What is the minimum CAT percentile required for IIM Lucknow PGP admission 2027?

The minimum qualifying CAT percentile for the General category is 90 overall and 85 in each section (VARC, DILR, QA). For NC-OBC and EWS candidates, the cutoff is 82 overall and 77 sectional. SC candidates need 65 overall and 55 sectional. ST and PwD candidates need 60 overall and 50 sectional. Meeting these cutoffs only earns a place in the shortlist scoring pool. The actual CAT percentile of admitted General category students in the 2024-26 batch ranged from a minimum of 92.41 to an average of 99.44.

Is CAT the only exam accepted for IIM Lucknow MBA admission?

Yes. IIM Lucknow PGP, PGP-ABM, and PGP-SM accept only CAT for the two-year MBA routes. GMAT or GRE is accepted only for the one-year IPMX executive programme. For the FPM doctoral programme, CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or UGC or CSIR or ICAR JRF or SRF qualifies the candidate.

How many students are shortlisted for IIM Lucknow WAT-PI each year?

For the 2024-26 batch, IIM Lucknow shortlisted 3,914 candidates for WAT-PI across PGP, PGP-ABM, and PGP-SM combined. Of these, 509 were finally admitted to PGP alone, giving a shortlist-to-PGP-admission conversion rate of about 13%.

What is the IIM Lucknow PGP WAT-PI selection weightage?

The final merit score for PGP weighs Personal Interview at 40%, CAT score at 30%, WAT at 10%, academic record at 10%, work experience at 5%, and diversity at 5%. Candidates must score at least 12 out of 40 in the PI to be eligible for the final merit list.

Is work experience mandatory for IIM Lucknow PGP admission?

No. Work experience is not mandatory for PGP or PGP-ABM. It contributes a maximum of 5% to the PGP final merit score and zero weight in PGP-ABM. For PGP-SM, a minimum of 24 months full-time post-graduation work experience is mandatory. IPMX requires at least four years full-time work experience after graduation.

Can final-year graduation students apply for IIM Lucknow admission 2027?

Yes. Final-year students may apply and appear in CAT 2026. They must complete all degree requirements and produce proof of graduation before the cut-off date specified in the IIM Lucknow 2027 admission notification.

What is the total fee for IIM Lucknow PGP 2027?

The indicative total fee for IIM Lucknow PGP is INR 20,75,000 (Year 1: INR 10,95,000 and Year 2: INR 9,80,000). For IPMX, the total programme fee is INR 26,00,000 plus caution deposit and alumni membership (INR 25,000 combined). All figures are subject to revision. Visit iiml.ac.in for the confirmed fee structure for the 2027-29 batch.

Does IIM Lucknow offer direct admission or a management quota?

No. IIM Lucknow does not offer direct admission or a management quota. All seats in PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, and IPMX are filled strictly through merit-based selection via CAT or GMAT or GRE and the WAT-PI process.

What is the reservation policy at IIM Lucknow?

IIM Lucknow follows Government of India reservation norms: General (40.5%), NC-OBC (27%), SC (15%), ST (7.5%), EWS (10%), and PwD (5% horizontal across all categories). The reservation applies uniformly across all programmes including PGP, PGP-ABM, and PGP-SM.

What is the IPMX work experience requirement and how is selection done?

IPMX requires a minimum of four years full-time post-graduation work experience. Selection uses a composite score: GMAT or GRE (30%), academic and professional profile (30%), Personal Interview (30%), and WAT (10%). Applications are accepted in three phases, with Phase 1 closing September 2, 2026, Phase 2 closing October 17, 2026, and Phase 3 closing December 1, 2026.

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

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated on - Aug 7, 2026

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) offers the Doctoral Programme in Management (Ph.D.), a full-time 4.5-year residential degree across 11 research areas. The programme involves 2 years of coursework followed by 2.5 years of thesis research. Tuition fee is waived for Indian scholars who also receive a monthly stipend of INR 35,000 rising to INR 40,000. Admission is through CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or UGC-JRF.

📋 Admission Status: Admissions for the 2026 batch commenced in June 2026. The 2027 batch cycle is expected to open October 2026 (Tentative).

Key Points

11 research areas span Agri-Business, Business Sustainability, Decision Sciences, Finance, HRM, IT and Systems, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain, and Strategic Management
All admitted Indian scholars receive a monthly stipend of INR 35,000 during the first two years and INR 40,000 after clearing the comprehensive examination, plus a one-time computer grant of INR 50,000
Conference support of INR 1,40,000 to INR 1,60,000 is available to scholars based on CGPA for presenting research at academic forums

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Fees 2026

Tuition fee is completely waived for all admitted Indian scholars. Scholars receive a monthly stipend and contingency grants throughout the programme, making the doctorate financially self-sustaining.

Course	Tuition Fee
Doctoral Programme in Management	Tuition fee waived

Stipend is INR 35,000 per month in Years 1 and 2.
Stipend rises to INR 40,000 after the comprehensive examination.
Free semi-furnished hostel is provided throughout the programme.

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Admission 2026

Important Dates

Event	2026 Batch (Reference)
Programme announcement	October 2025
Application deadline	16 February 2026
Shortlist announcement	First week of March 2026
Personal Interviews	6 to 7 April 2026
Final selection announcement	Third week of April 2026
Programme commencement	June 2026

The 2027 batch cycle is expected to open around October 2026.
General category application fee is INR 1,000.
SC and ST candidates pay INR 500 as application fee.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master’s degree with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC and ST), or B.E. or B.Tech degree with minimum 75% marks (70% for SC and ST)
IIM PGDM holders with minimum 6.0 CGPA are eligible without a test score
Valid CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or UGC or CSIR or ICAR JRF or SRF score obtained on or after 1 January 2024
Age limit: not more than 55 years as of 30 June 2026

Admission Process

Submit the online application at iiml.ac.in with academic documents and a valid test score
Shortlisting is based on test score, academic record, and research aptitude
Shortlisted candidates attend a technical interview and area-specific assessment
Final selection is announced in April and the programme commences in June
IIM PGDM holders who meet the CGPA threshold are exempt from submitting a test score

IIM Lucknow Ph.D vs Other Colleges

Here is how IIM Lucknow Ph.D compares with doctoral programmes at other top IIMs on financial support, exams, and ratings.

College	IIM Lucknow	IIM Ahmedabad	IIM Bangalore	IIM Calcutta
Fees	Fee waived	Fee waived	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
Exams	CAT GATE GRE GMAT JRF	CAT GMAT GRE GATE	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
Cutoff	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
Avg Salary	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed	Not Disclosed
CD Rating	4.2/5	4.5/5	4.6/5	4.4/5

✓ Opt for this if

You want a fully-funded doctoral degree from a top IIM with monthly financial support
You are targeting faculty positions at Indian B-schools or management research institutions
You hold a valid post-January 2024 CAT, GATE, GRE, or GMAT score and meet the academic eligibility

✗ Skip if

You want a short programme with immediate high-paying corporate employment
You are older than 55 years as of 30 June 2026, which exceeds the programme eligibility limit
Your goal is corporate management rather than research, teaching, or academic publishing

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Scholarships 2026

The IIM Lucknow doctoral fellowship is one of the most comprehensive financial support packages among Indian management schools, covering stipend, grants, accommodation, and conference funding.

Support Type	Amount	Eligibility	Period
Monthly Stipend (Years 1 to 2)	INR 35,000 per month	All admitted Indian scholars before the comprehensive exam	Up to 2 years
Monthly Stipend (Years 3 to 4.5)	INR 40,000 per month	Scholars who clear the comprehensive examination	Up to 2.5 years
Computer Purchase Grant	INR 50,000 one-time	All admitted Indian scholars	First year
Conference Support	INR 1,40,000 to INR 1,60,000	Scholars based on CGPA for research presentations	During programme

Contingency is INR 10,000 annually in Years 1 and 2.
Contingency is INR 15,000 annually from Year 3 onward.
Married scholars receive family health insurance of INR 1,00,000.

IIM Lucknow Ph.D Ranking

Ranking Agency	Latest	Previous
	#5 out of 350 (2026) #2nd Uttar Pradesh	#6 out of 372 (2025)
	#3 out of 270 (2026) #1st Uttar Pradesh	#2 out of 275 (2024) #1st Uttar Pradesh
	#58 out of 100 (2026)	#71 out of 100 (2025)
	#3 out of 150 (2019) #1st Uttar Pradesh	-
	#5 out of 125 (2025) #1st Uttar Pradesh	#7 out of 125 (2024) #1st Uttar Pradesh
	#4 out of 25 (2026)	#4 out of 25 (2025)
	#5 out of 100 (2026)	#4 out of 100 (2025)
	#8 out of 50 (2019) #2nd Uttar Pradesh	-
	#201-250 out of 301 (2026)	#201-250 out of 251 (2025)

IIM Lucknow Ph.D FAQs

Ques. Can I apply for IIM Lucknow PhD with a B.Tech and GATE score without a master’s degree?

Ans. Yes. A B.E. or B.Tech degree with at least 75% marks (70% for SC and ST) qualifies for direct application. A valid GATE score after January 1, 2024, is accepted. This route is designed for engineering graduates targeting management research in areas such as Operations and Supply Chain, IT and Systems, or Decision Sciences. Doctoral committee members evaluate research potential during the technical interview, so academic depth matters more than just the test percentile.

Ques. Do IIM Lucknow PhD graduates find placements in corporate roles or primarily in academia?

Ans. The programme is designed for academic and research careers. Most graduates join faculty positions at other IIMs, IITs, and central universities or international business schools. Some join research and analytics roles in think tanks or policy organizations. IIM Lucknow coordinates with institutions seeking researchers through the Doctoral Programme office. The programme is not suited for students whose primary goal is a conventional corporate management career immediately after graduating.

Ques. How competitive is IIM Lucknow PhD admission and what score is typically needed?

Ans. Published cutoffs are not announced for the PhD programme. Selection is holistic and considers test scores, academic record, research aptitude, and the technical interview. The annual batch intake is small, typically 20 to 25 scholars across all 11 research areas. Candidates with strong academic records and demonstrated research interest through publications or thesis work tend to perform better in the area-specific interview rounds.

Ques. Can foreign nationals apply for the IIM Lucknow Doctoral Programme?

Ans. Yes. Foreign nationals are eligible to apply. However, the monthly fellowship, stipend, and contingency grants are available only to Indian resident scholars. Foreign applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores obtained within one year of the application deadline. Hostel and health insurance are not guaranteed for foreign scholars. International applicants should contact the Doctoral Programme office at dpmoffice@iiml.ac.in for details on fee structure and support applicable to them.

Ques. What happens after clearing the comprehensive examination in the IIM Lucknow PhD programme?

Ans. The comprehensive examination is held at the end of Year 2 and tests mastery of coursework and the chosen research area. Upon clearing it, the scholar transitions to the research phase. The monthly stipend increases from INR 35,000 to INR 40,000 and the contingency grant rises from INR 10,000 to INR 15,000 per year. The scholar then focuses full-time on thesis research under faculty supervision, with access to conference funding for the remaining 2.5 years.