MBA / PGDM Admissions Guide 2026-27: Entrance Exams, Fees & Dates for 20 Institutes | DirectMBA.in
Admissions Guide · 2026-27

MBA / PGDM Admissions Guide 2026-27

Every programme at 20 top Indian B-schools, split into academic and working-professional tracks — with the exact entrance exam(s) accepted, current fees, and admission dates for each.

Verified against official institute websites · Updated August 2026
How to read this guide: every programme row carries a tag. Confirmed rows were checked directly against the institute's own official admissions domain (isb.edu, mdi.ac.in, spjimr.org, jbims.edu, and others) in the most recent verification pass. Carried over — verify rows were not independently re-checked this pass and should be confirmed on the institute's own site before you rely on them. Fees typically rise 3–8% year-on-year and next-cycle dates are often published only 6–9 months ahead — treat both as strong estimates.
01

Indian School of Business (ISB) — Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Telangana

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGP (1-yr flagship, Class of 2028) GMAT or GRE, test-centre score only. CAT is NOT accepted for the flagship PGP. Confirmed
PGP Young Leaders (PGP YL, Class of 2027-29) GMAT, GRE, or CAT — candidate's choice, no preference between tests. Confirmed
FPM (Doctoral) GMAT, GRE, CAT, or UGC-JRF/NET. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGP PRO (18-month, blended, 4+ yrs exp.) No standardised test required — admission is profile- and interview-based. Confirmed
PGP MAX (15-month, senior execs, 8+ yrs exp.) No standardised test required — admission is profile- and interview-based. Confirmed
PGP MFAB (Family Business) Business Admissions Test (BAT) — ISB's own aptitude/case-based test, taken in place of GMAT/GRE. Mandatory for all PGP MFAB applicants. Confirmed
Executive FPM (Doctoral, for professionals) GMAT, GRE, CAT, or UGC-JRF/NET. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGP (1-yr, Class of 2028)≈ ₹38.7 L (shared) / ₹42.4 L (studio), all-inclusive
PGP YL (Class of 2027-29)₹25.6 L + taxes (base; excludes accommodation add-ons)
PGP PRO (AY 2027-28)₹33.7 L + GST (≈ ₹40.0 L incl. deposit & GST)
PGP MAX (AY 2027-28)₹43.0 L + GST (≈ ₹51.0 L incl. deposit & GST)
PGP MFAB (AY 2027-28)₹44.7 L + GST (≈ ₹50+ L incl. deposit & GST)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PGP Round 1 deadline20 Sept 2026
PGP Round 2 deadline6 Dec 2026
PGP Round 3 deadline17 Jan 2027
PGP YL Round 1 deadline20 Dec 2026
PGP YL Round 2 deadline21 Feb 2027

ISB Hyderabad and ISB Mohali share one unified PGP application — see the Mohali entry for campus-specific fee notes. Official source: isb.edu/programmes/post-graduate-programmes.

02

Indian School of Business (ISB) — Mohali

Mohali, Punjab

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGP (1-yr flagship, shared process with Hyderabad) GMAT or GRE, test-centre score only. Recent cohorts show GMAT 530-780 / GRE 319-330 (no fixed cutoff). Confirmed
Executive FPM / FPM (Doctoral, partly delivered at Mohali) GMAT, GRE, CAT, or UGC-JRF/NET. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGP MAX (senior executives, delivered at Mohali) No standardised test required — admission is profile- and interview-based. Confirmed
PGP MFAB (partly delivered at Mohali) Business Admissions Test (BAT), in place of GMAT/GRE. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGP (AY 2026-27, single instalment, shared)≈ ₹32.96 L + taxes
PGP (reported range across sources)₹26.6 L – ₹49.9 L depending on instalment plan/specialisation reported — confirm exact figure on isb.edu before paying
PGP MAX (AY 2026-27)≈ ₹49.5 L (per most recent institute release)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PGP Round 1 deadline20 Sept 2026
PGP Round 2 deadline6 Dec 2026
PGP Round 3 deadline17 Jan 2027
PGP MAX Round 130 Aug 2026
PGP MAX Round 2 / 36 Dec 2026 / 14 Mar 2027

Fee figures for ISB vary noticeably across third-party trackers (₹26L–₹50L bracket reported for PGP Mohali depending on year/source). Confirm the exact current figure directly at isb.edu before making any payment.

03

Management Development Institute (MDI) — Gurgaon

Gurugram, Haryana

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr flagship) CAT (mandatory, primary shortlisting criterion). GMAT accepted for NRI/foreign candidates only. Confirmed
PGDM-HRM CAT. GMAT accepted for NRI/foreign candidates. Confirmed
PGDM-International Business (IB) CAT. GMAT accepted for NRI/foreign candidates. Confirmed
PGDM-Business Analytics CAT. GMAT accepted for NRI/foreign candidates. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM-BM (1-yr executive, 3+ yrs exp.) CAT, GMAT, or XAT (CAT/XAT valid for last 3 years, GMAT for last 5 years). Confirmed
PGDM-PPM (Executive, 5+ yrs exp., govt./policy professionals) CAT, GMAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, or CMAT. Confirmed
PGDM-Online (2-yr part-time, working execs) CAT, GMAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, or CMAT. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (flagship, 2 yrs)≈ ₹18.1 L – ₹26.0 L (varies by specialisation)
PGDM Business Analytics≈ ₹24.2 L total
PGDM-BM (1-yr executive)₹18.5 L (incl. ₹27,500 refundable deposit + ₹15,000 alumni fee); NRI: US$27,240
PGDM Online (2-yr working exec.)≈ ₹9.96 L
Application fee₹1,000–₹2,500 depending on programme; NRI ₹8,496 (incl. GST)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PGDM (flagship) application window (2026-28 batch)Closed — was 28 Sept to 28 Nov 2025 (basis: CAT 2025); next cycle (2027-29) expected to open ~Sept 2026, keyed to CAT 2026
CAT 2026 registrationBegins 3 Aug 2026 (exam 29 Nov 2026)
WAT-GD-PI (Stage II) roundsFeb-April (institute cities: Bengaluru, Gurugram, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai)
PGDM-BM 2026 application (executive)Closed 27 July 2025 cycle; next window typically opens ~Dec-March
PGDM Online 2026 last date31 Aug 2026

MDI Gurgaon's flagship PGDM cohort is anchored to CAT (not XAT), unlike several peer institutes. Official source: mdi.ac.in/admissions.

04

Institute of Management Technology (IMT) — Ghaziabad (Common Admission with IMT Hyderabad & IMT Nagpur)

Ghaziabad, UP

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr flagship) CAT 2026, XAT 2027, or GMAT (taken on/after 1 Jan 2022). CMAT accepted only at the Nagpur campus. Confirmed
PGDM Marketing CAT / XAT / GMAT (as above). Confirmed
PGDM Financial Management CAT / XAT / GMAT. Confirmed
PGDM Banking & Financial Services (BFS) CAT / XAT / GMAT. Confirmed
PGDM Dual Country Programme (DCP) CAT / XAT / GMAT. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM-ExP (18-month residential, 3+ yrs exp., int'l immersion at KEDGE France) CAT / XAT / GMAT via the same common application. Confirmed
Online PGDM (via Centre for Distance Learning) No standardised test required — direct admission via the CDL portal. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (flagship, 2026-28 batch)≈ ₹23.0 L total (tuition ≈ ₹21.5–22.3 L)
PGDM DCP≈ ₹31.0 L – ₹39.8 L
PGDM-ExP (18-month executive)≈ ₹21.0 L
Online PGDM≈ ₹1.6 L total (₹40,000 per semester)
Common application fee₹3,500 (non-refundable, covers all 3 campuses)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
2026-28 batch common applicationOpened ~24 Sept 2025; closed 26 Jan 2026
Critical Thinking Test + PI (CTPI)Feb-March 2026
2027-29 batch common applicationExpected to open September 2026 (per IMT's own 2027-29 admission page)
CAT 2026 registrationOpens August 2026 (exam ~Nov 2026)
XAT 2027 registration window~July-Dec 2026
Final admission offers (2027-29 batch, expected)~March-May 2027

IMT's official dates for the 2027-29 batch were not yet fully finalised at the time of this compilation. Official source: imt.edu/admissions.

05

International Management Institute (IMI) — New Delhi

New Delhi

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr flagship) CAT, XAT, or GMAT (GMAT valid Jan 2021–Jan 2026). Confirmed
PGDM (Human Resource Management) CAT, XAT, or GMAT. Confirmed
PGDM (Banking & Financial Services) CAT, XAT, or GMAT. Confirmed
FPM (Doctoral) IMI Research Aptitude Test, or a valid CAT / GMAT / GRE / XAT / UGC-NET / NMAT score. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
Executive PGDM (5+ yrs exp.) IMI's own Executive-PGDM test ("IMI Test"), alongside profile evaluation. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (General, 2026-27)≈ ₹29.78 L (also reported ₹22–23.5 L in some cycles — confirm current figure)
Executive PGDM≈ ₹12.63 L
FPM≈ ₹6.60 L
Application fee₹2,000–₹2,250 + 18% GST (₹500 per additional specialisation)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
2026-28 batch application windowOpened ~1 Sept 2025; extended deadline 23 Jan 2026
Video assessment / shortlistingDecember 2025
Personal Interview roundJanuary 2026
Classes commence2nd/3rd week of June
2027-29 batch application (expected)First week of September 2026, keyed to CAT 2026 / XAT 2027

Reported total PGDM fee varies notably across sources (₹22 L to ~₹29.8 L) — always confirm the current year's exact figure on imi.edu/delhi before applying.

06

Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME) — Bangalore

Bangalore, Karnataka

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr, 6 specialisations) CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, or GMAT — best percentile considered, then GD + PI. Confirmed
PGDM Business Analytics (PGDM-BA) CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, or GMAT — same process. Confirmed
PGDM (sister campus: Kochi) Same list, plus KMAT (Kochi-specific). Confirmed
PGDM (sister campus: Chennai) Same list, plus TANCET (Chennai-specific). Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (2026-28 batch, Bangalore)₹12.9 L (Kochi/Chennai campuses ≈ ₹9.9 L)
Application fee₹2,000 for 1st campus preference; +₹250 per additional campus preference
Caution deposit₹25,000 (refundable)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
2026-28 batch applications openFrom November 2025
XAT 2026 registration closed5 Dec 2025 (exam 4 Jan 2026)
GD-PI Phase 2 (2026 cycle)26-28 March 2026 (multi-city: Bangalore, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata)
CAT 2026 registration (for 2027-29 batch)Expected to open August 2026
XAT 2027 registrationOpen till ~6 Dec 2026

XIME does not run a separate working-professional/executive PGDM track — all programmes listed follow the same full-time academic admission route. Confirmed against xime.org (official).

07

Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool) — Mumbai & Bangalore

Mumbai (Matunga) & Bangalore

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr, Mumbai) CAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT, or GMAT — best percentile considered. Confirmed
PGDM Business Design / E-Business / Healthcare Mgmt. / Retail Mgmt. / Rural Mgmt. / Research & Business Analytics / Media & Entertainment (Mumbai) CAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT, or GMAT. Confirmed
PGDM (General + 4 specialisation tracks, Bangalore) CAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT, or GMAT. Confirmed
MMS (Mumbai University-affiliated) MAH-MBA/MMS-CET (separate admission process from the PGDM tracks). Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (Mumbai, 2026-28)≈ ₹14.0 L total (specialisation fees range ₹9.25 L–₹10.75 L per some cohorts — confirm current bracket)
PGDM (Bangalore, 2026-28)≈ ₹14.0 L total
Application fee₹3,000

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PGDM Phase 1 application window (2026-28 batch)18 Oct 2025 – 23 Jan 2026
GD/PI roundsFebruary 2026 (Phase 1); admissions finalised by May-June 2026
2027-29 batch application (expected)~Oct 2026, keyed to CAT 2026 results

Welingkar offers merit-/need-based scholarships incl. full tuition waivers for select programmes (e.g., Dr. G. SunJewels Scholarship for PGDM Business Design). Confirmed against welingkar.org (official) and current admissions trackers.

08

NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) — Mumbai, Bangalore & other campuses

Mumbai (main), Bangalore, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad (Jadcherla), Indore, Chandigarh

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (General, 2-yr, 6 trimesters — all campuses) NMAT by GMAC only. CAT, XAT, and GMAT are explicitly NOT accepted for the flagship MBA. Followed by a Competency Test + PI. Confirmed
MBA HR / Pharmaceutical Mgmt. / Digital Transformation / Business Analytics (availability varies by campus) NMAT by GMAC only. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA (Mumbai, flagship)≈ ₹25 L – ₹27 L total for 2 years (varies by specialisation)
MBA (Bangalore)≈ ₹22 L total
MBA (other campuses)≈ ₹9 L – ₹18 L range reported depending on campus/specialisation — confirm exact figure per campus on nmims.edu

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
NMAT 2026 registrationOpens ~1 Aug 2026; window runs through ~10 Oct 2026
NMAT 2026 test-taking window5 Nov – 19/20 Dec 2026
Mumbai MBA application deadline (2026-28 cycle reference)18 Oct 2025 (prior cycle — 2027-29 dates expected on similar Oct timeline)
Bangalore campus last date to apply (2026-28 cycle)10 Oct 2026 (per latest listing)
Shortlisting / Competency Test / PI roundsFollowing NMAT results, typically Jan-March

NMIMS runs one common NMAT-only process across all its campuses and does not offer a separate working-professional MBA track under this listing; candidates rank campus/programme preferences during Step 2 of the application at nmat.nmims.edu. Confirmed against nmat.nmims.edu (official) and multiple current trackers — NMAT-only is explicitly and repeatedly stated.

09

S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) — Mumbai

Andheri, Mumbai

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr, Triple Crown accredited) CAT or GMAT only (test-centre score); shortlisting blends profile- and score-based evaluation. Confirmed
FPM (Doctoral) Research Aptitude Test. Carried over — verify

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM-BM (Business Management, 15-month fast-track) CAT or GMAT only; interview-based shortlisting, no GD. Confirmed
PGPM (18-month, rolling admission across phases) CAT (last 3 years) or GMAT/GMAT Focus (valid ~5 years). Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (General, 2026-28)≈ ₹26.5 L (incl. basic hostel)
PGDM-BM (15-month)≈ ₹16.0 L – ₹22.7 L depending on source cited
PGPM (18-month)≈ ₹22.66 L (incl. basic hostel)
Application feePGDM ₹2,000 / PGDM-BM ₹2,000 / both together ₹3,000; PGPM ₹3,000

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PGDM & PGDM-BM application window (2026-28 batch)16 Sept – 28 Nov 2025
PGDM interview process concluded17 Feb 2026 (programme commenced June 2026)
PGPM final application deadline (Batch 23 / Class of 2027)15 Sept 2026
PGDM-BM registration for 2027-29 batchExpected to begin mid-September 2026

SPJIMR explicitly states it does not use any management quota or intermediaries — admission is purely merit-based on profile, entrance score and interview. Confirmed against spjimr.org (official): PGDM, PGDM-BM, and PGPM all accept CAT or GMAT exclusively — no XAT/MAT/CMAT/NMAT despite some third-party trackers claiming otherwise.

10

K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) — Mumbai

Vidyavihar, Mumbai

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (General, 2-yr, ~600 seats incl. variants) CAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, PERA-CET, or CUET; MAH-MBA-CET considered for CAP-linked seats. Confirmed
MBA Healthcare Management / Sports Management / Marketing Communications Same exam list as the flagship MBA (not a separate profile-only route, per KJSIM's own admissions page). Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (Executive) / MBA (Working Executives, online) CAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT, or CMAT. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA (flagship, 2026-27)≈ ₹15.1 L – ₹23.9 L depending on specialisation (institute-quoted range; commonly cited figure ≈ ₹21.3 L)
Application fee₹2,950–₹3,000 (MBA/MBA-HCM); ₹1,000 for MBA-Sports Management (separate form)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
2026-28 batch application deadline20 Jan 2026 (also referenced as 27 Jan 2026 in some listings)
MAH-MBA-CET 2026 exam9 May 2026 (used for CAP-linked seats)
WAT / PI / Case Analysis roundsFebruary-March 2026
Final merit lists releasedBy April 2026; seat confirmation by June 2026
2027-28 batch application (expected)~Sept-Jan cycle keyed to CAT 2026/XAT 2027

Correction from the source document: the official KJSIM admissions page (kjsim.somaiya.edu) lists a broad common exam set (CAT/XAT/GMAT/NMAT/CMAT/MAT/ATMA/PERA-CET/CUET) for MBA and its niche specialisations alike — this is wider than, and supersedes, the 'profile-based selection, no common route' framing in the source PDF.

11

Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) — Mumbai

Churchgate, Mumbai (University of Mumbai)

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MMS (flagship, 2-yr, annual intake ~150-160) MAH-MBA/MMS-CET for the Maharashtra-domicile quota (via DTE Maharashtra CAP, percentile-based, no GD/WAT/PI); CAT or CMAT for the All-India quota seats (~15% of intake). Confirmed
M.Sc. Finance / MHRD (Master of HR Development) Same CET/All-India-quota route as MMS, plus an institute-level Group Activity, WAT, and PI for the All-India seats. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MMS (Open/General, 2026-27)As per DTE Maharashtra fee notification — typically among the lowest of India's top-tier B-schools (historically well under ₹2 L/year). Confirm exact current figure on DTE Maharashtra's CAP fee schedule.

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
MAH-MBA-CET 2026 exam6-8 April 2026 (also 9 May 2026 slot)
MAH-MBA-CET 2026 registration closed12 Feb 2026
DTE Maharashtra CAP rounds (allotment)Post-CET, typically May-July
All-India quota (CAT/CMAT route)Runs parallel to CAP, per DTE Maharashtra notification

JBIMS admission runs entirely through Maharashtra's centralised DTE CAP process rather than an institute-specific portal; always cross-check live dates on dte.maharashtra.gov.in / cetcell.mahacet.org. Confirmed against jbims.edu (official): MAHCET, CMAT, and CAT are the qualifying exams — XAT/GMAT/ATMA appear in some third-party trackers but are not listed on the official page.

12

Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research & Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE) — Mumbai

Churchgate, Mumbai

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MMS (2-yr, government-aided, ~180 seats) MAH-MBA/MMS-CET for CAP-allotted Maharashtra-state seats (percentile-based, no GD/PI); CAT, CMAT, XAT, ATMA, MAT, or GMAT for the ~27 All-India quota seats. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MMS (2025-26 published figure)≈ ₹1.38 L total tuition for the full 2-year programme

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
MAH-MBA-CET 2026 exam6-8 April 2026 / 9 May 2026
CAP allotment roundsPost-CET, typically May-July 2026

Correction from the source document: SIMSREE does NOT run a separate management-quota institute-level entrance test or PI. Multiple current sources (including the institute's own admission FAQs) confirm SIMSREE is a Government of Maharashtra institute with no management quota — all seats, including the ~27 All-India quota seats, are filled purely through the DTE Maharashtra CAP merit process, with no GD/PI/WAT. The 'separate institute-level test + PI' entry in the source PDF appears to be inaccurate and has been removed.

13

Sinhgad Institute of Management (MBA), Pune

Vadgaon (Bk.) / Off Sinhgad Road, Pune

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGP (MBA), 2-yr full-time MAH-MBA-CET (primary, Maharashtra/CAP seats); CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, or GMAT accepted for other quota seats. Carried over — verify

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA Lateral Entry (LE) Admission window announced separately each cycle; route follows the same CET/All-India-exam options as the flagship PGP. Carried over — verify

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA/PGPSet annually per Maharashtra's Shikshan Shulk Samiti (fee regulating authority) — figures vary by year; confirm current published fee on the institute site / DTE Maharashtra CAP brochure.

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
MAH-MBA-CET 2026 exam6-8 April 2026 / 9 May 2026
CAP registration & option-form fillingPost-CET, per DTE Maharashtra schedule
MBA Lateral Entry (LE) admission windowAnnounced separately each cycle (2025-26 window closed; 2026-27 dates awaited)

Not independently re-verified this session — carried over from the source compilation. Limited official fee/date detail is published independently by Sinhgad; admission is primarily routed through the Maharashtra CAP process — check cetcell.mahacet.org for authoritative current-cycle dates before publishing.

14

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) — Pune

Lavale Village, Pune (Symbiosis International Deemed University)

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (flagship, 2-yr, highest SNAP cutoff of all Symbiosis institutes) SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) exclusively — no other exam accepted — followed by Group Exercise + PI (GE-PI). Confirmed
MBA Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) SNAP exclusively, followed by GE-PI. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA Executive (2-yr, working professionals) SNAP exclusively, followed by GE-PI. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA (flagship, 2026-28)Not separately confirmed in this compilation — historically in the ₹22-24 L range; confirm exact current figure on sibmpune.edu.in
MBA Executive (2026-28)≈ ₹7.32 L total
SNAP exam fee≈ ₹2,250 per attempt (up to 3 attempts) + ₹1,000 per programme preference

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
SNAP 2026 registrationOpens 21 Aug 2026; closes 25 Nov 2026
SNAP 2026 test sessions13, 19 & 26 Dec 2026 (CBT)
GE-PI rounds (2027 admission cycle)February-March 2027

SIBM Pune traditionally records the highest SNAP cutoff of all Symbiosis institutes (often 97+ percentile). SNAP is confirmed as the sole entrance exam for all SIU institutes — CAT/XAT/CMAT are not accepted.

15

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) — Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Karnataka (Symbiosis International Deemed University)

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (flagship, 2-yr, multiple specialisations) SNAP exclusively, followed by SIBM Bengaluru's own GE-PI round. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
Executive MBA (part-time, working professionals) SNAP exclusively, followed by GE-PI. Confirmed

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA (flagship)Not separately published in sources reviewed — historically in the ₹15-19 L range for the 2-year programme; confirm current figure on sibm.edu.in

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
SNAP 2026 registration21 Aug – 25 Nov 2026
SNAP 2026 test sessions13, 19 & 26 Dec 2026 (CBT)
GE-PI rounds (2027 admission cycle)February-March 2027
16

Symbiosis Centre for Management & Human Resource Development (SCMHRD) — Pune

Hinjewadi, Pune (Symbiosis International Deemed University)

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (2-yr, strong HR specialisation alongside Marketing, Finance, Operations, Infrastructure Dev. & Mgmt., Business Analytics) SNAP exclusively, followed by Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Exercise (GE) and Personal Interaction (PI). Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA (2 years)≈ ₹26.10 L – ₹26.54 L total (year 1 ≈ ₹11.05 L, year 2 ≈ ₹10.85 L, plus hostel ≈ ₹1.02 L and mess ≈ ₹52,000)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
SNAP 2026 registration21 Aug – 25 Nov 2026
SNAP 2026 test sessions13, 19 & 26 Dec 2026 (CBT)
WAT-GE-PI rounds (2027 admission cycle)February-March 2027

SNAP cutoff for SCMHRD is typically the second-highest among Symbiosis institutes after SIBM Pune (often 94-97 percentile).

17

National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) — Pune

NIBM Road, Kondhwe Khurd, Pune (established by RBI)

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM in Banking & Financial Services (PGDM-BFS), 2-yr, intake ~130 CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, or GRE — followed by a Written Ability/Oral Communication Test and Personal Interview. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM-BFS (2026-28 batch)≈ ₹13.72 L – ₹17.84 L total, depending on source/year cited (institute's own 2026-28 release states ≈ ₹17.84 L)
Application fee≈ ₹2,000–₹2,500

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
2026-28 batch application window27 Nov 2025 – 20 March 2026 (closed)
Oral Communication Test + PI (offline, multi-city)April/May 2026
Final merit listMay/June 2026; programme commenced July 2026
2027-29 batch — expected application window~Jan-Feb 2027, anchored to CAT 2026 results (Nov 2026)
XAT 2027 registration (if applicable)Opens 15 July 2026; exam 4 Jan 2027

NIBM is a specialised BFSI-focused institute set up by the Reserve Bank of India — its admission cycle for the following year typically opens only after that year's CAT results are declared. NIBM does not offer a separate working-professional track under this listing. Correction from the source document: GRE has been added to the accepted exam list, confirmed across multiple current sources.

18

FLAME University — Pune

Lavale, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
MBA (General, 2-yr, liberal-education-integrated) CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, MAH-CET, or GMAT — best score considered, then GD + PI. Confirmed
MBA Communications Management (MBA-CM) CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, MAH-CET, or GMAT. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
MBA (General)≈ ₹12.8 L – ₹19.7 L total (figures vary across cycles/sources — institute's own fee page recommended for exact current figure)
MBA Communications Management≈ ₹11.7 L – ₹13.2 L total
Application fee₹2,000

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PG Admission Cycle 5 (2026 intake) application deadline14 June 2026
FEAT (essay) round21 June 2026
MAH-MBA-CET 2026 exam (accepted route)6-8 April 2026
2027-28 cycle — expected to openMultiple rolling cycles typically run Oct 2026 - mid 2027; check flame.edu.in for live cycle dates

FLAME runs several rolling admission cycles through the year rather than a single fixed round — check the live cycle number and deadline on flame.edu.in before applying. Confirmed against flame.edu.in (official minimum-eligibility page).

19

ISBR Business School — Bengaluru

Electronic City Phase 1, Bengaluru

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (2-yr, incl. Dual Specialisation & Global/Int'l Study-Trip variants) CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, NMAT, MAT, ATMA, KMAT-Karnataka, or PGCET, OR the ISBR Aptitude Test directly for candidates without a national exam score — followed by PI. Confirmed
MBA (Bangalore-University-affiliated track) Same exam list as the flagship PGDM, or the ISBR Aptitude Test, followed by PI. Confirmed
Specialised PGDM tracks (Data Science, Business Analytics, FinTech, Product Mgmt., Sports Mgmt., Healthcare Mgmt.) Same exam list as the flagship PGDM. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

No dedicated working-professional or executive track identified for this institute.

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM (Regular/Dual Specialisation)≈ ₹9.85 L – ₹11.0 L total tuition
PGDM + International Study Trip / Global variant≈ ₹13.5 L – ₹18.0 L total
Application fee≈ ₹1,000–₹1,500

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
PGDM (2026-28 batch) application windowClosed 30 June 2026
MBA (2026 cycle)Admissions closed; next cycle opens ~January 2027
PGDM 2027 batch — expected to openAfter CAT 2026 results (exam 29 Nov 2026)
KMAT Karnataka 2026 exam (accepted route)13 Sept 2026

Confirmed against isbr.in (official) — the ISBR Aptitude Test is a genuine standalone route, not merely a fallback.

20

IFIM Business School (JAGSoM) — Bengaluru

Electronic City Phase 1, Bengaluru

Academic (full-time) programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
PGDM (General, 2-yr, AACSB-accredited, rebranded academically as JAGSoM) CAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT, or the institute's own JAGMAT test. Confirmed
PGDM Marketing / Finance / Data Science & Business Analytics / International Business Same exam list as the flagship PGDM, plus ATMA and Karnataka PGCET for some specialised tracks. Confirmed

Working-professional / executive programmes

ProgrammeEntrance exam(s) accepted
Executive PGDM CAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT, CMAT, or JAGMAT. Carried over — verify

Latest fees (as officially published)

ProgrammeFee
PGDM General (JAGSoM)≈ ₹16.0 L – ₹17.50 L (incl. boarding & lodging in the higher figure)
Specialised PGDM tracks≈ ₹14.0 L
Application fee₹1,000 (UG) / ₹2,000 (PG)

Important admission dates

Programme / eventDate
Admissions for 2026-28 batchRolling, multi-phase (Early Admission phase typically opens September)
Karnataka PGCET 2026 (accepted route)Extended registration to 20 April 2026; exam late-May 2026
MAT 2026 September session (accepted route)PBT reg. deadline 7 Sept 2026 (exam 13 Sept); CBT reg. deadline 14 Sept (exam 20 Sept)
CAT 2026 registration (for 2027 intake)Expected to open August 2026

Correction from the source document: the institute's own test is officially named JAGMAT (not JMAT) since the IFIM→JAGSoM rebrand, and NMAT is also an accepted route not listed in the source PDF. Confirmed against jagsom.edu.in and current admissions trackers.

More MBA admission guides

These colleges aren't covered as full sections above, but you may find these useful:

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the “academic” and “working-professional” tables for each college?

The academic table lists full-time programmes aimed at fresh graduates or early-career candidates — the standard 2-year PGDM/MBA/MMS. The working-professional table lists executive, part-time, or accelerated tracks meant for candidates already with a few years of work experience, such as SPJIMR's PGDM-BM, MDI's PGDM-BM/PPM, or ISB's PGP PRO and PGP MAX.

Which of these colleges don't require CAT?

NMIMS (all campuses) accepts NMAT by GMAC only — CAT is not accepted. All 17 Symbiosis institutes (SIBM Pune, SIBM Bengaluru, SCMHRD) accept SNAP only. ISB's flagship PGP accepts GMAT or GRE only, not CAT (PGP Young Leaders does accept CAT as one option).

Are the fees and dates in this guide final for the 2027 intake?

No. Most Indian B-schools publish next year's fee structure and admission calendar only 6–9 months ahead. Where a confirmed 2027-29 cycle wasn't published yet at the time of this compilation, the most recent officially released cycle is shown and labelled accordingly — treat fees as estimates (they typically rise 3–8% year-on-year) and always confirm on the institute's own website before applying.

What does the “Carried over — verify” tag mean?

It means that specific row was not independently re-checked against the institute's own official website in the most recent verification pass, and is carried over from an earlier compilation. “Confirmed” rows were checked directly against the institute's own admissions domain.