What are the best courses to take in IIM Ahmedabad?

The best course that I took during my MBA at IIM Ahmedabad, was not at my college. It was the double degree that I pursued from ESCP Paris. There I had the pleasure of learning Marketing of Innovation under Professor Boris Durischin. The marketing concepts I learnt from him helped me land a well paying job. Sir made learning very pleasurable. He is one of the best teachers that I studied under. The courses that I learnt at IIMA, and found useful, are- Trading Strategies and Managing Financial Institutions- These two courses refreshed my concepts in Finance. MFI prepared me for BFSI and mid office IB roles. These courses are scoring as well. Business & Intellectual Property and Legal Aspects of Business- These two courses under Prof. Anurag Agarwal, are a one time experience. Sir’s way of teaching is unmatched. He only teaches important and relevant topics. These two courses groomed me as a business professional. These are the courses that I found useful as an MBA student at IIM Ahmedabad.

Why did IIM Ahmedabad discontinue its public policy course?

I am aware that this has never been the case. In reality, the Jindal School of Public Policy at IIM-A has started the process of constructing new campus facilities and hiring new academic staff. The public policy course was established with the support of the JSW Group. The JSW School of Public Policy (JSW-SPP) has already hosted numerous dignitaries and presentations from eminent academics from around the globe. In order to create a cadre of leaders with advanced knowledge and abilities in public policy and management, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) introduced the Post Graduate Programme in Public Management and Policy (PGP-PMP) in 2015.

What would you prefer from IIM-A, B, C, and XLRI Jamshedpur for management courses?

All four are the best, most renowned, highly established business schools in the country. Though to be a part of one of them will be dependent on various factors Order of choice (highest to lowest) Peer group: All of them give you a network of the sharpest and brightest minds, so all in the same boat. Culture: IIM C, XLRI, IIM B & A tie at the same spot (personal opinion completely). Location: Depends from person to person, so this is a ranking you'll have to do for yourself. Specialization: Depends on what specialization you're looking for. IIM Ahmedabad gives you the best for Consulting, IIM Calcutta for finance. Gut feeling: This is again, very personal, depending on what your dream college was when you started out. Other criteria like packages, internships, fees, etc. won't be a differentiation in these because all of them would give you very similar job profiles, and CTC and have marginally different fees. Ultimately, the institution that you choose should align with your career goals and aspirations. It's important to research and compare each institution carefully before making a decision.

What all things should I achieve or know (including social skills,academics,hobbies, certificate courses and whatever required) to confirm my admission in any of the IIM or particularly IIM Ahmedabad?

To confirm admission into any of the IIMs, including IIM Ahmedabad, you need to be a well-rounded individual with a strong academic background, good social skills, and a variety of interests and achievements. Here are some things you can focus on to increase your chances of getting admitted: Strong Academics: Academic excellence is one of the primary criteria for admission to IIMs. Ensure that you have a high score in your Bachelor's degree, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. A high percentile score in the Common Admission Test (CAT) is also essential. Good Social Skills: In addition to academic excellence, IIMs also look for candidates with good communication and interpersonal skills. It's important to develop these skills through extracurricular activities, group discussions, and networking events. Relevant Work Experience: IIMs typically give preference to candidates with relevant work experience. If you have worked in a field related to management, finance, or consulting, it can significantly improve your chances of admission. Leadership Skills: IIMs are known for producing leaders in various fields. If you have demonstrated leadership skills in your academic, professional, or personal life, it can be a significant advantage during the admission process. Hobbies and Interests: Pursuing hobbies and interests outside of academics and work can also make you a more attractive candidate. It demonstrates that you have a well-rounded personality and can contribute to the campus community. Certificate Courses: Completing relevant certificate courses in fields such as data analytics, finance, or marketing can showcase your knowledge and interest in the field. Research: Conducting research and publishing papers in management journals can demonstrate your academic potential and knowledge in the field of management. Recommendations: Strong letters of recommendation from your professors, supervisors, or colleagues can also help strengthen your application and increase your chances of getting admitted. In conclusion, to confirm your admission in any of the IIMs, including IIM Ahmedabad, you need to have a strong academic background, good social skills, relevant work experience, leadership skills, hobbies, interests, relevant certificate courses, research, and strong recommendations. It's essential to showcase your well-rounded personality and potential to contribute to the campus community.

Is it better to do an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad than from Wharton?

Both have advantages and disadvantages. IIM Ahmedabad Fees are much lower, roughly one-fifth of those at Wharton. Furthermore, student loans for the entire amount are easily obtained. Campus placement ensures that every student gets a good job after finishing the course. One has a year to find work in the United States or else they must leave the country. Wharton As a top ten institute, we have gained global recognition. Students from nearly 100 countries make up the class. They provide a degree as opposed to the IIM diploma, which requires an additional certificate to demonstrate equivalence to a degree.

Why do most chartered accountants fail in the finance courses at IIM Ahmedabad?

Some Chartered Accountants or commerce graduates may have struggled with final courses at IIM Ahmedabad, possibly because the courses are far too advanced and specialized (such as financial engineering subjects), or because IIM A likes to surprise students in a variety of ways. However, this is a rare case. This does not happen very often.

How do students at IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta choose their elective courses? Is there any system?

For elective course selection, IIMs usually have a course bidding system. Every student receives 1000 points and has to choose 6 courses. The institutes organize a bidding day. At the scheduled time, everyone needs to login into the system and starts bidding. Each course takes a maximum of around 75 students. On average 200-300 students bid on popular courses such as Finance, Marketing, Strategy, etc. It isn’t wise to use all the bid points on one/two courses. As there are many options to choose from, students usually get a course of their preference.

Which would be better: a PGD course at the IIM Ahmedabad or a master's in management at London Business School?

One of my friends was in a similar situation a few years back. After taking to the faculties of LBS, he decided to join the IIM Ahmedabad PGD course. Here are the reasons why. Masters in Management is a new course and doesn’t have much industry recognition. So, there aren’t many placement opportunities. Be it academics or placements, MiM students stay in the shadow of MBA students. It is not a good option if you have an ambitious career plan. MiM at LBS costs a lot and there aren’t many scholarship options available. Many MiM students choose to do an MBA later, which just doubles the cost. US has a vis permit issue for the non-Europeans, which makes it difficult to secure a job after graduation. Many students come back to India after completing their degrees. When it comes to management education, IIM A is the best there is. Even a diploma for IIM A will have more value in India compared to a MiM from LBS.

Which are the MBA courses offered by IIM Ahmedabad?

IIM Ahmedabad is an autonomous institute that is meant to provide a post-graduate diploma in management. There are multiple short-term and long-term courses offered by IIM Ahmedabad, some of which are as follows. Postgraduate Program in Management (PGP): This is the flagship course of IIM Ahmedabad and is a full-time two-year residential program. This is considered to be one of the toughest courses to get admission in. The admission happens through the CAT score for Indian applicants and GMAT for NRI and other countries’ applicants. Fellow Program in Management (FPM): FPM is a doctoral degree program in management. This course looks for students with excellent academic records, intellectual curiosity and sincerity, and some worthy scholarly contributions to the institute. Similar to PGP, the admissions in this course are done via CAT and GMAT as well. Postgraduate program in Food & Agribusiness Management (PGP-FABM): This course aims to transform young professionals and interested candidates into managers for allied sectors such as rural issues, food, and agriculture to name a few. Postgraduate Program in Management for executives (PGPX): This is a one-year course for professionals and executives. Faculty Development Program (FDP): It is a residential four-month program designed to develop faculty of management and training. There is no entrance exam but the relevant work experience is considered. Armed Forces Program (AFM): AFM is a six-month-long course specially designed to teach the officers of the armed force the contemporary Global Management Practices through management practice through case-studies, business presentation, classroom teaching. ePost Graduate Program (ePGP): It is a two-year postgraduate diploma program for working professionals and entrepreneurs, offered in collaboration with Hughes Global Education. Hope this gives you an idea about the courses offered at IIM Ahmedabad.

What CAT percentile is needed for IIM Ahmedabad MBA admission 2027?

The announced minimum for General and EWS is 95 overall percentile. You also need 85 percentile in each of the three sections. The actual interview call score runs much higher than this floor.

Is CAT compulsory, or does IIM Ahmedabad accept GMAT and GRE?

CAT is compulsory for the two-year MBA and MBA-FABM for Indian candidates. GMAT or GRE is used only for MBA-PGPX and the Dubai one-year MBA. Foreign passport holders may use a test centre GMAT under the Supernumerary Quota.

Can final year students apply for IIM Ahmedabad MBA 2027?

Yes, final year students can apply. They must submit a certificate from their principal or registrar confirming their status. Admission stays provisional until the degree marksheet is submitted.

How is the final merit list calculated at IIM Ahmedabad?

The Final Composite Score gives 50% to the Personal Interview. CAT carries 25%, the Application Rating carries 15% and the AWT carries 10%. Selection is done separately within each reservation category.

Is work experience necessary for IIM Ahmedabad MBA admission?

No, freshers are eligible and are admitted every year. Work experience only adds points to the Application Rating score. You need at least 12 months to score anything, and 36 months to score the maximum 5 points.

Is direct admission or management quota available at IIM Ahmedabad?

No. IIM Ahmedabad admits strictly on merit through the published selection process. There is no management quota, donation seat or direct admission route.

What is the application fee for IIM Ahmedabad MBA admission 2027?

IIM Ahmedabad does not charge a separate MBA application fee. You pay the CAT 2026 registration fee of INR 2,700. SC, ST and PwD candidates pay INR 1,350.

What is the IIM Ahmedabad MBA fee?

The programme fee was INR 27,50,000 for the 2025-27 MBA batch. This included tuition of INR 20,10,000. The fee for the 2027-29 batch will be announced later and is subject to revision.

How many students does IIM Ahmedabad admit every year?

IIM Ahmedabad inducted 458 students in June 2026. Of these, 414 joined the flagship MBA and 44 joined MBA-FABM. Intake is not a fixed sanctioned figure and shifts slightly each year.

Does IIM Ahmedabad give extra marks to female candidates?

Yes. All non-male candidates receive a gender diversity score of 3 points. This is added into the Application Rating score used at both stages.

IIM Ahmedabad Ph.D Management: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Component	Amount (INR)
Application Fee	INR 500 (INR 250 for reserved category)
Tuition Fee	Fully Waived
Hostel and Utilities	Covered by Fellowship
Total Fees	INR 500 (Application Fee Only)

Event	Date
CAT 2026 Registration Opens	Aug 3, 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Closes	Sep 15, 2026
Ph.D. Application Opens	September 2026 (Tentative)
CAT 2026 Exam Date	Nov 29, 2026
CAT 2026 Result	Dec 24, 2026 (Tentative)
Ph.D. Application Deadline	January 2027 (Tentative)
Interview Rounds	March 2027 to April 2027 (Tentative)
Class Commencement	June 2027 (Tentative)

Fellowship Component	Amount	Eligibility
FPM Fellowship (Coursework Phase)	INR 48,000 per month	Years 1 to 2
FPM Fellowship (Post Comprehensive Exam)	INR 52,000 per month	After Area Comprehensive Exam
FPM Fellowship (Post Thesis Proposal)	INR 58,000 per month	After thesis proposal submission
Annual Contingency Allowance	INR 35,000 per year	All enrolled scholars (up to 5 years)
Computing Equipment Grant	INR 1,00,000 (one-time)	At programme commencement
Conference Presentation Support	Up to INR 5,75,000	Approved conference presentations
Fieldwork and Data Collection Support	Up to INR 2,00,000	Primary research activities
House Rent Allowance	INR 18,000 per month INR 24,000 per month (with family)	All enrolled scholars

IIM Ahmedabad Ph.D. Management FAQs

Ques. Is the IIM Ahmedabad Ph.D. in Management fully funded?

Ans. Yes, the programme is entirely funded by IIMA. Doctoral scholars face no tuition or hostel charges. A monthly stipend of INR 48,000 is provided during the coursework phase, rising to INR 52,000 after the Area Comprehensive Exam and INR 58,000 after thesis proposal submission. Medical insurance and computing equipment are also covered.

Ques. Which entrance exams are accepted for IIMA Ph.D. admission?

Ans. The primary exam is CAT, valid for 5 years. Depending on the specialization, GATE, GRE, GMAT, and UGC-NET JRF scores are also accepted. NRI and foreign candidates are required to submit a valid GMAT score. A single application can include up to two specializations.

Ques. What specializations are offered in the IIM Ahmedabad Ph.D. programme?

Ans. The programme offers 11 specializations: Economics, Finance and Accounting, Food and Agribusiness, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Innovation and Management in Education, Marketing, Operations and Decision Sciences, Organizational Behavior, Public Systems, and Strategy. Each area is led by dedicated faculty researchers.

Ques. How long does the IIMA Ph.D. in Management typically take to complete?

Ans. The average duration is 4 to 5 years. The first two years involve intensive coursework in the chosen specialization. Students then appear for the Area Comprehensive Exam before moving to the thesis stage. The programme requires full-time commitment throughout its duration.

Ques. Is work experience mandatory for the IIM Ahmedabad Ph.D. application?

Ans. Work experience is not a mandatory requirement. However, relevant professional or research experience is considered a positive factor during the shortlisting and interview evaluation process. Academic background and entrance exam scores are the primary criteria for shortlisting candidates.

Ques. Can candidates with a professional degree like CA apply for the IIMA Ph.D.?

Ans. Yes, candidates holding CA, CS, or CMA qualifications with a minimum of 50% marks, combined with a Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks, are eligible to apply. These candidates can use CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, or UGC-NET JRF scores for the admission process.