IIM Ahmedabad: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement
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IIM Ahmedabad: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

16 Jul 2025

IIM Ahmedabad Placement 2025: Highest Package, Average Package, Fees, Courses, Cutoffs, Campus Life & More

  • IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA), established in 1961 with support from the Government of India, Harvard Business School and leading Indian industrialists, is widely regarded as India’s most prestigious business school. Over six decades, it has built a reputation for academic rigor, strong research output and a deeply practice-oriented approach to management education.
  • The institute pioneered the Harvard-style case method in India and has consistently been at the forefront of curriculum innovation, executive education and public policy work. Its alumni have gone on to lead central banks, Fortune 500 companies, unicorn startups and major public institutions – from Raghuram Rajan (former RBI Governor) and Ajay Banga (President of the World Bank) to Deep Kalra (MakeMyTrip) and Falguni Nayar (Nykaa).
  • Globally, IIM Ahmedabad is accredited by EQUIS and is regularly featured in international rankings and FT lists, especially for its PGPX (Executive MBA) and other advanced programmes. Within India, year after year, recruiters, policymakers and aspirants alike treat IIMA as the gold standard of management education

Why IIM Ahmedabad Is Ranked #1 in India

In the NIRF 2024 and 2025 rankings, IIM Ahmedabad has retained Rank 1 in the Management category, ahead of IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode and IIM Calcutta. This is not a one-off spike: IIMA has consistently been in the top 2 since the inception of NIRF and has been #1 for at least five consecutive years.

What keeps it at the top?

  • Teaching & Learning (TLR): Very high scores driven by strong faculty-student ratios, research-active faculty and modern infrastructure.

  • Graduation Outcomes (GO): Near-100% placements year after year with very high median salaries and strong career trajectories.

  • Research & Professional Practice (RP): Multiple centres like the Brij Disa Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and strong output of cases, policy briefs and journal publications.

  • Outreach & Inclusivity: Need-based scholarships, gender and regional diversity initiatives, and a wide executive education footprint across sectors.

For the typical aspirant, this translates into: highest brand equity, top recruiter interest, strong alumni network and superior peer quality – all of which show up in both salary numbers and long-term career progression.

IIM Ahmedabad Campus: Infrastructure, Hostels & Facilities

IIM Ahmedabad’s 100+ acre campus at Vastrapur is often described as a “mini-city” – with its own academic blocks, iconic brick architecture (Louis Kahn’s old campus), modern new campus across the road, residential areas, sports facilities and multiple food courts.

Academic & learning spaces

  • Smart classrooms with tiered seating, multiple screens and advanced AV set-ups designed for intense case discussions.

  • A large library / knowledge centre with more than 80,000 books, 25,000+ e-books, journals and databases for research and project work.

  • Dedicated computer labs and analytics labs for courses in data science, AI, business analytics and simulations.

Hostels & residential life

  • Around 40+ dorms with single-occupancy rooms, generally with attached or nearby washrooms; AC in most newer dorms.

  • Approx. 1.5 lakh hostel fee (for 2 years) is baked into the overall PGP fee; no extra rent, which simplifies budgeting.

  • 120+ apartments for married students; IIMA is one of the few campuses that meaningfully accommodates married candidates.

Food, sports & campus life

  • 10+ food outlets and messes, many open late-night, supporting the famously gruelling academic schedule.

  • Extensive sports facilities – gym, swimming pool, squash, badminton, football, cricket, tennis, plus cultural and interest-based clubs ranging from consulting and finance to quizzing, dramatics and entrepreneurship.

Overall, the campus is designed for 24x7, fully residential immersion – you live, learn and network in the same tight-knit environment.

IIM Ahmedabad Location & Connectivity – How to Reach

IIM Ahmedabad is located in Vastrapur, a well-connected area in the western part of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat. The official address is: Indian Institute of Management, Sargam Marg, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Reaching IIMA:

  • By Air: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is ~14–16 km away; cabs/Uber/Ola take ~30–40 minutes depending on traffic.

  • By Train: Ahmedabad Junction (Kalupur) is ~10–11 km from campus; Maninagar and Sabarmati stations are alternate options.

  • By Road / City Transit: Well connected by AMTS/BRTS buses and auto-rickshaws; most cabs know “IIM Ahmedabad” as a landmark.

For outstation students, this connectivity simplifies travel for internships, interviews and home visits while still preserving the gated-campus feel inside.

Courses Offered at IIM Ahmedabad (PGP, PGP-FABM, PGPX, AI & More)

IIM Ahmedabad today is more than just a single flagship MBA. It runs a portfolio of degree and diploma programmes:
  • MBA (formerly PGP in Management) – 2-year flagship programme (the standard “IIM Ahmedabad MBA”).

  • MBA (Food & Agribusiness Management – MBA-FABM) – 2-year sectoral MBA focusing on agri, food, rural and allied sectors.

  • MBA-PGPX (Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives) – 1-year, full-time Executive MBA equivalent for professionals with 4–5+ years experience.

  • MBA-BPGP / Blended MBA in Business Analytics & AI – India’s first-of-its-kind blended MBA focused on BA & AI; mix of online and campus modules.

  • ePGD-ABA – 2-year e-Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Business Analytics (largely online, for working professionals).

  • Online MBA (select cohorts) – for experienced professionals seeking flexibility.

  • FDP (Faculty Development Programmes) – pedagogy and research methods for management teachers.

  • PhD / FPM – full-time doctoral programme in management.

Each programme sits at a different point in the career spectrum: fresh graduates (MBA), early professionals (Online MBA, ePGD-ABA), mid-senior executives (PGPX, Blended BA & AI), and academics (FDP, PhD).

Flagship MBA (PGP) Program Explained

The two-year MBA (PGP) remains the heart of IIM Ahmedabad.

Structure

  • Year 1: Core courses across economics, accounting, finance, marketing, operations, OB/HR, strategy, communication, quantitative methods, IT, public policy and more. Almost every core is taught via cases, simulations and group work.

  • Summer Internship: After Term 3, students do a 2-month paid internship; summer placements at IIMA are 100% and often lead to PPOs (pre-placement offers).

  • Year 2: Choice of electives across specialisations – consulting, finance, marketing, operations, product management, analytics, entrepreneurship, public policy, sustainability etc. Many students “custom-build” a track, e.g. “Strategy + Analytics” or “Finance + Public Policy”.

Pedagogy

  • Heavy reliance on case method, class participation, cold-calling and written analyses.

  • Cross-functional thinking: almost all courses expect you to connect marketing decisions with finance, operations with strategy, etc.

  • Continuous evaluation: surprise quizzes, mid-terms, end-terms, projects, class participation – grades are not decided by one exam.

The first term is notoriously intense – seniors often call it the “Term 1 shock” – but it also accelerates learning and bonds the batch.


IIM Ahmedabad Eligibility (UG, Work Experience, Age)

Basic academic eligibility (MBA / MBA-FABM):

  • Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or equivalent CGPA from a recognised university.

  • Final-year students can apply, subject to completing their degree by the date specified by IIMA.

Work experience:

  • Not mandatory for MBA or FABM – every year, a significant share of the class are freshers.

  • However, work experience adds to your Application Rating (AR) score and helps in the AWT-PI process. For consulting/PM/analytics roles later, 1.5–3 years of quality experience often helps.

Age:

  • No upper age limit for PGP, but most students fall in the 21–26 range.

  • For PGPX (Executive MBA), a bachelor’s degree and minimum 4–5 years of full-time work experience are required; typical age band ~28–35.

Foreign nationals and NRIs usually apply via GMAT/GMAT Focus or GRE with a slightly different process.

IIM Ahmedabad Admission Process – Step-by-Step (2026–28 Batches)

The selection criteria are updated every year, but the broad two-stage process remains consistent.

Stage 1: Shortlisting for AWT–PI

  1. CAT exam (for domestic candidates):

    • You must appear for CAT 2025 (for 2026–28 batch).

    • Only candidates with positive scores in all three sections (VARC, DILR, QA) and above minimum percentiles are considered.

  2. Qualifying CAT cutoffs (2026–28 policy) – for eligibility to be considered:


CategoryVARCDILRQAOverall (qualifying)
General / EWS85858595
NC-OBC / Trans80808090
SC75757580
ST65656575
PwD (Gen/EWS/OBC/SC)75757580
PwD (ST)65656575
(Older policies used 80 overall for General; recent updates have tightened this to ~95 as competition has intensified.)
  1. Application Rating (AR) score:

    • Based on 10th marks (A), 12th marks (B), bachelor’s marks (C), work experience (D) and gender/academic diversity factor (E).

    • Each component is converted into a banded rating; AR = A + B + C + D + E

  2. Composite Score (CS) for shortlisting:

    • Typically, CAT ~65% weight, AR ~35% (approx; varies slightly by year).

    • Candidates are ranked within each academic category and reservation category; top-ranked are called for Analytical Writing Test (AWT) + Personal Interview (PI).

Stage 2: Final Selection

After AWT and PI, IIMA computes a Final Composite Score (FCS):

  • PI: 50%

  • CAT: 25%

  • Application Rating (10th, 12th, graduation, work-ex, diversity): 15%

  • AWT: 10%

Offers are made category-wise based on FCS.

Takeaway: CAT is crucial, but it is not everything – consistent academics, thoughtful work-ex and a strong interview matter a lot. Many students with 100 percentile do not convert IIMA if their profiles or interviews are weak.

CAT Cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad – What Is a “Safe” Percentile?

There are two very different numbers candidates must understand:

  1. Qualifying cutoff – minimum to be considered for shortlisting (80 earlier, ~95 overall for recent batches for General category)

  2. Final / effective cutoff – the percentile at which candidates realistically receive calls and convert.

Based on recent patterns:

  • For General / EWS aspirants, a 99–100 percentile CAT score is usually needed to be genuinely competitive (with solid academics).

  • For NC-OBC, realistic ranges are 97–99 percentile depending on profile.

  • For SC/ST/PwD, the effective percentiles are lower but still demanding, especially when combined with AR and PI performance.

So when you hear “IIM Ahmedabad cutoff is 80 percentile”, remember: That is just the qualifying floor. For a serious shot, target 99+ overall with strong sectionals and a robust academic record.

Academic Profile Required – 10th, 12th, Graduation

IIM Ahmedabad’s Application Rating (AR) strongly rewards consistent academic performance.

Broadly speaking (for General category):

  • 10th & 12th: 90%+ in CBSE/ISC boards typically receives the highest rating band (10/10). 80–90% drops you into mid-bands, and below 70% becomes a handicap.

  • Graduation: Each stream (medicine, professional degrees, commerce, engineering, others) has its own banding. 70–75%+ in most streams is considered strong; below 60% starts hurting your AR.

  • Work experience: AR often uses a formula like {(months – 11) * 0.20} up to a cap, meaning 18–36 months of experience is rewarded most.

This does not mean low-board-score candidates cannot convert, but they must compensate via CAT, work-ex, achievements and a standout interview. Many recent IIMA students on forums openly share examples of sub–90 school scores but strong profiles plus 99.8+ CAT making the cut.

Is Work Experience Mandatory? How Much Is Ideal?

Work experience is not mandatory for PGP admission, but it influences your chances at two levels:

  • Shortlisting: AR gives explicit weight to work-ex months; 18–30 months often hits the sweet spot for maximum points.

  • Interview & placements: For consulting, PM, analytics and leadership-track roles, recruiters often appreciate prior exposure – though freshers are also hired in large numbers.

Typical mix seen in recent IIMA batches (from placement and student reports):

  • 35–45% freshers or <12 months experience

  • 35–40% with 12–36 months

  • 15–20% with >3 years

If you are early in college and can maintain excellent academics, it is absolutely possible to enter as a fresher. If you are already working, 18–36 months of solid experience plus strong CAT is a powerful combination.

IIM Ahmedabad Fees Structure (2025–27 / 2026–28 Batches)

Fees change annually, but current data gives a good benchmark:

MBA / MBA-FABM (2-year full-time)

  • Total programme fee: about INR 26.5–27.5 lakh for recent batches (2025–27 range). This includes tuition, hostel and basic academic charges but excludes personal expenses like mess, travel, laptop, etc.

MBA-PGPX (Executive MBA, 1 year)

  • Programme fee (2025–26 batch):

    • Around INR 34.15 lakh for single accommodation (SSH)

    • ~INR 36.20 lakh for married student housing (MSH), excluding international immersion costs.

  • 2026–27 announced fee: approx. INR 35–37.1 lakh depending on accommodation.

Blended MBA in Business Analytics & AI / Online MBA

  • Online / blended MBA: reported fee around INR 20 lakh.

  • ePGD-ABA: ~INR 12 lakh for the two-year analytics diploma.

Other programmes

  • FDP / short executive programmes: typically in the range of INR 1.3–1.5 lakh for multi-week programmes; individual executive courses vary.

For most aspirants, this investment is weighed against placement outcomes – which, as we’ll see, have been robust even through volatile markets.

Scholarships & Financial Aid at IIM Ahmedabad

IIMA has consciously built a strong financial aid ecosystem so that students are not forced to reject offers due to affordability.

Major support categories:

  1. IIMA Special Need-Based Scholarships

    • For PGP / PGP-FABM students with family income below INR 15 lakh per year.

    • Aid amount is calculated after reviewing income, assets, number of dependents, education loans, etc.

  2. SC/ST Scholarships

    • Students from SC/ST categories receive a small monthly stipend (e.g., ~INR 150 per month for 10 months, as per older policies; newer amounts may vary).

  3. Exit Scholarships – extremely distinctive

    • Entrepreneurship support: Monthly stipend of INR 30,000–40,000 for up to 3 years for 2 students per batch who opt out of placements to pursue startups.

    • Non-profit careers: 2 students per batch joining not-for-profit organisations receive INR 3–4 lakh per year for up to 3 years to help manage loan repayments.

    • Doctoral studies: Similar annual support for those pursuing PhDs in India or abroad.

  4. Alumni & corporate scholarships

    • Examples: Aditya Birla Scholarship (~INR 1.75 lakh per year), Peri Viswanath Scholarship, PGP Alumni Endowment awards, and more.

In practice, a significant proportion of each batch receives some form of aid, especially in PGP & FABM, which improves accessibility for students from modest backgrounds.

IIM Ahmedabad Placements: 6-Year Trend (2020–2025)

Latest Placements 2025 – PGP / MBA

For the MBA PGP batch of 2023–25:

  • Eligible students: 406

  • Students placed via campus: 395 (11 opted out for other pursuits)

  • Companies: 178 recruiters, offering 261 distinct roles

  • Placement rate: Essentially 100% for those seeking placements

  • Highest domestic CTC: INR 1.10 crore per annum (BFSI)

  • Mean salary (MEP): approx. INR 35.50 LPA

  • Median salary: around INR 34.59 LPA

  • Lowest reported package: approx. INR 16.99 LPA (for domestic offers)

  • Top sector: Consulting – about 39% of the batch; BFSI followed with ~25%.

  • Top recruiters: BCG, McKinsey, Bain, Accenture Strategy, Goldman Sachs, Avendus, Adani Group, TAS, Amazon, among others.

International roles dipped – only two offers in Dubai, reflecting a global slowdown, but domestic compensation and role quality remained strong.

Audited IPRS Data for 2023 & 2022

From the IPRS-audited 2023 and 2022 reports:
  • 2023 PGP placements (Class of 2021–23)

    • Highest CTC: INR 1.15 crore

    • Average CTC: INR 34.36 LPA

    • Median CTC: INR 32.02–32.5 LPA (domestic)

    • Total offers accepted: 385

  • 2022 PGP placements (Class of 2020–22)

    • Highest domestic CTC: INR 61.48 LPA

    • Highest international CTC: INR 1.15 crore

    • Average domestic CTC: INR 32.79 LPA

    • Total offers: 220 across 190 companies; 204 offers from consulting alone.

Six-Year Salary Trend (2020–2025)

Using audited reports and credible summaries, the salary trend for the PGP/MBA looks like this:

Passing YearAverage CTC (LPA, approx)Highest CTC (LPA, headline)
202026.12132 (1.32 Cr)
202127.54116 (1.16 Cr)
202232.79115 (1.15 Cr)
202334.36115 (1.15 Cr)
202434.45146 (1.46 Cr)
202535.5110 (1.10 Cr, domestic)
You can see a clear upward drift in average CTC, with some volatility in headline highest CTC depending on a few large international/BFSI offers and market conditions

Sector-Wise Placement Analysis (Consulting, BFSI, Tech & More)

Sector Mix – 2022 vs 2023 vs 2025

From the IPRS reports and 2025 press coverage:

2022 (offers)

  • Consulting: 204

  • Banking & Markets (BFSI): 75

  • Consumer Goods/Services: 25

  • Engineering/Technology: 15

  • Conglomerates: 12

  • Retail B2B/B2C: 12

  • IT, Online, others: balance

2023 (offers – aggregated approximation from detailed tables)

  • Consulting: ~200+ offers (McKinsey & BCG alone ~67 including PPOs)

  • BFSI & PE/VC/Asset Management: strong growth vs 2022, especially for investment roles.

  • Conglomerates saw a 135% increase in net offers compared to 2022.

2025 (offers accepted – PGP only)

  • Consulting: ~39% of batch ~ 154 offers

  • BFSI: 99 offers (~25%)

  • FMCG/Consumer: 31 offers

  • IT/Tech/Online & others: remainder, including analytics, general management and product roles.

The sector-wise offer mix for 2022, 2023 and 2025 is summarised visually here:

Function-Wise Roles

Across these years, the dominant functions remain:

  • Consulting (strategy/management): 40–45% of roles in most years

  • Finance (IB, markets, PE/VC, corporate finance, cards & advisory): 20–25%

  • Product/Category Management & General Management: 15–20%

  • Marketing/Sales, Operations, Analytics, Program Management: remainder

Notably, analytics and product roles have grown within both BFSI and tech – a sign of AI and data-driven decision making changing job descriptions even for “MBA roles”.

How AI Is Influencing IIM Ahmedabad Placements

AI’s impact shows up in two ways: what recruiters want and what IIMA teaches.

Recruiter Expectations

  • Consulting firms and BFSI players increasingly want MBAs who can interpret data, work with analytics teams and design AI-enabled solutions, not just make slides.

  • A partner at a top consulting firm told the media that AI has automated 60–70% of the grunt work analysts used to do, leading firms to cut analyst intakes by almost a third while demanding more “digital literacy” from those they hire.

  • Across Indian campuses, roles that require AI/analytics skills are offering about 28% salary premium on average compared to traditional profiles.

This doesn’t mean MBAs are obsolete. Instead, MBAs who can combine problem-solving, client communication and AI-savvy are now more valuable.

IIM Ahmedabad’s Response – Curriculum & Centres

IIM Ahmedabad has been proactive in reshaping its ecosystem around AI.

  • Brij Disa Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence – runs research, workshops and corporate projects around AI adoption, labour impacts and analytics in Indian firms.

  • Blended MBA in Business Analytics & AI (MBA-BPGP: BA & AI) – launched as a two-year blended programme focused specifically on analytics & AI applications in business.

  • ePGD-ABA & analytics-heavy electives – even the flagship PGP has increasingly data/AI-focused courses: marketing analytics, fintech, supply-chain analytics, etc.

  • Case-method research on AI adoption, digital platforms, and data-driven organisations is now part of the case library.

For placements, this translates into:

  • More product management, digital transformation and analytics roles.

  • Consulting cases that involve critiquing AI-generated outputs or designing AI-enabled solutions – a trend already visible in some interview formats.

If you are targeting IIMA in this AI era, building comfort with basic statistics, SQL, Python/R or at least analytics tools, and AI concepts will significantly help – not as a coder, but as a manager who can talk to both clients and data scientists.

Salary Progression by Experience – PGP vs PGPX

An important question students ask is: should I join IIMA early (PGP) or later with more experience (PGPX)?

PGP (0–3 years experience)

Recent numbers (2023–2025):

  • Average CTC ~34–35.5 LPA

  • Median CTC ~31.5–34.6 LPA

  • Lowest domestic packages ~16–18 LPA

  • Roles: entry-level consultant / associate, management trainee, product analyst / PM, investment banking analyst, corporate finance, brand manager, etc.

PGPX (4–10+ years experience)

Recent PGPX placements

  • 2023 PGPX:

    • Highest domestic: INR 1.08 crore

    • Average domestic: INR 35.68 LPA

  • 2025 PGPX:

    • Highest domestic: INR 76.5 LPA

    • Average ~INR 37.25 LPA, with slight dip in median due to market

Roles here are typically mid-management: senior product manager, AVP/VP (depending on prior level), senior consultant, strategy roles, transformation leads, etc.

Interpreting the Difference

  • The average salary for PGPX is only moderately higher than PGP, but remember: PGPX candidates often already earn 18–25 LPA before joining. The lift is on a higher base.

  • For freshers, going through PGP lets you start at 30–35 LPA in your early 20s, which compounds significantly if you move well.

  • For experienced professionals, PGPX can compress 5–7 years of career shift into one intense year – particularly if you are switching industries or geographies.

In short:

  • If you are still in or just out of college, PGP is the ideal route.

  • If you already have 6–10 years of experience and want to pivot or accelerate, PGPX or an Executive MBA (at IIMA or globally) makes more sense.

International Placements at IIM Ahmedabad

International offers have been more volatile than domestic ones.

  • 2022: 9 international offers across Dubai, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Mexico in consulting, finance and management.

  • 2023: 8 international offers for PGP batch; highest CTC ~ INR 1.15 crore.

  • 2024: 8 international offers; international highest ~1.46 Cr for one HFT/finance role.

  • 2025: Only 2 international offers, both in Dubai consulting roles, with maximum earning potential around USD 103k (~86 LPA). The highest 1.1 Cr offer this year was domestic BFSI.

Global economic headwinds and tighter visa regimes have clearly reduced international intake. However, many alumni still move abroad a few years post-MBA via internal transfers or lateral hiring – especially in consulting, product and finance.

Life at IIM Ahmedabad: Culture, Clubs & “Reality of Rigour”

From student reviews and alumni AMAs, a fairly consistent picture emerges:

  • Academic intensity:

    • Multiple case readings per day, surprise quizzes, group submissions – sleep becomes a luxury in Term 1.

    • Many students describe the first three months as “the steepest learning curve” of their lives.

  • Peer group:

    • Mix of IIT/NIT/DU and top state-engineering grads, plus CAs, commerce, economics, arts, medicine, and increasingly, non-engineering backgrounds.

    • Seniors, alumni and campus culture are generally collaborative despite the competitive grading.

  • Clubs & Committees:

    • Formal bodies: Placement Committee, Student Affairs Council, Alumni Committee, Entrepreneurship Cell, etc.

    • Interest clubs: Consulting, Finance, Marketing, Product, Analytics, Public Policy, Entrepreneurship, Quizzing, Music, Theatre and more – often a huge boost for profile-building.

  • Events & festivals:

    • Annual fests like Chaos (cultural) and Confluence (business summit) bring in industry leaders, artists and top B-school participants.

    • Guest lectures by CEOs, founders, bureaucrats and thought leaders are frequent.

  • Mental health & balance:

    • The program can be emotionally and physically draining; many students talk about burnout risk.

    • Recent batches report better awareness around counselling, peer support and conversations on mental health.

In short, life at IIMA is intense, immersive and occasionally overwhelming – but for most, deeply transformative.

Academic Rigor & the Case Method (Harvard-Style Learning)

IIM Ahmedabad is synonymous with the case method – a pedagogy it inherited from Harvard Business School and has refined over decades.

  • Students are given real business situations – from startups and PSUs to global MNCs – with incomplete information and conflicting objectives.

  • The classroom is a debate space: you step into the shoes of the protagonist and defend a decision under uncertainty.

  • Faculty act less like lecturers and more like conductors, drawing out competing perspectives and pushing for deeper reasoning.

In 2025, IIMA launched the Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning, reaffirming its bet on the case method even in the age of AI and LLMs. Harvard’s Dean Srikant Datar, speaking at the launch, explicitly argued that while AI can supply information, the ability to reason through ambiguity, frame problems and lead people remains human and is best built through case discussions.

For a CAT aspirant, this means: getting into IIMA is only the first filter. Thriving there demands speaking up, thinking on your feet, reading a lot and being comfortable with grey zones.

IIM Ahmedabad Exchange Programs & Global Exposure

IIMA has one of the most extensive student exchange networks among Indian B-schools:

  • Partner schools span Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania – including Chicago Booth, UCLA Anderson, ESSEC, WHU, Stockholm School of Economics, and many more.

  • PGP students typically go abroad in Term 6 or Term 7, spending a semester at a partner university.

  • Some double-degree or special tracks exist with select European schools where students earn an additional qualification.

Beyond exchange, global exposure comes from:

  • International immersion in executive programmes (PGPX, Blended MBA, etc.)

  • Global case competitions, virtual projects and cross-border electives.

For those with long-term international career aspirations, exchange plus 2–4 years in global consulting/product/finance roles is a common pathway.

Famous Alumni of IIM Ahmedabad

A few names that illustrate the breadth of IIMA’s influence:

  • Raghuram Rajan – Former Governor, Reserve Bank of India; ex–Chief Economist, IMF; Professor at Chicago Booth.

  • Ajay Banga – President of the World Bank Group; former CEO & Chair of Mastercard; Padma Shri awardee.

  • Falguni Nayar – Founder & CEO, Nykaa (unicorn, listed); one of India’s most celebrated women entrepreneurs.

  • Deep Kalra – Founder, MakeMyTrip; pioneer of Indian online travel.

  • Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Founder, Info Edge (Naukri.com, Jeevansathi, etc.); early investor in Zomato, PolicyBazaar.

  • Harsha Bhogle – Iconic cricket commentator and presenter.

  • Chetan Bhagat – Bestselling author and columnist, multiple novels adapted to films.

On the startup front, analyses show that IIM Ahmedabad leads all IIMs in number of unicorn and soonicorn founders, associated with companies like Nykaa, PolicyBazaar, FirstCry, Urban Company, Fractal and more

Common Myths About IIM Ahmedabad

Some persistent myths and the reality behind them:

  1. “Only toppers with 99.9+ CAT and 95% in boards get in.”

    • Reality: high percentiles help, but IIMA explicitly balances academics with work-ex, diversity, achievements and PI performance. There are many cases of 98–99 percentile with non-perfect boards making it; and also of 100 percentilers being rejected.

  2. “IIM Ahmedabad is only for engineers.”

    • Reality: engineers are still a large share, but recent batches have a growing mix of commerce, economics, arts, CA/CS, medicine and other backgrounds due to diversity pushes in AR scoring.

  3. “Placements are guaranteed; your career is sorted forever.”

    • Reality: IIMA has a near-perfect placement record, but roles still depend on your skills, internships, grades and networking. Long-term success is far more about how you perform in those jobs than the campus tag alone.

  4. “Academic pressure crushes all non-academic life.”

    • Reality: Term 1 is brutal, but students still manage clubs, competitions, festivals and friendships. The challenge is prioritisation, not impossibility.

  5. “If you don’t get IIM A, your management career is over.”

    • Reality: Many leaders come from IIM B, C, other IIMs, IITs, DU, private institutes and even non-MBA routes. IIMA maximises opportunities but is not the only path.

Popular FAQs About IIM Ahmedabad (Short Answers)

1. What is IIM Ahmedabad?

  • IIM Ahmedabad is India’s top-ranked management institute offering MBA, MBA-FABM, Executive MBA (PGPX), analytics programmes, PhD and executive education, known especially for its case-method pedagogy and strong placements.

2. What is the average and highest package at IIM Ahmedabad?

  • For the 2025 PGP batch, IIM Ahmedabad average CTC is about 35.5 LPA and the highest domestic package is 1.10 crore. In 2024, the highest CTC was around 1.46 crore and average around 34.45 LPA.

3. Does IIM Ahmedabad have 100% placements?

  • Yes, IIM Ahmedabad has maintained near-100% placements for its flagship programmes, with only a few students opting out for entrepreneurship or other paths.

4. What CAT percentile is safe for IIM Ahmedabad?

  • Qualifying cutoff is around 95 overall for General category, but to be realistically safe for IIM Ahmedabad calls you should aim for 99–100 percentile with strong sectionals

5. Can a fresher get into IIM Ahmedabad?

  • Yes. Many IIM Ahmedabad students are freshers. Strong academics, a high CAT percentile and confident interviews are enough; work experience is not mandatory.

6. What is the total fee for IIM Ahmedabad MBA?

  • The 2-year IIM Ahmedabad MBA fee is around 26.5–27.5 lakh including tuition and hostel but excluding personal and travel expenses.

7. Does IIM Ahmedabad offer scholarships?

  • Yes, IIM Ahmedabad offers special need-based scholarships, SC/ST support, and exit scholarships for entrepreneurship, non-profit careers and doctoral studies, plus corporate and alumni awards.

8. Is IIM Ahmedabad better than IIM Bangalore or IIM Calcutta?

  • All three are excellent. IIM Ahmedabad is usually ranked highest overall, IIM Bangalore has strong tech/startup flavour and IIM Calcutta is outstanding for finance. Your personal fit and offers matter most.

9. How tough is life at IIM Ahmedabad?

  • Life at IIM Ahmedabad is demanding with heavy workloads and frequent evaluations, especially in Term 1. With good time management and support from peers, it becomes manageable and very rewarding.

10. Where is IIM Ahmedabad located and what is the campus?

  • IIM Ahmedabad is in Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The campus has iconic red-brick buildings, modern hostels, sports facilities and an active student culture.

11. What are the top recruiters at IIM Ahmedabad?

  • Top IIM Ahmedabad recruiters include McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Accenture Strategy, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Amazon, Adani Group, TAS and leading Indian and global firms across sectors



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Last updated: 12 Feb 2026

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