IIM Indore MBA Application Insider

The Indian Institute Of Management (IIM) Indore is ranked eighth among the top MBA colleges in India, according to the NIRF Ranking 2023. Its graduates are in high demand and can command high salaries. So what makes it special—and how can you get in?

IIM Indore was established in 1996 and has strong partnerships with industry, government, and the public sector, and is a prestigious, government-supported institution. It has also been deemed an institute of national importance.

The school offers the Postgraduate Program (PGP) in Management and other courses. PGP is the most popular course and is a two-year, full-time, residential program that has received accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA), a UK-based accreditation agency.

The program has also been accredited by the Association of Indian Universities and is deemed to be equivalent to an MBA degree.

To understand how to put together a strong MBA application to IIM Indore, and the characteristics of successful applicants, BusinessBecause interviewed Professor Himanshu Rai, director of the institute. Here’s what he said:

What do you look for in your MBA applicants?

We seek individuals who exhibit a strong sense of social responsibility, contextual relevance, and multifaceted aptitude, as well as possessing either demonstrated leadership acumen or potential for leadership.

What GMAT or CAT score should candidates aim for?

We accept only the CAT score for the PGP Programme. While meeting the minimum cut-offs in each section is mandatory, percentile scores in the 99th percentile or higher across all sections are generally preferred. Nevertheless, the CAT score is one of the several factors we consider in our selection process.

What’s one top tip for applicants to your school?

In our evaluation process, we emphasize an applicant's academic record substantially. Consequently, candidates who have demonstrated consistency in academic and extracurricular performance, in addition to satisfying the sectional cut-offs on the CAT, are particularly desirable.

How should applicants approach the academic writing test?

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, our institution currently does not include a Written Ability Test as part of our admissions process.

What does the admission interview include?

The interview presents candidates with an opportunity to showcase their academic prowess, mathematical proficiency, general knowledge, and communication skills.

If a candidate has an average academic record, can he/she expect a call for admission?

While a candidate's academic performance is undoubtedly a crucial factor in our decision-making process, a record of average academic accomplishment may not preclude a prospective candidate from receiving an offer of admission, particularly if the candidate excels in other areas of evaluation, such as during the CAT and interview stages. Nevertheless, securing admission with a sub-par academic performance could be challenging.

IIM Indore eligibility criteria

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in the case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories], awarded by a recognized university or educational institution, as listed by the institute.

Candidates seeking admission to the two-year PGP have to sit the Common Admission Test (CAT). While registering for CAT, candidates can apply to IIM Indore by selecting the option available in the online registration form. There is no additional cost for this.

Selection process

The selection process for the PGP in Management at IIM Indore involves multiple stages. First, candidates must have a valid CAT score and meet the minimum cut-off requirement set by the institution. Candidates who meet this requirement are then shortlisted for the next stage, which is the Personal Interview (PI).

IIM Indore uses a composite score to shortlist candidates for the PI stage, which takes into account their CAT 2022 score, academic profile, and gender. Academic scores up to class 12 will be considered, with no weightage given to scores beyond this level.

After the interview process, all candidates who are shortlisted are eligible to participate in the final selection round for admission to the program.

In the final admission round, IIM Indore's selection criteria awards 40% weighting to the Personal Interview (PI) stage. Additionally, 20% weighting is given to the candidate's Class 10 and 12 marks, while another 20% weighting is given to their overall CAT 2022 score.

IIM Indore fees

The fees for the program are INR 21,17,222 lak for Indian nationals and around $38,000 (US) for foreign nationals. This includes tuition fees, accommodation charges, library charges, and other charges related to academic and residential facilities provided by the institute. Additionally, students are required to pay for their personal expenses, books, and other study materials. It is important to note that the fees are subject to change from year to year, and prospective students should check IIM Indore's website for the most up-to-date fee structure.

IIM Indore financial assistance

IIM Indore provides need-based financial assistance (NBFA) to ensure that no participant is deprived of education at the institute for financial reasons. All participants admitted to the PGP, PGP in Human Resource Management (PGP-HRM) as well as the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) with annual family income below INR 9,00,000 are eligible to apply for financial aid.

Eligible applicants who wish to apply for the IIM Indore NBFA may apply in the prescribed form as available in PGP/IPM Office. (Candidates who applied through the EWS quota but secured a seat through the general or any other quota, as well as those who applied through SC, ST, OBC, or physically disabled quota and meet the eligibility criteria, are eligible to apply for NBFA.) See IIM Indore's website for further detail on this.