Is there a minimum GMAT/GRE score required for IIM Lucknow IPMX?

IIM Lucknow does not prescribe a fixed minimum GMAT/GRE score for IPMX in advance. Shortlisting for WAT and PI is based on the GMAT/GRE score, which is considered as part of the selection process. Only valid test-centre-based GMAT/GRE scores are accepted. Online or take-home test scores are not valid.

What is the minimum CAT percentile required for IIM Lucknow PGP admission 2027?

The latest available 2026-28 admission policy specifies a minimum CAT cutoff of 90 overall and 85 in each section for the General category. However, the admission policy for the 2027-29 batch has not yet been released. Therefore, these percentiles should be treated as the latest available reference and may change for 2027 admission.

Is CAT the only exam accepted for IIM Lucknow MBA admission?

Yes. Admission to IIM Lucknow MBA and MBA-ABM for the 2027-29 batch will be based on CAT 2026, followed by WAT and PI. IPMX admissions use a valid GMAT/GRE score. For EFPM, candidates can qualify through CAT, GATE, GMAT, GRE, or UGC/CSIR/ICAR JRF/SRF, subject to the applicable validity and eligibility requirements.

What is the IIM Lucknow PGP WAT-PI selection weightage?

As per the latest available 2026-28 policy, the final MBA selection score gives 30% weightage to CAT, 5% each to Class 12, graduation, diversity factor and work experience, 10% to WAT, and 40% to PI. Candidates must secure at least 12 marks out of 40 in the Personal Interview to qualify for the final merit list.

Is work experience mandatory for IIM Lucknow PGP admission?

No. Work experience is not mandatory for IIM Lucknow MBA/PGP or MBA-ABM admission. It carries 5% weightage in the MBA final selection and no weightage in MBA-ABM. The information provided does not specify the PGP-SM work-experience requirement. Therefore, candidates should refer to the applicable PGP-SM admission notification for its eligibility conditions.

Can final-year graduation students apply for IIM Lucknow admission 2027?

Yes. Final-year bachelor's degree students and candidates awaiting results can apply for IIM Lucknow MBA admission, provided they fulfil the prescribed degree requirements within the specified deadline. The eligibility criteria require a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks, or 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates. The 2027-29 policy is yet to be released.

Does IIM Lucknow offer direct admission or a management quota?

The provided IIM Lucknow admission information does not specify any direct-admission or management-quota route. For the MBA and MBA-ABM, candidates are expected to qualify through CAT 2026 and the subsequent WAT-PI process. IPMX follows GMAT/GRE-based shortlisting, WAT and PI. Final selection is based on the respective programme's prescribed selection criteria.

IIM Lucknow Ph.D: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated on - Aug 7, 2026

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) offers the Doctoral Programme in Management (Ph.D.), a full-time 4.5-year residential degree across 11 research areas. The programme involves 2 years of coursework followed by 2.5 years of thesis research. Tuition fee is waived for Indian scholars who also receive a monthly stipend of INR 35,000 rising to INR 40,000. Admission is through CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or UGC-JRF.

📋 Admission Status: Admissions for the 2026 batch commenced in June 2026. The 2027 batch cycle is expected to open October 2026 (Tentative).

Key Points

11 research areas span Agri-Business, Business Sustainability, Decision Sciences, Finance, HRM, IT and Systems, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain, and Strategic Management
All admitted Indian scholars receive a monthly stipend of INR 35,000 during the first two years and INR 40,000 after clearing the comprehensive examination, plus a one-time computer grant of INR 50,000
Conference support of INR 1,40,000 to INR 1,60,000 is available to scholars based on CGPA for presenting research at academic forums

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Fees 2026

Tuition fee is completely waived for all admitted Indian scholars. Scholars receive a monthly stipend and contingency grants throughout the programme, making the doctorate financially self-sustaining.

Course	Tuition Fee
Doctoral Programme in Management	Tuition fee waived

Stipend is INR 35,000 per month in Years 1 and 2.
Stipend rises to INR 40,000 after the comprehensive examination.
Free semi-furnished hostel is provided throughout the programme.

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Admission 2026

Important Dates

Event	2026 Batch (Reference)
Programme announcement	October 2025
Application deadline	16 February 2026
Shortlist announcement	First week of March 2026
Personal Interviews	6 to 7 April 2026
Final selection announcement	Third week of April 2026
Programme commencement	June 2026

The 2027 batch cycle is expected to open around October 2026.
General category application fee is INR 1,000.
SC and ST candidates pay INR 500 as application fee.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master’s degree with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC and ST), or B.E. or B.Tech degree with minimum 75% marks (70% for SC and ST)
IIM PGDM holders with minimum 6.0 CGPA are eligible without a test score
Valid CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or UGC or CSIR or ICAR JRF or SRF score obtained on or after 1 January 2024
Age limit: not more than 55 years as of 30 June 2026

Admission Process

Submit the online application at iiml.ac.in with academic documents and a valid test score
Shortlisting is based on test score, academic record, and research aptitude
Shortlisted candidates attend a technical interview and area-specific assessment
Final selection is announced in April and the programme commences in June
IIM PGDM holders who meet the CGPA threshold are exempt from submitting a test score

IIM Lucknow Ph.D vs Other Colleges

Here is how IIM Lucknow Ph.D compares with doctoral programmes at other top IIMs on financial support, exams, and ratings.

College	IIM Lucknow	IIM Ahmedabad	IIM Bangalore	IIM Calcutta
Fees	Fee waived	Fee waived	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
Exams	CAT GATE GRE GMAT JRF	CAT GMAT GRE GATE	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
Cutoff	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
Avg Salary	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
CD Rating	4.2/5	4.5/5	4.6/5	4.4/5

✓ Opt for this if

You want a fully-funded doctoral degree from a top IIM with monthly financial support
You are targeting faculty positions at Indian B-schools or management research institutions
You hold a valid post-January 2024 CAT, GATE, GRE, or GMAT score and meet the academic eligibility

✗ Skip if

You want a short programme with immediate high-paying corporate employment
You are older than 55 years as of 30 June 2026, which exceeds the programme eligibility limit
Your goal is corporate management rather than research, teaching, or academic publishing

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Scholarships 2026

The IIM Lucknow doctoral fellowship is one of the most comprehensive financial support packages among Indian management schools, covering stipend, grants, accommodation, and conference funding.

Support Type	Amount	Eligibility	Period
Monthly Stipend (Years 1 to 2)	INR 35,000 per month	All admitted Indian scholars before the comprehensive exam	Up to 2 years
Monthly Stipend (Years 3 to 4.5)	INR 40,000 per month	Scholars who clear the comprehensive examination	Up to 2.5 years
Computer Purchase Grant	INR 50,000 one-time	All admitted Indian scholars	First year
Conference Support	INR 1,40,000 to INR 1,60,000	Scholars based on CGPA for research presentations	During programme

Contingency is INR 10,000 annually in Years 1 and 2.
Contingency is INR 15,000 annually from Year 3 onward.
Married scholars receive family health insurance of INR 1,00,000.

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Ranking

According to Collegedunia Ranking 2026, IIM Lucknow ranks #5 out of 350 colleges in India. According to 2 Reviews collected by Collegedunia, the Ph.D program at IIM Lucknow is rated 4.4/5. The college has an overall Collegedunia score of 899/1000, calculated based on NAAC grade, exam cutoff, rankings, placements and student reviews.

IIM Lucknow is ranked by several ranking agencies such as India Today, Financial Times, The Week. Some of these rankings are as follows-

#3 out of 270 under India Today Ranking 2026.
#58 out of 100 under Financial Times Ranking 2026.
#3 out of 150 under The Week Ranking 2019.

Ranking Agency

IIM Lucknow Ph.D FAQs

Ques. Can I apply for IIM Lucknow PhD with a B.Tech and GATE score without a master’s degree?

Ans. Yes. A B.E. or B.Tech degree with at least 75% marks (70% for SC and ST) qualifies for direct application. A valid GATE score after January 1, 2024, is accepted. This route is designed for engineering graduates targeting management research in areas such as Operations and Supply Chain, IT and Systems, or Decision Sciences. Doctoral committee members evaluate research potential during the technical interview, so academic depth matters more than just the test percentile.

Ques. Do IIM Lucknow PhD graduates find placements in corporate roles or primarily in academia?

Ans. The programme is designed for academic and research careers. Most graduates join faculty positions at other IIMs, IITs, and central universities or international business schools. Some join research and analytics roles in think tanks or policy organizations. IIM Lucknow coordinates with institutions seeking researchers through the Doctoral Programme office. The programme is not suited for students whose primary goal is a conventional corporate management career immediately after graduating.

Ques. How competitive is IIM Lucknow PhD admission and what score is typically needed?

Ans. Published cutoffs are not announced for the PhD programme. Selection is holistic and considers test scores, academic record, research aptitude, and the technical interview. The annual batch intake is small, typically 20 to 25 scholars across all 11 research areas. Candidates with strong academic records and demonstrated research interest through publications or thesis work tend to perform better in the area-specific interview rounds.

Ques. Can foreign nationals apply for the IIM Lucknow Doctoral Programme?

Ans. Yes. Foreign nationals are eligible to apply. However, the monthly fellowship, stipend, and contingency grants are available only to Indian resident scholars. Foreign applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores obtained within one year of the application deadline. Hostel and health insurance are not guaranteed for foreign scholars. International applicants should contact the Doctoral Programme office at dpmoffice@iiml.ac.in for details on fee structure and support applicable to them.

Ques. What happens after clearing the comprehensive examination in the IIM Lucknow PhD programme?

Ans. The comprehensive examination is held at the end of Year 2 and tests mastery of coursework and the chosen research area. Upon clearing it, the scholar transitions to the research phase. The monthly stipend increases from INR 35,000 to INR 40,000 and the contingency grant rises from INR 10,000 to INR 15,000 per year. The scholar then focuses full-time on thesis research under faculty supervision, with access to conference funding for the remaining 2.5 years.