The Postgraduate Programme (PGP) at IIMA, which leads to a Master’s degree in Business Administration, has been IIMA’s flagship programme for more than fifty-five years and is among the top-ranked programmes in the world for many years. This two-year programme has created business leaders, outstanding managers, and a number of significant entrepreneurs. Though the degree is called MBA, historically its graduates have contributed equally to a wide range of areas beyond conventional business, in areas that seek knowledge and expertise in management. Their contributions cover practically all sectors of business and industry, not-for-profit organizations, government and policy, research, and academics.

The programme offers a wide range of interesting courses and activities, taught and facilitated by outstanding faculty members, who engage consistently with the world of academics, research, and practice. The programme moulds its participants into rigorous and innovative thinkers to deal with complex real-life management problems. It challenges them to achieve high levels of excellence and offers opportunities to fulfil their potential.

Apart from the formal coursework, the programme creates space for pursuit of personal interests including community service, sports, enhancing individual talents, and building new competencies through student clubs and activities.

Incoming participants join a cohort of individuals from diverse backgrounds. This includes fresh graduates from a variety of disciplines, professionals with experience in various sectors, a mix of genders, and a wide range of professional and extracurricular interests. In the first year of the programme, a set of compulsory courses create a solid foundation for all participants across all functional areas of management. In the second year, participants craft their own specializations by choosing courses from a wide range of electives that can be taken in any combination. Many participants choose to develop their expertise in general management (across functional areas) that IIMA has long been known for. It is equally common for others to specialize in specific areas of management like marketing, finance, strategy, operations, human resources, etc. The second year also offers a one-term exchange programme with more than eighty management schools worldwide, and a dual degree programme with select schools. The exchange programme offers great opportunities for a diversity of academic, social, and cultural experiences for participants going abroad as well as those staying on campus through interaction with international students.

If you are a prospective applicant, I invite you to the challenge of PGP at IIMA. If you are an incoming student, congratulations for your achievement! In terms of sheer numbers, this is probably the toughest programme in the world to get into. If you are currently a student at IIMA, you have already started understanding what PGP at IIMA is about. Either way, be prepared for a transformational and enriching experience!

Ankur Sinha
Professor