PGP MAX eligibility and requirement

Admissions Criteria

The PGP MAX selects accomplished senior executives poised for global leadership roles. While our cohort represents diverse industries and functions, they share four defining qualities: 

Strategic Leadership Potential

We seek individuals with high ethical values, an achievement-oriented mindset, and leadership potential, who can drive organisation-wide transformation.

Global Perspective

We value executives with a global outlook and future aspirations aligned with navigating complex international business environments. 

Professional Excellence 

We look for executives who have demonstrated transformative leadership – orchestrated complex initiatives, shaped consequential decisions, and elevated organisational performance through their distinctive approach. 

Collaborative Impact 

We look for proven success in cross-functional collaboration, a demonstrated track record of continuous professional development, and a history of elevating team performance through meaningful knowledge exchange. 

Eligibility

• Bachelor's Degree: Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification (e.g., CA, ICWA)
• Work Experience: 10+ years of full-time work experience after a bachelor’s degree with strong functional competence and industry expertise.

Application Components

The online PGP MAX application features five intuitive sections crafted to capture the unique dimensions of your executive journey, allowing you to showcase your distinctive professional narrative with clarity and impact: 

Academics

Details of your educational accomplishments from Class XII through graduation, post-graduation (if applicable), and relevant certifications. 

Work Experience

Minimum 10+ years of full-time professional experience required, emphasising achievements/ accomplishments, and key responsibilities. 

Awards and Activities

Significant milestones, achievements, and community/societal contributions that have shaped your development.

Essays

Two mandatory and one optional essay highlighting your journey, intellectual experiences, unique perspectives, and career aspirations.

Recommendation

Select two recommenders who can provide meaningful insights about your professional path, prioritising quality of perspective over seniority.

Evaluation Criteria 

Our assessment focuses on three key parameters: 

Professional Impact

Candidates must demonstrate significant experience in strategic areas such as people management, decision-making, or substantial budget/ P&L oversight, coupled with a results-driven mindset and a proven record of organisational impact.

Leadership Mindset

Successful applicants exhibit exceptional emotional intelligence, resilience, and ethical leadership principles – navigating complex challenges with strategic foresight while exhibiting global perspective and extraordinary communication across diverse contexts.

Academic Readiness

We seek candidates who demonstrate strong academic foundations through their undergraduate/ graduate performance, combined with an openness to learning and unlearning. Final selection decisions are influenced by a candidate's commitment to fully engage with the programme's intellectual demands and the demonstrated adaptability to acquire new skills.

Application Stages

PGP MAX admissions are structured across clearly defined stages, ensuring a transparent experience for prospective candidates:

 

Stage	Description
Stage 1: Application Submission	Complete the PGP MAX online application with all required supporting documentation.
Stage 2:  Application Verification	Your application undergoes a completeness check within 20 days of submission. Any identified insufficiencies must be addressed within 3 days of notification. Once verification is complete, the application will be marked as 'Verified' in the portal. Only verified applications proceed to further evaluation.
Stage 3: Shortlisting for Interview	All 'Verified' applications undergo evaluation based on academics, professional experience, awards and achievements, essays and recommendations. Based on this comprehensive evaluation, applications are shortlisted for interview.
Stage 4: Interview Process	Shortlisted applicants receive interview notifications 3-7 days before their scheduled interviews. Interviews are conducted by professors, ISB alumni, and/or senior staff members, usually at the applicant's preferred location or online.
Stage 5: Admissions Committee Review	Following interview feedback, applications undergo a comprehensive evaluation before presentation to the Admissions Committee – comprising faculty and alumni – who make the final decisions on the offers.
Stage 6: Decision Notification	Candidates receive final decisions via email according to the published timeline for their respective application rounds.
Stage 7: Scholarship Decision	Shortlisted applicants may be invited for scholarship interviews based on multiple criteria. Following these interviews, the Scholarship Committee conducts a final review and communicates decisions directly to the applicants.