IIM Sambalpur Admission 2024 - Process, Selection Criteria, Eligibility & Fees

IIM Sambalpur MBA admission 2024 has started. Candidates interested in admission can apply through the official website. IIM Sambalpur MBA admission is based on national-level entrance exams like CAT and GMAT, followed by a personal interview round. The flagship course offered by IIM Sambalpur is MBA to which the institute accepts CAT scores for domestic admission and GMAT scores for international admission. Other courses offered by IIM Sambalpur include PGP, Executive MBA/ PGDM, and EFPM.

Even though candidates are shortlisted for IIM Sambalpur admission based on CAT & GMAT scores, other factors such as scholastic achievement, gender, and relevant work experience are taken into consideration. Following the CAT/GMAT, a PI round is conducted which is composed of online personal interviews. Following that, the final selection list is based on the CAT score, the PI score, and the Profile score including the work experience score as assessed during the PI process, the score for past academic performance, and any other criterion included. 

Since IIM Sambalpur is a participant of IIM CAP, only the performance of the candidates in PI in CAP 2024 and/or IIM Sambalpur’s process would be considered for preparing the merit list. In other words, only those candidates would be considered who would appear for the PI process of CAP 2024 and/or IIM Sambalpur. Candidates who have applied for IIM CAP 2024 need not apply for IIM Lucknow admission 2024 again.

The admission process of IIM Sambalpur consists of the following stages:

• Candidates need to appear for the CAT exam.
• Based on CAT, candidates will be shortlisted for the Personal Interview (PI) process. It will be an online interview.
• Based on CAT/ GMAT and PI scores, the final merit list will be prepared. The merit list will also include the work experience score as assessed during the PI process, the score for past academic performance, and any other criteria.

IIM Sambalpur admission 2024 will be conducted through the Common Admission Process (CAP) for the Personal Interview (PI) process. The merit list for IIM Sambalpur admission 2024 will be prepared only based on candidates’ performance in PI in CAP. The IIM Sambalpur shortlisting criteria for different components have been listed below:

IIM Sambalpur Shortlisting Criteria

Criteria for Merit List Preparation

The merit list for admission to IIM Sambalpur will be prepared based on the criteria mentioned below: 

• CAT Score: 30%
• Personal Interview (PI) process consisting of online personal interview: 25% 
• Profile: 45%

The following will be the breakup of the 45% component for Profile: 

• Academic Profile: 15%
• Work experience: 15%
• Diversity: 15 %

Also, note that candidates who do not obtain a certain minimum score in the PI process would not be considered for the merit list. The weightage for academic performance will be calculated as follows:

• 10th Standard: 2%
• 12th Standard: 5%
• Under Graduation: 8% 

For Work Experience, the following will be the basis for scoring the candidates:

IIM Sambalpur admission criteria for international students can be checked through the sections below:

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent percentage.
• Candidates need a valid score on one of the following tests: CAT/ GMAT/ GRE.
• Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through a test like TOEFL or IELTS. 
• Candidates must have a valid passport and student visa for India.
• Candidates need to provide proof of sufficient financial resources to cover your tuition fees and living expenses in India.

Selection Process:

• The selection process is likely similar to that of Indian students, involving:
  • Shortlisting based on standardized test scores and academic background.
  • Personal Interview (PI).

Candidates who have qualified for the CAT exam with the minimum cutoff score will be eligible for the next round of IIM Sambalpur admission. Following CAT, applicants need to appear for the personal interview round. The personal interview round will be conducted in the online mode. Candidates can check the sections below to learn more about IIM Sambalpir PI round:

Know all about IIM Sambalpur interview

The IIM Sambalpur interview is a crucial part of the selection process for their PGP/MBA program. The interview typically lasts for around 20-30 minutes. It is conducted by a panel of faculty members, usually two or three people. The interview can be a mix of structured and unstructured questions. Candidates can expect questions related to their academic background, work experience, career goals, motivations for pursuing an MBA, and your understanding of current business and economic events. Applicants may also be asked case studies or situational questions to assess their problem-solving skills and analytical thinking.

The panel wants to assess whether an applicant is a good fit for their program and community. Applicants need to be prepared to talk about their unique qualities and what motivates them. For applicants, clear and articulate communication is essential. Candidates need to pay attention to their body language and maintain eye contact. Candidates should also be prepared to analyze and dissect information presented to them. It is essential for applicants to stay updated on relevant business and economic news.

How to crack IIM Sambalpur Interview?

Some students of IIM Sambalpur shared their experience of interview process. Here are some key takeaways from IIM Sambalpur PGP students on acing the admission process, specifically the personal interview. Karthikeyan R shared his experience stating that tnterviewers generally play with your psyche often making different faces to confuse you and purposefully guide you towards misleading facts. He also shared that if anyone asked question involves thinking or introspection, je would generally ask the interviewers to use the writing pad, even if there was nothing much to write. Writing on the pad bought him time and helped him think at ease. This strategy worked out for him in most of my Interview experiences. 

Based on their insights, the following points can be considered for cracking IIM Sambalpur interview:

• As per Tushar Shah, during IIM Sambalpur interview one of the panelist asked him to sell his own laptop to him at a very high price than the laptop's market price. The market price told was Rs 70,000.
• Being asked to sell your own laptop for significantly above market price can feel like a tricky situation in an IIM interview. However, it's an opportunity to showcase your negotiation skills, critical thinking, and ability to handle unconventional situations. 
• One of the tips shared by students was that while explaining anything, in case you want to include a management concept jargon, be sure to know about it in and out. The other person may be an expert in that field and he can catch you and drill you. Its always better to explain in a lucid way.

During the Interview:

• First impressions matter: Dress professionally, arrive early, and maintain good posture and eye contact. Project confidence and a positive attitude.
• Listen actively and clarify: Pay close attention to the questions, and don't hesitate to ask for clarification if needed. This shows attentiveness and engagement.
• Articulate your thoughts clearly: Speak confidently and articulate your answers in a structured and concise manner. Avoid rambling or going off-topic.
• Quantify your achievements: Use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work or academic projects. This adds credibility and weight to your claims.
• Showcase your unique qualities: Go beyond your resume and highlight your interests, hobbies, or experiences that set you apart from other applicants.
• Ask insightful questions: Prepare several thoughtful questions about IIM Sambalpur, the program, or the interviewer's area of expertise. This shows your genuine interest and initiative.
• Stay calm and composed: Nervousness is natural, but don't let it get the best of you. Take deep breaths, maintain a positive tone, and remember your preparation.

One of the common dilemmas amongst MBA aspirants is whether they can join IIM Sambalpur without CAT or not. Well, the answer to this question is - Yes, one can join IIM Sambalpur without CAT.  For admission to the Executive Ph.D. program, candidates can take the IIM Sambalpur Aptitude Test (IIMSAT) instead of CAT/ GMAT/ GRE scores. Apart from this, IIM Sambalpur also selects industry sponsored candidates for specific programs like the MBA for Working Professionals. For admission for such candidates, valid work experience and sponsorship from your employer is required and CAT is not mandatory.

Is CAT mandatory to take admission in IIM Sambalpur?

For the Postgraduate Programme in Management (PGP/MBA) at IIM Sambalpur, CAT is generally mandatory for the majority of applicants. However, there are a few exceptions where you might not need CAT. Admission to executive Ph.D. and industry-sponsored candidates is provided without a CAT score. Apart from CAT, IIM Sambalpur admission can also be done through GMAT/ GRE scores.

Step 1: Visit the official website.

Step 2: Select the course for which you wish to apply and click on the ‘Apply Now’ option.

Step 3: Fill out the application form and enter the details like name, select course, etc.

Step 4: Upload the required documents.

Step 5: Pay the application fee to submit your IIM Lucknow application form.

List of Documents Required to Apply for IIM Sambalpur Admission

• Scanned copy of your photograph, passport size image with a white background.
• Scanned copy of your signature. It should be in black ink on white paper.
• Marksheets and certificates for Class 10, Class 12, and all undergraduate semesters/years. 
• CAT scorecard
• Other test scorecards (if applicable). If you are applying with GMAT, GRE, or any other test score, upload the official document.
• Work experience certificate (if applicable)
• Caste/Disability certificate (if applicable)
• Two recommendation letters from academic or professional references.

All candidates must pay the IIM Sambalpur application fee while filling out the application form. The registration fee for IIM Sambalpur admission is Rs.1000 for MBA programmes. The application fee for CAT is Rs 2,400 for general, EWS, and OBC categories and Rs 1,200 for SC/ ST and PwD categories.

Candidates can check from the table below IIM Sambalpur application fee details:

 IIM Sambalpur Application Fee Details

IIM Sambalpur CAP refers to the common admission process. IIM Sambalpur is among the 10 baby IIMs who are a part of IIM CAP 2024. It's a centralised online platform used by several IIMs, including IIM Sambalpur, for conducting the personal interview stage of their Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP/MBA) admission process. 

What is IIM Sambalpur CAP?

IIM Sambalpur CAP 2024 registration will likely start on January 24, 2024. After that, the online personal interview round is expected to be conducted from February 15 to March 15, 2024. Candidates who have a valid CAT score will be eligible to participate in IIM Sambalpur CAP round. The final IIM Sambalpur admission will be based on CAT + IIM CAP PI round. 

Stages of IIM Sambalpur CAP 2024

• Candidates need to register on the CAP website and apply to multiple IIMs simultaneously.
• IIM Sambalpur uses cut-off score based on CAT, to shortlist candidates for personal interview round.
• Shortlisted candidates need to attend online PI round conducted by IIM Sambalpur.
• IIM Sambalpur will prepare its final merit list based on a combination of CAT score and PI performance.

Highlights of IIM Sambalpur CAP

IIM Sambalpur CAP Dates

IIM Sambalpur is a part of IIM CAP among the 10 baby IIMs. IIM Sambalpur uses IIM CAP to shortlist the applicants through a common cut-off score based on CAT performance. This cut-off is determined jointly by all participating IIMs and ensures a consistent standard for initial selection. While shortlisted through CAP, IIM Sambalpur conducts its personal interview rounds for further evaluation. These rounds assess aspects like communication, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.