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 (MBA) 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 entrance test, the Common Aptitude Test (CAT), that is held once a 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 to universities, some autonomous institutes offer a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), a 1-year course.

Most management colleges in India shortlist candidates for MBA admission on the basis of what you score in CAT, the group discussion and your 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 2022-24 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 2022

MBA admissions for 2022 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 CAT, 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 for the batch of 2022-24, including the admission schedule, eligibility criteria and more.

Eligibility criteria for MBA admission 2022

The MBA eligibility criteria takes into account multiple factors such as your academic details and the marks you scored during graduation, apart from what you score during the entrance exam. If you wish to take admission in a reputable college offering MBA for the next batch (2022-24), 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 2022

Admissions into any B-school typically happens 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 an apex testing body or a top management school 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, IBSAT
• Test conducted by a university for entrance to MBA programmes being offered by colleges that are affiliated with it. eg: KIITEE, HPU MAT

MBA admission process 2022

Across every college/ institute in India, admission into the MBA programme 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 different phases during the MBA admission process

• Phase 1: Candidates appear in an MBA entrance exam that may be conducted on 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 2022: 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. If you have applied for admission into the MBA programme, you would already know that most of the deadlines have passed by. However, feel free to share this blog's link with those who require it so that they gain some insight into the pattern and make use of it in the future.

MBA entrance exam schedule

MBA admissions 2022: Schedule for college applications

Candidates can check in the tables provided below for the opening and closing dates of the top colleges to apply for MBA admission 2022-24. The data has been compiled on the basis of which colleges are accepting the marks you obtain from various entrance exams such as CAT 2021, XAT 2022, SNAP 2021, NMAT by GMAC.

Top IIMs accepting CAT (2021) score for MBA admission 2022

Top colleges (apart from IIMs) accepting CAT (2021) score for direct admission in MBA

Provided below are the cut-offs and application window for MBA admission in the top B-schools in India for the 2022 session.

MBA admission schedule for colleges and institutes accepting XAT (2022) score

MBA admission schedule for colleges and institutes accepting SNAP (2021) score

MBA admission schedule for colleges and institutes accepting NMAT by GMAC (2021) score