Best MBA Colleges Without CAT Exam; How to Get Direct Admission

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Updated on Jan 6, 2025 10:33 IST

MBA Without CAT? The majority of top B-schools in India prefer candidates who opted for competitive exams, however, there are a few other top B-schools too, which offer Direct MBA Admissions without CAT exam.

MBA without CAT - The majority of top business schools in India such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) prefer candidates who opt for various popular MBA entrance exams, however, there are a few other top B-schools too which offer Direct MBA Admissions without CAT exam. Many tier II and tier III MBA colleges also have their own management entrance exams. Many such MBA colleges also have a management quota which enables the students to take admission without an entrance exam

MBA is one of the most popular post-graduation courses in India. It brings with it a bag full of opportunities that can help you in your career. It is a two-year course which is offered by many top management institutes in India and abroad.

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Whenever somebody talks about the top MBA colleges in India the first thing that strikes our mind is the CAT exam. Common Aptitude Test (CAT) is a management aptitude test which is conducted by IIMCAT for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1,000 B-schools across India. The majority of business schools in India prefer candidates who opt for competitive exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, etc. However, the question here is if an MBA without CAT in India is possible. The answer is yes! There are a few top B-schools too which offer Direct MBA admissions without CAT. Many MBA colleges offer admission without an entrance exam, i.e. they provide direct admissions in the MBA courses based on different university entrance exams and Personal Interviews or based on the candidate’s score in the previous qualifying exam. However, the fees of private institutes are usually higher than those of government-owned institutes. Following CAT, the second most popular MBA entrance exam is CMAT which is conducted by the NTA. CMAT score is accepted by about 1,000 MBA colleges across the country. The third most popular MBA entrance exam is XAT conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. XAT score is accepted by over 800 MBA colleges in India. Read the article below to learn how to get admission to MBA colleges without entrance exam.

Direct Admission Without CAT: Eligibility Criteria

Check out the basic eligibility criteria for top MBA colleges offering admissions without CAT:

The minimum score required in the UG level examination may differ from one college to another, however, the student must have scored at least 50%-65% aggregate in his or her graduation.
For the reserved category, the score should at least be 45% aggregate.
Some institutes accept other competitive exam scores such as XAT, MAT, GMAT, NMAT, ATMA, SNAP, etc.

Direct MBA Admission Without CAT Exam: Factors to Look For Before Opting

Candidates must keep the following things in mind before opting for an MBA without CAT in India:

Make and maintain a list of the preferred MBA colleges that you wish to get admission to. Along with the name of the institutes, candidates must also take into account the fee structure, placement cell, quality of education, faculty, etc. of the institute
The college must be approved by the Universities Grant Commission or AICTE.
When opting for an MBA without CAT in India, students should try and avoid agents and consultants and rather approach the college directly.
Approaching the university or college directly will give the candidates clear and concise information about the course and the college and they will not be misguided. Candidates must visit the college campus to take a look at the infrastructure and other facilities.
Check for the specialisations that the colleges offer. Candidates need to keep in mind their preferred MBA specialisation and whether the college they are opting for provides that particular specialisation or not.

Also Read: MBA specialisation guide

Direct Admission into an MBA College: Pros & Cons

Check out the list below to know the pros and cons of getting direct admission to MBA colleges without CAT:

Pros

Exam preparation for the top MBA entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc. requires 9-12 months of dedicated studies, which means the candidate will be able to join an MBA institute only after a year, while in case of direct admission, the candidate can start MBA course immediately after graduation.
Getting admission to MBA colleges without an entrance exam would mean that you will save more time and get into some of the best institutes of management at an early age.
For students who wish to start their own business after obtaining the MBA degree, direct admissions can be beneficial for them as they will acquire the necessary skills required for the business world.
Direct MBA admissions are also a good option for those students who do not wish to switch cities or countries to pursue MBA. They can opt for the institutes and colleges in their region.

Cons

The placements offered by companies through direct admissions are good, however, the salary packages may be lesser as compared to the students who get placed through CAT or other entrance exams.
Usually, top companies offer higher packages to those who opted for entrance exams such as CAT and got admission into top IIMs
By opting for exams such as CAT, one can have higher chances of getting into the best IIMs or top B-schools. Pursuing MBA from a private institute for direct admission can be expensive.

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Direct Admission into MBA Without Entrance Exams

Admissions into almost all the B-Schools start around the month of July and close down by the end of September. Students start preparing for different entrance exams from the start of the year because if the student scores lesser than 95 per cent in the entrance exam his/her chances of getting into top IIMs become really low. However, if any student is opting for direct admission then they are required to follow the institute-specific selection process.

Firstly, the candidate must register either on the college’s website (online) or by visiting the college campus (offline) and apply for admission. The application form of each institute is different. Candidates can also visit the college campus and talk to the admission counsellors.

Secondly, they have to submit the documents after which they will be shortlisted on the basis of their marks in their Class 12 and graduation. A candidate with excellent scores and good communication has a higher chance of being selected for admission. Some institutes shortlist the candidates by conducting Personal Interviews or Group Discussions.

Students who opt for a management quota for direct admission can get into good colleges without appearing for any entrance exams or interviews and can also skip the admission seminars on the college campus.

Also Read: Direct MBA Admission Without MBA Entrance Exam: Detailed Overview

Direct Admissions in Top MBA Colleges: Documents Required

Class 10 Certificate (Original and Photocopy)
Class 12 Certificate (Original and Photocopy)
Graduation Certificate/ Provisional Certificate (Original and Photocopy)
ID proof
Transfer Certificate
Two passport-size photos

Direct Admission in Top MBA Colleges Under Management Quota

Many MBA colleges in India have a pool of seats which is popularly known as institute-level seats. These seats are reserved for the candidates seeking admission into the college through the management quota. The admissions for institute-level seats are provided on the recommendations of the upper management of the institute or the administration. Each institute that provides direct admissions through management quota for MBA courses has its own guidelines for admissions. Many B-schools also have an NRI quota. Candidates belonging to foreign nationals, NRI or POI categories can reach out to such institutes for admission into the MBA programme.

Direct Admissions and Top MBA Colleges’ Eligibility Criteria Under Management Quota

Different B-Schools have different processes of taking up students through direct admission. Some colleges shortlist candidates based on their Bachelor's degree scores. The candidates must have scored at least 50% aggregate in their graduation to open their way to top B-schools.
Students can also opt for direct admission under the management quota. However, if they opt for a management quota, they will not be eligible for scholarships even if they belong to reserved categories.

Best MBA Colleges in India Without CAT

If you did not appear for the CAT exam and still wish to get admission to the best MBA colleges in India without CAT, then, here is a list of top MBA institutes that give admissions based on different entrance criteria or exams.

MBA Colleges/ Institutes	MBA Exam Score Accepted
SIBM, Pune	SNAP
XLRI, Jamshedpur	XAT
Xavier University, Bhubaneshwar	XAT, X-GMT
Indian School of Business, Hyderabad	GMAT
Amity University	XAT/GMAT/MAT/CAT/NMAT
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi	GMAT
JBIMS, Mumbai	MAH-CET/ MAT/GMAT
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research	XAT and CAT
NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai	NMAT
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai	XAT/GMAT/CAT
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai	CUET PG
IMT, Ghaziabad	XAT/CAT/GMAT
BITS, Pilani	BITSAT/GMAT/CAT
IFIM Business School	KMAT
Indira Institute of Management, Pune	MAH-CET/ATMA/MAT
Jamia Millia Islamia	JMI Entrance Test
Institute of Rural Management, Anand	IRMASAT/XAT/CAT
PSG College of Technology	TANCET
Loyola Institute of Business Administration	XAT/CAT
KIIT School of Management	MAT/ KIITEE MANAGEMENT
Goa Institute of Management	CMAT/CAT/XAT/GMAT
SIMSREE - Sydenham Institute of Management Studies Research and Entrepreneurship Education	CMAT/ATMA/XAT/CAT/MHT CET/MAT

MBA Colleges in Delhi Without CAT

Here is a list of MBA colleges in Delhi without CAT:

Name of the Institute	Course Fee (in INR)
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade	8.25 L - 21.77 L
Jamia Millia Islamia	4.4 K - 53.34 K
FORE School of Management	16.98 L
Ambedkar University	2.12 L - 2.51 L
SOIL Institute of Management	13.4 L - 15.33 L
Shiv Nadar University	4 L - 10 L
Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce	62.23 K

MBA Colleges in Mumbai Without CAT

Here is a list of MBA colleges in Mumbai without CAT along with the average course fee:

Name of the College	Course Fee (in INR)
SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)	20.42 L - 22.1 L
Chetana’s Institute of Management and Research (CIMR)	7.15 L - 7.85 L
IES Management College And Research Centre	8 L - 9 L
MET Institute Management (METIM)	4.09 L - 4.1 L
Sinhgad Institute of Business Management (SIBM)	2.74 L
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)	6.01 L
International Institute of Sports Management (IISM)	7.31 L

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Check the video below to know the top MBA colleges in India which offer direct admissions without CAT

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About the Author

Saumya Jain

Assistant Manager- Content

With over 7 years of editorial experience, Saumya has been a writer at Shiksha for over four years. With a bachelor's degree in English literature from Delhi University, she loves to write. A true Delhiite and her l... Read Full Bio