The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) is one of the best business schools in India with a very strict, direct and transparent system of admission to the various academic programmes of the institution. The IIM Kozhikode admission 2026 will give preference to merit, academic excellence and diversity to include entrance tests like CAT, GMAT, GRE and tests based on institute-specific factors. The Government of India norms are being followed by reservations: 15% of Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% of Scheduled Tribes (ST), 27% of Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer, OBC-NCL), 10% of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and 5% of Persons with Disabilities (PwD). Merit is also tested without any reservation on international applicants.
The details of the IIM Kozhikode admission criteria 2026, selection process, minimum cutoffs, fees and application timelines are fundamental programmes considering the most recent available information as of October. Applicants must keep up with the official IIMK site (iimk.ac.in) because every year the IIM Kozhikode admission 2026 cycle is updated to suit the dynamic applicant pools and exam challenges.
Events | Dates |
CAT Exam Admit Card Download | 05 November 2025 |
CAT Entrance Exam Date | 30 November 2025 |
Application Begins for PGP-BL | Phase I: Jun 12, 2025 Phase III: Sep 1, 2025 |
Application Ends for PGP-BL | Phase I: Jul 15, 2025 Phase III: Nov 20, 2025 |
Personal Interaction for PGP-BL | Phase I: Aug 09-10, 2025 Phase III: Dec 20-21, 2025 |
Classes Commence for PGP-BL | April, 2026 onwards |
Application Begins for BMS | 22 April, 2025 |
Application Ends for BMS | 26 May, 2025 |
Admit Cards Download for BMS | 13 June 2025 |
IIMK BMS Aptitude Test | 22 June, 2025 |
Interview for BMS | July 2025 |
The 112-acre campus of IIMK is located in the hills of Kunnamangalam and comprises state-of-the-art classes, a 24/7 library with a collection of 50,000 and other helpful resources, sports complexes, and wellness centres. The institute is responsible for its management, as evidenced by sustainability programmes such as solar power and rainwater harvesting. Student support also comprises counselling, diversity cells and clubs such as entrepreneurship and cultural clubs, which make the IIM Kozhikode admissions experience more than just academic.
Post Graduate Programme in Management at IIM Kozhikode is a two-year full-time residential programme equivalent to an MBA, which is aimed at producing strategic thinkers and ethical leaders. It consists of both the basic courses in finance, marketing, operations, and human resources as well as the elective courses in newer fields, such as data analytics and sustainable business practices.
The programme has a strength of about 353 students with an intake of about 353 students and a case study, industry project, and international immersion that promote experiential learning. The placements of the graduates are strong, with the average salary of graduates standing at INR31.02 LPA in the 2024 batch, with McKinsey, Deloitte, and Goldman Sachs being the leading recruiters. The PGP admissions of the IIM Kozhikode focus on comprehensive assessment, which guarantees a diverse group that improves peer learning and collaborative innovation.
Criteria | Indian Students | International Students |
Academic Qualification | Bachelor's with min. 60% marks or equivalent CGPA (55% for SC/ST/PwD). Professional qualifications (CA/CMA/CS) require 50% marks. | Bachelor's degree with min. 60% marks or equivalent CGPA, certified as equivalent by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). |
Entrance Exam | CAT 2025 | GMAT or GRE (valid from 1st January, 2024 to 31st December, 2026) |
Minimum Score | Sectional degrees overall and CAT cutoffs are as specified | GMAT: minimum classic-560 or focus-535; GRE: minimum composite 320 or 60 th -percentile; CAT maximum 80 th -percentile (CAT 2025). TOEFL/IELTS: at least the 70 th percentile or a degree obtained in an English speaking nation. |
Final-Year Students | Eligible if the degree is completed by June 30, 2026, and proof of degree completion is submitted by that date. | Same requirement, with final documents submitted by December 31, 2026. |
Professional Qualifications | CA/CMA/CS with at least 50% aggregate marks. | Equivalent international professional qualifications are accepted with valid GMAT/GRE scores. |
The IIM Kozhikode admissions for PGP are conducted in a three-stage procedure to select the candidates with good analytical skills, communication skills and leadership potential:
Stage 1: Eligibility Check: All the applicants should have the minimum academic and entrance examination. Candidates that choose IIM Kozhikode when registering for CAT 2025 are only taken into consideration. The positive (non-zero) scores on all CAT sections are obligatory.
Stage 2: WAT and PI shortlisting: Shortlisting is done on the basis of Aggregate Index Score (AIS), which is the CAT score (45%), Class X marks (25%), Class XII marks (15%), and gender/academic diversity (15%). In January 2026 shortlists are made category by category.
Stage 3: Final Selection: The shortlisted candidates will undergo a Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI), which will be held in major cities in March-April 2026. The Composite Score includes: CAT score (35%), PI performance (35%), WAT (20%), and resume/profile (10%). The merit lists are created on a category basis, and the offer of admission will be made in April-May 2026.
These percentiles represent the qualifying thresholds for IIM Kozhikode MBA admission; actual shortlisting is competitive and may require higher scores.
Category | Quantitative Ability (QA) | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Overall |
General | 75 | 75 | 65 | 85 |
EWS | 75 | 75 | 65 | 85 |
OBC-NCL | 65 | 65 | 60 | 75 |
SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
ST/PwD | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
The annual cost of IIM Kozhikode Fees for the entire programme in PGP is INR 20.5 lakhs, which includes tuition, library, computing facilities, and hostel (mess services can be availed at extra cost). Registration fee for IIM Kozhikode admission application is 1250 (General/EWS/OBC-NCL) and 625 (SC/ST/PwD). Scholarship programmes offer merit-and-need-based awards and offer up to 100% fee waivers, with preference to reserved categories and female applicants.
The Executive Postgraduate Programme in Management is a two-year part-time executive MBA offered to mid-career professionals in an interactive format, which is offered at the Kochi campus on the weekend and through online IIM Kozhikode Courses. It majors in high-level subjects in strategy, leadership and international business with an enrolment of approximately 100 students. The flexibility of the programme facilitates continuity of career as well as increasing the level of executive skills, resulting in promotions in fields such as consulting and technology. EPGP IIM Kozhikode attracts the experienced candidates who want to grow faster in the admissions.
Theββββββββββββββββ EPGP programme at IIM Kozhikode is designed for working professionals. The candidates must adhere to certain regulations laid down by the institute, in order to be granted admission. This programme considers educational qualifications, relevant work experience, and a competitive test score. The criteria do not vary for domestic and foreign ββββββββββββββββstudents. Here is the eligibility criteria:
IIM Kozhikode Admission Criteria | Requirements (Applicable to Indian and International Applicants) |
Academic Qualification | Bachelor's with a min. of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA grades from a recognised university. |
Entrance Exam | IIMK Entrance Management Aptitude Test (EMAT), CAT, GMAT, or GRE (valid scores from the past three years). |
Work Experience | Minimum three years (1,095 days) of full-time post-graduation experience; internships and part-time roles excluded. |
Final-Year Students | Not eligible; the degree must be completed prior to application. |
Reservation policy applies to Indian applicants per GoI norms; international candidates are selected on merit.
IIM Kozhikode takes applications for admission in several rounds from April to August 2026:
Submitting an application: You can apply online by sending in your test scores, academic transcripts, and work history.
Shortlisting: It is based on the performance in entrance exams (minimum EMAT cutoff: 70th percentile overall), academics, and professional profile.
Personal Interview: This is done online or face-to-face and evaluates career objectives, leadership potential and fit of the programme.
Final Merit List: The final merit list is based on the entrance test scoring (50%), the PI (40%), and the profile/diversity (10%). Offers issued per round.
Programme fee: INR 14-16 lakhs, payable in installments. Application fee: INR2,000 for Indian applicants and USD 100 for international. The fee includes course materials and campus access but excludes travel and accommodation for immersions.
Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP-Management) PGP-Finance is a two-year residential programme that is a specialised form of PGP, which exposes students to financial modelling, investment banking, and risk management. It incorporates CFA-level material and gives access to Bloomberg terminals and trading simulations. The programme has a student intake of 60 students and trains graduates to work in investment firms and corporate finance with an average IIM Kozhikode placements of over INR 25 LPA. The admissions to this programme in IIM Kozhikode are similar to those of PGP, with the backgrounds in quantitative and commerce giving extra weightage in the AIS.
Eligibility, reservation policy, IIM Kozhikode admission process and CAT cutoffs are similar to PGP. The PGP-Finance programme fee is INR23.5 Lakhs and the IIM Kozhikode admission fees for PGP-Finance is INR 12.02 LAKHS. It has special finance labs and industry lectures by experts, which all add to the practical exposure of the dynamic financial industry.
IIM Kozhikode employs a rigorous three-stage selection process for PGP-F admissions, ensuring a holistic evaluation of candidates' potential.
Stage 1: Application Screening
Candidates meeting the minimum eligibility criteria must complete online registration for the PGP-F programme. Only registered applicants proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Shortlisting
A category-wise shortlist is prepared using an Aggregate Index Score (AIS), calculated from:
Performance in aptitude tests (CAT/GMAT/GRE)*
Academic record
Work experience
Suitability score
Gender diversity score
Stage 3: Final Evaluation
Shortlisted candidates appear for a Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT). The final merit list is determined by performance in the aptitude test, PI, WAT, work experience, and suitability. Admission process follows the Government of India reservation norms.
Note: For GMAT, use code D3Z-SQ-19; for GRE, use code 4748. Official score reports from Pearson/GMAC or ETS are required for verification.
Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM) The PGP-LSM is the only programme that combines liberal arts (including philosophy, literature and sociology) with the management basics during two years of residence. It is geared towards making empathetic and innovative leaders, which is why it fits the human resources, social enterprises, and public policy careers. Total intake is 60 students. PGP-LSM in IIM Kozhikode admissions values diversity, giving non-engineering and non-commerce graduates an additional AIS point in order to promote interdisciplinary thinking.
The basic eligibility, category reservations, selection and cutoffs are the same as desired for the PGP programme. IIM Kozhikode MBA Fees for PGP-LSM is INR20.5 lakhs. The focus on critical thinking and ethical dilemmas makes the PGP-LSM curriculum unique and advances the idea of producing well-rounded professionals in a business environment that is becoming more and more complex.
Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS). The four-year undergraduate IIM Kozhikode BMS programme, which was introduced in 2024, is aimed at Class XII completers and will provide them with the essential management, economics and analytics skills through internships and global exchanges. The total intake for the BMS programme comprises 120 seats. This undergraduate course makes elite education affordable through an early leadership development programme.
Minimum 60% aggregate in Class XII or equivalent from a recognised board.
Completion of Class X and XII by July 31, 2026, for provisional admission.
Entrance Test: The IIM Kozhikode BMS Aptitude Test (AT) 2026, will be a computer-based test in Verbal and Quantitative Ability (waives exemptions to acceptable IEEE Mains, SAT, or ACT results).
Shortlisting: Aggregate Index Score (AIS) on the basis of test performance (70 percent), Class X (15 percent) and Class XII (15 percent).
Personal Interview: It will be conducted in seven cities (e.g., Bengaluru and Mumbai); it will test academic record, awareness, and fit (15-20 minutes per applicant).
Final Merit: Category-wise lists following GoI reservations; offers by July 2026.
IIM Kozhikode Application portal will open in April 2026; the test will take place in June 2026. Annual fees: INR5-6 lakhs, including tuition and facilities.
Post Graduate Programme in Business Leadership (PGP-BL) is a full-time one-year residential course that focuses on ethical leadership, change management, and strategic decision-making. It accepts candidates who have a lot of experience, and this encourages high-level executive skills.
Bachelor's or postgraduate degree and minimum grades of 50% (in any subject).
At least four years of full-time employment after graduation (deadline: March 31, 2026).
Valid CAT/GMAT/GRE score (past three years; IIMK codes: GMAT D3Z-SQ-80, GRE ETS 4748).
There will be three phases (June-November 2025 to start in April 2026):
Registration: Meeting the requirements of the online application.
Statement Submission: Shortlisted Applicants submit a Statement of Goals and an Alternative Resume Summary.
Personal Interaction: Face-to-face or video PI in a few cities and assessing experience, diversity and communication.
Phase-wise merit list; acceptance fee: 1 lakh. Application fee: INR3,000.
Programme fee: INR22.5 lakhs, covering immersion and materials.
The Doctoral Programme in Management (PhD) programme is a 4- to 5-year full-time residential research degree in eight fields namely: Economics, Finance and Accounting, Humanities and Liberal Arts, Information Technology and Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources, and Strategy at IIMK. It assists prospective academics and consultants with intensive coursework, exams, and dissertations and covers all the costs, including stipends.
Masters or 2-year postgraduate diploma or 60% marks (55% in case of reserved categories).
Professional qualifications (CA/ICWA/CS) and 50% marks.
Legitimate test score (CAT/GMAT/GRE/UGC-NET/GATE) less than three years old as of the deadline of the application.
Either 60% in Class X and Class VII (5 per cent relaxation in SC/ST/PwD).
Application: Internet between November 2025 and February 2026.
Shortlisting: According to test scores, academics and research proposal.
Interviews: April 2026, assessing research aptitude and area fit.
Final Offers: On a basis of merit, having regional allocations.
Stipend: INR 35000 per month (first two years), increasing to 40000 after comprehensive examination; research grant: 37500/year; conference allowance: 2 lakhs per year, international conferences.
This is a part-time PhD option that aims at executives with 5-15 years of experience with a focus on applied research in management issues. The eligibility is similar to the full-time PhD and the work experience. Applications: November 28, 2024 to February 2026 (renewable to the 2025 cycle). None; accommodating to working professionals. Selection entails application review, shortlisting and practical contribution-orientated interviews.
The Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode Admissions result in a high-quality career path, as the PGP and specialised programmes have a 100 percent placement. The PGP 2024 batch has received an average package of INR31.02 LPA and a maximum of INR70 LPA and a total of 150+ recruiters. Career services have specific placement cells, alumni networks (with more than 5,000 members), and skill workshops, which guarantee the correspondence to the requirements of the industry in the sphere of consulting, finance, and IT.
Merit-cum-means scholarships pay up to 100 percent of the fees, with specific funds allocated to SC/ST/PwD and female students. Its admissions policy is gender balanced (45% women in recent batches of PGPs) and is willing to consider academic diversity, scoring points for non-engineering backgrounds to form balanced classes.
For further information on admissions and application information, login to IIM Kozhikode admission section.
CAT 2025 Exam: November 30, 2025.
For Queries related to IIM Kozhikode admission contact to this mail address admissions@iimk.ac.in
IIM Kozhikode admission office contact number: 0495 280 9100
This overview provides the applicants with the necessary information that will help them prepare adequately to enter the competition.