MBA Admission: Dates, Eligibility, Exams and Top Colleges

So, you wish to pursue an MBA for that X-factor which sets you apart from your peers and you are looking through scores of articles on the internet, like many others. If you were looking for a one-stop guide which answers all your queries, and then some more, you are at the right place.

Master of Business Administration or MBA degree is a two-year post-graduate program that is offered in a variety of specialisations. India's best MBA colleges accept admissions on the basis of the nationwide MBA entrance exams, which are held throughout the year. Those who are interested may pursue an MBA in various learning modes - regular, online or distance education.

While an MBA is a 2-year degree course available only in colleges affiliated with universities, some autonomous institutes offer a Post Graduate Diploma in Management or PGDM program, a 1-year course. Most management colleges in India shortlist candidates for MBA admission on the basis of what they score in the MBA entrance exams, the group discussion and their personal interview. 

As of now, the country's premier MBA colleges, like the IIMs, MDI, XLRI, SPJIMR, IIFT, IMT and FMS DU, have initiated the admission procedure for the 2023 batch. Additionally, the registration process for top MBA entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT and NMAT by GMAC for the next academic session has commenced online.

MBA Admission 

MBA admissions are currently taking place in numerous B-schools across India. Students can choose from various government and private institutions in all the states of India.

Please note that even if you score a 99 percentile in the CAT entrance exam, the best way to ensure that your career path has an edge over others is by ensuring that you choose the right B-school. Keep reading for some detailed insight about MBA admission, including the admission schedule, eligibility criteria and more.

Eligibility criteria for MBA admission

The MBA eligibility criteria take into account multiple factors such as your academic details and the marks you scored during graduation, apart from what you scored during the entrance exam. If you wish to take admissions to a reputable college offering an MBA program, you have to fulfil the following criteria:

• You must possess a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university or institute.
• Even if you are in your final year of graduation, you are eligible to apply for MBA provided you submit the required paperwork at the time of admission.
• A minimum of 50% during graduation is necessary for candidates from the open category. If you belong to a reserved category, the minimum percentage required during graduation is 45%.
• You should have a valid score from any university, state or national-level entrance examination.

Entrance exams for MBA admission 

Admissions into any B-school typically happen through an entrance exam or an MBA admission test. This exam can be any of the following types:

• National Level Entrance Test, which is conducted by top management schools on behalf of other colleges. For eg.: CAT, CMAT, MAT or ATMA
• State Level Entrance Test, which is held by a state-level testing body or the state's top B-school at the behest of other participant colleges from that state. For eg.: MAH-CET, KMAT, OJEE, TANCET or APICET
• Some B-schools conduct tests for entrance into their own MBA programme. At times, these scores can be counted as a qualifying criterion by a different management school. For eg.: IIFT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, and IBSAT
• Tests conducted by a university for entrance to MBA programs being offered by colleges that are affiliated with it. eg: KIITEE, HPU MAT

MBA admission process 

Across every college/ institute in India, admission into the MBA program is carried out by shortlisting candidates on the basis of an entrance exam, which is followed by a group discussion and personal interviews. Outlined below are the different phases during the MBA admission process

• Phase 1: Candidates appear in an MBA entrance exam that may be conducted at a state, university or national level.
• Phase 2: Candidates are shortlisted on the basis of the marks they secured in the entrance exam, their academic profile as well as their work experience.
• Phase 3: All candidates undergo a WAT/GD/PI and other relevant personality assessment tests.
• Phase 4: The final list for MBA admission is compiled after due consideration of a candidate's performance in all three phases.

MBA admission: Key national-level entrance exams and application deadlines

Provided below is the schedule of top national-level entrance examinations along with the last date to apply for admission to different MBA colleges. Though most of the exams are to be conducted in 2023, there are a few exams that will be conducted in 2024 since their deadline for 2023 is already passed. 

MBA entrance exam schedule

Exam	Registration window	Entrance exam date
CAT 2023	First week of August 2023	November 26, 2023 (Tentative)
NMAT 2023	August 1 - October 12, 2023	October 10 to December 19, 2023
SNAP 2023	First week of August - Last week of  November, 2023	December 9, 17, 22,  2023
MAT 2023	PBT: August 29, 2023 (Last Date) CBT 1:  September 12, 2023 CBT 2: Not Available  IBT: September 13, 2023 (Last date)	PBT: September 3, 2023  CBT 1: September 17, 2023 CBT 2: Not Available  IBT: September 2,9,10,16, 2023 (Last date)
IIFT 2023	September 2023 (Tentative)	December 10, 2023 (Tentative)
CMAT 2024	Second week of February 2024	April-May 2024
XAT 2024	July 15, 2023	January 7, 2024 (Tentative)

MBA admissions: Schedule for college applications