IIM Bangalore is ranked second in the NIRF 2025 Management ranking and runs one of India's most sought-after two-year MBA programmes from a 100-acre campus in south Bengaluru. Its selection formula publishes exact section-wise CAT weights, values work experience and checks its quality at interview. It suits candidates with a well-rounded CAT score, especially in DILR, and those with a few years of meaningful work experience.
At a glance
| NIRF 2025 Management rank | 2 (score 81.56) |
| Established | 1973 |
| Type | Indian Institute of Management, governed by the IIM Act, 2017 |
| Location | Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Flagship programme | Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), leading to the MBA |
| Duration | Two years (six trimesters), full-time, residential |
| Sanctioned intake | 598 across two-year PG programmes in 2023-24 (NIRF 2025 data) |
| Admission test(s) | CAT; GMAT for international candidates |
| Programme fee | Rs 26,00,000 for two years, PGP 2026-28 domestic, including hostel room rent; excludes caution deposit, mess and taxes (official fee page) |
| Median salary | Rs 32.5 lakh per annum for the two-year PG cohort graduating in 2023-24 (NIRF 2025 data) |
| Website | iimb.ac.in |
About IIM Bangalore
IIMB was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 28 October 1973. It started in rented premises on Langford Road and later moved to its present 100-acre campus on Bannerghatta Road. The campus was initially designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect B V Doshi. The institute says its first PGP batch had around 50 students.
The PGP runs over six trimesters with a summer project in between: an intensive core in the first year, then mostly electives. IIMB has more than 140 faculty members and several centres of excellence.
The 2026 PGP intake had 540 students, 229 of them women. Engineers made up 360 of the class, 82 students had no work experience, and just over half had 13 to 36 months.
Programmes
- PGP (MBA): the two-year flagship programme covered on this page.
- PGPBA: a two-year programme in business analytics.
- EPGP: a one-year executive MBA for experienced professionals.
- PGPEM and PGPPM: other postgraduate programmes listed by the institute.
- Doctoral programme: the NIRF 2025 data lists 99 full-time PhD students.
- Undergraduate programmes: BBA in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship, and BSc Honours in Economics and in Data Sciences.
PGP students can apply for dual degrees with Bocconi University, ESCP Business School, KEDGE Business School and Hitotsubashi University Business School. Under these, students spend the second year at the partner school.
Admissions and eligibility
The following comes from IIMB's official PGP 2027-29 admission procedure (CAT 2026).
- Degree: a bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates), or a completed professional qualification (CA, CS, ICWA/CMA or FIAI).
- Test: a CAT score valid on the date of application. IIMB runs a separate route for international candidates. The 2026 batch profile lists a median GMAT of 700 for international admits.
- Application: an online form with transcripts, a statement of purpose and work experience documents.
- References: two online reference letters are mandatory, submitted by referees before the deadline.
- Reservation: EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST and PwD seats are reserved in accordance with the law.
Selection process
IIMB's PGP 2027-29 procedure has two stages, and it publishes the weights for both.
Stage I: first shortlist and pre-PI score
Only candidates with a positive raw score in every CAT 2026 section are considered. A first shortlist is then drawn using minimum percentiles. The latest published cut-offs are those used for the 2026-28 batch (CAT 2025):
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIMB notes that the scores of those actually called for interviews were higher.
For the first shortlist, IIMB calculates a pre-PI score out of 100:
- CAT: 55, split as VARC 19, DILR 21 and QA 15
- Class 10: 10
- Class 12: 10
- Bachelor's degree: 10
- Work experience or professional course: 10. Work experience scores 10 × months ÷ 36, up to the full 10 at 36 months, counted up to July 2026. Internships and articleship do not count.
- Gender diversity: 5 (pre-PI stage only)
The top ten candidates by CAT total, by adjusted bachelor's score and by professional-course score automatically qualify for interview.
Stage II: WAT, PI and final score
Shortlisted candidates take a Written Ability Test (WAT), a note of about 30 minutes, and a Personal Interview (PI) on the same day. The post-PI score is:
- Personal interview: 40
- WAT: 10
- CAT: 25, split as VARC 8.75, DILR 10 and QA 6.25
- Class 10: 5, Class 12: 5, bachelor's degree: 5
- Work experience or professional course: 10
The work experience component is scaled down to 5 and then multiplied by the panel's rating of its quality, on a scale from 0.25 to 2. Final offers in each category are made strictly on post-PI scores.
Fees and financial aid
According to IIMB's official fee page, the fee for the PGP 2026-28 batch (domestic) is Rs 26,00,000 for two years. It covers tuition, library, internet, case permission royalty, course material, hostel room rent and service charge, medical insurance, personal accident insurance and alumni activity. On top of this:
- a one-time general caution deposit of Rs 30,000
- a mess advance of Rs 30,000 each term
- any applicable taxes
The fee for the 2027-29 batch was not published on that page when we checked. Confirm it before you apply.
Financial aid: IIMB says its aim is that no student is deprived of an education there for financial reasons. PGP students with annual household income below Rs 8,00,000 can apply, as can students facing sudden severe hardship. Applicants are scored on income, savings and assets, and some are interviewed by a faculty panel. Aid is then awarded at 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% or 20%.
Scholarships include the Aditya Birla Scholarship (Rs 1.75 lakh), the OPJEMS Scholarship (Rs 1.5 lakh), government scholarships for SC, ST and PwD students, and alumni-funded awards.
Placements
NIRF 2025 data: for the two-year PG programmes, all 517 students who graduated in 2023-24 within the stipulated time were placed. The median salary was Rs 32,50,000 per annum. The median was Rs 33 lakh for 2022-23 graduates and Rs 31.5 lakh for 2021-22 graduates.
Placement Report 2026 (PGP and PGPBA, batch of 2024-26): IIMB's Career Development Services report gives the following figures. The report does not state whether the figures were audited.
- 605 students, 665 offers made, 177 companies
- Pre-placement offers: 283 made, 219 accepted. Lateral offers: 96 made, 88 accepted.
- 7 overseas offers; 9 students opted out of placements
- Median salary Rs 34.75 lakh per annum; average Rs 35.35 lakh per annum
- Consulting accounted for 45% of final placements, IT software, analytics and product management 14%, and finance, banking and investments 11%
- The largest final-placement recruiters were Accenture Strategy (94 offers), Boston Consulting Group (27), Bain & Company (23), EY-Parthenon India (22) and American Express (15)
The NIRF figure and the report cover different batches. Placement figures vary by year and role; read the official report.
Campus and student life
Campus accommodation is provided for PGP students, though second-year students may live off campus. Student life runs through the Student Affairs Council and its clubs.
IIMB says nearly 40% of the batch spends a term at a partner institution, usually the fifth term, while many incoming exchange students study on campus. NSRCEL supports student start-ups.
How to prepare for IIM Bangalore
IIMB's formula rewards DILR most: it carries 21 of the 55 CAT points at pre-PI and 10 of the 25 at post-PI, more than either other section. Strengthening DILR therefore pays off twice. Our guide to DILR seating arrangement puzzles is a good place to start. QA carries the least weight, but you still need to clear its sectional cut-off.
You also need to clear the minimum percentile in every section, so steady performance across all three matters more than a spike in one. The CAT 2026 preparation guide shows how to plan for balance, and analysing your mock tests will reveal which section holds you back.
Work experience earns its full pre-PI score at 36 months, and its quality is judged at interview, so be ready to explain your role and results clearly. With the interview at 40 of the final 100 and the WAT at 10, practise writing a clear, structured note in about 30 minutes. Prepare to discuss your statement of purpose in depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CAT cut-off for IIM Bangalore?
IIMB's most recently published minimums, used for the 2026-28 batch (CAT 2025), were 80 in VARC, 75 in DILR, 75 in QA and 85 overall for General candidates. IIMB says those called for interview scored higher.
What is the IIM Bangalore MBA fee?
For the PGP 2026-28 batch (domestic), the fee is Rs 26 lakh for two years, including hostel room rent. A Rs 30,000 caution deposit, a Rs 30,000 mess advance each term and any taxes are extra.
What is the median salary after IIM Bangalore?
IIMB's Placement Report 2026 gives a median of Rs 34.75 lakh per annum for the PGP and PGPBA batch of 2024-26. The NIRF 2025 data gives Rs 32.5 lakh for the two-year PG cohort that graduated in 2023-24.
Does IIMB give weight to work experience?
Yes. It carries 10 points at both stages, and at post-PI the panel's rating of its quality multiplies the score.
Is financial aid available at IIMB?
Yes. Students with annual household income below Rs 8 lakh can apply for need-based aid of 20% to 100%, and merit and government scholarships are also offered.
Sources
- NIRF India Rankings 2025: Management: rank and score (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIM Bangalore NIRF 2025 data submission (IR-M-S-8903): sanctioned intake, graduates, placed students, median salary, PhD numbers (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB PGP 2027-29 Admission Procedure: eligibility, documents, references, pre-PI and post-PI weights, cut-offs used for 2026-28 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB PGP Financial Aid and Scholarships: 2026-28 fee, deposits, financial aid policy, scholarships (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB Post Graduate Programme in Management: programme structure, faculty, 2026 batch profile (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB Placement Report 2026: final placement statistics, salary, sectors and recruiters for PGP and PGPBA 2024-26 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB Student Exchange Programme: exchange participation (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB Dual / Double Degree Programs: dual degree partners (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIMB Golden Jubilee film page: inauguration date, campus history and size, architect (accessed 22 October 2026)
Researched from official sources on 22 October 2026. Admissions policies, fees and placement figures change every year: confirm them on the institute’s website before applying.