As of June 27, 2026, IIFT MBA 2026-28 has approximately 292 total seats across three campuses and around 350–400 students on the combined waitlist — a waitlist-to-seat ratio of roughly 1.2–1.4x.
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) releases a waitlist for its MBA (International Business) program after the first round of merit-list offers. For the 2026-28 batch, students shortlisted through CAT 2025 scores and the PI/WAT process who did not receive a direct offer are placed on a ranked waitlist. Movement on the waitlist depends on how many admitted students withdraw before paying the final fee — a number that historically runs between 40 and 70 seats per cycle.
- Total IIFT MBA 2026-28 seats: approximately 292 — Delhi (150), Kolkata (82), Kakinada (60).
- Total students on the waitlist: approximately 350–400 across all three campuses.
- Waitlist-to-seat ratio: roughly 1.2–1.4x — lower than most top B-schools, but movement is not guaranteed.
- Each campus maintains a separate waitlist; movement at Delhi does not affect Kolkata or Kakinada.
- Category-wise waitlists are independent — a freed General seat goes only to the next General waitlisted student.
| Direct Link to IIFT MBA 2026-28 Admissions (OUT) | iift.ac.in — New Admissions |
IIFT MBA 2026-28 Total Seat Intake
IIFT offers the MBA (International Business) program across campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada. The total seat intake for the 2026-28 batch is approximately 292 seats, consistent with the 2025-27 batch. Delhi remains the largest campus by seat count.
| Campus | Total Seats |
|---|---|
| IIFT Delhi | 150 |
| IIFT Kolkata | 82 |
| IIFT Kakinada | 60 |
| Total (All Campuses) | 292 |
Students are admitted to a specific campus based on preference indicated during the PI/WAT registration and their merit rank. A student waitlisted at IIFT Delhi is not automatically considered for Kolkata or Kakinada — each campus runs its admission and waitlist process independently.
IIFT MBA 2026-28 Category-wise Seat Distribution
IIFT follows central government reservation norms. Seats are divided across General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD categories at every campus. PwD is a horizontal reservation — those seats are distributed within existing category quotas and do not add to the overall count.
| Category | IIFT Delhi | IIFT Kolkata | IIFT Kakinada | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 54 | 30 | 21 | 105 |
| OBC-NCL | 41 | 22 | 16 | 79 |
| EWS | 15 | 8 | 6 | 29 |
| SC | 23 | 12 | 9 | 44 |
| ST | 11 | 6 | 5 | 22 |
| PwD (Horizontal) | 6 | 4 | 3 | 13 |
The category-wise breakdowns above are based on the standard reservation matrix applied to the total seat count per campus. Verify the exact figures on the official IIFT admissions portal.
Total Students on the IIFT MBA 2026-28 Waitlist
Approximately 350–400 students are on the IIFT MBA 2026-28 waitlist across all three campuses, based on the pattern from the 2025-27 and 2024-26 batches. The campus-wise estimated waitlist breakdown is as follows:
| Campus | Available Seats | Estimated Waitlisted Students | Waitlist-to-Seat Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIFT Delhi | 150 | ~180–200 | ~1.2–1.3x |
| IIFT Kolkata | 82 | ~100–110 | ~1.2–1.3x |
| IIFT Kakinada | 60 | ~70–90 | ~1.2–1.5x |
| Total | 292 | ~350–400 | ~1.2–1.4x |
Your individual waitlist rank is mentioned in your official offer letter or on the IIFT admissions dashboard. Students ranked in the top 30–40% of the waitlist at their campus have a higher probability of receiving an offer, based on historical movement rates.
How the IIFT MBA Waitlist Works
IIFT processes its waitlist in sequential rounds over several weeks after the initial merit-list offers. Here is the standard process for the 2026-28 batch:
- First-round offers issued: Students on the main merit list receive offer letters and must pay a seat acceptance fee within a set window.
- Withdrawal window opens: Students who accept offers at other B-schools withdraw from IIFT, freeing up seats within their category.
- Waitlist offers sent: IIFT sends fresh offer letters to waitlisted students in order of their waitlist rank, filling vacated seats category by category.
- Second and third rounds: The same cycle repeats across 2–3 rounds. Each round has its own acceptance deadline — typically 3–5 days.
- Final closure: After the last deadline passes, admission closes. Seats not filled after the final round remain vacant for that cycle.
Check the IIFT admissions portal regularly once waitlist movement begins. Offer letters from the waitlist arrive with short acceptance windows and require prompt fee payment to confirm the seat.
IIFT MBA Waitlist Movement: Previous Year Trends
Based on the 2024-26 and 2025-27 batches, IIFT’s waitlist movement is moderate. Historically, between 40 and 70 seats move across all campuses per cycle, with the bulk of movement happening in the first two rounds.
| Batch | Total Seats | Approx. Waitlist Size | Estimated Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA 2024–26 | ~290 | ~330–380 | ~40–60 seats (based on trends) |
| MBA 2025–27 | ~292 | ~350–400 | ~50–70 seats (based on trends) |
| MBA 2026–28 | ~292 | ~350–400 | Expected similar movement |
IIFT’s waitlist movement is lower than IIMs but comparable to other top-tier B-schools because fewer admitted students drop out — IIFT MBA (IB) has a very specific profile focus (international trade and business) that attracts students unlikely to have strong competing offers from programs with a different specialisation.
IIFT MBA 2026-28 Waitlist FAQs
Ques. How many students are on the IIFT MBA 2026-28 waitlist?
Ans. Approximately 350–400 students are on the IIFT MBA 2026-28 waitlist across all three campuses — Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada — combined. The exact waitlist count and individual rank are available on the official IIFT admissions portal.
Ques. What is the total seat intake for IIFT MBA 2026-28?
Ans. IIFT MBA 2026-28 has approximately 292 total seats — 150 at Delhi, 82 at Kolkata, and 60 at Kakinada. Seats are allocated across General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD categories at each campus.
Ques. Will the IIFT MBA 2026-28 waitlist move?
Ans. Yes, based on previous year trends, the IIFT waitlist typically moves by 40–70 seats as admitted students withdraw for competing programs. Most movement occurs in the first two rounds within 4–6 weeks of the initial merit-list offers. The 2026-28 batch is expected to follow a similar pattern.
Ques. How can I check my IIFT waitlist status for the 2026-28 batch?
Ans. Log in to the official IIFT admissions portal at iift.ac.in using your registered credentials. Your waitlist rank and current admission status are displayed in your application dashboard. Keep checking regularly during active movement rounds.
Ques. Does the IIFT waitlist differ by campus?
Ans. Yes. Each campus — Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada — maintains its own independent waitlist. Movement at one campus does not affect waitlist positions at any other campus. Your waitlist rank is specific to the campus you were waitlisted for.
Ques. Is there a separate category-wise waitlist at IIFT?
Ans. Yes. IIFT maintains separate waitlists for each reservation category — General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD. A seat vacated within one category is filled by the next waitlisted student in that same category. Cross-category movement does not occur.
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