How to get admission to IIMs without CAT?

If your dream is to become an IIM alumnus or experience studying at one of the IIMs, and not pursuing a full-time MBA programme, then there are several ways to make your way into an IIM.

 

IIM Admission without CAT: B-school aspirants dream of studying at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). IIMs are the premium chain of management institution in India that attracts students not just from the nation but also all around the globe. The common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway for MBA admissions at IIMs. However, only a few manage to crack the highly competitive management entrance exam CAT. Also, qualifying CAT with a good percentile does not guarantee admission to IIM as IIM MBA admission process includes various other components such as Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI) rounds.

How to get admission to IIMs without CAT?

If your dream is to become an IIM alumnus or experience studying at one of the IIMs, and not pursuing a full-time MBA programme, then there are several ways to make your way into an IIM. Let us understand other ways to get admission at IIM without CAT:

Integrated Programme in Management (IPM)

Students can take admission to the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) offered by various IIMs after Class 12. Under an Integrated Programme in Management, students get the choice to study different subjects at the undergraduate level and choose a postgraduate programme (PGP) after completing three years.

JIPMAT: IIM Jammu and IIM Bodh Gaya enrol students under IPMs through the Joint Integrated Programme in Management Test (JIPMAT). National Testing Agency (NTA) organises JIPMAT for IPM aspirants across the nation. While talking about the conduct of JIPMAT 2021, IIM Bodh Gaya Director, Dr Vinita Sahay said, “When we started IPM, we as a school decided that meritocracy must prevail. We conducted JIPMAT as a joint admission test by India's most trusted testing agency called NTA. Our whole philosophy was that every student across the country should get an opportunity to do undergraduate in the high-quality premium institution in business management that too at the least inconvenience and cost. We also kept it affordable for every section of society to come and give the test.”

JIPMAT Seats 2022 Institute-wise

Institute	Total Seats
IIM Bodhgaya	60
IIM Jammu	60

IPMAT: IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak and IIM Ranchi conduct IPM Aptitude Test (IPMAT) to enrol students under their IPMs. The IPM admission process involves various stages, starting with the IPM Aptitude Test (IPMAT), Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). Talking about IPM offered at IIM Indore, Professor Shruti Tewari, Chair - IPM, IIM Indore, said, “IIM Indore offers a unique 5-year Integrated Programme in Management. If you have passed your class XII/ higher secondary or equivalent and want to craft your own journey beyond the traditional means of management education, this course is a perfect fit for you at IIM Indore.” The professor further added, “In 2011, IIM Indore launched IPM wherein the participants are awarded dual degrees; Bachelor of Arts (Foundations of Management) and Master of Business Administration (under the Dual Degree Programme). In sync with the institute’s mission statement, IPM aims to create contextually relevant, socially-conscious managers and leaders with a foundation of world-class education in mathematics, statistics, economics, and social sciences followed by core management disciplines. The domestic participants undergo a rigorous selection test called IPMAT and the International participants can apply using their SAT scores.”

IPMAT Seats 2022 Institute-wise

Institute	Total Seats
IIM Indore	150
IIM Rohtak	200
IIM Ranchi	120

Also Read: Planning MBA after 12th? Know admission process, placement record & more about Integrated MBA

GMAT score acceptable by various IIMs

Many students appear for Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as it is acceptable at various IIMs. Over 140 business schools in India accept the GMAT exam for more than 200 programs. Students can enrol in a one-year full-time MBA programme with their GMAT score. However, only GMAT score is not enough to get entry in an IIM. Students applying for the programme must have also completed graduation with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate. With a GMAT score, students can get admission in:

• IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX)
• IIM Bangalore (EPGP)
• IIM Calcutta (PGPEx)
• IIM Indore (EPGP)
• IIM Kozhikode (EPGP)
• IIM Lucknow (IPMX)

Various top management institutions other than IIM also accept GMAT scores.

Online, Executive, Certificate & Diploma Courses At IIMs

IIMs offer several online, certificate and diploma courses for students and working professionals. The eligibility criteria to many of these courses does not include CAT score. Candidates with excellent academic backgrounds, decent work experience and a desire to upskill their career growth can apply for these courses. For instance, a candidate with a graduate degree from any UGC recognised university with at least 50 per cent score, minimum 5 years of work experience can apply for IIM Lucknow executive programme in strategic finance. GMAT score is optional for this programme. Meanwhile, certification programs in finance and related financial technologies offered by IIM Raipur are also introduced for working professionals. IIM) Calcutta’s Advanced Programme in Digital Business Leadership (APDBL) is available for graduates with a minimum of 7 years of working experience.

Talking about the programme offered by IIM Indore that offers alumnus status to candidates, Professor Subin Sudhir, Chair - Executive Education, IIM Indore said, “IIM Indore offers various long-term certificate programmes for working executives, which are carefully designed as per the requirements and needs of executives. These programmes range from 3 months to a year and are delivered through weekend online classes and a few days of campus immersion.” “The participants’ diversity in such programmes contributes significantly to peer learning and provides continuing networking opportunities beyond the classroom. Participants of such programmes become eligible for Executive Alumni status of IIM Indore upon successful completion of the programme. Currently, there are 20+ programmes on offer in various domains such as General Management, Human Resource Management, Business Analytics, Finance and Investment Banking, Leadership and Strategy, Data Science, Marketing, Technology, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Strategic Management,” the Professor further added.

Students’ Speak

“One-year postgraduate programme in general management at IIM Kashipur helped me develop my business skills and build competencies to meet the aspirations and challenges of Industry. The course also gave me exposure towards new-age organisational practices, gain new skills, and develop global leadership skills. Apart from this, IIM itself is a brand and it adds value to your profile,” said Amit Rajput, management working professional.

Aradhya Vats, IPM 2015-20, alumnus, IIM Indore talked about her experience and gains from Integrated Programme in Management. Commenting on how IPM placements helped in her career growth, Aradhya said, “The placement process helped me land an internship in Product Marketing at Google and a Full-time offer in Consulting at PwC. IPM helped me build a strong resume - adding variety in subjects, projects, and extra-curricular opportunities.” She further added that she chose IPM programme because of its holistic nature - it focuses on overall hard and soft skill development. “The IIM Indore brand brings in the best-in-class faculty to teach courses ranging from Econometrics to Political Science. The curriculum aims to build socially-conscious managers, which itself is the need of the corporate hour. Internships, projects, leadership opportunities at student clubs, and committees at a young age all come together to create best-in-class professionals,” Vats added.

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