Isb PGP in Management FAQ

The Post Graduate Programme or PGP refers to ISB’s full-time one-year residential management programme. The PGP is comparable in rigor and content to a regular two-year full-time MBA programme offered by global business schools.

No, the Post Graduate Programme is similar in rigor and content to a regular two-year full-time MBA programme offered by global business schools.

No, only universities can award a degree in India. ISB PGP is neither a degree nor a diploma.

Students get an opportunity to be part of various corporate exposure trips that are either faculty-led or student-led treks. These treks offer valuable experiences where participants interact with different stakeholders and gain comprehensive insights into industries and organisations. There are three categories of study treks available:

I. International: Participants journey to organisations located abroad.
II. Domestic: Participants visit organisations in domestic locations.
III. Social Sector: Participants explore organisations in the government or social sector.

Career Week helps students prepare for their placement interviews. The week comprises a range of workshops aimed at preparing students for both interviews and selecting their career paths during the placement week. These workshops involve engaging with influential leaders from the industry and offering guidance on resume building, among other topics.

The eligibility criteria are:

1) Students must possess an undergraduate (Bachelor's Degree)/post-graduate degree in any discipline.

2) A minimum of two years' full-time work experience (for the PGP regular admissions).

3) A Valid GMAT/GRE (test centre based test only)

4) TOEFL/IELTS score is required for students from countries other than India, where English is not the primary language of instruction 

All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed as a part of the selection process.

We encourage everyone to apply early as it helps candidates to plan work & relocation arrangements. Nonetheless, submitting an application during either cycle does not significantly affect your likelihood of being selected.

All three rounds have the same eligibility criteria, with no exceptions for GMAT/GRE scores.

No. Starting with the April 2025 intake, ISB does not accept GMAT / GRE  - Online or home-based test scores.

There is no specific minimum score required for the GMAT/GRE. Nevertheless, in the current class, the GMAT scores range from 530 to 780, while the GRE scores range from 319 to 330.

Yes, the applicant has to take the GMAT/GRE and submit the score before sending in the application.

Yes, you can. The application can be submitted along with the test centre/unofficial score report. The official score report from Pearson VUE (GMAT)/ETS (GRE) should reach the Admissions Team within three weeks of application submission.

No, The Integrated Reasoning (IR) scores will not be considered for your application evaluation.

GMAT/GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the date the exam was taken. Please ensure that your score is valid as on the deadline date of the round in which you apply.

A TOEFL/IELTS score is required for non-Indian students who did not have English as the primary language of instruction during their undergraduate studies

Please visit the official  TOFEL website or write to toefl@ets.org

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. To know more about IELTS, please visit their official website.

ISB’s entire application process is available online and therefore, no printed copy of the form is available/accepted. You will need access to an internet-enabled computer to apply to the programme. You will also need to scan some documents to be uploaded and will need access to a scanner.

No, you can complete the online application in multiple sessions and have the option to save parts of the application as you proceed.

We encourage everyone to apply early as it helps candidates to plan work & relocation arrangements. However, applying in either cycle doesn't have any material impact on your chances of selection.

No

You may scan and upload the documents (photograph, passport, etc.) in the PDF format as part of the application.

As a part of the admissions process, all shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. There is no group discussion.

There is no fixed percentage of students being called by ISB either for interviews or for admission.

You will be interviewed over telephone & Skype call. You have to call the telephone number given in the interview mail sent to you and connect to the Skype ID given.

No, the fee structure is the same for all students.

You may accept the offer made by remitting partially refundable admission fee(as per the refund policy) of INR 300,000/- plus taxes within the deadline specified in the offer email. If the amount has not been paid within the deadline, it will be assumed that you are not interested in joining the programme and the offer will be withdrawn.

No, the admission fee is part of the academic fee. On accepting the admission offer, the admit is initially required to pay partially refundable(as per the refund policy) sum of Rs. 300,000/- plus taxes as admission fee. Please note that the admission fee is partially refundable(as per the refund policy).

No, the admission fee is partially refundable as per the refund policy.

ISB should receive your acceptance decision within 10 days from the date of the admission offer. Candidates who have been made an offer after being put on the waitlist, need to pay the admission fee by the date mentioned in the offer letter.

Financial Aid is provided to students in the form of tuition waivers, scholarships, and loans.  
 
Tuition Waivers & Scholarships: ISB awards both merit and need-based tuition waivers to qualifying applicants ranging from INR 3,00,000 to full tuition. Details of these waivers will be indicated in the admission offer where applicable. The details of the waivers/ scholarships are available on our website. Please visit the link for scholarship details.

Loans: Student loans are available through a few leading financial institutions. Please check the website for details

Tuition waivers are discounts on the tuition fee granted by ISB and communicated in the admission offer while scholarships are generally granted by other organisations and dependent on your performance in the programme.

Yes, ISB offers financial aid to qualifying international students through tuition waivers.

The selection criteria usually depend on the organisation granting the scholarship. The qualifying process is highly competitive, and the selection criteria vary from year to year.

While there is no application needed for applying for a merit waiver, the applicant must write the essay given in the application form and submit proof of income as detailed in the application.

Yes, applicants are encouraged to get themselves sponsored by their employers.

No, there are no separate admission criteria for such candidates and the regular admission procedure will apply.

No, the fee structure and the selection criteria are universally applicable.

The number varies from year to year. ISB has established partnerships with over 50 esteemed schools across several countries including the U.S., France, South Africa, Israel, Germany, China, Pakistan, South Korea, Singapore, U.K., Canada, Italy, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Chile, Netherlands, Taiwan, Poland, Thailand, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and more. This international collaboration brings students from various global schools to the ISB campus, enhancing diversity and fostering a rich peer-learning experience.

For further information, visit:

http://www.isb.edu/programmes/post-graduate-programmes/pgp-in-management/international-exchange-programme

Students go on an exchange programme depending upon the mutual schedules of ISB and the concerned exchanged partner school. The duration of this programme typically spans one to two ISB elective terms, primarily terms 7 and 8, although there are instances where students participate in terms 5 and 6.

The students are allotted bidding points which they use to bid for their preferred exchange programme.

Each student is allocated an equal number of bidding points. During each term, students are required to allocate their points to specific courses, with the highest bidder securing enrollment in each course. Typically, the majority of students are able to secure most of the courses they bid for.

Most students return during placement week to participate, while others manage their placements from overseas.

As ISB's PGP is a one-year programme, a summer internship is not possible. However, ISB offers the Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) to benefit students interested in doing projects while on campus.

For more on ELP, please visit:

https://www.isb.edu/programmes/post-graduate-programmes/pgp-in-management/curriculum#experiential-learning-programme

Placements usually start in the second week of November/December every year. While a few international companies start coming in from October onwards, the placements continue till end of March.

No, ISB does not guarantee placements but every effort is made by the Career Advancement Services (CAS) Office to help students find and secure their ideal career opportunities.  It's important to note that placements depend on market demand and supply dynamics, and the CAS supports students in managing their career expectations realistically.

The details are on the website under the Placement highlights section. You can also download the Placement Report for this year from the website.

Yes, our PGP programme enables career shifts across function & industry.

1) As a first step, a student must be clear on what they seek. This comes from personal preferences, aspirations, research etc.

2) When you join our PGP, our Career Advancement Services (CAS) gives you the necessary inputs through workshops, psychometric analysis and one-on-one discussions for furthering your career aspirations. You will work with our L&D (Learning & Development) team so you are able to make informed decisions and prepare for the career you would like to embark upon.

3) The case-study classroom and peer group interactions are also designed so that you can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make the career transition you desire.

4)It is imperative for students to take ownership of developing the necessary skill set when employers visit the campus for recruitment. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the students to effectively demonstrate to the employer that they are the ideal candidates for the roles they are seeking.

ISB invites faculty members to teach courses during a term, and they remain available on campus throughout the term. Distinguished faculty from esteemed institutions such as Wharton, Kellogg, London Business School, Stanford, Chicago, Duke, Texas, and others have taught at ISB.

For more details, please visit:

https://www.isb.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-directory

Faculty members are easily accessible to the students, as they stay on campus throughout the term.

ISB neither offers a diploma nor a degree. It is a certificate programme for students with experience. Therefore, we have not sought recognition for our Post Graduate Programme in Management from either the AICTE or the UGC.  However, ISB's PGP is accredited by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System).

Given the rigour of the course and ISB’s aim to build a small but highly interactive campus community, it is a fully residential programme for all students.

We offer fully serviced studio apartments with a preferential allotment to married students. However, your preferred type of accommodation cannot always be guaranteed, though every reasonable effort is made to address your specific requirements.

Accommodation information can be found at https://www.isb.edu/about/life-on-campus

We encourage prospective applicants to visit the campus at Mohali/Hyderabad and have a look at our facilities. Campus tours are organised on Fridays from 2 pm to 4 pm.          
Kindly schedule a confirmed appointment for a mutually convenient slot by emailing your request with a copy of your updated Curriculum Vitae/Resume to Team Admissions at pgp@isb.edu preferably a week in advance.

ISB offers an extensive range of facilities to cater to the needs of its students and staff. Here is an improved version of the facilities:

• Canteen serviced by Sarovar in Hyderabad and Mohali Campus.
• ICICI Bank in Hyderabad and Indian Bank in Mohali Campus.
• ICICI and SBI ATMs in Hyderabad and Indian Bank ATM in Mohali Campus.
• A full-fledged Post Office at Hyderabad Campus.
• Daily Needs Store - Sampoorna in Hyderabad and MORE in Mohali Campus.
• Infirmary – Branch of Care in Hyderabad and Max Wellness Centre in Mohali Campus.
• Recreation Centre – Equipped with Squash, Swimming pool, Basketball ground, Tennis, Table Tennis, Gymnasium, Toddler’s room etc.
• House Keeping.
• Washing machines in addition to laundry service
• Please note that these facilities are subject to change and it's always best to check with the institution for the most up-to-date information. 
  Please check the website for further information: 

https://www.isb.edu/about/life-on-campus

No, ISB doesn't give any reservations or quotas. However, we encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds.

Yes.

Yes, we have a deferral policy in place. However, it is approved only in extenuating situations on a case by case basis.

You may send in a request along with reasons (including supporting documents) by email and it will be referred to the Admissions Committee. A decision will be taken on a case by case basis and communicated to the applicant.

An additional interest-free deposit of INR 250,000/- needs to be remitted within 10 days from the date of deferral being communicated.

No, further deferral will not be possible.

Tuition fee payable is  applicable as per the class you will be enrolling for.

Work experience should be full-time. Part-time work experience will not be considered.

While the article-ship will add value to the exposure, it will not be considered as work experience for admission.

Yes, your work experience will be viewed in the context of the responsibilities you have handled.

If this experience is full-time and if you can support this with relevant documents in your application, you can apply. The quality and relevance of your experience in your business will be critical. You will still have to furnish recommendations. Recommendations from your father, friends and family will not be accepted. You should furnish recommendation from people with whom you have a strictly professional interaction such as your clients, vendors etc.

No, as long as you have been awarded a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university, you are eligible to apply.

Ideally, your evaluator should be someone who has closely observed your work in the recent past, gaining valuable insights into your abilities, areas of improvement, and overall performance. It is important that your evaluator is well-acquainted with your skills and potential for growth.

To ensure a thorough evaluation, it is advisable to provide your recommender with sufficient time. Therefore, it is recommended to submit your request as early as possible.

You will be required to provide their name, phone number, and official email address, following which an evaluation link will be sent to them.

We only need one LOR.

No template is necessary, and there is no need to email a PDF or send a physical copy. The entire process is conducted online, and your recommender will receive the email.

ISB does not distinguish between fresh applicants and re-applicants when considering applications. If you fall into the category of re-applicants, it is important to emphasise your accomplishments since your previous application. Moreover, all reapplicants are eligible for a 50% waiver on the application fee.

Unless they have taken the GMAT or GRE online or at home, which is not admissible starting with the April 2025 intake, there is no need to submit the test score to ISB again.

Tuition fee waivers will be provided to deserving candidates regardless of the application round, with a minimum of 25% and a maximum of up to 100% being offered.

By default, all applicants to ISB are automatically considered for the merit-based scholarship. The scholarship selection process includes an evaluation of the overall application, which considers factors such as the GMAT/GRE scores, academic background, quality of work experience and performance in the interview.

The selection criteria for scholarships generally depend on the organisation providing the scholarship. The qualification process is highly competitive, with the specific selection criteria varying from year to year.

The total annual family income should not exceed Rs 18 lakhs. This income encompasses the earnings or pensions of yourself, your father, your mother, and your spouse (if applicable). Documentation supporting the income must be provided.

In the scholarship section of the application portal, you must select the appropriate scholarships that allow applicants to submit a separate essay specifically for the need-based scholarship they are applying for.