ISB PGP Admissions Guide : Strategies, Tips, and Insights

The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) is the flagship management program offered by the Indian School of Business (ISB). Getting ISB PGP admission is a dream for many applicants, but the admissions process is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 15%. Candidates have to undergo a rigorously designed selection process evaluating academic excellence, competitive exam scores, work experience, extracurricular profile and personal interviews spread over 6-8 months. This reflects the comprehensiveness of the process, allowing ISB to identify and nurture the most promising future business leaders through their prestigious PGP degrees.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about how to get into the ISB PGP program.

About PGP in ISB

ISB’s Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is a full-time, one-year residential MBA equivalent course. The ISB PGP program starts in April each year and admits around 900 students across its Hyderabad and Mohali campuses.

Some key highlights:

Globally ranked one-year MBA alternative.
Accelerated 15-month course.
Taught across 2 campuses – Hyderabad and Mohali.
Intake of about 900 students per campus.
It focuses on leadership, strategy, analytics, and entrepreneurship.
Options of Interdisciplinary Electives.
Diverse batch with students from different backgrounds.
Access to a vast alum network.

The innovative curriculum, research-driven faculty, and diverse peer network make PGP one of the most sought-after management programs in India.

ISB PGP Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for PGP, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

Age: No age limit, but work experience is required.
Academic background: Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in any discipline.
Work experience: Minimum 2 years of full-time work experience.
Entrance exams: GMAT and TOEFL/IELTS.
The eligibility criteria are relaxed for specialised PGP offerings like the younger PGP class.

Meeting just the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into ISB’s highly competitive PGP program.

ISB PGP Application Deadlines

ISB has three admission rounds with application deadlines:

Round	Application Deadline	Final Results
Round 1	September 10, 2023	2nd week of November
Round 2	December 10, 2023	3rd week of February
Round 3	January 21, 2024	2nd week of March

Applying in the first round gives you the maximum chance of securing a seat. Apply as early as possible within each round.

PGP Application Process

The PGP application process comprises the following components:

Step	Details
Application Form	Fill out the online application form with necessary personal, academic, and professional details.
GMAT and TOEFL Scores	Submit GMAT scores (range: 700-750) taken within the last 5 years. For TOEFL, aim for a score of at least 100 or take equivalent tests like IELTS.
Essays	Write essays reflecting your goals, strengths, leadership skills, failures, and achievements. Be genuine in your approach.
Letters of Recommendation (LORs)	Secure 2-3 LORs, preferably from managers or professors who can vouch for your performance.
Interview	Prepare for a personal interview, if you’re shortlisted. Practice mock interviews for better preparation.
Application Fee	For Round 1, the fee is INR 5000, while in Rounds 2 and 3, it increases to INR 7500.

Financing Your PGP in ISB

The total PGP program fees, including tuition, accommodation, books, etc., is around ₹32 lakhs. Start planning early for financing through:

Savings from work
Bank education loans
Company sponsorship
ISB Financial Aid
ISB also facilitates loans through tie-ups with banks and NBFCs.
ISB PGP Scholarships
ISB offers merit-based scholarships of up to ₹10 lakhs.

Prepare a strong application to win scholarships and reduce the financial burden.

Tips for ISB Application

Follow these ISB PGP application tips to secure your place in the next session:

Research thoroughly. Learn about the program, curriculum, faculty, and culture.
Start early. Prepare for over 6-12 months with entrance exams and essays.
Give entrance exams. Maximize GMAT and TOEFL scores on the first attempt.
Get diverse perspectives on essays from mentors.
Be authentic in representing yourself throughout the application.
Follow the deadline for each document submission.
Be open-minded during alums/student interactions.
With extensive preparation across academics, profile building, entrance exams, and application components, you can put your best foot forward to win admission into ISB PGP.

For personalised guidance on your ISB 2024 application, consider Career Launcher’s ISB Profile Evaluation, an ideal tool for fine-tuning your profile.

Life at ISB PGP

Upon being selected, you can look forward to an exciting life at ISB PGP.

Rigorous academics with world-class faculty.
You can build in-depth business skills.
Learning from diverse classmates.
Access to career services and alumni network.
Building leadership through committees and clubs.
Participating in competitions and conferences.
Options for exchange programs abroad.
Vibrant campus life with events and fests.
Lifelong friends and memories.

The ISB PGP program transforms you into a well-rounded management professional ready to take on leadership challenges.

Final Thoughts

With meticulous planning and consistent effort, you can realise your dream of ISB PGP admission. Leverage the abundance of resources provided by admissions veterans and make your efforts count. The rewards will be immense in the form of an enriched management education that opens doors to a stellar career.

Checkout Our Latest Podcast on Youtube Answering FAQs Related to ISB

Shaifali Bhardwaj
Content Writer

About Author

A people- and story-person, Shaifali enjoys crafting narratives inspired by the life of people she meets. She likes to read autobiographies and fiction, indulge in some YRF drama, and even spin stories inspired by everyday objects (like her work desk). Stories being her oxygen, she began her career with HT Media, where she wrote health and entertainment news stories, and later started helping students write and edit essential application documents like statements of purpose. This fulfilled her desire to uncover unique stories and articulate them in the most compelling manner, while forming lasting bonds with her students. Presently with Career Launcher Study Abroad, she’s expanding her skills in website content and copywriting to advance in her field. On weekends, you may find her at a dance workshop or requesting weekday leaves for trekking adventures.