for applying to the post of a Scientist/Engineer.

GATE is conducted in 21 streams. They are Electronics and Communications Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Instrumentation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Architecture and Planning, Geology and Geophysics, Mathematics, Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Production and Industrial Engineering, Textile Engineering and Fiber Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering Sciences and Life Science.