What do I need to know before applying to the Indian School of Business MBA?

TL;DR 

• The Indian School of Business (ISB) offers an MBA equivalent called the PGP which ranks among the 30 best programs around the world 
• ISB evaluates MBA applicants holistically, valuing balanced strengths across academics, leadership, creativity, work experience, essays, and extracurriculars
• Essays focus on personal growth, intellectual motivations, and career goals—strong storytelling matters as much as test scores while there are no score cut-offs 

Frequently ranked among the top 50 business schools in the world, the Indian School of Business (ISB) attracts thousands of students from throughout India—and the world—every year.  

Founded in 2001, the school has two campuses in Hyderabad and Mohali. Despite its relatively young age, ISB has quickly risen to prominence for its research-intensive approach to business education and high quality faculty. 

ISB’s MBA equivalent is called the Postgraduate Program in Management (PGP), and in 2025 it was ranked among the top 30 MBA programs in the world by the Financial Times.

As an ISB graduate, you’ll join an alumni network of over 17,000 professionals, and count yourself among the ranks of notable grads including the former CEO of Groupon India and the former Chief Product Officer for Uber.

But what does it take to make a successful ISB MBA application? To find out, GMAC caught up with Amit Tyagi, senior associate director at ISB, to find out what makes a strong applicant.

ISB MBA application: What you should know 

What skills or attributes do you look for in ISB MBA candidates? 

ISB follows a holistic approach to candidate evaluation which ensures that candidates can showcase their diverse and varied skill sets. 

The evaluation process tests candidates on their achievement orientation through their academic history and professional experiences, leadership skills as displayed through initiative shown across professional and personal experiences, and an innovative and creative mindset through various co-curricular activities.

What are the ISB MBA application essay questions?

ISB application essays intend to bring out a mix of personal and professional experience, strengths and skillsets of the applicants. There are two mandatory essays which provide an opportunity for the candidates to showcase their personal attributes and there is an optional essay where candidates can talk about their career goals for both the long term and short term. 

The essay questions are as below:

Mandatory Essays (400 words maximum)

⇨ Contemplate situations that have shaped your personal journey. Present what these situations have taught you about your strengths and weaknesses, and how they have shaped your personal and professional journey.

⇨ What intellectual experiences have influenced your approach to learning and have led you to pursue an MBA? Please describe using anecdotes from your own experiences.

Optional Essay (250 words maximum)

⇨ Given your experience and aspirations, how do you plan to use the PGP at ISB to fulfil your professional goals?

What are the biggest mistakes candidates can make in an MBA application to ISB?

The biggest mistake that a candidate can make in an ISB MBA application is emphasizing a single parameter in the application at the cost of others. 

ISB’s application is designed to capture various aspects of a candidature which ensures that the evaluator gets a holistic picture of a candidate’s skill sets, achievements, and the experiences they bring in. Hence each section of the application is important and relevant for the success of an application. 

By only focusing on a single parameter, such as a test score, and not giving your best to the other sections, such as work history or essays, the candidate risks jeopardizing their chances of getting selected at ISB.

Tell us one thing about the ISB MBA application process that most people wouldn't know

The one thing about ISB’s MBA application that most people are not aware of is that we do not have any cut-off on individual parameters such as a test score. At ISB the shortlisting for interviews happens on a score which is a combination of test scores, academic scores, professional history, essays, recommendation letter, and extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. This ensures that people can balance the various parameters in their profile and there are no hard individual cut-offs for test scores.

Which exam scores can candidates submit with their application?

For the one-year full-time PGP in Management, we accept both GMAT and GRE scores. However, these scores need to be from a test taken at a test centre. At home scores for either GRE or GMAT are not accepted. 

For the two-year full-time PGP in Management for Young Leaders we accept CAT scores along with GMAT and GRE test centre scores. Candidates can choose to write any of the above tests.

What is the target GMAT exam score?  

Since ISB follows a holistic evaluation approach we do not have cut-offs on the GMAT or GRE. However, our last cohort had a GMAT median score of 655 with a range encompassing 575 to 785. 

How important is the GMAT for a candidate’s application process? 

GMAT and other tests are one of the important components of the application evaluation process at ISB along with academics, professional history, and essays and activities. The test measures the candidate’s critical thinking skills, ability to make decisions under pressure, and executive reasoning capabilities.

What other ISB MBA insider tips can you share with candidates?

Candidates need to identify their top skill sets, be confident in the application process and not self-reject themselves. The ISB evaluation process is a holistic process ensuring you can balance your profile across various parameters.

How can candidates choose which application round to apply in? What would you advise?

Candidates can choose to apply in any of the rounds as the chances of selection and scholarships are consistent across the three rounds at ISB. However, it is recommended that candidates apply in the earlier rounds as long as they are fully prepared with their application. This will ensure that they make their decisions early and are able to make the best use of their time in planning their year at ISB and integrating with the ISB community.