IIM Sambalpur takes admission to its two-year MBA mainly through the Common Admission Test (CAT). For the BS programmes, the institute uses JEE Main for Data Science and AI and IPMAT for Management and Public Policy. MBA fees are INR 21,13,000 for general category students, while the BS programme fee is INR 25,97,000.

Admissions at IIM Sambalpur are based on merit. The institute does not provide management quota or NRI quota admission for MBA seats. NRI candidates have a separate MBA fee structure, but seat allotment still depends on CAT score and the selection process.

IIM Sambalpur Admission Portal 2026: iimsambalpur.ac.in

Admission Update:
  • MBA 2027-29 through CAT 2026: CAT 2026 registration closes on September 15, 2026. The CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29, 2026. MBA 2027-29 shortlisting and PI will take place in early 2027.
  • BS Data Science & AI and BS Management & Public Policy 2027 batch: The 2027 batch admissions will be based on JEE Main 2027 and IPMAT 2027 respectively. IIM Sambalpur will announce the application details.
  • Executive MBA and MBA for Working Professionals: Admissions are held on a rolling basis. Students should contact the IIM Sambalpur admissions office for the current cycle timeline.
  • MBA intake: IIM Sambalpur admitted 150 students for the MBA 2026-28 batch. Reservation follows Government of India rules: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, and PwD 5% horizontal reservation.
  • No management quota: MBA seats at IIM Sambalpur are not filled through direct management quota. Candidates must clear CAT and the institute selection process.
  • Work experience not compulsory: Fresh graduates can apply for MBA admission. Candidates with relevant work experience get extra weightage in the composite score.
  • Gender diversity marks: Female candidates get 5 marks in the composite score under the diversity policy.
  • No sectional CAT cutoff: IIM Sambalpur checks only the overall CAT percentile. Students must score above zero in VARC, DILR, and QA.

Direct Admission at IIM Sambalpur: IIM Sambalpur does not have a management quota. MBA seats are allotted through CAT score and merit-based selection. BS seats are offered through JEE Main or IPMAT score and Personal Interview.

IIM Sambalpur Important Dates 2026

Event Current Date
CAT 2026 Registration End September 15, 2026
CAT 2026 Admit Card November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam November 29, 2026
CAT 2026 Result (Tentative) December 24, 2026
IIM Sambalpur PI Shortlist (Tentative) January 2027
Personal Interview Round (Tentative) February to March 2027
Final Offers (Tentative) March to April 2027

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

IIM Sambalpur MBA Admission 2026

The full-time MBA at IIM Sambalpur runs for 2 years at the Sambalpur, Odisha campus. Admission for the 2027-29 batch will use the CAT 2026 score because the 2026-28 batch has already been admitted. The exam is scheduled on November 29, 2026. General category students pay a total MBA fee of INR 21,13,000, split as INR 10,64,000 in Year 1 and INR 10,49,000 in Year 2.

Category Minimum CAT Percentile Graduation Requirement
General 90 percentile (85 for female candidates and candidates with 1+ year work experience) Any bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST)
EWS 80 percentile Same as above
NC-OBC 75 percentile Same as above
SC 55 percentile Minimum 45% in graduation
ST 40 percentile Minimum 45% in graduation
PwD 40 percentile Same as General above
  • Students in the final year of graduation can apply, but they must finish the degree before joining the programme.
  • There is no minimum sectional percentile cutoff in CAT. Candidates only need to score above zero in VARC, DILR, and QA.
  • NRI and overseas candidates pay INR 29,63,000 in total, with INR 14,89,000 in Year 1 and INR 14,74,000 in Year 2. Admission remains merit-based.

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

IIM Sambalpur first shortlists MBA applicants through CAT score and then conducts a Personal Interview. The final list is prepared from a composite score.

Component Weightage
CAT Score 40%
Personal Interview 25%
Work Experience 20%
Graduation Marks 4%
Class 12 Marks 3%
Class 10 Marks 3%
Gender Diversity 5%
  • Work experience has a major role because it carries 20% weightage. Candidates with 1 to 3 years of relevant experience can score better in this part than freshers.
  • Female candidates get two benefits: the General category CAT cutoff is 85 percentile instead of 90 percentile, and they also receive the 5% gender diversity score.
  • The PI is held at several centres in India. Shortlisted students get an email with the online form and PI slot booking details.
  1. Register for CAT 2026 by September 15, 2026 through the official CAT website.
  2. Take CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026 and check the result by December 24, 2026.
  3. Wait for IIM Sambalpur shortlisting in January 2027. Shortlisted candidates get an email to complete the online application form.
  4. Appear for the Personal Interview between February and March 2027 at the allotted centre.
  5. Final offers are issued between March and April 2027. Selected candidates must accept the offer and pay the seat deposit within the given deadline.

Key insight: Work experience carries 20% weightage in the IIM Sambalpur MBA composite score. A student with 2 to 3 years of relevant experience can balance a slightly lower CAT score. Freshers should try to stay closer to the 92 to 95 percentile range to remain competitive.

IIM Sambalpur BS Admission 2026

IIM Sambalpur offers two four-year BS programmes: BS in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and BS in Management and Public Policy. Data Science and AI admission is based on JEE Main, while Management and Public Policy admission is based on IPMAT conducted by IIM Indore. Both courses also include a Personal Interview. The full programme fee is INR 25,97,000 for 8 semesters.

Programme Eligibility Selection Criteria
BS Data Science and AI 10+2 passed or appearing. Minimum 60% marks, or 55% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS. Mathematics is required in Class 10 and Class 12. Maximum age is 20 years as on July 31 of the admission year JEE Main score followed by Personal Interview
BS Management and Public Policy 10+2 passed or appearing. Minimum 60% marks, or 55% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS. English and Mathematics are required at both Class 10 and Class 12 levels. Maximum age is 20 years as on July 31 of the admission year IPMAT (IIM Indore) score followed by Personal Interview
  • Applicants must have passed Class 12 or be appearing for it. Their results should be available before June of the admission year.
  • The final merit list combines the JEE Main or IPMAT score with Personal Interview performance.
  • Semester 1 fee is INR 3,71,500. Later semesters range from INR 3,31,500 to INR 3,36,500 each. Semester 8 fee is INR 2,31,500.

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

For BS admission, IIM Sambalpur follows a two-step process. Students are shortlisted first through JEE Main or IPMAT score. Shortlisted students then attend an online Personal Interview, where the panel checks academic ability, problem-solving skills, and communication.

  1. Register for and appear in JEE Main for BS Data Science and AI, or IPMAT by IIM Indore for BS Management and Public Policy.
  2. Check the IIM Sambalpur website, iimsambalpur.ac.in, for the BS 2027 batch application notice.
  3. Submit the online application form on the IIM Sambalpur admission portal and upload the required documents.
  4. Attend the online Personal Interview on the date shared by IIM Sambalpur after shortlisting.
  5. Check the final merit list and accept the admission offer before the deadline.

IIM Sambalpur Executive and Working Professionals MBA Admission 2026

IIM Sambalpur also offers programmes for professionals with work experience. These include the Executive MBA (EMBA), MBA for Working Professionals, and MBA Fintech. The EMBA fee is INR 12,50,000, the MBA for Working Professionals fee is INR 14,20,000, and the MBA Fintech fee is INR 6,55,000.

Programme Eligibility Total Fee
Executive MBA (EMBA) Bachelor’s degree with significant management work experience. The required years may vary. Check the official notification INR 12,50,000
MBA for Working Professionals Bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience. Refer to the official notification INR 14,20,000
MBA Fintech Bachelor’s degree with work experience in finance or technology. Refer to the official notification INR 6,55,000

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

  • For current-cycle application dates and selection criteria, contact the IIM Sambalpur admissions office at admissionoffice[at]iimsambalpur[dot]ac[dot]in or call +91 9777132258.

Scholarships at IIM Sambalpur

IIM Sambalpur gives financial help to eligible MBA students through institute-level support and government schemes. The support may be need-based or merit-based.

  • Need-cum-Merit Scholarship: Students who show financial need and strong academic performance can apply for the institute scholarship. The award may differ by batch. Students should contact the student affairs office for current rules and the application process.
  • Government of Odisha Scholarship: Odisha domicile students from SC, ST, or OBC categories can apply for state government scholarships. The institute accounts office can guide students about the details.
  • Education Loans: IIM Sambalpur has tie-ups with major banks for MBA education loans. Its placement record helps students during loan approval. The admissions office can issue a referral letter for the chosen bank.
  • Scholarship forms must be submitted within the given deadline after the academic session begins.

IIM Sambalpur Admission FAQs

Ques. What overall CAT percentile is needed for MBA admission at IIM Sambalpur?

Ans. For the 2026-28 cycle, the MBA CAT cutoff was 90 percentile for General candidates. It was 85 percentile for female candidates and candidates with 1 or more years of work experience, 80 percentile for EWS, 75 percentile for NC-OBC, 55 percentile for SC, and 40 percentile for ST and PwD. IIM Sambalpur does not keep sectional cutoffs, but candidates must score above zero in every CAT section.

Ques. Can fresh graduates apply for the IIM Sambalpur MBA?

Ans. Yes. Fresh graduates are eligible for IIM Sambalpur MBA admission. Work experience is not required, but it carries 20% weightage in the composite score. Students with relevant experience can get an advantage in the final merit list.

Ques. How much does the MBA cost at IIM Sambalpur?

Ans. The total MBA fee for general category students is INR 21,13,000. Year 1 fee is INR 10,64,000 and Year 2 fee is INR 10,49,000. NRI candidates pay INR 29,63,000 in total. Fees may change, so students should check iimsambalpur.ac.in for the latest fee details.

Ques. What happens after a candidate clears the CAT cutoff for IIM Sambalpur?

Ans. IIM Sambalpur shortlists candidates using the overall CAT percentile and category-wise cutoff. Shortlisted students receive an email in January with the online application link and Personal Interview slot booking details. The PI is held between February and March.

Ques. Which entrance score is accepted for BS Data Science and AI?

Ans. IIM Sambalpur accepts a valid JEE Main score for BS Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Shortlisted candidates must also attend a Personal Interview. They need at least 60% marks in Class 12, or 55% for reserved categories, with Mathematics.

Ques. How is admission given for BS Management and Public Policy?

Ans. Admission to BS Management and Public Policy is based on IPMAT, the Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test conducted by IIM Indore. Shortlisted students appear for a Personal Interview. The minimum Class 12 requirement is 60% for General candidates and 55% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS candidates.

Ques. What financial support can MBA students get at IIM Sambalpur?

Ans. Eligible MBA students can apply for the need-cum-merit scholarship at IIM Sambalpur. Odisha students from SC, ST, and OBC categories may also apply for Odisha government scholarships. Bank loan tie-ups are available too. Students should contact the admissions office for current scholarship rules and amounts.

Ques. Is direct admission possible at IIM Sambalpur?

Ans. No. IIM Sambalpur does not offer management quota admission. MBA, BS, and executive programme seats are filled through merit and the official selection process only.

Ques. Which factors are counted in the MBA final selection score?

Ans. The MBA composite score includes CAT score with 40% weightage, Personal Interview with 25%, Work Experience with 20%, Graduation marks with 4%, Class 12 marks with 3%, Class 10 marks with 3%, and Gender Diversity with 5%. Female candidates get the 5% diversity bonus.

Ques. When does the MBA session usually start at IIM Sambalpur?

Ans. The IIM Sambalpur MBA usually starts in June to July of the admission year. For the 2027-29 batch through CAT 2026, classes are expected to begin in June or July 2027. The first year includes a common core curriculum across 3 terms.