IIM Lucknow Admission Dates 2027

IIM Lucknow admission for the 2027-29 batch is based on CAT 2026. Registration is open until September 15, 2026. Admission for the 2026-28 batch is already complete, and that batch joined in June 2026. IPMX, the 1-year Executive MBA, accepts applications on a rolling basis through the year.

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

The main entrance exams accepted by IIM Lucknow differ by course family.

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

IIM Lucknow Courses and Fees

IIM Lucknow has more than 15 programmes across MBA, executive, doctoral, and undergraduate levels. The lowest listed fee is INR 2,50,000 for short executive certificates, and the highest is INR 26,25,000 for the 1-year IPMX. The flagship PGP (MBA) fee is INR 20,75,000 for two years.

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

MBA-ABM is conducted at the Noida campus and is useful for students interested in agriculture, food systems, or rural business. Its fee is the same as the flagship PGP, so students do not pay any extra specialisation fee. IIM Lucknow does not give a category-based tuition waiver for PGP, and every student pays the same INR 20,75,000 fee.

IIM Lucknow Admission Process

IIM Lucknow selects students for its main MBA courses through CAT, followed by WAT and PI. PGP, MBA-ABM, and MBA-SM seats are filled only through merit. The institute does not offer direct admission or a management quota.

MBA (PGP) and MBA-ABM Admission

For MBA (PGP) and MBA-ABM, applicants need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate. SC, ST, and PwD candidates need 45%. Final year students can also apply on a provisional basis. CAT is the main entrance test. For General category candidates, the minimum qualifying cutoff is 90 percentile overall and 85 percentile in each section, namely VARC, DILR, and QA. For MBA-ABM, the General category overall cutoff is 85 percentile.

The WAT-PI shortlist is prepared through a composite score. CAT has 60% weight, Class 12 marks have 10%, graduation marks have 10%, work experience has 10%, academic diversity has 5%, and gender diversity has 5%. Female candidates get a 5-mark bonus. In the final selection score, the Personal Interview carries the highest weight at 40%. CAT has 30%, WAT has 10%, academics have 10%, work experience has 5%, and diversity has 5%. A candidate must score at least 12 out of 40 in PI to stay eligible. In past admission rounds, General category final offer cutoffs have usually been in the 98 to 99 percentile range.

MBA-SM (Sustainable Management) Admission

MBA-SM applicants must have at least 24 months of work experience by March 31 of the admission year. The General category qualifying CAT cutoff is 80 percentile overall. The course uses the same WAT-PI process as the flagship MBA. Work experience gets 10% weight during shortlisting and 5% weight in the final score. Its entry cutoff is lower than the flagship MBA because work experience is compulsory.

IPMX (Executive MBA) Admission

IPMX is for candidates who have at least 5 years of significant management experience. Applicants must have a valid GMAT, GRE, or CAT score. IIM Lucknow conducts a personal interview for selection. Admission remains open on a rolling basis through the year. The course has an international module and is compared with global 1-year executive MBA programmes.

Other Programmes

BS Business Analytics, the 4-year undergraduate degree, accepts CUET, SAT, or JEE Main scores. BPGP, which is the Blended PGP for working professionals, uses CAT or GMAT. FPM, the doctoral programme, accepts CAT, GMAT, GATE, or UGC NET. Executive certificate programmes are open to working professionals and do not need an entrance exam.

IIM Lucknow Placements

IIM Lucknow completed its 2026 placement season with 559 students placed and 580+ offers made. The average domestic package was INR 33.2 LPA, while the median package was INR 32.9 LPA. The highest domestic offer reached INR 1 Crore Per Annum.

Consulting remains the leading hiring area at IIM Lucknow and makes up 38% of placements. Recruiters come from consulting, finance, FMCG, technology, and analytics. Accenture Strategy, Deloitte, PwC, BCG, EY, McKinsey, American Express, and Kotak Mahindra Bank are among the confirmed recruiters. In the summer internship process for the 2025-27 incoming batch, 572 students were placed. The average monthly stipend was INR 1.67 Lakhs, and the highest domestic stipend was INR 3.95 Lakhs per month.

IIM Lucknow Rankings

IIM Lucknow performs well in both Indian and global management rankings. In NIRF Management 2025, the institute is ranked 5th with a score of 77.97. It was ranked 7th in 2024, so it improved by two places. It is also the 4th highest-ranked IIM in NIRF Management 2025. In FT Global MBA Ranking 2025, IIM Lucknow is placed 57th.

The rise from NIRF rank 7 to rank 5 in one year came with better research output, placement, and peer perception scores. The FT ranking places IIM Lucknow among the top 60 business schools worldwide and supports the global positioning of IPMX in executive education.

IIM Lucknow Scholarships

IIM Lucknow does not give a category-based tuition waiver for PGP students. Eligible students can still apply for scholarships and financial support.

IIM Lucknow does not run a central scholarship portal. After getting a provisional admission offer, eligible students should contact the Student Affairs Office at iiml.ac.in for the latest scholarship list and application steps.

IIM Lucknow Campus and Infrastructure

IIM Lucknow’s main campus is on Sitapur Road in Lucknow and covers more than 200 acres. PGP and PGP-ABM students study in a fully residential setup. Men and women have separate hostel blocks. Hostel and mess charges are included in the programme fee, and the total two-year component is INR 8,15,000.

The campus has a central library, placement centre, computer labs, seminar halls, and sports facilities for cricket, football, badminton, and swimming. It also has a student activity centre that supports Manfest-Varchasva, the annual management fest. The Noida campus runs MBA-ABM and executive education and is close to corporate headquarters in the NCR region.

Alumni often say that the residential system helps students build a strong peer network. This is especially useful for consulting and finance careers, where relationships formed during the two-year course can support placement results. Across the three CAT-based programmes, the batch size is 480 students per batch, which is one of the larger PGP intakes among the old IIMs.

IIM Lucknow vs IIM Indore vs IIM Kozhikode

IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, and IIM Kozhikode are common choices for CAT candidates aiming for the old IIM group. Their admission systems are similar, but they differ in cutoff levels, WAT requirements, campus location, and placement averages.

Among these three institutes, IIM Lucknow has the higher 2026 average package and a stronger NIRF rank than IIM Indore. IIM Kozhikode is ranked 4th in NIRF 2025, which is ahead of IIM Lucknow, but IIM Lucknow has reported a higher recent average package. IIM Indore has an easier sectional CAT cutoff and does not conduct WAT, so it may suit students who prefer an interview-heavy process. IIM Lucknow includes WAT, which gives importance to analytical writing. The best choice depends on the student’s profile, preferred location, and comfort with the selection process.