Begin your management journey-- IBSAT 2025, an MBA/PGPM Entrance Exam opens July 1, 2025

It’s that time of the year again. Applications for IBSAT 2025, the gateway to ICFAI Business School’s nine campuses, open on July 1, 2025. 

Getting into a good B-school is the first step toward a rewarding management career. At ICFAI Business School (IBS), the selection process is designed to identify not just academic performers but also those with the potential to lead, innovate, and collaborate. Here's a quick overview of how the IBS Selection process works:

What is IBSAT?

IBSAT is an online aptitude test conducted by The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (The IFHE), Hyderabad — a Deemed University. With remote proctoring, it can be taken from the comfort of your home. The test assesses a candidate’s skills in Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation, Data Adequacy, Vocabulary, Analytical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension.

Candidates with valid scores in CAT, NMAT by GMAC™, XAT, or GMAT™ (from 2023 onwards) are exempted from taking IBSAT 2025. However taking IBSAT 2025 will make them eligible for the  Rs.2 lakh  scholarship. In both circumstances the candidates have to fill in the IBSAT 2025 application form to proceed further.

IBSAT 2025 scores, as well as valid scores from the above national-level tests, are accepted for admission to the following programs:

MBA program at IBS Hyderabad, IBS Bangalore, IBS Dehradun, and IBS Jaipur

PGPM program at IBS Ahmedabad, IBS Gurgaon, IBS Kolkata, IBS Mumbai, and IBS Pune

Eligibility Criteria

MBA/PGPM – 2-Year Management Program

• Graduation (any discipline) with 50% and above marks, with English as the medium of instruction.
• Applicants must have completed at least 15 years of education (10+2+3 or 10+2+4 basis).
• Candidates not meeting the English medium criterion must submit TOEFL/ NELT/ IELTS scores by May 31, 2026.
• Final-year students are eligible to apply, provided they complete all graduation requirements (including practical exams, viva, assignments) before May 31, 2026.

o          Admission will remain provisional until they submit required academic proof.

o          Last date for submission of graduation documents: November 1, 2026.

• Eligibility verification will begin from August 2026. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they meet all criteria.

PhD Program in Management (Full-time / For Working Executives)

Academic Requirements:

• Graduation (any discipline) with 50% and above marks, with English as the medium of instruction.
  AND
• Post-graduation (full-time) in any of the following, with 55% and above marks:

o          Management (Marketing/ Finance/ HR/ Operations) from a UGC-recognized university

o          Allied disciplines: Economics, Commerce, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Statistics, Mathematics

o          Professional qualifications: CFA / CA / CWA / CS

Note: Candidates admitted through non-management post-graduation or professional qualifications are required to complete first-year MBA courses before continuing in the PhD program.

• Candidates not meeting the English medium requirement (at either graduation or post-graduation level) must submit TOEFL/ NELT/ IELTS scores by May 31, 2026.

Selection Process

Candidates shortlisted based on their scores in IBSAT 2025, or through CAT, NMAT by GMAC™, XAT, or GMAT™ (from 2023 onwards), will be invited for the selection process starting in the second week of February, 2026.

The process includes two components: Micro Presentation and Personal Interview.

Micro Presentation

This part of the process is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to think on their feet, organize their thoughts, and communicate effectively. Candidates will get 1 minute to prepare and 3 minutes to speak on a general topic assigned at random.

Personal Interview

The interview lasts about 5 to 7 minutes and is conducted by a panel that evaluates the candidate’s attitude, clarity of thought, communication skills, awareness of current affairs, and overall readiness for a career in management.

Admission decision

Final selection is based on past academic performance, along with performance in the Micro Presentation and Personal Interview.

IBSAT 2025 Important Dates