The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode is among the finest schools of management in India, established by the government in 1996. Being the fifth IIM in the country, it was established to provide management education of the highest quality to the southern region of India. Having a vision of developing creative leaders and having a global perspective, IIM Kozhikode reflects its official motto: Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam, a Sanskrit saying meaning “Excellence in action is yoga.”
The institute was established as an Institute of National Importance under the IIM Act of 2017. It was located on a temporary campus before it moved to a permanent campus spread across 112.5 acres, located on two hills in Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode, Kerala, in 2003, with a view of the Western Ghats. The reason IIM Kozhikode is an ideal choice is because of its strong academics, experiential learning focus, research excellence, and ethical approach.
According to the NIRF ranking list, IIM Kozhikode stands at number 3 in the NIRF 2025 Management rankings. The reason behind its long-term elite position in the NIRF 2025 rankings is its very successful academic ecosystem, industry relationships, and graduate outcomes.
This institute has three major flagship programmes, which include the two-year Postgraduate Programme in Management (PGP), the Postgraduate Programme in Business Leadership (PGP-BL), which is offered to mid-career professionals, and the full-time Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM), which is offered to research-oriented scholars.
The 2025-26 batch already started its admissions in August 2025 with the CAT registration. The Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) are to be taken after passing national exams like the Common Admission Test (PGP and PGP-BL), GMAT/GRE (PGP-BL), or CAT/GMAT/GRE/GATE/JRF (DPM).
The Postgraduate Programme in Management (PGP) course at IIM Kozhikode has a fee of INR 11.75 lakh per academic year, which will be completed in two years; as a result, the total amount will be INR 23.5 lakh. However, the Postgraduate Programme in Business Leadership (PGP-BL), which is targeted at those professionals who want to improve their leadership qualities, costs INR 22.5 lakh per year. The 2025 batch placement statistics are impressive, with a stunning 100% placement rate, with more than 156 different recruiters in different industries taking part. The maximum salary package that was given to the graduates was a remarkable INR 72.02 LPA, and the median salary package was INR 28.05 LPA, which showed the high demand for Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode graduates in the employment sector.
Category | Details |
Accreditations & Recognitions | IIM Kozhikode proudly possesses the esteemed accreditations from EQUIS and AACSB, a recognition that is held by less than 1% of business schools worldwide. Additionally, it is acknowledged by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). |
Current Rankings Overview | IIM Kozhikode ranks 3rd in the NIRF 2025 management rankings and 141st in the QS World University Rankings for Business & Management. It is 69th in the Financial Times for Master's in Management and 86th for Global MBA, holding four Palmes of Excellence from Eduniversal. |
Popular Courses & Programmes | Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM), Postgraduate Programmes in Management (PGP), Postgraduate Programmes in Management Business Leadership (PGP-BL), Postgraduate Programmes in Management Finance (PGP-Finance), Postgraduate Programmes in Management, Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM) |
Course Duration (Main Programmes) | PGP: 2 years (full-time MBA); PGP-BL: 1 year (for working professionals) DPM: 4-5 years (full-time PhD) |
Mode of Admission | PGP: Through CAT, followed by WAT and PI. PGP-BL: Through CAT/GMAT/GRE, plus work experience evaluation and PI. DPM: Through CAT/GMAT/GRE/GATE/JRF, followed by PI. (IIM Kozhikode follows the GOI policy reserved for admission to Central Educational Institutions.) |
Flagship Programme | The PGP (MBA) is IIM Kozhikode’s cornerstone course, a 2-year residential Programme emphasising analytical rigour, leadership, and global business acumen. It is accredited by EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB, and recognised as equivalent to an MBA by AIU. |
Tuition Fees (Indicative) | IIM Kozhikode MBA fees (PGP): INR 23,50,000 for 2 years (INR 2,000 as Students' welfare fund); PGP-BL: INR 22,50,000 for 1 year. |
Salary Packages (Recent Placements) | Highest package secured: INR 72.02 LPA; Average package: INR 28.05 LPA; Median package: INR 27 LPA |
Top Recruiters | Accenture, Aditya Birla Group, Amazon, BCG, Deloitte, HUL, ICICI Bank, Infosys, JP Morgan, KPMG, McKinsey, Microsoft, Mu Sigma, Nestle, PwC, Reliance, TCS, and Wipro. |
IIM Kozhikode Address | IIMK Campus P.O., Kunnamangalam, Kerala 673570 |
This simple admission overview covers everything for those getting ready for Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode MBA admissions in 2026, including courses, eligibility, entrance exams, 2026 selection criteria, and the full admissions schedule.
IIM Kozhikode provides major management Programmes at various levels of diversified career objectives and goals:
Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP): The PGP is a two-year full-time MBA, the flagship of the institute, which provides the graduates with the basic business skills in consulting, finance, marketing and operations.
DMP (Diploma in Management): DMP is a one-year, practice-orientated diploma programme offered by IIM Kozhikode, which has e-learning with campus-based modules and is suitable for working professionals who want basic management skills in subjects such as strategy and operations.
EPGP (Executive Post Graduate Programme): Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode EPGP is a 24 months blended learning MBA programme divided into 7 small quarters for mid-career professionals, with online courses and 3 campus immersions for mid-level professionals to acquire practical leadership skills.
MBA for Working Executives (Kochi Campus): This 2-year non-residential executive MBA programme is offered at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode to working professionals that need to acquire skills to work in leadership positions. This non-residential course includes evening and weekend classes to fit the work schedules. The participants come from diverse industries and positions for this executive programme, which provides a lively and rich learning environment.
PGP-Finance (Post Graduate Programme in Finance): The Post Graduate Programme in Finance is a two-year residential MBA in financial services with Bloomberg labs and simulations and industry projects to pursue a career in banking and investments.
PGP-LSM (Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies and Management): PGP-LSM is a management education incorporating liberal arts taking a total of 2 years that guides the future leaders through various disciplinary courses in social sciences, morality, and critical thinking.
Post Graduate Programme in Business Leadership (PGP-BL): This is a one-year course that is designed to suit the needs of mid-career professionals who need to get results faster in terms of leadership training, which includes international immersion and hybrid delivery to get global exposure.
BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies): BMS is a 4-year UG degree that was introduced in 2024 and typically covers management basics coupled with arts, expounding on leadership, analytics and hands-on learning in the form of internships, projects and global experiences.
Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM): Full-time residential PhD, offered to applicants who wish to join the academic or research profession in disciplines like Economics, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Strategy and organisational behaviour.
PhD in Management (Practice Track): The PhD in Management (Practice Track) is a 4 to 5-year residential management doctoral programme offered by IIM Kozhikode and is intended to be applied for by experienced practitioners who want to balance industry practice with scholarly research in their fields of interest, such as Economics, Finance, Marketing, and Strategic Management.
Candidates who are interested can find out about the programmes offered by IIM Kozhikode and get to know their eligibility requirements. The details below provide the initial requirements for the same.
A postgraduate degree or equivalent in any field (at least 55% aggregate) or a professional qualification such as CA/ICWA/CS with a Bachelor (50% aggregate) or a 4-year Bachelor (65% aggregate) can also be eligible with a relaxation of 5 per cent in the case of SC/ST/PwD/NC-OBC/EWS. Full-time work experience since graduation: minimum of 8 years (15 years in Strategic Management, desiring a leadership position); not considered to be academic.
A bachelor's degree (50% aggregate according to UGC norms) and 3 full years of entrepreneurial/managerial or professional experience post UG (not including the internships/articleships) are considered. Plus, candidates in courses like CA/CS/ICWAI will not be counted as experienced professionals for the MBA programme working executive.
To secure admission to the IIM Kozhikode Executive MBA programme, applicants must have a bachelor's degree (50% aggregate) or any other degree such as CA/ICWA/CS (50% aggregate) and 3 full years (1095 days) of managerial/professional experience after graduation, in which internships do not count. There are category relaxations: 45% in the case of Women, 40% in SC/ST/PwD. The foreign degrees must have AIU equivalency.
The requirements include graduates with 50% aggregate or diploma graduates with 60% and 3+ years of professional work experience. The IIM Kozhikode DMAT (Diploma Aptitude Test) and the interview are involved in selection.
Applicants must possess a graduation degree with 60% aggregates (3 years post-10+2) or CA/CMA/CS with 50% aggregates. Last-year students can apply provisionally, submitting certificates by December 31, 2025.
Graduates having 60% aggregate (3 years post-10+2) or CA/CMA/CS having 50% aggregate qualify. Class X and Class XII percentages are computed considering all the subjects of the mark sheet.
To enrol in the PGP BL programme, candidates must have a minimum of 50 percent in a bachelor’s, master’s or equivalent (e.g., CA/CMA/CS) and, in addition to this, they should have at least 4 years of full-time professional experience after UG, which will guarantee that they have a considerable amount of exposure and professional experience in their respective fields.
To get admission, one must have 60% aggregate (3 years post-10+2) or CA/CMA/CS with 50% aggregate and a valid CAT/GRE/GMAT score between January 1 and December 31, 2024. Final-year candidates can join provisionally, confirming by December 31, 2025.
Candidates must have completed Class XII or any other diploma after high school in any stream and should provide original mark sheets/certificates by the time of admission.
Management Development Programmes (MDP) at IIM Kozhikode are essentially aimed at professionals working and gradually uplifting their careers. The MDPs include four categories, namely Open MDPs, eMDPs, Asynchronous eMDPs, and Sponsored MDPs. Every category is designed to be compatible with different learning styles and work schedules so that the participants can select the program that best suits their requirements and familiarity.
The working executives or professionals who got a graduate degree or equivalent (generally, 1-5 years of relevant work experience depending on the programme focus) are eligible, and these open MDPs are open to all eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Graduates (10+2+3) or diploma students whose learning is slow and easy in order to fit the busy schedule; there is no hard deadline, although management experience exposure is desirable.
Bachelor's degree for mid-level executives with a minimum of 3 years of working experience, and the focus should be on interactive online delivery to improve skills in management areas.
Working individuals have to be nominated or sponsored by their organisation of employment. Essential requirements are a graduate qualification (or the equivalent) and relevant work experience in response to the programme focus domains, which are leadership, strategy or operations. No open application: candidates should contact their respective HR or the Executive Education office of IIMK to be told about this programme of MDP.
A student willing to study at IIM Kozhikode is required to take certain entrance examinations based on the course he wishes to pursue. Those tests check the candidate's competencies and expertise in the field of business management. The institute accepts the scores of the following exams: CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, and JRF for different programs. The primary entrance exams for IIM Kozhikode Admissions 2026 are listed as follows.
Category | VARC | Overall Percentile | Class X % | Class XII % |
General | 75 | 85 | 60 | 60 |
EWS/NC-OBC | 65 | 75 | 60 | 60 |
SC | 55 | 65 | 55 | 55 |
ST/PwD | 45 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
The Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode selection criteria for 2026 vary by Programme:
Shortlisting for WAT/PI: Based on aggregate index score (AIS): 50% CAT, 15% Class X, 20% Class XII, 10% gender diversity (female/transgender) or 5% academic diversity (non-engineering), and 5% work experience.
Composite Score: 35% CAT, 35% PI, 20% WAT, 10% resume (undergrad institution, professional qualifications, certifications).
Shortlisting: Test score (CAT/GMAT/GRE), work experience, profile.
Interview Round: Online or offline Personal Interview for the applicants who got selected for further consideration.
Final Selection: Composite Score: 50% test score, 45% PI, 5% diversity.
Selection in stages: Application review, shortlisting by academics/test scores per area, PI evaluating research aptitude and interests, final merit based on PI, alignment with institute focus, and area recommendations.
This straightforward month-by-month schedule for IIM Kozhikode Admissions will help you organise your tests, applications, and interviews if the candidate intends to apply for the early 2026 intake.
Month | Event | Programme(s) |
Aug 1 - Sep 20, 2025 | CAT Registration starts | PGP & PGP-BL |
Oct - Dec 2025 | PGP Application Cycle I | PGP programme |
Nov 30, 2025 | CAT Exam Date | PGP & PGP-BL |
Jan 2026 | PGP Application Cycle II: PI shortlisting and interviews | PGP programme |
Jan-Feb 2026 | PGP-BL Phases 1-2 applications and PIs | PGP-BL |
Mar 2026 | PGP Application Cycle closes; PGP-BL Phase 3 | All programmes |
Apr 2026 | Final Admission Offers and Results announcement | PGP & PGP-BL |
Jun 2026 | Commencement of Academic Sessions | All Programmes |
The fee structure of IIM Kozhikode courses is extremely complicated and is designed to reflect the different services which the academic programmes provide to the college and the residential status of students. Financial requirement of the two-year Postgraduate Programme (PGP) and its specialised tracks, namely PGP-Finance and PGP-LSM, is INR 23.50 lakhs in the case of domestic Indian students and USD 30,000 in the case of international and NRI students. These are structured in a manner where the fees may be paid in manageable instalments and also come with tuition fees and other miscellaneous fees; however, it is worthwhile to note that the fees do not cover the mess fees, which are charged separately.
The 1-year Postgraduate Programme in Business Leadership (PGP-BL) is provided to Indian students at a total price of INR 22.50 lakhs. This fee includes the tuition fee expenditure, learning materials, hostel services, the opportunity of experiencing the international exchange programmes, and other expenses that contribute to mess services.
Further, where the interested candidates have the Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM), a four-to-five-year programme, the details of the fees can be obtained directly from the admissions office. Amazingly, the students who pursue this doctoral Programme can also be provided with a stipend, therefore continuing their studies during their stay at the institution.
Programme | Indian Students | Duration | Key Notes |
PGP (Post Graduate Programme in Management) | INR 23.50 Lakh (2 yrs) | 2 Years | Fee payable in 6 easy instalments; includes tuition, alumni fees, and caution fee deposits, also including the INR25,000 refundable fee. |
PGP-BL (Post Graduate Programme in Business Leadership) | INR 22.50 Lakhs | 1 Year | Includes tuition, materials, hostel, international immersion, and additional mess. Commitment fee: INR 1-1.5 L; refundable caution deposit. |
PGP-Finance/PGP-LSM | INR 23.50 Lakhs | 2 Years | Similar to PGP, there are specialised tracks in finance, liberal studies, and management. |
IIM Kozhikode completed the PGP batch of 2024-25 final placements with a perfect score. More than 180+ companies participated in the IIM Kozhikode placement drive, including more than 40 new recruiters, and offered jobs in sales and marketing (10%), finance (26%), general management (14%), IT/analytics (11%), and consulting (33%). The highest domestic offer was INR 72.02 LPA, while the median was INR 26.8 LPA. The IIM Kozhikode average package was INR28.05 LPA. BCG, McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, HUL, Amazon, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and JP Morgan ranked among the top recruiters. The relevance of the institute in the industry was exhibited by high demand in the consulting and finance sectors, and every PGP and PGP-BL student was placed.
Placement Metric | Details |
Placement Rate | 100% |
Companies Participated | 180 |
Top Recruiters | BCG, McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, HUL, Amazon, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and JP Morgan |
Highest Salary Offered | INR 72.02 LPA |
Average Salary Offered | INR 28.05 LPA |
Average Salary - Top 5% | INR 48.41 LPA |
Average Salary - Top 10% | INR 46.20 LPA |
Average Salary - Top 70% | INR 40.79 LPA |
The Indian Institute Of Management Kozhikode believes that all students have the right to have a good education irrespective of their financial position. The need-based financial assistance (NBFA) programme is offered as a helping hand to the Postgraduate Programme, Postgraduate Programme-Finance, and Postgraduate Programme students in liberal studies and management who are struggling to cover their fees.
The NBFA Committee goes through the applications in two stages:
Application Review: The application review is done on the family income of the candidates (less than 8 lakh gross per year), assets, and documentation (ITRs and salary slips).
Personal Interaction (PI): Shortlisted applicants will face the interview, and the committee will verify the candidates' backgrounds.
The amount of aid varies annually according to budget, assets, and income; students who behave well are given preference. All but one of the scholarships must be refunded.
Admitted PGP/PGP-Finance/PGP-LSM students with family income ≤ INR 8 lakh; education loan holders (submit bank details for Year 2); all categories are eligible if criteria are met. No record of indiscipline or misbehaviour.
The forms should be completed with all the necessary paperwork and signatures of parents and handed over to the PGP Office before the deadline. The committee will conduct an extensive verification process to ensure that nothing is submitted that does not meet the requirements.
The profiles below feature five outstanding alumni of the Postgraduate Programme (PGP), who have followed different career paths in the world of entrepreneurship, consulting, and finance:
Alumni Name | Batch/Year | Programme | Current Position/Company | Key Notes |
Sameer Seth | Class of 2005 | PGP | Founder & CEO, Hunger Inc. | Observed in April 2025 a shift in corporate Diwali gifting from mass purchases to quality. |
Swarup Mavanoor | Class of 2007 | PGP | Co-Founder & CEO, SenseHawk (acquired by Autodesk) | Transitioned to a leadership role within Autodesk. |
Vivek Mandhata | Class of 2009 | PGP | Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) | Received the IIMK Distinguished Alumnus award in 2024. |
Uma Kasoji | Class of 2001 | PGP | Founder, The Star in Me | Top 10 Startups in Hyderabad; Best Software Product (Women-Led). |
Harish Krishnan | Class of 2005 | PGP | Co-CIO and Head of Equity, Aditya Birla Sun Life MF | Discussed the role of conglomerates in driving India's growth in an October 2025 interview. |
The learning environment created by the eco-friendly 112.5-acre campus of IIM Kozhikode ensures the success of students in their studies as well as their social well-being.