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ISB Admission Process

ISB PGP is at the centre-stage of preferred MBA courses in India.​

ISB MBA ranking:

  • 1st in India according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek Best Business schools for 2021-22.

  • 5th in Asia according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek best Business schools 2021-22.

  • ​​32 rank in the FT MBA 2022 ranking and

  • Ranked 23rd in the world in the FT Global MBA rankings 2021.

  • ​Among the Asia-Pacific schools ISB MBA achieved the 5th position in the Bloomberg Best B-Schools 21-22 rankings. This is enough reason for most MBA applicants in India to aspire for an ISB MBA.

  • ISB MBA Placements related numbers from FT MBA ranking 2022

  • Overall FT Rank - 32

  • Salary percentage increase for ISB - 184%

  • Career Services Rank - 43

  • Career Progress Rank - 28

  • International Mobility Rank - 88

ISB Admission Process: Eligibility, fees, placements

ISB MBA eligibility

  • ISB YLP: Final & pre-final year students.

  • ISB EEO: Less than 24 months of work experience.

  • ISB PGP: Minimum 24 months of work experience.

  • An undergraduate or equivalent degree.

  • A GMAT or a GRE score fulfils the ISB MBA eligibility.

  • Average GMAT Score: 710

  • Average GRE Score: 328

  • Range of GMAT Score accepted in 2021: 600-770

  • Range of GRE Scores accepted in 2021: 311-334

  • Average Work Experience in class: 4.3 years

  • Average Age in class: 26.63 years

ISB MBA fees

  • Admission fees:

  • INR 2,95,000

  • ISB MBA fees for Shared Accommodation:

  • INR 33,05,120

  • ISB MBA fees for Single Accommodation:

  • INR 34,17,220

  • Other transferable charges: INR 29,500

  • Other expenses like books, meal plans & other services:

  • INR 2,20,000

ISB placements

  • Around 270 companies offered positions during ISB MBA placements

  • Average accepted CTC at ISB PGP in 2021 - INR 28.29 lakhs

  • An average salary of 34.07 lacs in 2022

  • Top 5 industries hiring at ISB MBA placements in 2021 : 

  • Consulting

  • IT/ ITES

  • BFSI

  • Technology

  • FMCG, retail shares the fifth position with Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare

  • Top 5 functions hired at ISB MBA placements in 2021 have been:

  • Consulting

  • Product Management

  • Sales & Marketing

  • General Management and Strategic Planning

  • Technology

ISB Admission Process

How can I Get Admission in ISB?

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  1. Decide whether you are eligible for the ISB MBA from the eligibility criteria given above.

  2. Decide which round of admission you want to apply for. ISB admissions process takes place in 3 admission cycles during one application year for ISB EEO and ISB PGP. An applicant can apply only once during the admission cycle. ​

  3. Calculate backwards from the application deadline you have chosen and keeping at least 40 - 45 days for the application essays plan to write the GMAT or the GRE.​

  4.  Decide whether you would write the GMAT or the GRE and get sone with the test.

  5. The next step is to plan for the online application submission in the ISB admission process.

  6. ISB admission process 2022 requires the applicants to submit their ​Personal details, identification documents etc in the application form.

  7. For the ISB admission process 2022 the Aadhar card is a valid proof of identity in addition to the passport.

  8. Academic credentials like undergraduate and post graduate programs studied should be added to the ISB application form.

  9. Add the work related information with duration, roles and responsibilities and achievements to the online application.

  10. A valid GMAT or GRE score is prerequisite for the ISB admission procedure. Use the relevant codes as below for sending the official scores for the ISB one year MBA :

    1. GMAT code: N2D-J5-01

    2. GRE code: 7892

    3. TOEFL code: 9047

  11. The next step is to write two ISB essays. ISB essays for ISB admission process 2022 were:

    1. ISB Essay 1: Describe with examples the most important personal quality that you possess, which significantly enhances your prospects of being successful as a leader? (400 words max)

    2. ISB Essay 2: What are your short term and long term career goals? How will Post Graduate Program at ISB assist you in achieving your goals?  (400 words max)

    3. In case of re-applicants an additional essay is required.

  12. 1 letter of recommendation, scholarship essay if applicable,

  13. Finally add your extracurricular activities, awards and achievements, hobbies to the online ISB application.

  14. Final step is the ISB interview.  

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How to write great ISB essays?

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For many, the MBA application process is a minefield of preset ideas and forced points. While it's tempting to outline your educational goals in advance. Who doesn't love writing an essay for MBA?! The best way apply authentically is by starting with what you've already accomplished. Your honesty will shine through when details about these accomplishments are shared during essays.​

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  1. Tell your story: Well-written ISB essays make the reader want more. By being original and sharing something only you know about yourself, it will help them get a feel for who exactly you are as an individual--as if they had met with your family or just happened upon some random act of kindness from someone close enough in life for this connection to have been made!  It may seem cliche, but the best essays are always original. This should be obvious- after all you're an individual and your story deserves to stand out from everyone else's stories in this crowded applicant pool! Make sure it does by starting with something unique about yourself like how hard work paid off (or didn't) when applying for graduate schools. 

  2. Plan your ISB essays well: When you state a problem, it's impossible not to get curious. You can discuss personal challenges and difficulties as well because discussing them will help others in their own struggles with these issues. There are many external issues and personal difficulties that we struggle with in our day-to-day lives. By stating it, you create instant curiosity because the reader will want to know how you dealt or overcame them!

  3. Its OK to experiment when you write your ISB essays: When the admissions committee is reading so many essays daily, you can be creative and offbeat. In order for this type of approach work though customers should take care about what they are doing because using humour in essays might not always come across well sometimes people don't get the joke or even worse think your writing style has gone crazy when really all thats happening was trying too hard with some clever word choice that failed miserably at delivering its intended message.

  4. Avoid reiterating your resume in your ISB essays: It is a common mistake to write an essay for MBA about your background and experience in resume-like fashion. If other parts of your application provide the same information, does it add value for you simply summarise or explain them again? The reader wants something more engaging - so keep their attention by using stories or examples from what they already know!

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Need help for your ISB essays from the best admission consultants for ISB. Get Started

Arindam Chatterjee ISB MBA

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Shruti mam, a coach from whom I have taken guidance for my ISB PGP interview prep, is an awesome human being and has an indepth knowledge of B schools selection procedures.
With the help of her guidance during my process I have converted ISB and IIM B.
I really regret if I could have taken guidance from her from very begining I could have converted some more top B schools.
I recommend her for all the aspirants seeking help for admission process and interview prep.

Shilpa Yadav ISB MBA

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I highly recommend Shruti/GoalISB for anyone who is looking for MBA admits from top B schools in India or abroad. Right from day one Shruti had been like my mentor and friend not only for the applications but also for my over all career growth and interview prep.

She gave me honest feedback while I was writing irrelevant stories for my applications and her feedbacks were to the point and an eyeopener for me ! I remember how she reviewed my application multiple times and provided me feedback again and again until the essays were good.

I got interview calls from all the colleges I applied ( IIMs, ISB and abroad colleges). Because of her consistent and extended support for mock interview sessions , I secured the admits from ISB, IIMC, IIM Lucknow and ESCP. 

I go to her for any doubts related to my applications, career growth and interview prep( even after my package was completed long back). She has always been so concerned about my interviews and application results.

The best part is - she is always available to respond and to support just like a family member!!!

Pranoy Suresh ISB MBA

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I sincerely thank Mrs. Shruti for helping me secure admissions to ISB (PGP), IIMA (PGPX) and IIMC (MBAEX) (2021-22 batch).

Being an ISB alumna and an experienced consultant, Mrs. Shruti has absolute clarity on what to mention in the applications depending on one’s profile and she made sure that I am able to portray my best self in the applications. Throughout my application processes and interviews she supported me as a mentor, spending hours on each minute detail that I need to look into. She even went out of her way to help me with my GMAT by sending me reference materials. On the whole, my experience has been as if I have been working with an elder sister rather than with a consultant. This personal touch clearly differentiates Goalisb from other MBA consultants.

FAQ ISB Admission Process

Is ISB Better or IIM?​

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ISB and IIM deliver world ranked one Year MBA programs in India. Is ISB better or IIM does really depend on the career background and future goals of the applicants. While some applicants like to consider the FT rankings for IIM and ISB programs, some like to evaluate on the basis of class size, average age or average work experience in the class. There is a huge difference in the batch size at ISB vs IIM which is also sometimes a deciding factor for applicants to ISB MBA.

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Does ISB provide MBA?

ISB provides an MBA equivalent one year management program. In India only universities are allowed to award degrees which is why the ISB PGP is not a degree or a diploma. However the ISB MBA with its world rankings and industry acceptance is a leading MBA program in India.

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Is ISB hard to get into?

Yes, the process and the competition - both make it hard to get into ISB. Every year ISB PGP accepts applications to its MBA program in three rounds starting in July. The applicants have to submit a GMAT or a GRE score, application form with ISB essays, recommendation letter and then present for an ISB interview. These components are touch to crack and highly competitive year on year.

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Does ISB accept CAT score for MBA admission?

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No. CAT score is not an acceptable score for ISB admissions. ISB accepts the GMAT or the GRE score for the admission process.

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Is 680 a good score for ISB?

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680 gmat score lies well within range of scores that ISB accepts for admissions. We have had many admits at 680 GMAT score. The profile of the applicants plays a very important roles in ISB admission process. Everything matters - Academic scores, GMAT score, Work experience, essays and Letter of Recommendation before any applicant is shortlisted.

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Does ISB have a 2 year MBA?

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No. ISB MBA is a one year full time program equivalent to an MBA.  Over the one year period students undergo a rigorous schedule of  curriculum and activities. This is what life at ISB is like:

 

  1. Life at ISB starts with The Digital Headstart Module which starts in 2022 on 3rd April 2022. Simultaneously the students at ISB Mohali and ISB Hyderabad begin their orientation and LEAD course which lasts for around two weeks.  The Digital Headstart Module is an online off campus module which continues till end of June.

  2. The duration of the ISB PGP course is divided into 8 terms over a period of 12 months. Every term lasts around 4 weeks with two examination schedules per term - mid term examinations and end term examinations to be held over a period of 2-4 days within the term.

  3. Career preparation week starts sometime in the beginning of October after the fourth term is over. The fourth term is also the last core term. Post this starting mid October 2022 the life at ISB for the graduates takes a twist and they start with their elective terms.

  4. Some courses offered in Term 5 electives in the past years are​Brand Management,​Business Analytics using Data Mining, ​Corporate Control, Mergers and Acquisitions ​, Digital Game Design Techniques for Businesses, ​​Global Strategic Management , Security Markets and Trading, Strategic Procurement etc.

  5. Post the term 5 somewhere in the mid of November 2022 the life at ISB will become slightly more tight packed with "On Campus interviews" which will start at ISB Hyderabad to be continued till around 9 or 10 days. During this week, life at ISB changes as the students do not engage in any course work. SEAL conducts soft skills workshops and interventions, and mock interviews. ISB Alumni also volunteer for these initiatives by SEAL and participate in resume review and mock interview sessions.

  6. This is followed by the Term 6 electives. Some courses offered over the previous years for Term 6 at ISB Hyderabad were: Business Value Of Disruptive Technologies, ​Consumer Behaviour (Mandatory Elective), Corporate Strategy and Organization Design, Fixed Income Securities, International Finance, Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations, Strategic Customer Analytics

  7. The end of term 6 is followed by another week to ten days of "On Campus Interviews" followed by the ELP week till the mid of January 2023. Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) is a live consulting engagement in the ISB MBA curriculum. For the ELP ISB students team up in groups of three to four to accomplish project goals to aid the client’s business potential.

  8. Term 7 marks its onset in the mid of January followed by the Study Trek week which continues till the end of February 2023. Life at ISB now comes to its last term - Term 8 which continues till the first week of April 2023.