Candidates that apply for admission should have either:

• A Master's degree (obtained after completing bachelor’s degree)¹ or
• A five-year Integrated Master’s degree (obtained after completing higher secondary schooling in 10+2 pattern) in any discipline¹ or
• A Post Graduate Diploma (2 years)¹
• A Professional qualification such as CA, ICWA, CS² or,
• A four-year or eight-semesters Bachelor's degree³

Note:
The percentage of marks obtained by the candidate would be calculated based on the practice followed by the respective university or institution. In case of grades / CGPA, the conversion to percentage of marks would be based on the procedure certified by the respective university or institute. If a university or institute confirms that there is no scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.
¹ Candidates need to have at least 55 percent marks in the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree(s), and post graduate diploma. This cutoff is 50 percent marks for applicants from SC, ST and PwD categories.
² Candidates with these professional qualifications should have obtained at least 50 percent marks in their B.com or bachelor’s degree. This cutoff is 45 percent for applicants from SC, ST and PwD categories.
³ Candidates in this category should have obtained at least 6.5 CGPA or equivalent marks. This cutoff is 6.0 CGPA for applicants from SC, ST and PwD categories.

The above qualification should be from one of the Universities, or other educational institutions, incorporated by an act of the Parliament or State legislature in India; or declared to be deemed as a University under Section3 of UGC Act, 1956, or, recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

• Candidates who are in the final year of the qualifying Programmes that would make them eligible can also apply. (However, in case of CA/ICWA/CS the applicant should have completed the course at the time of applying to the doctoral programme.)
• Such final year candidates, if selected, will be allowed to join the programme provisionally only if they submit a certificate (latest by the date of registration to the PhD 2026 programme) from the Principal or Head of the Department or Registrar or Director of the university or institute stating that they have appeared for the examinations (including practical examinations) in all the subjects required for obtaining the Master's or Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification.
• Their admission will be confirmed only when they submit the marks sheet and the certificate of having passed the Master's or Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification referred to in the certificate issued by the Principal or Registrar of their university or institute.
• The deadline for submission of marks sheet and the certificates is December 31, 2026.
• Please note that those candidates who have applied on the basis of their master's degree will have to meet the 55% marks stipulation, and those who have applied on the basis of their bachelor's degree will have to meet the 65% marks stipulation, or as applicable in the case of candidates from various social categories. Non-fulfillment of these conditions will automatically result in the cancellation of the provisional admission.

The application form for admission to Doctoral Programme 2026, will be available at:
https://campus.iimb.ac.in/psp/cssisprd/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG&

- Application opening date: July 10th, 2025.
- Deadline for submission of fully completed applications: January 22, 2026 (5:00 p.m. IST)

• Candidates must fill in their application through the online portal listed above.
• Candidates may apply to two areas of specialization as part of their application to the doctoral programme at IIMB. Such candidates will need to identify their primary and secondary areas of specialization as part of the application form.
• Application packet for all areas include the following:
  • Fully completed online application form.
  • Photograph (passport size in JPG or PNG format).
  • Score report (upload scanned copy of GRE, GMAT, GATE, (UGC-CSIR) NET, CAT, except those using IIMB Test scores for their application.
  • Statement of Purpose (upload document specific to the specialization area of candidate).
  • Mark sheets (upload scanned copy of 10th Standard, 12th Standard, Bachelors and Masters, and relevant Professional Certificates).
  • Category certificate (upload scanned copy, if applicable).
  • Letter of recommendation (ask recommender to complete the online process, do not upload scanned copies).
  • Additional documents (upload scanned copy of relevant document such as resume or research publications, if available).

The application fee (Non-Refundable) is: If taken, additional fee for IIMB Test will be applicable.

Note:
¹ These dates are tentative and may change.
² Area tests and interviews might be conducted online or in-person. Notifications will be provided in advance.

The IIMB test can be used by applicants to apply to the PGPEM and PhD programmes at IIM Bangalore. Please visit the Admissions webpage for instructions on how to register for the IIMB test. Applying for PGPEM or PhD does not automatically register a candidate for the IIMB test. Applicant should register for IIMB test and apply separately for PGPEM or PhD through the notified online application (available on our website) within the stipulated last date.

IIMB test dates for admission to PGPEM / PhD 2026 batch Instructions for PGPEM applicants:

• Applicants appearing in Test 1 (Oct 12, 2025) and submitting in Round 1 of PGPEM admission will be considered for further process in Round 1 only.
• Applicants who plan to submit in Round 2 of PGPEM admission can appear for one/both IIMB tests and submit the application in Round 2. If the applicant chooses to write the IIMB test twice, only the highest score will be considered during admission.
• An applicant can apply for PGPEM in one round only. If any applicant is found applying in both rounds, he/she shall be disqualified from both rounds.
• If the applicant opts for the first round but is unable to attend the test (for whatever reason), the test fee paid earlier stands forfeited. The applicant if appearing again for the second round IIMB Test should pay the IIMB test fee again.
• Registration for the IIMB test will generate a receipt number which the candidates need to enter in the PGPEM programme online application form before submission.
• IIMB test score will be used for the internal processing of the application and no test score card shall be issued.

Instructions for Ph.D. Applicants:

• Applicants can choose to appear in the IIMB test either once or twice. If the applicant chooses to write the IIMB test twice, only the highest score will be considered during admission.
• If the applicant opts for the first test but is unable to attend the test (for whatever reason), the test fee paid earlier stands forfeited. The applicant can appear for the second test by paying the test fee again.
• Registration for the IIMB test will generate a receipt number which the candidates need to enter in the PhD programme online application form before submission.
• IIMB test score will be used for the internal processing of the application and no test score card shall be issued.

Test fee:
The IIMB test fee is Rs 1,200/- for each test and is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Click Here for IIMB Test Fee Payment

IIMB Test – Sample Paper