SIMS Pune (Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune) admits MBA students through the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP). The institute has 300 seats, with 90% seats for defence candidates and 10% seats for civilian open category candidates. The MBA is offered in specialisations such as Finance and Data Analytics, with total fees of INR 18,93,200 for these two options and INR 14,20,000 for Marketing, HRM, and Operations Management.

The admission process includes SNAP shortlisting followed by Group Exercise and Personal Interaction rounds. Defence and civilian applicants are considered through separate merit lists.

Admission Update:
  • MBA 2026-28 batch: The admission process is over and the batch has joined. Shortlisting and GE-PI rounds for this batch were completed in early 2026.
  • MBA 2027-29 batch (next cycle): SNAP 2026 registration was expected from August 1, 2026 (Tentative). SNAP Test 01 is tentatively scheduled on December 6, 2026. SIMS Pune GE-PI calls for defence and civilian applicants will be released after the SNAP result in January 2027.
  • Defence category seats: Out of 300 seats, 90%, or nearly 270 seats, are kept for defence candidates. Serving personnel, retired defence officers, and their dependents can apply with a valid defence ID or service certificate.
  • Civilian category seats: The open civilian category gets 10% of the seats, which means nearly 30 seats. Civilian applicants are evaluated separately and need a higher SNAP percentile.
  • Civilian SNAP cutoff: For the 2026-28 admission cycle, the SIMS Pune SNAP cutoff for civilian candidates is 77 percentile.
  • Eligibility: Applicants need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate. SC/ST candidates need 45%. Students in the final year of graduation can also apply.
  • Specialisations offered: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, and Data Analytics.

SIMS Pune Admission Portal 2026: sims.edu

NOTE for Civilian Candidates: Civilian admission at SIMS Pune is highly competitive because only about 30 seats are available across all MBA specialisations. A SNAP score of 77 percentile or above is the expected level for civilian applicants. Even though the full batch has 300 seats, civilian candidates should treat SIMS Pune as a high-cutoff institute.

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

The MBA at SIMS Pune is a two-year full-time programme with five specialisations. For the 2027-29 batch, admission will be through SNAP 2026. After SNAP, shortlisted students must attend the Group Exercise (GE) and Personal Interaction (PI) process at SIMS Pune. The institute prepares separate merit lists for defence and civilian applicants.

SIMS Pune MBA Eligibility Criteria 2026

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
  • Applicants have to register for SNAP 2026 and choose SIMS Pune as a preferred institute.
  • Defence category applicants need to show a valid service certificate or dependent ID card during document verification.
  • Final-year graduation students can apply, but they must submit their degree certificate before joining the programme.

SIMS Pune MBA Fees 2026

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

The fees above are given for reference and may change. Students should contact the college or visit sims.edu for the exact fee structure.

SIMS Pune MBA Selection Process 2026

SIMS Pune follows a two-part selection method. First, candidates are shortlisted through the SNAP score. Next, they attend GE and PI at the SIMS Pune campus. The final score is calculated out of 100 marks, and the same marking pattern is used for defence and civilian candidates, though both groups are ranked separately.

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 all attempts for shortlisting.
  • Defence and civilian applicants are placed on separate merit lists. Civilian candidates therefore compete among themselves for the 30 civilian seats.
  • For civilian applicants, the expected SIMS Pune SNAP cutoff is 77 percentile or above, based on the 2026-28 batch. Defence category cutoffs are usually lower.

Key insight: SIMS Pune has 300 seats total, but only about 30 seats are available for civilian candidates. A civilian applicant is therefore competing for 1 of 30 seats, not 1 of 300. Civilian candidates should aim for 77 percentile or above in SNAP and give equal attention to the GE-PI round.

How to Apply for MBA at SIMS Pune?

  1. Register for SNAP 2026 from August 1, 2026. Select SIMS Pune as a preferred institute during the SNAP form process.
  2. Take SNAP Test 01 on December 6, 2026, Test 02 on December 14, 2026, or Test 03 on December 20, 2026. The best score is used for shortlisting.
  3. After the SNAP result in January 2027, check the SIMS Pune shortlist on the sims.edu portal. Complete the SIMS Pune admission form separately if required.
  4. Appear for the Group Exercise and Personal Interaction 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 given deadline.
  6. Defence category candidates must provide a valid service certificate, dependent ID, or retired officer document during verification.

Scholarships at SIMS Pune

SIMS Pune and Symbiosis International University offer scholarship and financial support options for eligible students. These include merit-based awards, category-linked support, and help with education loan documents.

  • Symbiosis Merit Scholarship: Symbiosis International University gives merit scholarships to admitted students with strong academic performance. The eligibility rules and award amount are shared at the beginning of the academic session. Students can contact the SIMS Pune student affairs office for current details.
  • Defence Category Concession: Defence personnel and their dependents may receive fee concessions offered by the institute. Students should confirm 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. 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 giving bonafide certificates and fee receipts needed for loan processing.

SIMS Pune Admission FAQs

Ques. How many MBA seats are kept for defence candidates at SIMS Pune?

Ans. SIMS Pune keeps 90% of its 300 MBA seats for defence category candidates. Serving armed forces personnel, retired defence officers, and dependents are included in this group. The other 10%, or 30 seats, are meant for civilian open category candidates.

Ques. What SNAP score level should civilian applicants target for SIMS Pune?

Ans. Civilian open category applicants should expect the SIMS Pune SNAP cutoff to be 77 percentile, based on the 2026-28 admission cycle. Since only about 30 civilian seats are available, the competition is strong. The official SIMS Pune shortlist gives the final cutoff for each year.

Ques. Does SIMS Pune accept any entrance exam other than SNAP?

Ans. No. SNAP, or Symbiosis National Aptitude Test, is the only entrance exam accepted for SIMS Pune MBA admission. Defence and civilian candidates must appear for SNAP 2026. SIMS Pune does not accept CAT, MAT, XAT, or GMAT scores.

Ques. What is the MBA fee for different specialisations at SIMS Pune?

Ans. SIMS Pune charges different total fees by specialisation. Finance and Data Analytics have a total fee of INR 18,93,200, while Marketing, HRM, and Operations Management have a total fee of INR 14,20,000. Fees may be revised, 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 includes serving members of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, retired defence personnel, and dependent family members such as spouse or children. During admission verification, candidates must show a valid service certificate, CSD card, or dependent ID.

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

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

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

Ans. Yes. Civilian candidates can apply for the SIMS Pune MBA, but they compete for only 30 seats, which is 10% of the total intake. They are ranked on a separate civilian merit list. A SNAP score of 77 percentile or above and good GE-PI preparation are important for staying competitive.

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

Ans. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate. SC/ST candidates need 45%. Final-year graduation students can also apply. A valid SNAP 2026 score is compulsory, and defence category candidates must also submit service or dependent ID proof.

Ques. When is the SIMS Pune MBA final merit list expected?

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 will be after the GE-PI rounds, which are planned for January to February 2027. Students should check the official SIMS Pune website at sims.edu for exact dates after announcement.