MBA admission in IIMs and other top B-Schools is made only through entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. For the 2025 MBA session, the CAT will be conducted on November 24 this year, and the XAT exam will be conducted on January 05, 2025. Other exams for MBA admission are SNAP, CUET-PG, CMAT, MAT, etc., but their dates have yet to be released. Here, you should note that exams like ATMA, and MAT are conducted multiple times a year, and exams such as CAT, and XAT, are conducted once a year.
Top IIMs conduct admissions through the CAP round, and the PI round is conducted online for some IIMs. However, the WAT and GD rounds will be held offline, and for some IIMs it is scrapped. CAT is the only exam accepted for MBA admission in IIMs and IITs. However, most other top B-Schools accept multiple entrance exams as their primary eligibility, and you can appear in any one of the exams.
For MBA admission, apart from entrance exams, past academic achievements, work experience, and overall profile also matter. However, if you have no work experience you are unlikely to be treated in the same category with experienced candidates. Also, an MBA is open to students from all educational backgrounds, and even if you are not from engineering, you can apply for an MBA.
Table of Content
What is an MBA study for?
MBA is a professional management course and it stands for Master of Business Administration. In an MBA course, you will learn about economics, finance, marketing, operations, and management. Also, you will get internship opportunities, and have the opportunity to learn from the industry.
What are the entrance exams for MBA Admission 2025?
The top entrance exam for MBA admission 2025 is listed below.
| Exam | Application Dates | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| XAT | July 15, 2024 | January 05, 2025 |
| CAT | August 01 – September 13, 2024 | November 24, 2024 |
| MAT | PBT: August 18, 2024 CBT: August 11, 2024 IBT 1: August 9, 2024 IBT 2: August 18, 2024 |
PBT: August 25, 2024 CBT: August 18, 2024 IBT 1: August 14, 2024 IBT 2: August 23, 2024 |
| ATMA | July 24, 2024 | July 31, 2024 (Revised) |
| CMAT | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| TS ICET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| AP ICET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| CUET – PG | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| TANCET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| KIITEE MBA | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| MAH CET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| TSICET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| GMAT | Throughout the year | Throughout the year |
| NMAT | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| SNAP | To be Announced | To be Announced |
What are the Top Colleges for MBA 2025?
Old IIMs are the top institutes in India for pursuing an MBA. However, new IIMs have a comparatively lower fee and provide great ROI, placement, and internship opportunities. Below, you can check the top institutes for MBA 2025.
List of IIMs
| IIM | Total Fee (INR) | Cut - Off Percentile (CAT) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 24.61 Lakhs | 80 Sectional Cut Off: 70 |
| IIM Bangalore | 24.5 Lakh | 85 Sectional Cut Off: 80 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 20.50 Lakh | 85 (Sectional + Overall) |
| IIM Calcutta | 27 Lakh | 85 75 (QA) 80 (Other Sections) |
| IIM Lucknow | 20.7 Lakh | 90 85 (Sectional) |
| IIM Mumbai | 14.63 Lakh | 85 75 (QA) 80 (Other Sections) |
| IIM Indore | 21.14 Lakh | 90 Sectional Cut Off: 80 |
| IIM Raipur | 16.1 Lakh | 94 Sectional Cut Off: 73 |
| IIM Rohtak | 17.6 Lakh | 96 |
| IIM Udaipur | 19 Lakh | 92 Sectional Cut Off: 70 |
| IIM Kashipur | 17.3 Lakh | 94 Sectional Cut Off: 73 |
| IIM Trichy | 21 Lakh | 94 Sectional Cut Off: 73 |
| IIM Ranchi | 17.5 Lakh | 92 Sectional Cut Off: 70 |
| IIM Shillong | 17.5 Lakh | Sectional Cut Off: 75 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 17.58 Lakh | 82 Sectional Cut Off: 70 |
| IIM Jammu | 17.15 Lakh | 94 Sectional Cut Off: 73 |
| IIM Nagpur | 18 Lakh | 94 Sectional Cut Off: 73 |
| IIM Amritsar | 16 Lakhs | 85 80 (QA) 75 (Other Sections) |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 15.50 Lakh | 94 73 (Other Sections) |
| IIM Sambalpur | 13.08 Lakh | 94 73 (Other Sections) |
| IIM Sirmaur | 7.5 Lakh | 94 73 (Other Sections) |
Top IITs for MBA
Some of the top IITs for MBA are -
| IIT | Total Fees (INR) | Cut - Off Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 8 Lakhs | 90 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 12.85 Lakhs | 90 |
| IIT Roorkee | 8 Lakh | 90 |
| IIT Kanpur | 4.14 Lakh | 85 |
| IIT Madras | 8 Lakh | NA |
| IIT Delhi | 9.6 Lakh | 90 |
Top Government and Government-Sponsored MBA Institutes
A few of the top institutes for MBA are -
| Institute | Total Fees | Cut - Off Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi | INR 21.77 L | Sectional Cut Off - 55 |
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata | INR 20.97 L | Sectional Cut Off - 55 |
| Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) Bengaluru | INR 3.4 L | 99 |
| Department of Business Economics (DBE), South Campus, University of Delhi | INR 97 K | 90 |
| Department of Financial Studies (DFS), South Campus, University of Delhi | INR 97 K | 95 |
| Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi | INR 97 K | 92 |
| Institute of Rural Management Anand | INR 19.75 L | 80-85 |
| Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University | INR 2 L | 85 |
| University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, Chandigarh | INR 1.04 L | 90 |
| National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli | INR 4 L | 80 |
Top Private Institutes for MBA
Some of the top private institutes for MBA are -
| Institute | Approximate Fees | Cut - Off Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai | INR 24 L | 85 |
| XLRI Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur | INR 28.6 L | 90-95 (XAT) |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai | INR 6.10 L | 95 (CAT) 99 (MAH CET) |
| Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram | INR 25 - 30 L | 94 |
| Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai | INR 11.95 L | 94 (NMAT) |
| Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune | INR 25 L | 96 (SNAP) |
| Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai | INR 2 LPA | 73.33 (CUET PG) |
| Xavier School of Management, Delhi–NCR | INR 27.40 L | 95 (XAT) |
| Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune | INR 26.10 L | NA |
| BITS School of Management (BITSoM), Mumbai | INT 25.72 L | 85 |
| Sydenham Institute of Management Studies and Research and Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE), Mumbai | INR 1.34 L | 99 (MAH CET) |
| International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi | INR 18.2 L | 90 |
What are Common Interview Questions Asked at IIMs for MBA Admissions?
While preparing for the IIMs, you must also consider that you have to appear for the GD and the WAT. So, your PI questions can be related to your WAT topic or you can check the topics here as mentioned -
- Tell us something about your educational and professional background.
- Tell us something about yourself.
- Why MBA?
- What do you see yourself 20 years from now?
- What is your biggest failure?
- How can an MBA help you achieve your goals
- Which other IIMs have you received interview calls from? Which IIM will you go to if you get selected in all IIMs?
- How has your college brought a difference in your life?
- What are your views regarding the recent budget?
- Why do you want to do an MBA from IIM?
Also, typically, in an MBA interview, interviewers can pick any point and can start asking more about the same. Hence, ensure to be genuine and answer correctly. Also if you are not good with your soft skills be sure to work on -
- Verbal communication
- Personal Introduction
- Body language
- Eye contact
- Interruptions
What is MBA eligibility?
The eligibility for an MBA is approximately the same for different institutes. The only difference will be the entrance exams and the percentile that they can apply to that institution. Also, some institutes consider your marks for graduation or 10+2, as an eligibility parameter.
- Educational Qualifications: Candidates should score at least 50% aggregate scores from a recognized educational institute.
- Relaxation as per reservation: There is also 5% relaxation available for the reserved categories.
- Minimum Marks Required: To get admission to the top MBA colleges, including IITs, and IIMs, a minimum of 60% aggregate marks is needed.
However, the eligibility for IIM and IITs differs, and the comparison is shown in the table below -
| IIM Eligibility | IIT Eligibility |
|---|---|
|
|
How to get IIM Admission?
For IIM MBA Admissions, institutions consider several parameters, to evaluate a candidate. Here are a few of those parameters -
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Class X Marks | Percentage of marks scored in Class X |
| Class XII Marks | Percentage of marks scored in Class XII |
| Graduation Marks | Percentage and overall marks scored in graduation |
| GD/PI | Candidates performance in personal interviews and group discussions will be evaluated and examiners will mark them |
| WAT | A written ability test will be conducted and students will be evaluated |
| Gender Diversity | IIMs can prefer female/transgender candidates to maintain a healthy gender ratio in the course. |
| Academic Diversity | Students from non-engineering fields can be preferred for equal representation of every educational background within the course. |
| Work Experience | Students are given points from 1 to 5, based on their relevant work experience. |
How to Apply for an MBA?
MBA admission in India occurs through several phases. You can check the process of application in detail -
Step 1: Entrance Exams
Business schools in India admit students based on their scores in the entrance exams. IIMs and other top business schools prefer CAT scores, as it is one of the top entrance exams for an MBA. Students can also appear for entrance exams such as XAT, SNAP, MAT, CMAT, etc. You can check the MBA entrance examinations here.
Step 2: Application
After the entrance exams, students must submit the online application form to their chosen institution. However, checking the eligibility parameters and appearing for the right entrance test is important.
During application, aspirants need to provide their entrance exam score, and other details such as previous education grades, internships, extra-curricular activities, and work experience.
A few institutions, like ISB, NMIMS, and IIM - C, also request that you submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP). Some institutes, like IIMs, also have the written ability test (WAT) phase for admissions.
Step 3: Group Discussion and Personal Interview
After the release of the list of candidates selected for the GD/PI round, students might also receive an Email concerning the same. Then they have to appear for the GD/PI round, and if selected, the institution will consider you for the final WAT round. However, some institutions also conduct the WAT round in unison with GD/PI.
Step 4: Acceptance and Enrollment
Finally, after the admissions process, the institution will start sending the acceptance email. Note that colleges often release multiple lists of candidates selected for an MBA.
Hence, if you didn’t receive an acceptance email or haven't found your name on the list of selected candidates, you can wait for the next list.
MBA Admission 2025: FAQs
Ques. How do colleges see 3+ years of work experience for MBA admissions?
Ans. More than 3 years of work experience is considerable in MBA admissions. In fact, 2 to 3 years of experience is most common for students applying for MBA. You will also get extra points against your work experience.
Ques. Does FMS Delhi accept XAT scores for MBA admissions?
Ans. FMS only accepts CAT scores and also provides 50% weightage to your CAT score. Also, if you are a woman candidate you can get an extra 5 points during admissions.
Ques. Does a postgraduate degree matter for an MBA admission?
Ans. A few institutes may consider a postgraduate degree as an added advantage. However, it might not add any practical value to your course, but recruiters might consider it as a perk.
Ques. Can I get an MBA Admission with UG Backlog?
Ans. In most cases, a UG backlog does not affect your MBA application. However, top institutes may consider it unfavorable. However, in the personal interview, they can ask you questions about the same, and if you can defend it properly, this shouldnot be much of an issue.
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