How can I prepare a strong IIM Kashipur MBA application?

TL;DR

• IIM Kashipur seeks MBA students who are critical thinkers with leadership potential, creative problem-solving skills, and strong academic grounding
• Admissions are holistic; strong CAT/GMAT scores help, but interviews, writing ability, and overall potential matter equally
• The IIM Kashipur MBA offers strong placements, industry engagement, and scholarships, making it a high-ROI option for ambitious MBA applicants

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur holds the 23rd position in the NIRF Management Ranking 2025, making it one of the best business schools in India. It was established in 2011, and endeavours to turn graduate management students into socially-conscious leaders by fully integrating ethics into management programs. 

The school offers two full-time MBA programs: a general management program, and a specialization in business analytics. Both MBAs have been recently redesigned to incorporate cutting-edge topics such as design thinking, and students can practice their skills in experiential learning modules.

Additionally, industry workshops held during the two-year program help students engage with real professionals working in artificial intelligence, consulting, analytics, and data science.

So, how can you guarantee a spot on the full-time MBA at IIM Kashipur? To find out what makes a successful applicant, we interviewed professor Abhradeep Maiti (pictured), chair of admissions at IIM Kashipur.

IIM Kashipur MBA application: what you need to know

What do you look for in IIM Kashipur MBA applicants?

Critical thinking, leadership experience and potential, and lateral thinking are some of the most sought-after traits we try to identify. In addition, applicants need to have a good command over their academic area of interest. 

What CAT/GMAT score should candidates aim for?

It is difficult to give any specific range as the applicant pool varies every year. However, potential applicants may reach out to Team Insite at IIM Kashipur to get a broad understanding about the profile of the current students.

How should candidates approach the IIM Kashipur MBA writing test?

If a test has a writing component, then it always favours the applicants who are well-read and have a diverse set of interests.

What should candidates expect in their IIM Kashipur MBA interview?

Applicants should remain calm and answer truthfully. Practice answering difficult questions using creative thinking.

Can candidates get into IIM Kashipur with an average academic record?

Admission offers depend on many different factors as we try to do a complete evaluation of an applicant's potential as much as possible.

IIM Kashipur selection criteria 

Indian students wishing to apply to IIM Kashipur should start by applying for the Common Admission Test (CAT). Your CAT score is a significant factor for admission, and a high score can increase your chances of being invited for an interview.

IIM Kashipur recommends that international students who will apply using the GMAT should aim for a score in the top 15th percentile. 

After gaining your CAT or GMAT score, you can register for IIM-CAP (Common Admission Process) for IIM Kashipur. Registration for MBA programs typically begins in January each year. 

IIM Kashipur fees for MBA students

Fees for the two-year MBA at IIM Kashipur total INR 17,30,000 (US$20,600), which includes a refundable caution deposit of INR 9,000 (US$108) and an admission fee of INR 25,000 (US$300), both of which are payable at the beginning of the first term.

IIM Kashipur MBA scholarships 

IIM Kashipur offers institution scholarships to 10% of MBA students in both the first and second year of the program. These scholarships comprise a full yearly tuition fee waiver and opportunities are separated into a needs-based scholarship, merit-based scholarship, and need-cum-merit-based scholarship.

IIM Kashipur placements

Out of a total of 324 MBA graduates in 2023, 319 found roles through the on-campus IIM Kashipur placement process. This included 122 offers in the financial services sector, 68 offers in consulting, and 36 offers in IT. 

In total, 340 offers were made to graduating students from 187 organizations across a range of sectors including financial services, consulting, FMCG, and IT. The majority of the accepted job offers were located in Mumbai, though Bangalore was also a popular destination for MBA graduates. 

The maximum earning potential of MBA graduates, including base salaries and cash components, reached INR 18,11,530 (US$21,600) this year. Students accepting roles in consulting saw the highest earnings potential of INR 37,00,000 (US$44,120).

First-time recruiters of IIM Kashipur MBA students included NatWest Group, Paramount, and Tata Motors. Historically, prominent recruiters of IIM Kashipur MBA graduates include Amazon, Infosys, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young.