MBA admission 2025-26 is ongoing! Admission is based on the scores obtained in entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc., performance in academics, and GD/ PI/ WAT. The detailed schedule for all the important MBA entrance tests has been provided here!
MBA admission 2025-26
is ongoing in many colleges in India. The admission process for many colleges accepting CAT scores has begun or will begin after the CAT 2025 results are declared in December 2025. If you are seeking admission to top MBA colleges in India, you need to appear for entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAH MBA CET, TS ICET, TANCET, etc. Upon meeting the required cutoff, you will be called for counselling that includes group discussion, personal interview, or written ability test. Candidates are allotted seats in the colleges based on their academic qualifications, entrance exam scores, and performance in the selection rounds. Some of the eminent colleges offering admission to MBA courses include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, ISB Hyderabad, IMT Ghaziabad, etc., among others. Not all the business schools in India follow the same admission process, and different components determine the eligibility. Check out the details about MBA admission 2025-26 in the article below.
Also Read:
List of Top 10 MBA Specialisations in 2025
Step-wise MBA Admission Process 2025-26
The process of MBA admission in India is conducted in various stages, which may differ from college to college. The requirements and eligibility criteria for admission are also different for different institutes; thus, candidates must always be aware of everything before applying for admission. Below, we have discussed the most common stages involved in the MBA admission process across various colleges in India.- Appear for the Entrance Exam : For admission to top MBA colleges in India, the primary prerequisite is to appear for the entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAH MBA CET, SNAP, etc. Before applying for any entrance exam, make sure that your desired college accepts it. Since the competition to get admission to MBA colleges is too cut-throat, applicants should leave no stone unturned while preparing for them.
- Participate in Counselling : Those who achieve the cutoff percentile required by their preferred colleges are called for counselling, which may include group discussion, personal interview, and written ability test. Most colleges have their own selection process. For some state-level entrance exams like the MAH MBA CET and AP ICET, the CET cell conducts CAP (Centralized Admission Process).
- Secure a Spot on the Merit List : Once the counselling is over, the conducting authority releases a merit list containing the names of students who have been allotted a seat in their preferred colleges. The merit list is prepared on the basis of a candidate’s entrance exam score, performance in GD/PI/WAT, academic background, work experience (if required), and other factors.
- Report to the Designated Institute : If you have been allotted a seat, you must report to the designated institute within the given timeline. You will be required to submit the necessary documents, pay the admission fees, and complete other formalities. If a candidate fails to appear at the college and freezes his seat, it will be allotted to some other candidate on the waiting list.
Direct Admission/ Merit-Based Admission 2025-26
If you don't want to appear for MBA entrance exams or have missed to deadline, there is an option for direct admission. Many MBA colleges in India offer admission based on a candidate's academic background and overall personality. The eligibility criteria include a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks from a recognized university. Direct MBA admission without entrance exam in 2025 is a great option for candidates who don't want to get a management education from a decent college and start their professional journey.
MBA 2025 Admission for IIMs
CAT score is mandatory to get admission into IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management). You can use the CAT 2025 Percentile Predictor to estimate whether or not you will be able to meet the IIM CAT cutoff 2025 criteria based on last year's trends. More details about the IIM admission process are elaborated below.
The preliminary shortlisting/ selection process of candidates in all the IIMs is similar, but the subsequent stages of admission at IIMs are different. The preliminary stage of the selection process at IIMs is to ensure and determine a candidate’s eligibility for MBA admission in an IIM. The admission process at IIMs involves the following four stages:
Stage I – Determining Eligibility for Admission: A graduate from any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks at the UG level is eligible to apply for the IIM CAT entrance exam.
Stage II – Apply and Appear for CAT: All eligible candidates must apply for the CAT exam.
Stage III – Shortlisting by IIMs for Admissions: After the announcement of the CAT result , IIMs will release the first shortlist for admission. In the process of shortlisting eligible candidates, IIMs will independently award weightage to CAT exam score, academic diversity, gender, work experience, academic profile, etc., Some IIMs shortlist the candidates only based on CAT score. This is also based on the CAT exam analysis 2025 .
Stage IV – Final Round of IIMs Admission Process: The shortlisted candidates will be called for the final stage of the selection process which involves WAT (Written Ability Test)/ Group Discussion/ Personal Interview. Popular IIMs give higher weightage to GD/ PI than the CAT score.
Also Read : IIM Selection Criteria 2026-28
Eligibility Criteria for MBA Admission 2025-26
Academic qualifications, minimum marks obtained, minimum and maximum age limit, nationality, and scores from recognized entrance exams, such as the CAT, etc., are the factors that determine the eligibility for MBA admission. Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for admission to MBA in the year 2025.
- Bachelor's Degree: Candidates interested in an MBA program must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline that has been earned over at least three years.
- Graduation Scores: For applicants in the General category, a graduation score of at least 50% is mandatory. Students with backgrounds in SC, ST, or PWD can take advantage of a 5% exemption and must achieve an overall score of at least 45%.
Final Year Graduation: Applicants who are in their final year of Graduation can also apply for admission for the year 2025-26. However, the admission will be confirmed only if they can provide the necessary documentation when it is time for the MBA admission process.
Entrance Exam Scores: Candidates must pass entrance exams, such as the CAT, XAT, GMAT, SNAP, NMAT, or CMAT, and meet the cut-off marks required to fill out the application form of the institution they desire to enrol in.
Also Read : IIM Eligibility Cut Off vs IIM Call Cut Off
Entrance Exams for MBA 2025-26 Admission
Given below is the list of MBA entrance exams in India , including both institute-level and national-level exams:
Entrance Exam | Application Open | Application Close | Exam Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
August 1, 2025 | September 13, 2025 | November 24, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | |
July 1, 2025 | December 18, 2025 | December 28 & 29, 2025 | December 31, 2025 | |
| July 10, 2025 | December 5, 2025 | January 4, 2026 | Third week of January 2026 | |
| Second week of November 2025 | Last week of December 2025 | Fourth week of January 2026 | Second week of February 2026 | |
August 1, 2025 | November 20, 2025 |
| January 9, 2026 | |
| August 22, 2025 | August 24, 2025 | August 30, 2025 | September 4, 2025 | |
|
|
|
| |
| May 14, 2025 | August 20, 2025 | September 7, 2025 | October 2025 | |
| Last week of December 2025 | Last week of February 2026 | First week of April 2026 | First week of May 2026 | |
| First week of March 2026 | First week of April 2026 | First week of May 2026 | Third week of June 2026 | |
| 1st week of March 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 | 4th week of June 2026 | |
August 1, 2025 | October 10, 2025 | November 5 - December 20, 2025 | Within 48 Hours of the Exam | |
|
|
|
| |
Third week of January 2026 | Third week of February 2026 | Second week of March 2026 | Third week of April 2026 | |
MAT 2025 (February Session) | - |
|
| 2nd week of October 2025 |
Also Read : CAT vs CMAT, NMAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT & Other MBA Entrance Exams
College-wise MBA Admission 2025-26 Dates
Some of the leading MBA colleges in India along with their last dates for application have been mentioned below. Candidates seeking admission to an MBA course in B-Schools must ensure that they appear for the required MBA entrance exam 2025 and apply to the institute before the given deadline for the admission process.
IIM MBA Admission 2025-26
Check out the MBA admission deadline for top IIMs mentioned in the table below:
Name of the MBA College | Application Dates (Tentative) | Exam Accepted |
|---|---|---|
|
Round 1: July 7 to October 31, 2025
Round 2: September 22, 2025, to January 20, 2026 | CAT | |
| ||
| December 26, 2025, to February 28, 2026 | ||
| ||
| September 2025 - February 2026 | ||
| July 11 - September 15, 2026 | ||
| September 2025 - January 2026 | ||
| October 2025 - February 2026 | ||
| January 2026 - April 2026 | ||
| 1st week of March 2026 - 2nd week of May 2026 | ||
| January - February 2026 | ||
| Last Date to Submit Application Forms: January 31, 2026 | ||
IIT MBA Admission 2025-26
The IIT MBA application dates have been mentioned in the table below:
Name of the MBA College | Application Dates | Exam Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | January 1 - January 31, 2026 | CAT |
| IIT Bombay | January 1 - January 31, 2026 | |
| IIT Kharagpur | Last week of December 2025 - February 5, 2026 | |
| IIT Roorkee | January 1 - January 31, 2026 | |
| IIT Madras | Last week of December 2025 - January 31, 2026 | |
| IIT Kanpur | December 2025 - January 31, 2026 | |
| IIT Dhanbad | December 2025 - January 31, 2026 | |
| IIT Jodhpur | Last week of December 2025 - January 31, 2026 |
Top Private Colleges MBA Admission 2025-26
Apart from IIMs and IITs, there are several other top-ranked MBA colleges that candidates must consider for admission to MBA. Take a look at the top private colleges and their application dates below:
Name of the MBA College | Application Dates | Exam Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| GMAT/ GRE | |
| Institute of Management Technology IMT, Ghaziabad |
| CAT/ XAT/ GMAT |
| International Management Institute, New Delhi | December 2025 - January 2026 | CAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ MAT/ ATMA/ GMAT |
| Management Development Institute, Gurgaon |
| CAT/ XAT/ CMAT/ MAT/ ATMA/ GMAT |
| JBIMS Mumbai | MMS Last Date for Application Form: June 2026 | MAH MBA CET/ CMAT/ CAT |
| September 2025 - January 31, 2026 | CAT/ XAT/ GMAT | |
| S.P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai | September 2025 - November 2025 | CAT/GMAT |
| Last week of December 2025 | NMAT by GMAC | |
| Last Date to Apply for MBA and MBA (I&E): December 2025 | SNAP | |
| Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur | After January 4, 2026 | XAT |
People Also Ask
Ques: What is the MBA colleges last date to apply for the academic year 2025-26?
Ans:
The registration process for the academic year 2025-26 at most IIMs and IITs is open till January 31, 2026. However, you can apply to IIM Kozhikode, IIM Shillong, and IIM Amritsar till February 28, April 12, and the second week of May 2026.
Ques: What is the MBA admission 2025 start date for the academic year 2025-26?
Ans:
The MBA admission 2025 start dates for the academic year 2025-26 at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore go back to June/July 2025, respectively. At IIM Indore and IIM Lucknow, registration will begin in September 2025, respectively. MBA admission at most IITs will begin in January 2026. Only at IIT Kanpur, IIT Dhanbad, and IIT Jodhpur, the MBA admission process start date will be in December 2025.
Also Read:
Distance MBA vs Online MBA vs Regular MBA
How to Apply for MBA Course?
The points mentioned below give a detailed analysis of the application process for MBA 2025 before moving on to the MBA admission 2025 process. Candidates aspiring for admission to MBA in 2025 must go through all the factors regarding the application process listed here:
98% of MBA colleges in India accept online applications for admission. The online application process is very easy, and all that students will have to do is visit the official website of the respective B-School.
The online application link will be active on the homepage of the respective B-School website with headings such as ‘Admissions 2025’, ‘Apply Now,' ‘Register Now,’ ‘Online Application Form,’ ‘Click Here to Register,’ etc. Make sure you apply before the last date for registration.
Students will have to fill in all the personal, educational, and work experience details asked in the application form.
Most B-schools consider the score of any of the national or state-level management entrance exams for admissions. Therefore, students need to submit the score of the entrance exam and roll number along with the online application form.
A valid e-mail ID and mobile number are mandatory to fill out the online application.
Applicants can pay the prescribed application fee through the official website of the institute. The application fee payment can be done by using a Credit/ Debit Card or Net Banking.
Certain B-Schools offer direct admission to eligible candidates. These candidates can submit the online application form and wait for a call from the respective institute. The admission process may be based on merit/ GD/ WAT/ PI.
Documents Required for MBA Admission 2025-26
Here is the list of all the mandatory documents required to submit/ upload during admission to MBA in the year 2025:
Entrance Test Score Card and Admit Card
Bachelor’s Degree Certificate/ Marks Sheet
Higher Secondary Certificate (Class 10) and Senior Secondary School Certificate (Class 12)
Category Certificate (If Required)
Identify Proof (most probably Aadhar – Xerox copy)
Work Experience Certificate (Only for those who have work experience)
Also Read : Documents Required for MBA Admissions
Getting admission into a good business school is not as hard as it is often made out to be. If you keep a steady head, plan, be practical while shortlisting the colleges and courses that will be the most beneficial to you, apply before the MBA admission 2025 last date, and follow the proper process, you are sure to find yourself enrolled in one of India’s top B-schools. Remember that doing proper research will help you avoid any roadblocks that may arise in the admission process for MBA.
Related Articles:
| List of Top IIMs in India 2025 | |
You can fill out the
Common Application Form (CAF)
and apply to the popular MBA colleges in India. For all admission-related inquiries, you can contact our student helpline at 1800-572-9877. We wish good luck to all those aspiring to get MBA admission into their dream colleges!
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FAQs
Distance MBA 2025 admission process includes the selection of candidates based on merit and academic profile or scores of entrance tests. The selection criteria are decided by the institutions themselves. Shortlisted candidates can be given direct admission or called for a personal interview.
The admission process for MBA in IIMs includes mandatory submission of CAT scores. The admission process begins after the declaration of CAT results. IIMs will then shortlist candidates based on CAT exam score, academic diversity, academic profile, work experience, categories and gender. Then finally, candidates will be called for a writing ability test and personal interview.
The MBA application process 2025 last date in India differs as per institutes and colleges. Some IIMs will tentatively close their MBA admissions by May 2025 while other business schools will close applications by January 31, 2025. Students must shortlist the universities of their preferences and keep track of the dates.
The MBA admissions 2025 start in India from September to November in Indian business schools. The starting dates keep varying from one university to another therefore students must constantly check the website so as not to miss the application starting date.
The documents that are required for MBA admissions in India are admit card and score card of entrance examinations, class 10th and 12th mark sheets and certificates, bachelors degree mark sheets and certificates, category certificates, work experience certificates for working professionals, and identity cards such as Aadhaar card.
You can apply for MBA admissions in India by filling out the application form available on the college website. You can the application process from the official website of the college. You must fill in all the personal and academic details and work experiences. Besides the scores of entrance tests also have to be submitted.
Some of the popular entrance exams conducted for admission to MBA in India are CAT, MAT, XAT, and CMAT. Students can also appear for international level MBA entrance tests such as the GMAT, the scores of which are accepted by Indian business schools.
Some of the well-known colleges for pursuing an MBA in India are IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and ISB Hyderabad. Some of the other MBA colleges that are popular are XLRI Jamshedpur, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Delhi, School of Business Management- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies and Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad.
The MBA admission process for well-known MBA colleges in India includes qualifying in any one of the management entrance tests like CAT, MAT, SNAP, ATMA, etc. The subsequent stages of MBA admissions include group discussion, writing ability tests and personal interviews. After completion of all the stages, the students will be finally selected for MBA admissions 2025.
The eligibility criteria for MBA in India are candidates must have cleared a bachelor’s degree in any related field with at least 50% marks for general candidates and 45% for reserved categories. Candidates in the final year of their college can also apply. They also have to qualify for an entrance examination.
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