IIFM Bhopal: Courses, Fees, Admission 2025, Placements, Ranking

Both the MBA in Forest Management and the MBA in Sustainability Management at IIFM Bhopal are part of a reputed institution that achieved a 100% placement rate in 2023. The average salary package was reported at INR 10.38 LPA, with a median salary package of INR 10 LPA. Top recruiters for the institute included well-known companies such as Infosys, Vedanta, Aditya Birla, S&P Global, ICICI Bank, Arvind, and EY.

The PGDSM programme at IIFM Bhopal is a one-year full-time course focused on equipping students with skills and knowledge to address sustainability challenges. On the other hand, the PGDFM programme is a two-year full-time course designed to develop professionals with a holistic understanding of forest, environment, and natural resource management.

Unfortunately, specific information regarding the placement statistics for each programme (MBA in Forest Management and MBA in Sustainability Management) is not provided. As a result, it is challenging to definitively conclude which programme has better placements at IIFM Bhopal. Prospective students interested in these programs are encouraged to directly contact the institute's admission office or consult official placement reports for detailed and program-specific placement data.

The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, has specified fee structures for its PGDFM and PGDSM programs. The PGDFM programme costs INR 7.8 LPA for General/Non-creamy OBC/Differently Abled candidates and INR 4.62 LPA for SC/ST candidates. On the other hand, the PGDSM programme at IIFM Bhopal has a fee of INR 6.24 LPA for the entire course. In comparison, the MBA programme at the School of Management, ITM University, Gwalior, is priced at 6.8 LPA. Notably, the fees for the MBA programme at ITM University, Gwalior, are lower than those for the PGDFM programme at IIFM Bhopal. This suggests that IIFM Bhopal is relatively more expensive than the School of Management at ITM University, Gwalior.

As per the latest placement report, the overall highest package offered to the MBA students passing out in 2023 was INR 20.50 LPA. The past year's records are unavailable for comparison. Take a look at the table below to know the IIFM highest package 2023:

Particulars	Placement Statistics (2023)
Highest package	INR 20.50 LPA

The highest package for PGDFM placements 2023 has also been released, ehich is tabulated below:

Course	Highest Package (2023)
PGDFM	INR 18.50 LPA

PG Diploma in Forest Management is a popular course of IIFM Bhopal. Joining this course will benefit students not only in terms of placement but also learning. The PGDFM course include summer internship programmes for the growth of the students. The flagship programme- Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDSM) comprises all the ingredients of a standard MBA course together with a unique extension to Environment, Social Development, Sustainability, and Rural Markets. Talking about placements, the highest package offered to PGDFM students was INR 38 lakh. The average package recieved was INR 8.5 lakh.

The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) is widely recognised for its expertise in forest management and wildlife conservation, boasting an experienced faculty dedicated to their respective fields. The sprawling 250-acre green campus provides an environmentally friendly setting, complemented by excellent infrastructure, including well-maintained hostels, classrooms, a sports complex, a library, and a 24-hour computer lab with reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. With a stellar placement record, IIFM ensures 100% placement and internship opportunities at prestigious companies like Pradhan, Sambhodi, EY, JK Paper, and ITC, offering an average package of INR 9 lakh. The institution's strong alumni network supports students in their professional journeys, and its emphasis on extracurricular activities fosters skill development through sports, cultural events, and clubs. Graduates often pursue non-traditional career paths, reflecting both their visionary outlook and the institution's commitment to forest management and conservation.

On the other hand, the School of Management at ITM University, Gwalior, stands out for several compelling reasons. Ranked 32nd by the National Institutional Ranking Authority of India, the institution is accredited by the All India Council for Technical Education, highlighting its commitment to high-quality education. The tranquil campus, adorned with lush green surroundings and modern infrastructure, features a well-equipped library, computer labs, and a sports complex. Emphasizing holistic education, ITM University prioritizes both academic excellence and personality development, with a faculty comprising accomplished academicians and industry professionals. The institution's robust placement record further enhances its appeal, with graduates securing positions in top-tier companies. Overall, ITM University is a comprehensive choice for those seeking a well-rounded and quality education in management.

IIFM conducts personal interview in second round of selection. The first level of selection for PGDM course is based on national-level entrance exam scores like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. The institute conducts a personal interview round for shortlisted candidates in offline mode. The interviews are conducted in below centres:

• Bhopal
• Delhi
• Ahmedabad
• Guwahati
• Bengaluru
• Kolkata
• Chennai

IIFM Bhopal is ranked among the top Management institutes of India. The institute has been ranked by several top and prestigious ranking organisations. IIFM Bhopal Ranking for MBA/ PGDM by Business Today at 48 in 2023. As one of the top-rated and reputed institutes, IIFM Bhopal provides excellent quality education for its PGDFM and PGDSM students and the placements for both courses at the institute are very good with the participation of top-notch recruiters. The overall highest and median packages at IIFM stood at INR 20.50 LPA and INR 10 LPA, respectively. 

Banking and Finance emerged as the top sector during PGDFM and PGDSM placements 2023. The second in the sequence were the Consulting and Research & Analytics sectors. The table below illustrates the sector-wise distribution of IIFM Bhopal placements 2023:

{Source: MBA/PGDM students & alumni}

Placement Cell Effectiveness

* Highly Effective: According to the students' reviews, the placement cell at IIFM Bhopal has a 100% placement record for the batch 2017-2019, with an average salary package of INR7.5 LPA and the highest salary package of INR13.2 LPA.
* Student-Dominated Placement Process: The placement cell is mostly student-driven, with the assistance of a faculty member as the placement coordinator and another faculty member as the placement officer.
* Excellent Exposure Opportunities: The institute offers excellent exposure opportunities through summer internships, with almost 95% of the batch getting placed, and many more offers pending.
* Variety of Roles Offered: The roles offered vary from organisation to organization, but generally, it is the management trainee position.
* Higher Stipends: The highest stipend offered was INR40,000, while the lowest was INR0, although the latter was due to organizations like UNDP not providing any stipend.
* Decent Salary Packages: The median salary package was INR12 LPA, with the highest package reaching INR21 LPA for a 3-year experienced candidate.

In conclusion, the placement cell at IIFM Bhopal appears to be highly effective, offering excellent exposure opportunities and decent salary packages to its students.

According to unofficial online sources, Indian Institute of Forest Management alumni is primarily working in the Business Development sector with a 30% share. The detailed sector-wise distribution is depicted in the below pie chart:

The institute concluded the 2023 placement session with the overall highest package offered INR 20.50 LPA. Further, the average package stood at INR 10.38 LPA. Check the complete insights of IIFM placements 2023 from the table below:

Particulars	Placement Statistics (2023)
Highest package	INR 20.50 LPA
Average package	INR 10.38 LPA
Median package	INR 10 LPA
75th percentile package	INR 11.52 LPA
25th percentile package	INR 8.20 LPA
No. of students in PG batches	103
No. of recruiting organisations	46
Students sought on-campus/ off-campus placements	97.08%
Placement rate	100%
PPOs accepted	8%
Popular recruiters	ESAF, Fincare Small Finance Bank, JK Paper Ltd.

IIFM Bhopal refunds the complete fee in case the host cancels the course. The host is not liable for any other charges that candidate incurred. The course fee for certificate course is INR 36,000. The payment of fee can be done in two installments.

The below-mentioned table reflects some of the names of Indian Institute of Forest Management faculty members:

Faculty Name	Faculty Qualification
Anup Prakash Upadhyay	M.Sc. (Agricultural Extension & Communication), Ph.D. Major: Agricultural Extension & Communication, Minor: Social Sciences, ICAR-ARS-NET, UGC-NET
Advait Edgaonkar	Ph.D (University of Florida), Gainesville, in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation MSc (Wildlife Institute of India), Dehradun, in Wildlife Sciences PGDFM (Indian Institute of Forest Management), Bhopal BSc (St. Xavier’s College), Mumbai, in Zoology and Biochemistry
Asha Khanna	Master’s in Mathematics from Bhopal University Post B.Sc Diploma In Computer Science and Applications from Bhopal University. (UTD)
Ashish David	Post-graduation in Social Work with specialization in Urban and Rural Community Development from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences Phd. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
Bal Krishna Upadhyay	Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Human Resource Development, and PGD in Guidance and Counselling from Barkatullah Vishwavidayalaya, Bhopal MBA with HRM specialization from Madurai Kamaraja University, Madurai.

Some of the eminent companies that participated in IIFM Bhopal MBA placements 2023 are mentioned in the table below:

IIFM Placements 2023: Top Recruiters
NAFED	Birla Estates	Ramboll
ReNew Power	JK Paper Limited	Center for International Forestry Research
Fincare Small Finance Bank	Ernst & Young	Zydex Group
IDFC First Bank	Avanti Finance Pvt. Ltd.	Northern Arc

IIFM Bhopal follows a reservation criteria as per the Government of India requirements. Below is category-wise reservation:

Category	Reservation %
SC	18.75%
ST	9.375%
OBC-NCL	33.75%
PwD	5%

In terms of placements, the institute has achieved good records for the 2021-23 batch. The highest package offered to the batch was INR 20.50 LPA. The average package and median package stood at INR 10.30 LPA and INR 10 LPA, respectively. Tabulated below are the salary details for IIFM placements 2023:

Particulars	Placement Statistics (2023)
Highest package	INR 20.50 LPA
Average package	INR 10.38 LPA
Median package	INR 10 LPA
75th percentile package	INR 11.52 LPA
25th percentile package	INR 8.20 LPA

IIFM Bhopal does not offer direct admission to MBA, PhD or FPM courses. Candidates have to qualify any of the accepted entrance-exams. The institute considers CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT or GMAT for admission to MBA course. The selection for PhD course is based on FRIDU entrance test. For certificate courses, admission is based on merit of the aspirants in the last qualifying exam.

Yes, IIFM Bhopal provides internship as a part of PGDM curriculum. Summer Internship is an integral part of the PGDM course and provides an opportunity for the students to be exposed to real-life situations and diverse work environments. Students are attached to various corporate houses, government agencies, national and international development and consulting agencies to work on independent projects. A large number of organisations have been participating in the Summer Internship every year.

The seat intake for the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) at the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) Bhopal is not explicitly mentioned. However, the institute admits a limited number of candidates to the FPM programme based on their performance in the entrance examination and the subsequent selection process. The FPM programme at IIFM Bhopal is tailored for research scholars with an interest in forestry and environmental management.

To be eligible for admission to the FPM program, candidates are required to hold a master's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA (50% aggregate marks for SC/ST candidates). The admission process typically includes a written test, followed by a group discussion and a personal interview. Successful candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and perform well in the selection process are offered admission to the FPM program.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on the seat intake for the FPM programme at IIFM Bhopal, it is recommended to visit the institute's official website or contact the admission helpdesk directly.

 

The MBA admission eligibility criteria at IIFM Bhopal require candidates to hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) and a Master's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or an equivalent CGPA. The selection process involves two stages. In Stage I, candidates are shortlisted based on their performance in national-level entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT, or GMAT. Moving to Stage II, shortlisted candidates are invited to participate in an Online Presentation and Interview. The final selection is determined by considering the entrance test score, presentation, and performance in the interview. Furthermore, a minimum CAT cutoff of 85 percentile is required for admission to the PGDFM and PGDSM programs at IIFM Bhopal.