IIFT Admission Process 2026: Eligibility and Selection Criteria
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- 29 Nov 2026CAT 2026 Exam Date Scheduled
The CAT 2026 entrance exam mandatory for IIFT MBA admission is scheduled for November 29, 2026.
Applicants must possess a recognized bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PWD) to qualify for admission across the Delhi and Kolkata campuses.
The following sections outline the complete IIFT MBA admission requirements, including eligibility criteria, selection weightage, expected CAT cutoffs, important dates, application steps, and top management institutes offering international business programs.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Accepted Exam | CAT (Common Admission Test) |
| Minimum Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PWD) |
| Campuses Offered | IIFT New Delhi and IIFT Kolkata |
| Application Fee | Rs. 3,000 (General) / Rs. 1,500 (SC/ST/PWD) |
| Expected Programme Fee | Rs. 21.82 Lakhs (MBA IB) |
| Expected General Cutoff | 70 percentile overall (90-95+ percentile for Delhi, 85+ for Kolkata) |
MBA in International Business Eligibility
Candidates must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree in any discipline to meet eligibility standards. Shortlisting for the IIFT MBA in International Business requires a valid CAT score, with no upper age restriction.
IIFT MBA Admission Key Dates and Schedule
| Event / Phase | Dates / Timeline |
|---|---|
| IIFT MBA Registration Start Date | Third week of October 2026 |
| IIFT Application & Fee Payment Last Date | Second week of December 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Declaration of IIFT Shortlist | February 03, 2027 |
| GD and Personal Interview (PI) Rounds | From March 2027 Onwards |
| Final Selection Result Declaration | Last week of April 2027 |
| Commencement of MBA IB Programme | June 2027 |
Online registration begins in the third week of October 2026, with final selection results declared in the last week of April 2027. The MBA IB programme commences in June 2027 following group discussion and personal interview rounds.
IIFT MBA Shortlisting and Selection Criteria Weightage
Stage 1 shortlisting for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) assigns 90 points to the candidate’s CAT score, 5 points to relevant work experience, and 5 points to female gender diversity. The total shortlisting score is calculated out of 100 points.
In Stage 2 final selection, the weightage breakdown consists of 55 points for CAT score, 30 points combined for GD (10 points) and PI (20 points), 5 points for gender diversity, and 5 points for academic consistency.
Work Experience Score Rating for IIFT Selection
| Work Experience Duration | Raw Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 00 |
| 6 months to 12 months | 01 |
| > 12 months to 18 months | 02 |
| > 18 months to 24 months | 03 |
| > 24 months to 30 months | 04 |
| > 30 months to 36 months | 05 |
| > 36 months to 42 months | 04 |
| > 42 months to 48 months | 03 |
| > 48 months to 54 months | 02 |
| > 54 months to 60 months | 01 |
| Greater than 60 months | 00 |
Work experience between 30 and 36 months awards the maximum raw score of 5 points in IIFT’s evaluation criteria. Duration under 6 months or greater than 60 months receives zero points.
MBA in International Business Application Process
- Visit the official IIFT website at iift.ac.in and register on the portal.
- Create an account in the admission portal to fill out personal and academic details.
- Submit the IIFT MBA application form along with the fee payment of Rs. 3,000 for General category or Rs. 1,500 for reserved categories (SC/ST/PWD).
Registration begins in the third week of October 2026. Applicants must complete their application submission and fee payment by the second week of December 2026.
Top MBA in International Business Colleges
At least 636 colleges offer MBA in International Business across India, including 13 government colleges and 243 private colleges. Government colleges feature a median total course fee of ₹1.19 lakh, with the middle half ranging between ₹58,937 and ₹2.65 lakh across 13 colleges with fee data. Private colleges feature a median total course fee of ₹1.60 lakh, with the middle half between ₹1.10 lakh and ₹2.44 lakh across 228 colleges with fee data.
By distribution, Uttar Pradesh has 198 colleges, Maharashtra has 81, Haryana has 50, Karnataka has 37, Uttarakhand has 34, and Tamil Nadu has 33. The median average placement package across 25 reporting colleges is 3.44 LPA.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamia Millia Islamia University | Delhi | Government | ₹52,945 | 4 (Overall, 2025) |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹1.08 lakh | 5 (Overall, 2025) |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹8,500 | 6 (Overall, 2025) |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Chennai | — | ₹7.00 lakh | 13 (Overall, 2025) |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Private | ₹6.83 lakh | 19 (Overall, 2025) |
| Amity University Noida | Noida | — | ₹13.60 lakh | 22 (Overall, 2025) |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹8,500 |
| Gujarat Technological University | Ahmedabad | Government | ₹50,000 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia University | Delhi | Government | ₹52,945 |
| Panjab University | Chandigarh | Government | ₹64,930 |
| Delhi University | Delhi | Government | ₹1.08 lakh |
| Annamalai University | Chidambaram | Government | ₹1.10 lakh |
| Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University | Lucknow | Government | ₹1.19 lakh |
| Magadh University | Gaya | Government | ₹1.60 lakh |
| CSJM Kanpur University | Kanpur | Government | ₹1.80 lakh |
| Gujarat University | Ahmedabad | Government | ₹2.20 lakh |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | Average package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School of Management Sciences Lucknow | Lucknow | Private | ₹1.41 lakh | 5.93 LPA |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad | Private | ₹1.33 lakh | 5.35 LPA |
| Institute of Management and Technology | Faridabad | Private | ₹1.60 lakh | 5.27 LPA |
| Prestige Institute of Management and Research | Indore | Private (aided) | ₹3.18 lakh | 4.55 LPA |
| Institute of Technology and Science Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad | Private | ₹2.01 lakh | 4.2 LPA |
| National School of Business | Bangalore | Private | ₹9.10 lakh | 4.17 LPA |
| Goel Institute of Technology & Management | Lucknow | Private | ₹1.57 lakh | 3.96 LPA |
| Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering | Bangalore | Private | ₹1.39 lakh | 3.77 LPA |
| Gitarattan International Business School | Delhi | Private | ₹4.56 lakh | 3.44 LPA |
| Babu Banarasi Das National Institute of Technology & Management | Lucknow | Private | ₹2.60 lakh | 3.36 LPA |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pune | 42 | ₹49,459 – ₹18.90 lakh | Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, MIT World Peace University |
| Lucknow | 37 | ₹59,700 – ₹3.24 lakh | University of Lucknow, Babu Banarasi Das National Institute of Technology & Management |
| Dehradun | 25 | ₹1.20 lakh – ₹15.72 lakh | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Uttaranchal University |
| Bangalore | 25 | ₹60,000 – ₹15.07 lakh | REVA University, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering |
| Meerut | 22 | ₹58,000 – ₹4.80 lakh | Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Vidya School of Business |
| Greater Noida | 22 | ₹70,000 – ₹10.02 lakh | Galgotias University, Noida International University |
| Ghaziabad | 21 | ₹59,700 – ₹3.41 lakh | Institute of Technology and Science Ghaziabad, ABES Engineering College |
| Delhi | 20 | ₹52,945 – ₹6.15 lakh | Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi University |
| College | City | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|
| School of Distance Learning, Jagan Nath University | Jaipur | ₹58,500 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth University | Pune | ₹1.78 lakh |
| Lovely Faculty of Distance Education, Lovely Professional University | Jalandhar | ₹62,000 |
| University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | Dehradun | ₹15.26 lakh |
| Online VGU Vivekananda Global University | Jaipur | ₹1.50 lakh |
How to Apply for MBA in International Business Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check eligibility criteria: Verify bachelor’s degree graduation aggregate of 50% for General or 45% for reserved SC/ST/PWD categories.
- Register and appear for CAT 2026: Apply and take the CAT 2026 examination scheduled on November 29, 2026.
- Submit IIFT application online: Register on iift.ac.in between third week of October 2026 and second week of December 2026 and fill in academic and personal details.
- Pay application fees: Pay the IIFT MBA application fee of Rs. 3,000 (General) or Rs. 1,500 (SC/ST/PWD) before the deadline in December 2026.
- Check shortlist for Stage 2: Check candidate shortlisting status declared on February 03, 2027 based on CAT score, work ex, and gender diversity criteria.
- Accept final admission offer and pay fees: Check final admission offer released in late April 2027 and complete fee payments before joining classes in June 2027.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | MBA in International Business colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
FAQs
Does IIFT conduct its own entrance exam for MBA admission?
No, IIFT does not conduct a separate entrance examination for admission. Selection for the flagship MBA in International Business programme across Delhi and Kolkata campuses is strictly based on CAT scores followed by further evaluation stages.
What is the minimum eligibility criteria for IIFT MBA in International Business?
Candidates must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks. Reserved category candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PWD need a minimum of 45% aggregate marks. There is no upper age limit.
What is the expected CAT cutoff for IIFT Delhi and Kolkata campuses?
The general category overall cutoff is expected around the 70 percentile. For the IIFT Delhi campus, expected cutoffs range from 90 to 95+ percentile, while the IIFT Kolkata campus cutoff is 85+ percentile.
What is the IIFT application fee for MBA IB?
The application fee for the IIFT MBA IB program is Rs. 3,000 for General category candidates and Rs. 1,500 for candidates applying under SC, ST, and PWD categories.
How many seats are offered for MBA in International Business at IIFT?
IIFT offers around 240 seats each at its Delhi and Kolkata campuses, totaling approximately 480 seats.
What is the total fee for IIFT MBA in International Business?
The expected total course fee for the full-time flagship MBA in International Business program at IIFT is Rs. 21.82 Lakhs. The fee for the MBA in Business Analytics program is Rs. 17.87 Lakhs.
