ISB FPM FAQs

The FPM is a five-year full-time programme. In the first two years of the programme, you will undertake basic management courses. The subsequent years are dedicated to research and the completion of your doctoral dissertation. The FPM is a full-time programme and is not available in a part-time or distance learning format.

We do not generally grant exemptions from any courses. However, if you demonstrate advanced knowledge in a particular area, you may be granted exemption from that course. Exemption requests are submitted to the course instructor and must be approved by the FPM Dean. If approved, alternative coursework may be proposed.

No. ISB's FPM is an extremely intensive and rigorous 5 year full-time programme. All courses are compulsory and take place on our campus. It is not possible to combine FPM with your work. We do not offer distance learning courses either. However, please note that we offer a full tuition scholarship plus a stipend to cover living expenses during the 4 years of study; so you do not need to work to support yourself while studying.

No. ISB's FPM courses are not delivered online. The FPM is an on-campus, full-time programme.

You are required to have:

• A Master’s or a 4 year Bachelor’s degree
• A valid GMAT / GRE / CAT / JRF qualified score report of UGC NET
• A TOEFL score (no more than two years old) if English is not your native language
• This requirement can be waived if any university-level degree was obtained in English
• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members
• A desire to pursue a career in business academia and become an academic in one of the following areas of specialisation: Accounting, Financial Economics, Marketing, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour, and Strategy

Besides meeting the requirements outlined above, you should present a strong educational background (excellent grades and test scores), outstanding intellectual capabilities, creativity, ability to converse effortlessly in English, potential to engage in high quality research, a high level of motivation and drive to become a scholar in management, and strong recommendations from faculty members to support your potential for success in business academia.

All applications must be completed via our online platform and submitted electronically. For detailed instructions, please click on to this link Start Your Application

The fee is INR 5000 per application, which is payable online by credit card. We do not accept cash, cheque, or money order.

Once you log in, the application form will automatically generate a link, which will be sent to your selected referees via email. Your referees can either fill in the online recommendation form or upload their recommendations online in the form of a PDF or Word document. We prefer that you enter their official email addresses and not their personal email addresses. Please ensure that your letters of recommendation reaches us by January 31, 2025. We will not be sending a reminder to your referees regarding the deadline.

The Admissions Committee will review the applications in March 2025. As soon as a decision has been made, the FPM Admissions Office will notify you. If you have not heard from the Committee regarding the status of your application, it is because a final decision has not yet been reached. We always communicate the final status to all applicants once the admissions committee has made the final decision.

Yes,  an interview is an important  component of the FPM admissions process. Interviews are scheduled to clarify aspects of your application and/or profile. FPM office will contact you in case you are selected for the interview.

Please keep in mind that being called for an interview is not indicative of your chances of admission.

Yes. Candidates who submitted an application and were not offered admission that year may re-apply one more time.

Re-applicants must create and submit a new application using the online application system. Transcripts, GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL scores from the previous application may be used, if still valid. Additional test scores or grades from any recent coursework should be submitted. Recommenders must be entered into the application and sent from the recommender via the recommendation system.

Note: Application material is only valid for one year. If an applicant is re-applying more than one year after the most recent application, then all materials must be resubmitted.

If you are unable to decide on one area, we advise you to speak to some of your professors to help you narrow your selection. However, if you are still undecided, we will accept applications for up to two areas of specialisation. In this instance, you will need to complete two separate applications and make two separate application fee payments. The admissions committee will review your file for both areas of specialisation and decide which area suits you. You will be notified accordingly.

Yes and mainly no. Very often a faculty member receives an email from an applicant saying that he or she wants to work with that faculty member. However, this is not possible until the applicant enters the programme, takes the core courses and passes the qualifying examinations. Only then is a thorough assessment carried out (including a lot of self-assessment) and an advisor chosen. So don't use this as a way of trying to get a professor to support your application.

Of course, it may be genuinely the case that your own interests lead you to interact with one of our faculty members, quite apart from the question of admissions. In that case your queries will almost always be met with a suitable response. The point is that in most cases, it is easy enough to separate a real research inquiry from a message designed to try and obtain admission.

Yes. You are indeed welcome to visit our campus. Please contact the FPM Office by phone or email, and a meeting can be arranged with one of the FPM Office team members who will be able to answer your questions. The contact details are as follows:
E-mail: fpm_admissions@isb.edu

Yes. There is an application fee of INR 5000, which is payable online.

Yes. Currently, a full ISB scholarship is available, which covers the tuition fees for the entire duration of the course and provides for a living allowance ranging between INR 10-11 lakhs for a full year of study at ISB.

ISB scholarships are available during the first five years of the FPM. They are initially awarded for one year, and renewed annually based upon satisfactory performance in the programme.

You will automatically receive ISB funding once you are accepted into the programme. However, you are expected to seek external financial support where available, which will increase your living allowance and financial benefits.