The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and Indian Schools of Business (ISB) are two of the most reputed business schools in India. These institutes constantly find their place in the list of top business schools around the globe. Being the top choice amongst Indian MBA aspirants and getting admission to these b-schools is no cakewalk. So, how would you make it to these b-schools? What are the eligibility criteria for the same? Read on to find out.
Eligibility Requirements for IIM
There are 20 IIMs and 2 ISBs in India that offer MBA and other programs related to management. These b-schools have set some parameters to decide your eligibility criteria for the courses they offer.
To be eligible for a postgraduate degree from IIM, you need to hold a graduate degree in any field, from a recognized university, with at least 50% marks or the equivalent grade. You can send applications even if you are in the final year of graduation or waiting for the last year’s results as well. However, in such cases, you have to submit written proof to the director of your school or the principal. Besides, once you receive the admission letter, you need to submit the final graduation score report. Your application will be considered invalid if you fail to do so. Another important parameter is your entrance exam scores. Though IIMs mainly accept CAT scores for admissions, you can also submit your GMAT scores, if you wish to. Given below is a table that’ll give you an overview of possible GMAT Cut-Off for IIMs.
| Institute | GMAT Cut-Off |
| IIM-Bangalore | 710+ |
| IIM-Ahmedabad | 702+ |
| IIM-Lucknow | 710+ |
| IIM-Calcutta | 700+ |
| IIM-Indore | 700+ |
Apart from these, several other factors such as work experience, profile, etc., can also give a competitive edge to your application.
ISB Admissions
Unlike IIM, ISB mainly considers GMAT and GRE as the qualifying test for their courses. However, now they have started accepting CAT scores as well for some of their programs. The eligibility criteria for ISB differs based on the course you choose. However, most require you to have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and a good GMAT or GRE scores as the primary criteria. Besides, most of the programs offered by ISB might require work experience as well. If you are planning to apply to ISB, this table below will help you understand the GMAT cutoff for ISB.
| Year | GMAT Score Average for ISB |
| 2016 | 700 |
| 2017 | 704 |
| 2018 | 707 |
| 2019 | 709 |
| 2020 | 710 |
The cut-off range for IIMs and ISBs is comparatively high owing to the competition and high-quality education that they offer. The majority of MBA schools don’t specify the GMAT cut-off scores needed for admission to their courses on their websites. However, the cut-offs of previous years can give you a rough idea of what to expect.
Getting into IIM and ISB requires more than the above-mentioned factors. You have to prove you are capable of handling the course structure through your application and interview rounds. A good GMAT score, backed by a strong profile, MBA essay, and work experience, etc., can help you impress the admission committees. Good luck!
