Reviewed by Kaushik Kapoor Co-founder and Director of Erudite, a premium MBA entrance coaching institute headquartered in Kolkata. An alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur and St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, with over 25 years of experience in mentoring students, MBA entrance preparation, test-prep strategy and academic training.
Last fact-checked: 4 August 2026
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management is a two-year, full-time residential programme leading to an MBA degree. The course is conducted across six trimesters and includes a summer internship between the first and second years.
This guide covers the IIM Bangalore MBA fee, admission process, CAT cut-offs, selection criteria, placement outcomes, rankings, scholarships and campus life. Admission rules, fees and selection weights are batch-specific, so applicants should verify the latest official notification before applying.
| Particular | Current Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Post Graduate Programme in Management leading to an MBA |
| Duration | Two years, full-time and residential |
| Academic format | Six trimesters with a summer internship |
| PGP 2026–28 fee | ₹26 lakh |
| Additional payments | ₹30,000 caution deposit and ₹30,000 mess advance per term |
| Domestic entrance test | CAT |
| International admission route | GMAT or GRE for eligible international and overseas applicants |
| NIRF Management rank | No. 2 in India in 2025 |
| Latest reported average salary | ₹35.35 lakh per annum |
| Latest reported median salary | ₹34.75 lakh per annum |
| Placement-report scope | Combined PGP and PGPBA Class of 2024–26 |
| Campus | 100-acre campus on Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru |
The figures above are based on the latest official information available at the time of review.
About the IIM Bangalore PGPIIM Bangalore’s Post Graduate Programme in Management is its flagship two-year management programme. It leads to the award of a Master of Business Administration degree and is intended to prepare students for managerial and leadership roles across industries.
The first year primarily covers core management disciplines. After completing the summer internship, students can choose electives during the second year. Eligible students may also receive opportunities to participate in international exchange programmes.
The PGP should not be confused with the following IIM Bangalore programmes:
Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management: A one-year, full-time residential MBA for experienced professionals
Post Graduate Programme in Enterprise Management: A two-year weekend MBA designed for working professionals
Each programme has a different eligibility framework, admission route, schedule and fee structure.
IIM Bangalore Rankings
Rankings should be interpreted according to their methodology and programme scope. An institutional management ranking is not directly comparable with a programme-specific Master’s in Management ranking.
| Ranking | IIM Bangalore’s Position |
|---|---|
| NIRF Management 2025 | No. 2 in India |
| Financial Times Masters in Management 2025 | No. 28 globally and No. 1 in India |
| QS Master’s in Management 2026 | No. 30 globally, No. 2 in Asia and No. 1 in India |
| QS Business and Management Studies 2026 | No. 29 globally, No. 5 in Asia and No. 2 in India |
The National Institutional Ranking Framework evaluates management institutions in India using parameters such as teaching, learning, research, graduation outcomes and perception.
International rankings may consider factors including employment outcomes, academic reputation, employer reputation, alumni progress, research and value for money.
IIM Bangalore also holds EQUIS international accreditation, which evaluates areas such as institutional governance, academic quality, faculty, research and internationalisation.
IIM Bangalore MBA Fees for 2026–28
The published programme fee for the domestic PGP 2026–28 batch is ₹26 lakh for two years.
The fee covers:
Tuition
Library access
Internet and digital resources
Course materials
Case-permission royalties
Hostel room rent and service charges
Medical and personal-accident insurance
Alumni-related activities
Students must separately pay a one-time caution deposit of ₹30,000.
A mess advance of ₹30,000 per term is also payable separately. The mess advance should not be treated as a fixed component of the ₹26 lakh programme fee.
Applicable taxes, if imposed under law, may not be included in the stated fee. Candidates should also budget for personal expenses, travel, electronic devices and other discretionary costs.
PGP students with an annual household income below ₹8 lakh may apply for IIM Bangalore’s need-based financial aid.
Students facing severe financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances may also be considered.
The institute evaluates factors such as:
Household income
Family savings
Assets and liabilities
Number of dependants
Demonstrated financial need
Exceptional financial circumstances
Depending on the assessment, students may receive financial aid covering 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% or 100% of the applicable amount.
Selected scholarships associated with IIM Bangalore students include:
| Scholarship | Indicative Benefit or Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Scholarship | ₹1.75 lakh per student; merit-based |
| OPJEMS Scholarship | ₹1.50 lakh, subject to academic performance and the scholarship selection process |
| NTPC Scholarship Scheme | ₹48,000 per year for eligible SC, ST and students with disabilities |
| Ministry of Tribal Affairs Scholarship | Means-based support for eligible Scheduled Tribe students |
| Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Scholarship | Support for eligible Scheduled Caste students or students with disabilities, subject to scheme rules |
Scholarship names, amounts and eligibility requirements may change. Applicants should check the latest financial-aid information before relying on a particular award.
IIM Bangalore follows a multi-stage admission process.
CAT performance is important, but the institute also considers academic records, work experience or professional qualifications, written communication and personal-interview performance.
Eligibility for Domestic Applicants
For the published PGP 2026–28 admission cycle, applicants were required to have:
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA
At least 45% marks or an equivalent CGPA for SC, ST and PwD candidates
A valid CAT score
Applicants who completed CA, ICWA or CS after Class XII without holding a bachelor’s degree could also be eligible, subject to the applicable marks requirement.
Final-year undergraduate students may apply provisionally, provided they submit the required documents and complete their degree within the stipulated deadline.
Work experience is considered in the selection formula, but it is not compulsory for admission to the two-year PGP.
Domestic and International Admission Routes
Domestic applicants ordinarily apply through CAT.
Eligible international and overseas applicants follow a separate admission procedure. Under the published international route, applicants may apply using a valid GMAT or GRE score, subject to the institute’s academic and applicant-category requirements.
An Indian applicant living outside India should review the official definitions of international and overseas applicants instead of assuming that the GMAT or GRE route automatically applies.
Stage 1: Initial Shortlisting
For the published PGP 2026–28 admission cycle, IIM Bangalore assigned the following pre-personal-interview weights:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| CAT | 55 |
| Class 10 marks | 10 |
| Class 12 marks | 10 |
| Bachelor’s degree marks | 10 |
| Work experience or professional qualification | 10 |
| Gender diversity | 5 |
The CAT component is divided among the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude sections.
A high overall CAT percentile alone does not guarantee an interview call. Sectional performance, academic records and the other weighted components can materially influence the shortlist.
Stage 2: Written Ability Test and Personal Interview
Shortlisted applicants must complete a Written Ability Test and attend a Personal Interview.
The Written Ability Test evaluates the candidate’s ability to develop and present a structured written argument.
The Personal Interview may assess:
Academic knowledge
Understanding of undergraduate subjects
Work experience
Career goals
General awareness
Communication skills
Critical thinking
Motivation for pursuing an MBA
Overall suitability for the programme
For the published 2026–28 cycle, the post-interview weights were:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Personal Interview | 40 |
| Written Ability Test | 10 |
| CAT | 25 |
| Class 10 marks | 5 |
| Class 12 marks | 5 |
| Bachelor’s degree marks | 5 |
| Work experience or professional qualification | 10 |
Final admission offers are based on the post-interview composite score within each admission category.
IIM Bangalore CAT Cut-Offs
The admission policy for the PGP 2026–28 batch published the preceding cycle’s minimum first-shortlist percentiles as a reference.
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
These figures are minimum screening requirements, not the percentile normally required to secure an interview call.
The scores of applicants who actually receive interview calls are generally higher because IIM Bangalore evaluates candidates using a composite score rather than CAT percentile alone.
The institute may revise the thresholds, category requirements and selection formula for subsequent admission cycles.
Documents Applicants Should Prepare
Depending on their academic and professional background, applicants may need to prepare:
Class 10 mark sheet
Class 12 mark sheet
Undergraduate transcripts
Degree or provisional degree certificate
Bonafide certificate for final-year students
Professional qualification records
Statement of purpose
Work-experience certificates
Supporting payslips
Category certificate
Disability certificate
Two online reference letters
The reference letters must normally be submitted by the selected referees within the stipulated application timeline.
Expert Admission Tip
The latest official placement report covers the combined PGP and PGPBA Class of 2024–26.
The statistics should therefore not be presented as outcomes for the PGP alone.
| Placement Indicator | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Total students | 605 |
| Students opting out | 9 |
| Offers made | 665 |
| Participating companies | 177 |
| Overseas offers | 7 |
| Average annual salary | ₹35.35 lakh |
| Median annual salary | ₹34.75 lakh |
As nine students opted out, 596 students participated in the placement process.
The number of offers exceeded the number of participating students. However, this does not mean that every student received the average or median salary.
Sector-Wise Placement Distribution
| Sector | Share of Offers |
|---|---|
| Consulting | 45% |
| IT, software, analytics and product management | 14% |
| Finance, banking and investments | 11% |
| E-commerce, payments, telecom and logistics | 10% |
| Manufacturing, construction, energy and infrastructure | 6% |
| FMCG and retail | 6% |
| Conglomerates | 5% |
| Healthcare and education | 3% |
Consulting was the largest recruiting sector.
Major recruiters by offer volume included:
Accenture Strategy
Boston Consulting Group
Bain & Company
EY-Parthenon
American Express
Kearney
Tata Consultancy Services
Other employers recruited for roles in technology, product management, finance, investment banking, operations, e-commerce, consumer goods and general management.
How Applicants Should Interpret Placement Figures
The median salary is often more representative of the middle of a graduating cohort than the average salary, which can be influenced by a smaller number of high-value offers.
Applicants should also evaluate:
Job function
Role quality
Fixed and variable compensation
Domestic or overseas location
Sector preference
Previous work experience
Career-growth opportunities
Programme cost
Opportunity cost of leaving employment
Placement statistics represent the outcomes of a batch. They do not guarantee a particular role or salary for every student.
Architecture and Campus Environment
IIM Bangalore is located on Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru.
The original 54,000-square-metre complex stands on a 100-acre campus and was designed by architect B. V. Doshi.
The campus is known for its stone architecture, interconnected corridors, courtyards, pergolas and landscaped spaces. Its design draws inspiration from Fatehpur Sikri and creates numerous spaces for interaction beyond formal classrooms.
Accommodation and Daily Life
The PGP is a residential programme, and on-campus accommodation is provided to students.
Hostel room rent and service charges are included in the programme fee, while mess payments are handled separately.
The campus also provides access to:
Dining facilities
Academic buildings
Library resources
Student-service facilities
Sports and recreation spaces
Cultural venues
Informal discussion and collaboration areas
Residential life allows students to interact with classmates through academic projects, clubs, competitions, events and informal peer-learning sessions.
Clubs, Committees and Events
IIM Bangalore reports more than 52 student clubs and over 20 annual events.
Student-led activities cover areas such as:
Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Entrepreneurship
Technology
Public policy
Social impact
Sports
Music
Dance
Theatre
Literature
Photography
Quizzing
Prominent student events include:
Unmaad
Unmaad is IIM Bangalore’s annual cultural festival. It includes performances and competitions across music, dance, theatre, literature, visual arts and other creative fields.
VENIX
VENIX is a consolidated business and entrepreneurship platform created through the merger of Vista and Eximius.
It brings together management competitions, speaker sessions, workshops, entrepreneurial activities and corporate engagement.
Yamini
Yamini is another cultural event associated with IIM Bangalore’s student-life calendar.
Students may also participate in elected student bodies, professional clubs, placement-related committees and social-impact initiatives.
IIM Bangalore combines a recognised MBA programme, competitive placement outcomes, international visibility and a distinctive residential campus.
However, its ₹26 lakh programme fee is substantial, and the admission process is highly competitive.
The institute may be a strong option for candidates seeking:
A rigorous two-year residential MBA
Opportunities in consulting, finance, technology and general management
A large peer-learning and student-led ecosystem
Elective flexibility
International exchange opportunities
A nationally and internationally recognised management-school brand
Applicants should not make their decision solely on the basis of average salary or rankings.
The following factors should also be considered:
Personal career goals
Preferred industries and functions
Financing requirements
Scholarship eligibility
Alternative admission offers
Opportunity cost
Location preferences
Long-term career plans
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IIM Bangalore PGP an MBA?
Yes. The two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management leads to the award of a Master of Business Administration degree. It is a full-time residential programme conducted across six trimesters and includes a summer internship.
What is the IIM Bangalore MBA fee for 2026–28?
The published PGP fee is ₹26 lakh for two years. Students must also pay a separate ₹30,000 caution deposit and a ₹30,000 mess advance per term. Applicable taxes and personal expenses may not be included in the stated fee.
Are hostel charges included in the IIM Bangalore PGP fee?
Yes. Hostel room rent and service charges are included in the published programme fee. Mess expenses are handled separately through a term-wise mess advance.
Is work experience compulsory for the IIM Bangalore PGP?
No minimum work-experience requirement is listed for the two-year PGP. Work experience or an eligible professional qualification can, however, receive weight during the shortlisting and final-selection stages.
What CAT percentile is required for IIM Bangalore?
For the reference cut-offs published in the PGP 2026–28 admission policy, the General-category minimum was 85 overall, with section-wise minima of 80 in VARC and 75 each in DILR and QA.
These were only minimum screening thresholds. The scores of candidates actually called for interviews were higher.
What was the IIM Bangalore average package in 2026?
The combined PGP and PGPBA Class of 2024–26 placement report lists an average annual salary of ₹35.35 lakh and a median annual salary of ₹34.75 lakh.
These figures apply to the combined placement cohort and should not be presented as PGP-only statistics.
Does IIM Bangalore accept GMAT or GRE for the two-year MBA?
Domestic PGP applicants ordinarily apply through CAT.
Eligible international and overseas applicants may apply through a separate admission route using a valid GMAT or GRE score, subject to the institute’s applicant-category and academic requirements.
Does meeting the CAT cut-off guarantee an interview call?
No. Meeting the minimum CAT cut-off only makes a candidate eligible for further consideration.
IIM Bangalore uses a composite shortlisting process that also considers academics, section-wise CAT scores, work experience or professional qualifications and gender diversity.