PGP MAX eligibility and requirement
PGP MAX
Eligibility and Requirements
Who Are We Looking For
The PGP MAX selects accomplished senior executives poised for global leadership roles. Our cohort represents diverse industries and functions, bringing together experienced leaders ready to elevate their strategic impact and advance to enterprise-level positions. While professionally diverse, they are united by 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.
Application Deadline R1
September 14, 2025
Admissions Process
The PGP MAX admissions process identifies exceptional leaders poised for global impact through a holistic assessment of your professional accomplishments, leadership journey, and career aspirations. We carefully evaluate your academic foundation, executive experience, and collaborative capabilities, seeking accomplished professionals who will both contribute to and thrive within our diverse cohort of visionaries. Below, you will discover our structured application components and stages. We eagerly anticipate learning about your distinctive professional path and unique perspective that will enrich our dynamic learning community.
Application Stages
The admission process comprises a structured and systematic evaluation that passes through the following stages. As you progress through the stages, you will receive email notifications from the Admissions Office. You can also track the progress of your application on the application portal.
| Stage 1: Application Submission |
Assemble the key application components and submit your complete application along with all required supporting documentation online on the admissions portal before the application deadlines. The section on “Key Application Components” provides details on what you need to prepare to submit as part of your application. |
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Stage 2: |
As a next step, we will verify the completeness and accuracy of your application within 20 days of submission. We will check whether all necessary supporting documents, such as proof of identity, academic certificates and transcripts, professional documents, amongst others, have been submitted. We will also verify the contents of your application vis-à-vis the supporting documents. In case of any missing document or mismatch of information, we will communicate the same to you, and you will have 3 days to address any insufficiency. Once the verification is complete, your application will be marked as ‘Verified’ in the application portal. Only verified applications proceed to further evaluation. |
| Stage 3: Interview Shortlist |
All ‘Verified’ applications undergo a structured review of academics, relevant test scores, professional experience, extracurricular activities, essays, awards and recognitions, and recommendations. We follow a holistic evaluation approach, wherein all aspects of your profile are given due weightage to arrive at a final profile score. This enables the candidates to play to their strengths and balance their profiles across various parameters. The holistic selection process ensures the selection of a diverse cohort with a wide range of test scores. |
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Stage 4: |
After your application has been verified, you may be invited to an interview. Interviews last around 30 minutes and are conducted by a panel comprising ISB faculty, alumni and senior staff. As part of your application, you can indicate your preferred interview location from a list typically including Tier-1 cities. You may also choose the option of a Virtual interview. If shortlisted, you will receive an email notification 3-7 days prior to your scheduled interview. The Admissions Office decides your interview location, considering your preference and availability. |
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Stage 5: |
Following interview feedback, applications undergo a comprehensive evaluation before presentation to the Admissions Committee, comprising faculty and alumni, who decide on the final offers. |
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Stage 6: |
Candidates are informed of the final decisions via email according to the published timeline for their respective application rounds. |
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Stage 7: |
Shortlisted applicants may be invited for scholarship interviews based on multiple criteria. Following these interviews, the Scholarship Committee conducts a thorough review, and the decision is communicated to the applicants. |
Your PGP MAX online application comprises essential components designed to capture your distinctive background systematically. Below, we detail what you must prepare to submit as part of your application.
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised institution. Three-year undergraduate programmes are common in the Indian education system and are fully acceptable. We require uploaded transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions you have attended (full- or part-time). You may initially submit unofficial transcripts; however, we will request official documentation for verification purposes should you receive an offer of admission to ISB.
When evaluating your academic record, our Admissions Committee considers your complete profile, not just grades. We examine your institution, course selection, and performance trajectory. We understand diverse grading systems across diverse universities. While there is no minimum percentage or CGPA requirement, successful candidates typically demonstrate strong academic capabilities. Your undergraduate performance represents just one dimension of our holistic evaluation process.
Share your comprehensive work experience by listing all roles and employers. For multiple positions within the same company, you can group them together or separate them by teams and projects. For each role, provide your designation, employment type and sub-type, compensation, duration, industry, and function. Mark your current employment status if you are still working and include any side projects or part-time roles alongside your primary positions. Whether you've worked across different industries or advanced within one organization, this section captures the breadth and depth of your professional journey. Use your essays and interviews to provide additional context about experiences that shaped your career path.
Note:
The PGP MAX is designed for professionals who have a minimum of 10 years full-time work experience, and the Admissions Office looks for this as a requisite in candidates before enrollment.
Share awards or recognitions from any stage of your life, explaining their context and significance. Choose awards with personal or professional meaning—don't just list them but share why they matter and what they reveal about your values and journey.
Include professional awards, academic recognitions, extracurricular achievements, patents, national awards, and publications in prominent journals. We seek key milestones, transformative achievements, and community contributions that shaped your evolution.
Thoughtful reflection helps us understand what drives you beyond your resume. It's not about quantity—it's about meaningful reflection offering a clearer picture of who you are.
Your essays reveal the deeper dimensions of your professional journey beyond metrics and milestones. They showcase what motivates you, the experiences that shaped your leadership approach, and your unique perspectives that will enrich ISB's learning community.
Essay 1 (Mandatory, 500 words): How have your experiences shaped who you are and how you lead? How will your unique experience contribute to ISB?
Essay 2 (Mandatory, 500 words): What professional experiences have influenced your approach to learning? Elaborate on key factors that led you to pursue PGP MAX and how you plan to leverage it to achieve your professional goals.
Essay 3 (Optional, 300 words): Highlight work and non-work achievements not captured elsewhere in your application.
Write with clarity and authenticity. Reflect intentionally, speak from experience, and ensure your essays couldn't describe anyone else.
Your application requires two professional recommendations submitted online by your chosen round's deadline. These provide a 360-degree view of your leadership through the lens of someone who's worked closely with you.
Choose ideal recommenders who understand your leadership style firsthand, have worked with you on high-stakes initiatives, and can speak to your influence and effectiveness. Former supervisors, senior colleagues, or external collaborators are strong choices, while academic references aren't necessary unless contextually relevant.
The strongest recommendations are specific and example-driven, providing evidence-based accounts of real-world impact focused on strategic and team outcomes. They showcase how you solve problems, lead teams, and elevate results through concrete examples. You can enter your recommender's details in the portal. ISB will email them a secure link to complete and submit the form directly.