What ISB is
The Indian School of Business is an independent business school with two campuses, at Gachibowli in Hyderabad and at Knowledge City in Mohali. Its board was formed in 1996, the first PGP class started in July 2001, and the PGP has also run at Mohali since April 2012. It is one programme with one admission process across both campuses, so this page covers the PGP wherever it is taught. How admitted students are split between Hyderabad and Mohali is not published.
The PGP is not a degree. ISB is not a university, the PGP is a certificate programme, neither a degree nor a diploma, and ISB has not sought AICTE or UGC recognition for it. That matters for any job, exam or doctoral programme that asks for a recognised master’s degree. What ISB holds instead is international accreditation:
| Body | Standing |
|---|---|
| AACSB | Accredited since 2011 |
| EQUIS (EFMD) | Accredited since 2017; retained in June 2025 for five more years |
| AMBA | Accredited since 2020; re-accredited in October 2023 |
| Financial Times Global MBA 2026 | 12th |
| AICTE, UGC | Not sought; the PGP is a certificate programme |
Besides the one-year PGP, ISB runs a 20-month PGP YL at Hyderabad for graduates with less than two years of work experience, which admits on CAT, GMAT or GRE, and three modular programmes for experienced professionals: PGP PRO for five or more years of work, PGP MAX for ten or more, and PGP MFAB for family-business successors.
Eligibility, tests and deadlines for the Class of 2028
To apply for the PGP you need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, three-year degrees included, at least 24 months of full-time work experience by enrolment, and a GMAT (10th or Focus Edition) or GRE score taken at a test centre. Part-time work does not count, and online or home-based scores have not been accepted since the April 2025 intake. TOEFL or IELTS is needed if your undergraduate degree was not taught in English. With less than two years of experience, the route is the PGP YL; the old deferred-entry routes have closed.
| Round | Apply by | Test taken between | Interviews | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 September 2026 (closed) | 21 Sep 2021 – 20 Sep 2026 | Week 2 of October to week 2 of December 2026 | End of December 2026 |
| 2 | 6 December 2026 | 7 Dec 2021 – 6 Dec 2026 | Week 4 of December 2026 to week 1 of February 2027 | Mid-February 2027 |
| 3 | 17 January 2027 | 18 Jan 2022 – 17 Jan 2027 | Weeks 1 to 4 of February 2027 | Mid-March 2027 |
An application made after one deadline rolls into the next round, nothing is accepted after 17 January 2027, and a candidate may apply once a year. The steps:
- Application: two 400-word essays, on leadership and on how you learn, an optional 250-word essay and one online recommendation
- Verification: documents are checked within 20 days, with three days to fix any gap
- Shortlist: one profile score built from academics, test score, work, extracurriculars, essays and the recommendation
- Interview: about 30 minutes with faculty, alumni and staff, online or in person in a tier-1 city, with two essays written on the spot; there is no group discussion
- Decision: by the Admissions Committee of faculty and alumni, followed by scholarship interviews for some admits
Reapplicants make up 20 to 25% of applicants each year, pay a reduced application fee and write a reapplicant essay.
GMAT, GRE and the class profile
There is no cut-off: ISB sets no minimum GMAT or GRE score and has no preference between the two tests. What it publishes is the spread of the classes it admitted, which shows where a competitive score sits:
| Measure | Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled | 826 | 839 (389 women, 450 men) |
| Average age | 26 | 26 (range 21–42) |
| Average work experience | 4 years | 4.1 years (range 2–18) |
| GMAT Focus | Median 675; middle 80% 625–715 | Average 672, median 675 |
| GMAT (10th Edition) | Median 720; middle 80% 690–760 | Average 720, median 723 |
| GRE | Median verbal 160, quant 167 | Average 325, median 325 |
| Years | Students |
|---|---|
| 2 to 4 | 485 |
| 4 to 6 | 273 |
| 6 to 8 | 57 |
| 8 and more | 24 |
Most of the class has two to six years of experience, and in the Class of 2026, 54% had an engineering degree and 21% one in commerce, finance or accounting. Two class sizes are published for the Class of 2025, 816 and 819. A score is valid for five years from the test date and must be valid on the deadline of the round you apply in; if you send more than one, the higher counts.
Fees, 2027-28
The PGP fee for 2027-28 is ₹34,48,000 plus GST with shared accommodation, paid in one instalment, plus a ₹20,000 refundable security deposit. With GST it comes to ₹40,46,520, or ₹44,45,000 with a studio apartment. The fee is the same for Indian, international and company-sponsored students, and is marked indicative and subject to change.
| Item | Shared accommodation | Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Admission fee, with GST (partly refundable) | 3,99,500 | 3,99,500 |
| Commitment fee, with GST (non-refundable) | 2,49,500 | 2,49,500 |
| Tuition | 26,64,000 | 26,64,000 |
| Accommodation | 2,34,000 (no GST) | 5,36,000 |
| GST on tuition and accommodation | 4,79,520 | 5,76,000 |
| Security deposit, refundable | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Total | 40,46,520 | 44,45,000 |
Hospitalisation insurance is billed on top at actual cost, and late payment between 14 March and 12 April 2027 carries a ₹10,000 fee plus tax. Living costs are separate too:
| Item | Approximate amount a year |
|---|---|
| Meal plans | ₹80,000 |
| Laptop | ₹75,000 |
| Books | ₹20,000 |
| IT support, laundry, electricity, documents and photocopying | ₹50,000 |
| Total | ₹2,25,000 |
Scholarships and loans
About a quarter of PGP students receive financial support each year. Merit waivers are considered for every applicant without a separate application; need-based waivers need an essay and income proof for yourself and your family, including your own pre-ISB income.
| Waiver | Who qualifies | Share of tuition |
|---|---|---|
| ISB Merit Waiver | Every applicant, automatically | 25–100% |
| ISB Merit by Diversity Waiver | Applicants from diverse educational or professional backgrounds | 25–100% |
| ISB Need-based Waiver | Family income up to ₹8 lakh | 100% |
| ISB Need-based Waiver | Family income above ₹8 lakh and up to ₹20 lakh | 75% |
| Bridge to India Waiver | Applicants working abroad who are returning to India | 25% |
| Armed Forces Scholarship | Up to six veterans who left service in the last two years, or officers with a release order | 50% |
| Serving IAS Officers Scholarship | Up to three officers with two or more years of service, who return to government | 100% |
Donor-funded scholarships come on top, from merit awards to full waivers. A waiver is withdrawn if the student leaves before graduating or faces disciplinary action. For loans, ISB lists ten lenders: Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Credila, ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and Union Bank of India. Canara Bank and Central Bank of India lend up to ₹50 lakh without collateral, and admitted students are told the loan application dates by email.
Campuses and accommodation
The PGP is fully residential for every student at both campuses. Studio apartments go first to married students, but no particular type of accommodation is guaranteed, and meals are not in the fee.
| Hyderabad | Mohali | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500 111 | Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar 140 306 |
| Area | 260 acres | 70 acres |
| PGP taught since | July 2001 | April 2012 |
| Auditorium | 400 seats | 500 seats |
| Other programmes here | PGP YL, PGP PRO, PGP MAX, PGP MFAB | PGP MAX, PGP MFAB |
The Hyderabad campus keeps its boulders and rock formations around an academic centre of lecture halls, faculty offices and a learning resource centre. The Mohali campus, designed by Perkins Eastman, is built to LEED Gold standards around a central atrium with facilities within a ten-minute walk. Campus tours run on Fridays from 2 pm to 4 pm by appointment; email your CV to [email protected] about a week ahead. IMT Hyderabad is the other Hyderabad business school on this site.
Placements
The PGP Class of 2026, 808 graduates, received 1,117 job offers at an average salary of ₹37.29 lakh a year, about 11% above the previous class, with a highest offer of ₹1.56 crore. No median is published for any class.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Graduates | 808 |
| Job offers | 1,117 |
| Average salary | ₹37.29 lakh a year |
| Highest offer | ₹1.56 crore a year |
| International offers | 30 |
| First-time recruiters | 25 |
| Moved to a new industry | 67% |
| Moved to a new function | 69% |
Accenture made more than 100 offers, and Mastercard and EY GDS more than 40 each. Consulting, technology and BFSI led hiring. Offer counts by class:
| Class | Registered companies | Offers |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 308 | 1,195 |
| 2022 | 393 | 2,072 |
| 2023 | 324 | 1,609 |
| 2024 | 405 | 1,208 |
| 2025 | 364 | 1,164 |
| 2026 | — | 1,117 |
ISB runs a two-offer policy, and placements run from mid-November or December to the end of March, with some international companies coming from October. ISB does not guarantee placement.
How ISB compares
ISB’s one-year PGP has a base fee close to the IIMs’ one-year MBAs, though GST takes it higher, and asks for less work experience; the IIMs award an MBA, ISB a certificate.
| Programme | Fee | Work experience | Latest pay figure | FT Global MBA 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISB PGP | ₹34,48,000 + GST with shared room (2027-28) | 2 years | ₹37.29 L average (Class of 2026) | 12th |
| IIM Ahmedabad MBA-PGPX | ₹35,00,000 with a single room (2026-27) | 4 years | ₹38,00,002 median maximum earning potential (2026) | 27th |
| IIM Bangalore EPGP | ₹33,68,000 with hostel (2026-27) | 5 years | ₹36.50 L median (2025-26) | 34th |
Compare like with like
- Award: the IIM programmes are MBAs; ISB’s PGP is a certificate
- Fee: ISB adds 18% GST to tuition, which takes the shared-room total to ₹40,46,520
- Pay: ISB publishes an average and no median; the IIMs publish medians
- Tests: all three take GMAT or GRE
Where to read next
- A two-year PGDM in Hyderabad: IMT Hyderabad
- A two-year PGDM in Bengaluru: Welingkar Bengaluru
- Every management college we cover is on the management admissions hub
Contact & address
Indian School of Business, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500 111 · Mohali campus: Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Punjab 140 306 · [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
What is the ISB PGP fee for 2027-28?
₹34,48,000 plus GST with shared accommodation, paid in one instalment, plus a ₹20,000 refundable deposit: ₹40,46,520 in all, or ₹44,45,000 with a studio apartment. It covers admission, commitment and tuition fees and accommodation. Meals, a laptop, books and other costs, estimated at ₹2,25,000 a year, and insurance are extra.
Is the ISB PGP a degree?
No. ISB is not a university, and the PGP is a certificate programme, neither a degree nor a diploma. ISB has not sought AICTE or UGC recognition for it. The school is accredited by AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, and ranked 12th in the Financial Times Global MBA 2026.
What GMAT score do I need for ISB?
There is no minimum score and no preference between GMAT and GRE. For the Class of 2026 the median was 675 on GMAT Focus, with the middle 80% between 625 and 715, and 720 on the 10th Edition GMAT. The Class of 2027 averaged 672 on GMAT Focus and 325 on the GRE. Only test-centre scores count.
How much work experience do I need for the ISB PGP?
At least 24 months of full-time work by enrolment; part-time work does not count. The Class of 2027 averaged 4.1 years, with 485 of 839 students between two and four years. With less than two years, the route is the 20-month PGP YL at Hyderabad, which also admits on CAT.
What are the ISB deadlines for the Class of 2028?
Round 1 closed on 20 September 2026. Round 2 closes on 6 December 2026, with interviews from late December and decisions in mid-February 2027. Round 3 closes on 17 January 2027, with interviews in February and decisions in mid-March 2027. No applications are taken after 17 January 2027, and you may apply once a year.
What are ISB placements like?
The Class of 2026, 808 graduates, received 1,117 offers at an average salary of ₹37.29 lakh a year, with a ₹1.56 crore highest offer and 30 international offers. Accenture made more than 100 offers. 67% moved to a new industry and 69% to a new function. No median salary is published.
Is ISB Hyderabad different from ISB Mohali?
No, for the PGP. It is one programme with one admission process and one fee, taught at both campuses; how admits are split between them is not published. Hyderabad, at Gachibowli, covers 260 acres and has taught the PGP since 2001; Mohali covers 70 acres and has since April 2012.
Does ISB offer scholarships?
Yes. About 25% of PGP students receive support each year. Every applicant is considered for 25–100% merit waivers; need-based waivers cover all tuition for family income up to ₹8 lakh and 75% up to ₹20 lakh. There are also waivers for armed forces veterans, serving IAS officers and Indians returning from abroad, and donor scholarships.
📋 Data Accuracy Notice (October 2026)
- Verification: Recheck live fees, cut-offs, dates, vacancies and refund rules on the competent authority or institute website before applying, locking choices or paying.
- Corrections: We keep unknown figures unfilled instead of replacing them with third-party estimates. Report an error to [email protected].
- Platform status: Future Career Guidance is an independent admission counselling service. Listing a college does not imply affiliation, authority to allot a seat or a placement guarantee.