The Department of Management Studies (DoMS) at IIT Madras runs a small, analytically focused MBA inside one of India's leading technology institutes, and it ranks 13th in the NIRF 2025 Management ranking. It suits candidates who want close faculty contact and access to a large research campus. Its published admission report shows a formula dominated by the CAT score, with the interview and a reflective writing test deciding the final list.
At a glance
| NIRF 2025 Management rank | 13 (score 66.50) |
| Established | MBA programme began in 2001; department formally established in 2004 |
| Type | Academic department of IIT Madras, an Indian Institute of Technology (Institute of National Importance) |
| Location | IIT Madras campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Flagship programme | Master of Business Administration (MBA) |
| Duration | Two years (seven quarters), full-time |
| Sanctioned intake | 106 seats for 2026-28, including 10 for defence personnel (DoMS admission report); 96 in the NIRF 2025 data for 2023-24 |
| Admission tests | CAT; GMAT for NRI applicants; CAT exemption for IIT graduates with CGPA 8.0 or above |
| Programme fee | Set by IIT Madras's fee circular; not reproduced here (see Fees section) |
| Median salary | Rs 16.78 lakh a year for the batch graduating in 2023-24 (NIRF 2025 data) |
| Website | doms.iitm.ac.in |
About IIT Madras (DoMS)
According to the department's history page:
- 2001: the MBA programme began.
- 2004: DoMS was formally established as an academic unit.
- 2007: DoMS joined a multi-institution programme for Visionary Leaders in Manufacturing with IIM Calcutta and IIT Kanpur.
- 2013: it became the first IIT to open MBA admissions to graduates from non-engineering streams.
- 2015: it expanded into MS and PhD programmes.
- 2018: it launched an Executive MBA.
DoMS sits on IIT Madras's 630-acre campus alongside 17 other departments and the IIT Madras Research Park. The department stresses quantitative and analytical skills; MBA students can audit courses from more than 300 offered elsewhere in the institute, and the programme runs over seven quarters of five or six courses each.
In NIRF 2025 it placed 13th in Management with a score of 66.50. Its strongest parameters were teaching, learning and resources (78.97) and graduation outcomes (76.52). It also had the highest perception score (52.14) among the five schools ranked 11 to 15.
Programmes
- MBA (flagship): two years, full-time. The department describes the batch size as 80 to 100 students.
- Executive MBA: a two-year programme for mid-career professionals, launched in 2018.
- MS and PhD in Management: research programmes, including joint PhDs with Curtin University, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Passau.
- BS in Management and Data Science: a four-year undergraduate degree that IIT Madras announced on the DoMS history page for 2026.
- Dual degree courses for IIT Madras B.Tech students: mentioned in the department's description.
Admissions and eligibility
The DoMS MBA Admission Report for the 2026-28 batch sets out four entry tracks:
- CAT track (regular): a valid CAT 2025 score, plus a degree in any discipline with a first class or 60% (55% for SC, ST and PwD). The admissions FAQ also accepts a CPI of 6.5 (6.0 for SC, ST, PwD).
- IIT graduate direct entry: graduates of any IIT with a CGPA of 8.0 or above are exempt from CAT and shortlisted directly for the interview and writing test.
- NRI track: non-resident Indians apply with GMAT. The minimum for 2026 was 640.
- Sponsored defence track: uniformed defence personnel nominated by their services are exempt from CAT and GMAT but must take the interview and writing test.
Final-year students are admitted provisionally. The 2026 application fee was Rs 1,600 (Rs 800 for SC, ST, PwD).
The admission report shows how competitive the 2026 cycle was:
| Stage | Number |
|---|---|
| Applications | 4,871 |
| Shortlisted for interview and writing test | 1,302 |
| Appeared | 1,054 |
| Offers (including waitlists) | 490 |
| Accepted | 130 |
| Enrolled | 74 |
Selection process
For the 2026-28 batch, shortlisting used a composite score:
| Component | Weight | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 overall scaled score | 75% | 75 × (scaled score / total CAT score) |
| Class XII marks | 4% | 95% and above = 4, down to 0 below 80% |
| Bachelor's degree marks | 6% | 90% and above = 6, down to 0 below 65% |
| Work experience | 10% | 12-23 months = 8, 24-36 months = 10, 37-48 months = 6, over 48 months = 2 |
| Gender diversity | 3% | Female = 3 |
| Academic diversity | 2% | Non-engineer = 2 |
In 2026 the lowest composite score shortlisted in the General category was 39.35 (out of 100). For IIT-track applicants, the CAT component was replaced by a formula based on CGPA.
Shortlisted candidates took a personal interview and a reflective written assessment test in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata. The final overall score was:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Composite score | 50% |
| Personal interview | 40% |
| Reflective written assessment | 10% |
Two-member panels scored attitude, skills and competence, knowledge and aptitude, and the quality and relevance of work experience at 25% each. The writing test was marked by independent external assessors for:
- clarity
- depth of reflection
- originality
- relevance
Fees and financial aid
IIT Madras publishes the MBA fee in its institute-wide fee circular for each year's new students, on the IIT Madras fees portal (fees.iitm.ac.in). We could not open the 2026 circular when preparing this page, so we have not quoted any fee figure. Aggregator estimates differ widely, so take the amount, and what it includes (tuition, one-time charges, hostel and mess), from that circular or from the DoMS office.
The admissions FAQ confirms that a seat acceptance fee (tuition deposit) is payable when you accept an offer. We could not confirm details of MBA scholarships from an official page.
Placements
NIRF 2025 data (two-year PG programme)
| Graduating year | Students graduating | Placed | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 106 | 105 | Rs 16 lakh |
| 2022-23 | 67 | 67 | Rs 20.46 lakh |
| 2023-24 | 84 | 83 | Rs 16.78 lakh |
The NIRF data also lists separate figures for the five-year integrated programme.
DoMS Placement Brochure 2026 (final placement season 2026)
This is a placement brochure rather than a formal audited report. Its highlights:
- Highest CTC Rs 40 lakh.
- Top 10% average Rs 31.2 lakh; top 25% average Rs 25.8 lakh.
- Batch average Rs 18.3 lakh; batch median Rs 18 lakh.
- More than 65 companies took part.
- In the 2026 summer placements (MBA 2025-27), the median stipend was Rs 80,000 and the highest Rs 3,00,000 for the whole internship.
Placement figures vary by year and role; read the official report before drawing conclusions.
Campus and student life
The 630-acre campus is known for its greenery and wildlife, and the department's student pages describe cycling as the usual way around.
Student life at DoMS runs through committees, including:
- placement
- industry connect and relations (ICRC)
- alumni relations
- international exchange relations
- sports and cultural
- WebOps
Research scholars have their own forum, Sangam.
Exchange options are listed as optional in the seventh quarter. Student testimonials describe semesters at the University of Mannheim and MCI Innsbruck, and an Erasmus exchange in Remagen, Germany. The department lists Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility among its international links.
How to prepare for IIT Madras (DoMS)
- Push your overall CAT scaled score. It drives 75% of the composite score that decides shortlists, and the composite is half the final score. Build a full-length plan with our CAT 2026 preparation guide and sharpen your weaker area. For many, that is quant; see how to improve your CAT quant score.
- Know your fixed points. Class XII, graduation marks and work experience together are worth 20% of the composite score. Work experience of 24 to 36 months scores highest.
- Practise reflective writing. The 2026 test rewarded clarity, self-awareness and originality, not memorised essays. Write short reflections on your choices and experiences, and have them read critically.
- Prepare for a structured interview. The four PI dimensions are equally weighted, so prepare to discuss your work in depth, show managerial reasoning and keep up with business news.
- IIT graduates: with a CGPA of 8.0 or above you can enter without CAT; in 2026, applicants with both were scored on whichever was better.
No preparation guarantees a shortlist or an offer. Use the admission report for your cycle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIT Madras MBA fee?
The MBA fee is set in IIT Madras's annual fee circular for new students on fees.iitm.ac.in. We could not verify the 2026 figures from that circular, so check it directly, along with hostel and mess charges, before planning your finances.
What CAT score do I need for IIT Madras DoMS?
DoMS does not publish a minimum CAT percentile. Shortlisting uses a composite score in which CAT carries 75%. In 2026 the lowest shortlisted composite in the General category was 39.35 out of 100, which also reflects academics, work experience and diversity points.
Can non-engineers apply to IIT Madras MBA?
Yes. Graduates of any discipline with a first class or 60% (55% for SC, ST, PwD) and a valid CAT score can apply. Non-engineers receive 2 composite-score points for academic diversity.
What is the median salary at IIT Madras DoMS?
The NIRF 2025 data gives a median of Rs 16.78 lakh for the batch graduating in 2023-24. The department's 2026 placement brochure reports a batch median of Rs 18 lakh.
IIT Madras DoMS or another IIT school?
Each IIT runs its own selection. Compare DoMS's batch size, admission formula and placement data with IIT Bombay SJMSOM, IIT Kharagpur VGSoM and IIT Delhi DMS before you decide.
Sources
- NIRF 2025 Management Ranking: rank, score and parameter scores (accessed 22 October 2026)
- NIRF 2025 data submitted by IIT Madras (IR-M-U-0456): sanctioned intake, student strength, graduates placed and median salaries (accessed 22 October 2026)
- DoMS IIT Madras MBA Admission Report, 2026-2028 batch: entry tracks, intake, composite and overall score weights, interview criteria, cut-offs and funnel (accessed 22 October 2026)
- DoMS MBA Admissions page: eligibility, application fee and FAQs (accessed 22 October 2026)
- DoMS Placement Brochure 2026: final and summer placement highlights, committees (accessed 22 October 2026)
- History of DoMS: founding years and milestones (accessed 22 October 2026)
- About DoMS: campus and programme overview (accessed 22 October 2026)
- DoMS Placement Activities: batch size, programme structure, joint PhDs and placement process (accessed 22 October 2026)
- DoMS International Collaborations and Life at DoMS: exchanges and campus life (accessed 22 October 2026)
- IIT Madras fees circular for new students, 2026: official fee source (could not be opened when accessed on 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.