IIM Calcutta Admission 2025: Fees, Cutoff, Eligibility, Admission Process

IIM Calcutta admission 2025 for domestic candidates is currently ongoing. Further, applications for MBA admission for overseas students have also already begun. The institute offers admission to domestic candidates to its MBA programmes based on CAT. Students who satisfy IIM Calcutta selection criteria for MBA based on CAT are considered for the next round of the admission process. Final admission to MBA at IIM Calcutta is based on several factors, including CAT score, WAT-PI, past academic performance, academic diversity score, etc. 

IIM Calcutta also offers an MBAEx programme designed for executives with working experience. The institute accepts GMAT scores for the IIM Calcutta selection process for MBAEx. However, the final merit list for the MBAEx programme is prepared based on a candidate’s academic background, professional experience, personal interview, SoP, and LoR, along with a GMAT score. There is also a PGPEx VLM programme for which the institute conducts a separate entrance examination. Entrance exam scores, academic background, personal interview, and work experience are considered for admission to this programme.

IIM Calcutta admission process varies from course to course. In general, admission to the institute is primarily based on the course-specific entrance exams. However, there are many other factors that the institute considers for IIM Kolkata admissions. These factors may differ from course to course. Candidates also need to meet the course-specific IIM Calcutta eligibility criteria to participate in the selection process.

Step 1: Entrance Exam

Students must take the prescribed entrance examination for admission to a particular course at IIM Calcutta. The institute accepts CAT for MBA and GMAT for MBAEX. On the other hand, it conducts its own entrance examination for admission to the PGPEx VLM programme.

Step 2: Online Application

Students with a valid entrance exam score must apply to the institute through the official website of the institute. Every admission season, the institute separately releases the IIM Calcutta application form for its different courses. Applicants must follow all the instructions for the successful completion of the application process.

Step 3: Written Test and/or Personal Interview

A personal interview is a critical part of IIM Calcutta admissions process. All the courses at the institute have this round as a part of IIM Calcutta selection criteria. For MBA, the personal interview round is preceded by the WAT round.

Step 4: Final Merit List

The institute releases the final IIM Calcutta merit lists for its different courses after the personal interview round. Several factors may influence the final merit of a candidate. These include a candidate’s entrance exam score, past academic performance, performance in the selection rounds, and work experience. Students must note that these factors and their specific weightage in preparing the final merit may change depending on the course.

IIM Calcutta follows the Government of India’s reservation policy for admission to Central Educational Institutions (CEIs). The IIM Calcutta seat reservation policy not only ensures academic accessibility for every student but also helps maintain student diversity at the campus.

IIM Calcutta MBA admission process includes two stages - shortlisting based on CAT and WAt-PI. MBA aspirants must know that, as per IIM Calcutta eligibility criteria for MBA, candidates who are graduates in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised university are considered for the selection process. The IIM Calcutta selection criteria for MBA make CAT the compulsory exam for admission.

IIM Calcutta MBA Eligibility and Selection Criteria

IIM Calcutta MBA Admission Process

CAT is the entrance exam that is considered for IIM Calcutta admission process for MBA. What that means is that candidates must take CAT to participate in the MBA selection process. However, IIM Calcutta MBA selection criteria also require students to go through the WAT-PI round successfully for final admission.

Step 1: In the first stage, candidates are shortlisted for the next round (WAT-PI) of the selection process based on the CAT scores obtained by the candidates, along with other factors such as Class 10 marks, Class 12 marks, and gender diversity score.

Step 2: The second stage of IIM Calcutta MBA selection process includes a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI). The institute prepares the final IIM Calcutta merit list for MBA based on the CAT scores, performance in WAT-PI, academic diversity score, and work experience.

IIM Calcutta MBA Shortlisting Criteria for WAT-PI

IIM Calcutta Selection Criteria - Points for Marks Secured in Class 10 

IIM Calcutta Selection Criteria - Points for Marks Secured in Class 12

IIM Calcutta Selection Criteria for Final Selection

IIM Calcutta Selection Criteria - Points for Academic Diversity

IIM Kolkata Selection Criteria - Points for Work Experience

IIM Calcutta MBAEx admission is an entrance-test-based process. As per IIM Calcutta selection criteria for MBAEx, the institute accepts GMAT for admission. Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline may apply for admission to this programme. However, they also need to have a minimum of 5 years of work experience to meet the IIM Calcutta eligibility criteria for MBAEx.

IIM Calcutta MBAEx Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Students meeting IIM Calcutta admission criteria for CAT are shortlisted for the WAT-PI round conducted by the institute. WAT-PI is the final round of IIM Calcutta selection process for MBA. Therefore, students must prepare well for this crucial round. A student’s performance on the WAT-PI round directly influences his/her chances of admission, along with other factors such as CAT score, academic diversity score, and work experience.

Know all about the IIM Calcutta Interview

The personal interview round is the last stage in the entire IIM Calcutta selection process. The interview is followed by the WAT. The institute conducts the interview at the institute level by creating a panel of academic experts. Generally, WAT and personal interviews are conducted on the same day at the institute. Therefore, candidates must report to the institute at the specified time. They also need to bring all their official documents for verification before the WAT-PI round starts.       

How to crack the IIM Calcutta Interview?

This is the question that tops the mind of every student during the IIM Calcutta admission season. If we go by the experiences of previous interview candidates at the institute, the interview panel primarily tests a candidate’s general knowledge, domain knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills during the interview. 

Santanu Goswami, a current student at IIM Calcutta, when asked about his interview, conveyed that the first thing he was asked in the IIM Calcutta MBA interview was his dressing choice. While one’s dressing sense might not be important here, particularly, the interviews might have tried to judge the presence of mind of Santanu through this kind of question. 

Another former IIM Calcutta interviewee and IIM Ahmedabad alumni, Karthikeyan R, shared what one’s interview strategy should be based on his own experience. According to him, current affairs, most of the time, remain at the centre of IIM Calcutta interviews. Candidates are often asked about his/ her regional culture and history along with national and international hot topics.  

Based on the aforementioned and many other instances, we have jolted down a few pointers that a student should keep in mind to successfully tackle and crack the IIM Calcutta interview. 

Brush up on Current Affairs: Familiarise yourself with national and international current affairs, as students are often asked questions about current affairs. Along with that, you must have a sound understanding of your regional history and culture. Questions about current affairs help the interviewers understand your academic prowess and social awareness all at once. 

Analyse the Interview Trends: Follow the relevant online channels and internet threads to learn about past interview trends. There are many platforms where former candidates share their interview experiences. Going through these instances will help students prepare for interviews and understand what to expect on the day of the interview.

Practice Giving Mock Interviews: Practice giving concise and to-the-point answers at home to help you articulate properly during the interview. Giving timed mock interviews enables students to maintain confidence and a positive attitude in interviews. At the same time, practicing at home enables students to develop skills like critical thinking and presence of mind. These things are very important for IIM Calcutta interviews. 

Research about the Programme: Do thorough research about the programme, including the specialisations and related industries, by visiting the official website of the institute and other critical sources. This will help you explain any management jargon during the interview if needed.

Students without a CAT score often wonder: How can I join IIM Calcutta? They must know that IIM Calcutta offers more than just a traditional MBA programme. Students willing to join IIM Calcutta can get admission to these programmes without a CAT score.  

Is CAT mandatory to take admission in IIM Calcutta?

While IIM Calcutta selection criteria for a traditional MBA include a valid CAT score, there are other MBA programmes available at the institute for which a CAT score might not be required. One such programme is MBAEx at IIM Calcutta. MBAEx is a one-year full-time programme specifically designed for executives with 5 or more years of work experience. Admissions to this programme are offered based on GMAT.

Admission at IIM Calcutta without CAT

Many students might not know this but this is a fact that students can join IIM Calcutta for an MBA without a CAT score. The institute offers a distinctive MBAEx programme along with its flagship MBA programme. It accepts a GMAT score for admission to its MBAEx programme. Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks may apply for this programme. They also are required to have at least 5 years of full-time post-qualification managerial/ professional experience to be eligible for admission. The institute only accepts scores for GMAT taken within the last 36 months of the application date. Apart from the GMAT score, there are also other factors that the institute considers as a part of the IIM Calcutta selection process for MBAEx. These factors include:

• Academic background
• Professional experience
• GMAT score
• Personal interviews
• Statement of Purpose (SoP)
• Letter of Recommendation (LoR)

IIM Kolkata application process can be completed online. The application portal can be accessed through the official website of the institute. Students wondering “How can I apply for IIM Calcutta?” may follow the steps below.

How to Apply for IIM Calcutta Admission?

Step 1: Visit the official website of the institution (https://www.iimcal.ac.in/), go to ‘Admissions’, choose your course, and click on ‘Apply Now’.

Step 2: Fill out the IIM Calcutta application form with the required details and upload all necessary documents.

Step 3: Verify all the details to avoid any kind of discrepancy and submit the application to complete the application process.

List of Documents Required to Apply for IIM Calcutta Admission 2025

• Class 10 mark sheet
• Class 12 mark sheet
• Graduation mark sheet
• Entrance exam scorecard
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Work experience certificate (if applicable)
• Statement of Purpose (if applicable)
• Letter of Recommendation (if applicable)

The registration fees for IIM Calcutta admissions can be paid online while paying the entrance exam application fee. IIM Calcutta MBA application fee through CAT is Rs Rs 2,400 for the general/ OBC category students and Rs 1,200 for SC/ST/ PwD students. IIM Calcutta application fee through GMAT is Rs 21,000 (approx.) for all categories.

IIM Calcutta Application Fees for CAT

IIM Kolkata Application Fees for GMAT