SIMS Pune (Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune) admits students to its MBA through the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP). The institute has 300 seats, with 90% seats for defence category candidates, including serving personnel, retired defence personnel and their dependents, and 10% seats for civilian open category candidates.

The MBA is offered in Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, and Data Analytics. The total fee is INR 18,93,200 for Finance and Data Analytics, and INR 14,20,000 for Marketing, HRM, and Operations Management.

Admission Update:
  • MBA 2026-28 batch: Admission has closed and the enrolled batch has started. SIMS Pune completed the shortlisting and GE-PI process for this batch in early 2026.
  • MBA 2027-29 batch (next cycle): SNAP 2026 registration is expected to begin on August 1, 2026 (Tentative). SNAP Test 01 is expected on December 6, 2026. SIMS Pune will issue GE-PI calls for defence and civilian candidates after the SNAP result in January 2027.
  • Defence category seats: Out of 300 seats, 90% seats, or about 270 seats, are kept for defence candidates. Serving personnel, retired defence officers, and their dependents need a valid defence ID or service certificate.
  • Civilian category seats: Open category civilian students get 10% seats, or about 30 seats. They are considered separately and need a higher SNAP percentile.
  • Civilian SNAP cutoff: For SIMS Pune, the SNAP cutoff for civilian candidates is 77 percentile, based on the 2026-28 admission cycle.
  • Eligibility: Students need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate, or 45% for SC/ST. Final-year students can also apply.
  • Specialisations offered: The MBA specialisations are Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, and Data Analytics.

SIMS Pune Admission Portal 2026: sims.edu

NOTE for Civilian Candidates: SIMS Pune has only about 30 civilian seats across MBA specialisations. Civilian admission is therefore very competitive. A SNAP score of 77 percentile or above is the expected level, so civilian students should treat SIMS Pune as a high-cutoff institute even though the full MBA intake is 300 seats.

SIMS Pune Important Dates 2026

Event Date
SNAP 2026 Registration End November 20, 2026
SNAP 2026 Test 01 December 6, 2026
SNAP 2026 Test 02 December 14, 2026
SNAP 2026 Test 03 December 20, 2026
SNAP 2026 Result (Tentative) January 9, 2027
SIMS Pune GE-PI Shortlist (Tentative) January 2027
GE-PI Rounds at SIMS Pune (Tentative) January to February 2027
Final Merit List (Tentative) February to March 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

SIMS Pune MBA Admission 2026

SIMS Pune runs a two-year full-time MBA with five specialisations. For the 2027-29 batch, admission will be based on SNAP 2026, followed by Group Exercise (GE) and Personal Interaction (PI) at SIMS Pune. The institute prepares separate merit lists for defence and civilian applicants.

The total MBA fee is different by specialisation. Finance and Data Analytics cost INR 18,93,200, while Marketing, HRM, and Operations Management cost INR 14,20,000.

Category Eligibility Selection
Defence (Serving Personnel, Retired Officers, and Dependents) Bachelor’s degree with min 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST). Valid defence ID or service certificate mandatory SNAP score + GE-PI. Separate defence merit list
Civilian (Open Category) Bachelor’s degree with min 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST) SNAP score + GE-PI. Separate civilian merit list. Expected SNAP cutoff: 77 percentile
  • Students have to register for SNAP 2026 at snaptest.org and choose SIMS Pune as one of their preferred institutes.
  • Defence category students must show a valid service certificate or dependent ID card during document checking.
  • Final-year graduation students are allowed to apply, but they must submit the degree certificate before joining the MBA.
MBA Specialisation Total Fee
Finance INR 18,93,200
Data Analytics INR 18,93,200
Marketing INR 14,20,000
Human Resource Management INR 14,20,000
Operations Management INR 14,20,000

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

SIMS Pune selects students in two stages. First, students are shortlisted through their SNAP score. Next, shortlisted students attend the GE and PI rounds at the SIMS Pune campus. The final composite score is calculated out of 100 marks, with the same score format used for both defence and civilian lists.

Selection Component Marks
SNAP Score 50 marks
Group Exercise and Personal Interaction (GE-PI) 50 marks
Total 100 marks
  • SNAP 2026 has three test windows. SIMS Pune considers the best SNAP score among the attempts for shortlisting.
  • Defence and civilian candidates are placed on separate merit lists. Civilian students compete only for the 30 civilian seats.
  • The expected SNAP level for civilian candidates at SIMS Pune is 77 percentile or above, based on the 2026-28 batch. Defence category cutoffs are generally lower.

Key insight: SIMS Pune has 300 seats total, but civilian applicants compete for only about 30 seats. A civilian student should plan for a SNAP target of 77 percentile or above and give equal importance to the GE-PI round.

To apply for the MBA, students must first register for SNAP 2026 at snaptest.org and select SIMS Pune during registration. They can take SNAP Test 01 on December 6, 2026, Test 02 on December 14, 2026, or Test 03 on December 20, 2026. After the SNAP result in January 2027, students should check the SIMS Pune shortlist on the sims.edu portal and complete the institute application if required.

  1. Register for SNAP 2026 at snaptest.org and select SIMS Pune as a preferred institute.
  2. Appear for SNAP Test 01 on December 6, 2026, Test 02 on December 14, 2026, or Test 03 on December 20, 2026.
  3. After the SNAP result in January 2027, check the SIMS Pune shortlist on the sims.edu portal and apply separately on the SIMS Pune admissions portal as needed.
  4. Attend the GE-PI round at the SIMS Pune campus in January to February 2027.
  5. Check the final merit list in February to March 2027, accept the offer, and pay the seat deposit before the deadline.
  6. Defence category students must submit a valid service certificate, dependent ID, or retired officer documents during verification.

Scholarships at SIMS Pune

SIMS Pune and Symbiosis International University offer financial support through merit-linked and category-based scholarship options for eligible students.

  • Symbiosis Merit Scholarship: Symbiosis International University gives merit scholarships to admitted students with strong academic performance. The eligibility rules and scholarship amounts are shared at the start of the academic session. Students should contact the SIMS Pune student affairs office for current details.
  • Defence Category Concession: Defence personnel and their dependents may get fee concessions provided by the institute. Students should check the current cycle’s policy with the SIMS Pune admissions office.
  • Government Scholarship Schemes: SC, ST, and OBC students may apply for eligible central and state government scholarships. The required documents must be submitted within the given deadline after joining.
  • Education Loan Support: SIMS Pune helps students arrange education loans from nationalised banks by providing bonafide certificates and fee receipts needed for loan processing.

SIMS Pune Admission FAQs

Ques. How many SIMS Pune MBA seats are reserved for defence category students?

Ans. SIMS Pune keeps 90% of its 300 MBA seats for defence category candidates. This group includes serving armed forces personnel, retired defence officers, and their dependents. The balance 10%, or 30 seats, is for open category civilian students.

Ques. What SNAP percentile should a civilian applicant target for SIMS Pune?

Ans. Civilian open category students should target at least 77 percentile in SNAP, based on the 2026-28 admission cycle. Since only about 30 civilian seats are available, competition is strong. The official SIMS Pune shortlist gives the final cutoff each year.

Ques. Which entrance exam is accepted for SIMS Pune MBA admission?

Ans. SIMS Pune accepts only SNAP, or Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, for MBA admission. Defence and civilian students both need a valid SNAP 2026 score. CAT, MAT, XAT, and GMAT scores are not accepted by SIMS Pune.

Ques. What is the MBA fee at SIMS Pune by specialisation?

Ans. The total MBA fee is INR 18,93,200 for Finance and Data Analytics. For Marketing, HRM, and Operations Management, the total fee is INR 14,20,000. Fees may change, so students should check sims.edu for the latest fee structure.

Ques. Who can apply under the defence category at SIMS Pune?

Ans. The defence category covers serving members of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, retired defence personnel, and dependent family members such as spouse or children. During admission document verification, students must show a valid service certificate, CSD card, or dependent ID.

Ques. What happens after a student clears the SNAP cutoff for SIMS Pune?

Ans. Students shortlisted after SNAP have to attend the Group Exercise (GE) and Personal Interaction (PI) rounds at the SIMS Pune campus. The final score is out of 100 marks, with 50 marks from SNAP and 50 marks from GE-PI. Defence and civilian students are ranked on separate merit lists.

Ques. Are non-defence students allowed to apply to SIMS Pune MBA?

Ans. Yes. Civilian students can apply for the SIMS Pune MBA, but they compete only for 30 seats, which is 10% of the total intake. They are ranked on a separate civilian merit list and should aim for a SNAP percentile of 77 or above along with strong GE-PI preparation.

Ques. What academic qualification is needed for SIMS Pune MBA admission?

Ans. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate. SC/ST students need 45%. Final-year graduation students may apply, and SNAP 2026 is compulsory. Defence category students must also provide a valid service certificate or dependent ID proof.

Ques. When is the SIMS Pune MBA merit list expected for the 2027-29 batch?

Ans. For the 2027-29 batch under the SNAP 2026 cycle, the SIMS Pune final merit list is tentatively expected in February to March 2027. This follows the GE-PI rounds planned for January to February 2027. Students should check sims.edu for confirmed dates.