IIM Ahmedabad
MBA-PGPX
Basics
- Country
- India
- City
- Ahmedabad
- Campus(es)
- Vastrapur campus
- Parent university
- Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
- Selected programme
- MBA-PGPX
- Programme type
- Executive MBA (one-year, full-time)
- Credential awarded
- MBA degree
- Format priority tier
- One-year executive (priority tier 1)
- Language of instruction
- English
- Accreditations
- AACSB, EQUIS, AMBAWeb, Oct 2026
- Research round
- Shortlisted (3 Oct 2026)
- Alternatives considered and rejected
- Two-year PGP not selected
- Selection rationale (full)
Read full evidenceHide
PGPX is explicitly a one-year MBA for experienced professionals and IIMA accepts a valid GMAT score (with GRE as an alternative). It therefore matches the highest-priority one-year executive option and qualifies under the GMAT-only research route requested. IIMA’s regular flagship PGP is two years and is not selected.[71][75]
Timeline and duration
- 2027 intake
- April 2027Inferred
- Start date evidence
- Inferred from last cycle
- Approx. start date
- 15 Apr 2027
- Orientation / immersion
- International Immersion Programme (cost extra)
- Start details (full)
- Selected duration
- 12 months, residential
- Duration (months)
- 12 months
- Expected finish
- March 2028
- Structure
- April to March calendar, International Immersion Programme
Application window
- All deadlines
- Round 1: 2 Sept 2026 (closed) Round 2: 23 Nov 2026
- Rounds already closed
- 1 of 2
- Next open deadline
- Round 2, 23 Nov 2026 (43 days)
GMAT plan
- GMAT route
- Accepted (GMAT or GRE required)
- Alternative tests
- GRE
- GMAT Focus accepted
- Yes, explicitly
- Online GMAT accepted
- No, test centre only
- Score validity
- 5 years
- Minimum or recommendation
- None published
- Policy details (full)
Read full evidenceHide
For the 2027–28 PGPX application, IIMA requires a valid GMAT or GRE score; GMAT is an accepted route, not the only required exam. GMAT scores must be from the prior five years, test-centre scores are accepted (online/take-home scores are not), and the current policy explicitly accepts the new GMAT Focus Edition. The policy publishes no GMAT minimum or cutoff. For India, this report uses only the GMAT route and no CAT scores. Round 2 is open through 23 November 2026, subject to the school’s schedule.[70][74]
- Strategic Focus target
- 665+
- Basis of target
- Modestly above 652 cohort average
- Target round
- Round 2, 23 Nov 2026
- Sit GMAT by (final attempt)
- 2 Nov 2026
- First attempt by (with retake buffer)
- 21 Sept 2026 (passed, single attempt only)
- Target reasoning (full)
Read full evidenceHide
Aiming for 665+ on GMAT Focus is a strategic suggestion, not an IIMA requirement or guaranteed-admit score: it is modestly above the latest reported Focus cohort average of 652. The 652 mean is not a cutoff, and the school publishes no minimum, median or range; admissions also weighs professional progression, leadership, academics, essays and interview.[70][74]
Score statistics
- Focus average
- 652 (2026-27 cohort, 108 submitters)
- Focus evidence (full)
Read full evidenceHide
The 2027–28 admissions policy explicitly accepts GMAT Focus and gives no numeric minimum. IIMA’s reported 2026–27 incoming cohort had an average GMAT Focus score of 652 among 108 Focus submitters. This is a cohort average, not a cutoff; no Focus median, minimum, maximum or score range is published in the cited official profile.[70][74]
- Legacy average
- 691 (19 submitters)
- Cohort year
- 2026-27
- Legacy evidence (full)
Read full evidenceHide
The current policy accepts a valid GMAT score and explicitly adds GMAT Focus; it does not publish a separate legacy-scale minimum. IIMA reported a 2026–27 cohort average of 691 among 19 legacy GMAT submitters. That is a cohort average, not a cutoff; no legacy-GMAT median, minimum, maximum or score range is published in the cited official profile. Legacy and Focus averages are from different exam editions/scales and should not be treated as directly comparable thresholds.[70][74]
Costs
- Tuition / programme fee
- INR 35.0 L
- Tuition in INR (approx)
- INR 35.0 L
- Fee year
- 2026-27 reference (single housing)
- Application fee
- verifyWeb, Oct 2026
- Other compulsory fees
- IIP travel extra; electricity, laundry, gym by usage
- What the fee includes
- Tuition, books, accommodation, services
- Fee details (full)
Read full evidenceHide
IIMA’s published 2026–27 reference programme fee is INR 35.00 lakh for single student housing (SSH) or INR 37.10 lakh for married student housing (MSH). This is a bundled programme fee including tuition, books/course materials, accommodation and listed service facilities. It excludes the International Immersion Programme (IIP), including its travel/stay costs; electricity, telephone, laundry and sports/gym charges are extra by usage. These are 2026–27 amounts, not a confirmed 2027–28 fee.[72]
- Living cost estimate
- Not published (accommodation in fee)
- Living cost basis (full)
Read full evidenceHide
Ahmedabad campus, one-year PGPX basis: IIMA does not publish a separate living-expense budget in the cited material. The residential accommodation is included in the 2026–27 bundled fee; utilities are billed by usage and IIP travel/stay is extra. No verified food/personalspending estimate is published, so the programme fee should not be treated as an all-in cost.[71]
- Estimated total (approx INR)
- INR 35.0 L (tuition only)
- Scholarships
- Scholarships for underrepresented gender (discretionary)
Rankings and strengths
- FT Global MBA
- #27 (FT Global MBA 2026)
- NIRF (India)
- #1 (NIRF Management 2025)Web, Oct 2026
- Ranking details (full)
- Known for
- India's top one-year MBA; case method
- Known for (full)
Read full evidenceHide
A demanding, case-method, one-year residential MBA designed for experienced professionals, with core management courses, electives, a two-week international immersion and a capstone. IIMA describes career pathways into middle- and senior-management roles; its placement report covers consulting, IT services, product/category management, strategy and other sectors/functions.[70][71]
Class profile
- Class size
- about 150Web, Oct 2026
- Average experience
- 7 years 6 months
Placements and careers
- Placement / offers
- 134 of 139 seeking placed (5 unplaced)
- Salary
- Guaranteed cash mean INR 36.67 L, median INR 35.00 L
- Top sectors
- IT services, consulting, product, strategy
- Recruiters
- 200+ companies, 300+ offers; Accenture listed
- Accenture recruits here
- Yes
- Report year
- 2026 (audited, IPRS)
- Outcome details (full)
Read full evidenceHide
Latest official audited PGPX report located: 2026 graduating cohort. Of 156 eligible, 139 sought placement through IIMA, 134 accepted offers and 5 were unplaced; 8 eligible students were company-sponsored or already employed and did not seek institute placement. For the 134 accepted offers, IPRS reports combined INR total guaranteed cash mean ₹36.67 lakh and median ₹35.00 lakh. This is total guaranteed cash (not fixed salary alone); maximum-earning-potential mean/median were ₹42.47 lakh/₹38.00 lakh and include non-guaranteed components. The report also records 200+ participating companies and 300+ offers.[71][73]
Eligibility
- Degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum experience
- 4 years full-time by 31 March 2027
- Experience counted to
- 31 March 2027
- Age
- 25 by 31 March 2027
- English
- GMAT/GRE AWA used as indicator
- Current employment needed
- Not required; sabbatical or relieving letter at joining
- Employer sponsorship
- Not required
- References
- 3 professional references
- Essays
- 2 essays after shortlisting
- Interview
- Personal interview
- Eligibility details (full)
Read full evidenceHide
The published 2027–28 criteria require a bachelor’s degree, minimum age 25 by 31 March 2027, and at least four years of full-time post-graduation work experience by that date. The candidate’s age, BE and nearly nine years at Accenture appear to satisfy those criteria, subject to exact dates and documentary proof. The policy does not state that applicants must remain employed or require employer endorsement/sponsorship; IIMA says a joining-stage sabbatical or relieving letter is required. A resigned applicant therefore appears eligible under the published rules, but should confirm documentation with admissions.[70][71]
My profile fit
- Fit rank
- #1 (India)
- Eligibility verdict
- Meets published criteria (subject to documents)
- Experience vs cohort
- About 9 yrs vs 7.5 yr average
- Main risks and trade-offs
- Very competitive GMAT pool; Round 2 is the last round
- Why it fits (full)
Read full evidenceHide
Her engineering degree and long Accenture Technology India tenure fit a cohort designed for experienced professionals; IIMA’s reported 2026–27 cohort averaged 7 years 6 months’ experience, and IT/ITeS was represented. PGPX offers the desired one-year full-time reset and broad management/strategy preparation without requiring a two-year regular MBA. The 2026 placement report lists Accenture among recruiters and reports IT-services, consulting, product/categorymanagement and strategy roles, all potentially relevant to a tech-to-business transition. Her resignation does not appear to conflict with published eligibility, provided she documents employment and meets the experience cutoff.[71][75]
- Profile fit (earlier round)
Read full evidenceHide
Good potential fit for an experienced woman engineer seeking a management/ career shift: IIMA’s current domestic policy gives 3 gender-diversity points to non-male candidates, and the programme welcomes graduates from engineering/technology and experienced professionals. The official PGP page’s undated work-experience profile lists IT/ITeS at 35%. No upper age limit is stated in the 2027–29 domestic policy. Important nuance: work-experience shortlist points rise only through 36 months and cap above that, so nine years brings no more points on that component than 36+ months; leadership ownership and a credible transition rationale must do more of the work in the interview.[180]
- Actions to strengthen
Read full evidenceHide
1. Take a test-centre GMAT Focus in time for the 23 November 2026 Round 2 deadline; plan toward a strong score (665+ is a strategic target only, not a cutoff). 2. Quantify Accenture impact with credible evidence: project scale, client outcomes, revenue/cost/quality gains, delivery metrics and recognition; explain the Senior Analyst title alongside scope and progression. 3. Show leadership beyond individual technical delivery, team/project ownership, client influence, mentoring, conflict resolution and decisions under ambiguity, with specific examples and measurable results. 4. Build a focused post-MBA goal linking technology experience to plausible next roles (for example, technology strategy, product/business leadership or consulting); explain why PGPX and why now after resigning. 5. Prepare proof of employment dates and post-graduation full-time experience, including appointment/ experience and relieving documents; explain the March 2026 resignation and subsequent plans transparently. 6. Prepare for the two essays requested after shortlisting and line up three professional references who can substantiate impact, growth and leadership; IIMA does not request essays at initial application submission. 7. Refresh quantitative fundamentals and be ready to demonstrate academic readiness; the programme is academically intensive and IIMA uses GMAT/GRE AWA scores as an English-proficiency indicator. 8. Check potential entry scholarship eligibility: IIMA lists scholarships for underrepresented gender/nonmale candidates, among other categories; awards are discretionary, not assured.[70][71]
- Open questions to confirm
Read full evidenceHide
Research snapshot: 3 October 2026. PGPX 2027–28 admissions are published, but the exact 2027 start date and 2027–28 fee are not yet published; April start and 2026–27 fees are clearly labelled as inference/reference. Round 1 closed 2 September 2026; Round 2 closes 23 November 2026 and dates can change. Verify employment documentation directly with IIMA, especially because the candidate has resigned. Placement outcomes describe the 2026 cohort and are not a guarantee of an individual outcome. Living costs beyond included accommodation are not quantified by IIMA in the cited sources.[70][72]
Full dossier
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), MBA-PGPX (Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives; IIMA’s One-Year MBA)
Selected program
MBA-PGPX (Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives; IIMA’s OneYear MBA)[71][75]
Selection rationale / priority comparison
PGPX is explicitly a one-year MBA for experienced professionals and IIMA accepts a valid GMAT score (with GRE as an alternative). It therefore matches the highest-priority one-year executive option and qualifies under the GMAT-only research route requested. IIMA’s regular flagship PGP is two years and is not selected.[71][75]
Next 2027 start / intake
2027–28 batch; expected April 2027 based on IIMA’s April programme calendar and the previous intake’s 15 April 2026 inauguration. Exact 2027 commencement date is not published as of 3 October 2026.[71][74]
Program duration
One year, full-time and fully residential; the programme calendar runs from April through March. For the 2027–28 intake, April 2027 is inferred, not yet confirmed by a published start date.[71][74]
GMAT admissions policy
For the 2027–28 PGPX application, IIMA requires a valid GMAT or GRE score; GMAT is an accepted route, not the only required exam. GMAT scores must be from the prior five years, test-centre scores are accepted (online/take-home scores are not), and the current policy explicitly accepts the new GMAT Focus Edition. The policy publishes no GMAT minimum or cutoff. For India, this report uses only the GMAT route and no CAT scores. Round 2 is open through 23 November 2026, subject to the school’s schedule.[70][74]
GMAT Focus score evidence
The 2027–28 admissions policy explicitly accepts GMAT Focus and gives no numeric minimum. IIMA’s reported 2026–27 incoming cohort had an average GMAT Focus score of 652 among 108 Focus submitters. This is a cohort average, not a cutoff; no Focus median, minimum, maximum or score range is published in the cited official profile.[70][74]
Legacy GMAT score evidence
The current policy accepts a valid GMAT score and explicitly adds GMAT Focus; it does not publish a separate legacy-scale minimum. IIMA reported a 2026–27 cohort average of 691 among 19 legacy GMAT submitters. That is a cohort average, not a cutoff; no legacy-GMAT median, minimum, maximum or score range is published in the cited official profile. Legacy and Focus averages are from different exam editions/scales and should not be treated as directly comparable thresholds.[70][74]
Profile-specific GMAT Focus target (advisory)
Aiming for 665+ on GMAT Focus is a strategic suggestion, not an IIMA requirement or guaranteed-admit score: it is modestly above the latest reported Focus cohort average of 652. The 652 mean is not a cutoff, and the school publishes no minimum, median or range; admissions also weighs professional progression, leadership, academics, essays and interview.[70][74]
Tuition, fees and included items
IIMA’s published 2026–27 reference programme fee is INR 35.00 lakh for single student housing (SSH) or INR 37.10 lakh for married student housing (MSH). This is a bundled programme fee including tuition, books/course materials, accommodation and listed service facilities. It excludes the International Immersion Programme (IIP), including its travel/stay costs; electricity, telephone, laundry and sports/gym charges are extra by usage. These are 2026–27 amounts, not a confirmed 2027–28 fee.[72]
Living-cost estimate and basis
Ahmedabad campus, one-year PGPX basis: IIMA does not publish a separate living-expense budget in the cited material. The residential accommodation is included in the 2026–27 bundled fee; utilities are billed by usage and IIP travel/stay is extra. No verified food/personalspending estimate is published, so the programme fee should not be treated as an all-in cost.[71]
Worldwide program ranking
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2026: IIM Ahmedabad ranked 27th globally in the publisher’s 100-school MBA ranking. IIMA identifies its FT Global MBA result with MBAPGPX; this is a program-relevant global ranking, not a domestic rank.[8][75]
What the school/program is known for
A demanding, case-method, one-year residential MBA designed for experienced professionals, with core management courses, electives, a two-week international immersion and a capstone. IIMA describes career pathways into middle- and senior-management roles; its placement report covers consulting, IT services, product/category management, strategy and other sectors/functions.[70][71]
Placement and career outcomes
Latest official audited PGPX report located: 2026 graduating cohort. Of 156 eligible, 139 sought placement through IIMA, 134 accepted offers and 5 were unplaced; 8 eligible students were company-sponsored or already employed and did not seek institute placement. For the 134 accepted offers, IPRS reports combined INR total guaranteed cash mean ₹36.67 lakh and median ₹35.00 lakh. This is total guaranteed cash (not fixed salary alone); maximum-earning-potential mean/median were ₹42.47 lakh/₹38.00 lakh and include non-guaranteed components. The report also records 200+ participating companies and 300+ offers.[71][73]
Work, employment and eligibility conditions
The published 2027–28 criteria require a bachelor’s degree, minimum age 25 by 31 March 2027, and at least four years of full-time post-graduation work experience by that date. The candidate’s age, BE and nearly nine years at Accenture appear to satisfy those criteria, subject to exact dates and documentary proof. The policy does not state that applicants must remain employed or require employer endorsement/sponsorship; IIMA says a joining-stage sabbatical or relieving letter is required. A resigned applicant therefore appears eligible under the published rules, but should confirm documentation with admissions.[70][71]
Why this option could fit the profile
Her engineering degree and long Accenture Technology India tenure fit a cohort designed for experienced professionals; IIMA’s reported 2026–27 cohort averaged 7 years 6 months’ experience, and IT/ITeS was represented. PGPX offers the desired one-year full-time reset and broad management/strategy preparation without requiring a two-year regular MBA. The 2026 placement report lists Accenture among recruiters and reports IT-services, consulting, product/categorymanagement and strategy roles, all potentially relevant to a tech-to-business transition. Her resignation does not appear to conflict with published eligibility, provided she documents employment and meets the experience cutoff.[71][75]
Caveats, open questions and verification points
Research snapshot: 3 October 2026. PGPX 2027–28 admissions are published, but the exact 2027 start date and 2027–28 fee are not yet published; April start and 2026–27 fees are clearly labelled as inference/reference. Round 1 closed 2 September 2026; Round 2 closes 23 November 2026 and dates can change. Verify employment documentation directly with IIMA, especially because the candidate has resigned. Placement outcomes describe the 2026 cohort and are not a guarantee of an individual outcome. Living costs beyond included accommodation are not quantified by IIMA in the cited sources.[70][72]
Earlier research round (29 Sep 2026)
Preserved as history; the revised round above takes precedence.
Program title, format and credential
2027 start / intake
Read full evidenceHide
Expected June 2027: the official PGP calendar places orientation from mid-June to end-June; IIMA has not announced the exact 2027 start date/timing.[184]
Program duration
Read full evidenceHide
Two years.[180]
GMAT Focus admissions/statistical evidence
Read full evidenceHide
For an Indian applicant residing/working in India, the domestic PGP 2027–29 route uses CAT-2026, not GMAT; no domestic Focus minimum or cohort mean/ median/range is published. Context only: the separate Overseas Indian route has an official GMAT Focus eligibility minimum of 665 total (Verbal percentile 84, Quantitative percentile 85); not applicable unless the applicant meets that route’s residency conditions. Admitted-cohort Focus distribution (min/max/median/ mean): not published.[185]
Legacy GMAT admissions/statistical evidence
Read full evidenceHide
No legacy GMAT requirement or distribution for the domestic route. The previous-format GMAT was replaced on 1 Feb 2024. Context only: the 2027– 29 Overseas Indian policy accepts a qualifying previous-format score of at least 720 (V percentile 40, Q percentile 50), taken after 15 Dec 2021; this is a retired-scale threshold for that separate route, not a currentformat or domestic cutoff. Published legacy-score cohort max/median/mean/range: not published.[185]
Profile-specific score target (advisory)
Read full evidenceHide
Strategic advice, not an admission rule: prioritize CAT-2026 and aim for 99+ overall with strong, balanced section percentiles. For General/EWS applicants, the official shortlisting floor is 95 overall and 85 in each section; other categories have different floors. No GMAT target is needed for the domestic route.[185]
Tuition, fees and included items
Read full evidenceHide
Latest domestic fee figure located: total programme fee INR 27,50,000 for the PGP 2025–27 cohort, including INR 20,10,000 tuition (MBAUniverse.com fee analysis based on institute documents). Domestic PGP 2027–29 total and full itemized mandatory-charge/inclusion breakdown were not located; treat 2025–27 as a reference, not a quote. Separately, IIMA states the 2026–28 Supernumerary/foreign-national PGP fee is US$50,000 including tuition, excluding personal expenses such as laptop, travel, clothes, stationery and laundry; that is not this applicant’s domestic fee.[181][184]
Living-cost estimate and basis
Read full evidenceHide
Estimate for Ahmedabad (2026): Numbeo’s single-person city estimate is about INR 33,212/month or INR 3,98,543/year, excluding rent; a general city basket, not an IIMA student budget. It does not price the residential campus, and food/mess or other personal costs may differ.[184]
Worldwide program ranking
Read full evidenceHide
#27 in the Financial Times Masters in Management 2026 worldwide ranking (published 7 Sep 2026), the relevant PGP-specific global list. Do not confuse this with IIMA’s FT Global MBA listing, which is for its one-year PGPX. Not NIRF.[183]
What the school/program is known for
Read full evidenceHide
Flagship, academically rigorous general-management MBA; case-method learning, broad functional core and second-year electives, plus international exchange options. Its curriculum supports paths across consulting, finance, strategy, operations, technology and other sectors.[180]
Placement and career outcomes
Read full evidenceHide
Newest located: IIMA’s audited PGP final placement report for 2026. Of 392 accepted offers/salary records, 386 were domestic (Pan-India) and 6 international (Dubai 4, Hong Kong 1, Japan 1). Domestic Maximum Earning Potential (MEP): mean INR 36.99 lakh, median INR 37.00 lakh, N=386; combined MEP: mean INR 37.97 lakh, median INR 37.00 lakh, N=392. MEP is not CTC or guaranteed cash. Domestic fixed yearly cash mean/median were INR 28.83/28.81 lakh (N=386). Functions included consulting 154 offers, general management 67, finance 66 and systems/IT 14.[182]
Profile fit and rationale
Read full evidenceHide
Good potential fit for an experienced woman engineer seeking a management/ career shift: IIMA’s current domestic policy gives 3 gender-diversity points to non-male candidates, and the programme welcomes graduates from engineering/technology and experienced professionals. The official PGP page’s undated work-experience profile lists IT/ITeS at 35%. No upper age limit is stated in the 2027–29 domestic policy. Important nuance: work-experience shortlist points rise only through 36 months and cap above that, so nine years brings no more points on that component than 36+ months; leadership ownership and a credible transition rationale must do more of the work in the interview.[180]
Caveats, open questions and verification points
Read full evidenceHide
The applicant’s CAT category, school/college marks, exact age on the policy cutoff, CAT performance, leadership record and intended post-MBA function were not supplied, so eligibility/selection odds cannot be assessed. Domestic policy: CAT-2026; General/EWS minimum 95 overall and 85 per section, NC-OBC 90/80, SC 85/75, ST 75/65 (PwD floors differ). Shortlist composite gives 35% weight to normalized application rating and 65% to CAT percentile; final composite uses 50% PI, 10% AWT and 40% normalized composite. No GMAT score conversion was used because IIMA publishes separate Focus and previous-format minima for its overseas Indian route. To qualify for that route, an Indian passport holder must be expected to live/work/study outside India for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before 31 Dec 2026. Domestic 2027–29 fee was not located; the cited domestic fee is for 2025–27. Numbeo is a crowd-sourced city estimate, excludes rent and is not campusspecific. Placement results cover offers/salary records, use MEP rather than guaranteed compensation, and are not an individual outcome forecast. The PGP page’s IT/ITeS cohort share has no stated class year.[178][179][181][183][184]