CAT Postgraduate and Doctoral Course
Common Admission Test

1. Postgraduate Programs - 2-Year Full-Time MBA/PGP

What it is: A 2-year full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Post Graduate Program (PGP), the flagship program of IIMs, designed for comprehensive management education.

Focus: Core management skills including strategy, finance, marketing, and operations, preparing students for leadership roles.

Minimum Educational Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates)

Final-year bachelor’s degree students (awaiting results) or equivalent qualification, with proof of passing required by June 30, 2026.

Specializations:

General Management

What it is: A broad MBA/PGP covering all management areas.

Focus: Cross-functional skills for diverse leadership roles.

Finance

What it is: MBA/PGP with a focus on financial management.

Focus: Investment banking, corporate finance, and financial analysis.

Marketing

What it is: MBA/PGP emphasizing marketing strategies.

Focus: Brand management, consumer behavior, and digital marketing.

Operations Management

What it is: MBA/PGP focused on supply chain and operations.

Focus: Logistics, process optimization, and production management.

Human Resource Management (HRM)

What it is: MBA/PGP specializing in human resources.

Focus: Talent management, organizational behavior, and HR analytics.

Information Technology (IT) Management

What it is: MBA/PGP with an IT focus.

Focus: IT strategy, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.

Strategy

What it is: MBA/PGP centered on business strategy.

Focus: Competitive strategy, innovation, and global business.

Entrepreneurship

What it is: MBA/PGP for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Focus: Start-up management, venture capital, and business planning.

Business Analytics

What it is: MBA/PGP with a data-driven approach.

Focus: Data science, predictive analytics, and decision-making.

Public Policy

What it is: MBA/PGP addressing public sector management (offered by select IIMs).

Focus: Governance, policy analysis, and public administration.

2. Postgraduate Programs - Executive MBA/PGP (1-2 Years)

What it is: A 1-2 year MBA or PGP designed for working professionals with significant work experience, offered in full-time, part-time, or hybrid modes.

Focus: Advanced management skills with practical application, tailored for career acceleration.

Minimum Educational Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates)
Minimum 3-5 years of work experience (varies by IIM), with proof required at admission.

Specializations:

Executive General Management

What it is: Broad executive MBA/PGP for senior roles.

Focus: Leadership and strategic oversight.

Executive Finance

What it is: Executive MBA/PGP in financial leadership.

Focus: Advanced financial strategy and risk management.

Executive Marketing

What it is: Executive MBA/PGP in marketing leadership.

Focus: Strategic marketing and brand strategy.

Executive Operations Management

What it is: Executive MBA/PGP in operations leadership.

Focus: Supply chain strategy and operational excellence.

Executive Human Resource Management

What it is: Executive MBA/PGP in HR leadership.

Focus: Organizational development and HR strategy.

3. Doctoral Programs - PhD/Fellow Program in Management (FPM)

What it is: A 4-5 year doctoral program for research and academic careers in management.

Focus: Original research in management disciplines, preparing candidates for academia or consultancy.

Minimum Educational Qualification:

Master’s degree or equivalent (e.g., MBA, M.Tech) with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD)

Bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.Tech, CA) with at least 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwD) and relevant work experience, with proof required at admission.

Specializations:

Finance and Accounting

What it is: PhD/FPM in financial research.

Focus: Financial modeling and economic policy.

Marketing

What it is: PhD/FPM in marketing research.

Focus: Consumer psychology and market trends.

Operations Management and Quantitative Methods

What it is: PhD/FPM in operations research.

Focus: Optimization and supply chain analytics.

Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

What it is: PhD/FPM in organizational studies.

Focus: Leadership and employee engagement.

Economics

What it is: PhD/FPM in economic analysis.

Focus: Microeconomics and macroeconomics.

Information Systems

What it is: PhD/FPM in IT management research.

Focus: Technology adoption and digital innovation.

Strategy

What it is: PhD/FPM in strategic management.

Focus: Competitive dynamics and corporate strategy.

Notes

Exam Dates: CAT 2025 is scheduled for November 30, 2025, in three shifts, with registration from the first week of August to the third week of September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in.
Eligibility: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), or be in the final year. Professional degrees (CA/CS/ICWA) with 50% are also eligible. No age limit.
Exam Pattern: 66 MCQs and TITA questions, 120-minute duration (40 minutes per section), with three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). +3 marks for correct answers, -1 for wrong MCQs, no negative for TITA.
Application: Expected fee: INR 2,500 (General/NC-OBC), INR 1,250 (SC/ST/PwD), payable online.
Selection Process: Based on CAT score, followed by Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) rounds by individual IIMs. Cutoffs vary (e.g., 95-100 percentile for top IIMs).
Participating Institutions: 21 IIMs (e.g., IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore) and over 1,300 B-schools, with approximately 5,000 seats across IIMs based on past trends.