Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024
MBA application deadlines 2026 vary significantly by MBA entrance exam and top B-schools in India. MBA application form deadlines 2026 for CAT 2025, XAT 2026, IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, Great Lakes, IMI, IIFT, JBIMS, etc are all on this page. MBA application forms 2025 are a gateway to admission in reputed MBA colleges. Applications for CAT 2025 began on August 1, 2025 and will close on September 13, 2025. While the CAT form covers all 21 IIMs, applicants still need to fill separate forms for some IIMs and register again for colleges participating in the IIM CAP process. If you’re planning for MBA admission 2026-28, keeping track of MBA application deadlines 2026 is crucial and this page can help you keep a tab on all the MBA admission dates.
The following is the list of MBA application start dates and deadlines, which will help the students keep themselves updated with the upcoming events. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and you must keep an eye on the other B-school application form dates.
Name of the College | Exams Accepted for MBA | MBA Admission Application Form 2025 Start Date | MBA Admission 2025 Last Date | MBA Form Fees | MBA Forms Apply Link |
NMAT (best of three attempts score will be considered) | August 1, 2025 | October 10, 2025 | Rs. 2,800 + applicable taxes | ||
CAT | To be announced soon | To be announced soon | Unreserved category: Rs. 1,000 Reserved category: Rs. 350 | ||
CAT | October 17, 2025 (Expected) | November 22, 2025 (Expected) |
| ||
CAT, GMAT | September 2025 (Tentative) | November 2025 (Tentative) | Rs. 2,000 | ||
CAT | To be announced soon | To be announced soon |
| Application Link - Soon | |
CAT | First week of December, 2025 to third week of June, 2026 | Rs. 3,000 (inclusive of 18% GST) | |||
CAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT, CUET-PG | September/October 2025 | January 2026 | Rs. 3,000 plus transaction charges | Link To Be Available Soon | |
GRE, GMAT | July 17, 2025 | October 9, 2025 | Rs. 3,500 | Link To Be Available Soon | |
XAT, GMAT, CAT | Likely from October- November 2025 | Starting from Rs. 1,750 (for 1 programme) + 18% GST | Link To Be Available Soon | ||
TANCET, MAT, CAT, XAT and CMAT | First week of May 2026 | Yet to be announced | Rs 500 + GST | Link To Be Available Soon | |
SNAP | August 1, 2025 | December 13, 2025 | Rs. 2,250 | Link To Be Available Soon | |
XAT, NMAT, CAT, CMAT | November 2025 (Tentative) | December 28, 2025 | Rs. 2,000 (for single MBA program) | Link To Be Available Soon | |
XAT | July 10, 2025 | December 5, 2025 | Rs. 2,200; Rs. 200 per programme | Link To Be Available Soon | |
CAT | January 2, 2026 (Tentative) | January 31, 2026 (Tentative) |
| Link To Be Available Soon | |
BAAT (Business Analytics Aptitude Test) | Early January 2026 | Late February 2026 | Rs. 3,000 (Subject to Revision) | Link To Be Available Soon | |
Christ University | XAT, CAT, MAT, CMAT, GMAT and GRE | December 8, 2025 (Tentative) | March 2026 (Tentative) |
| Link To Be Available Soon |
CAT | Early January 2026 | First week of February 2026 |
| Link To Be Available Soon | |
XAT, CAT, CMAT | Late December 2025 | January 10, 2026 |
| Link To Be Available Soon | |
NMAT, XAT, CAT | Early December 2025 | Might get extended till March 2026 | Rs 2,000 | Link To Be Available Soon | |
XAT, CAT, GMAT | Third week of September, 2025 (Expected) | Could extend till January 24, 2026 (expected) | Rs. 3,500 + additional bank charges | ||
CAT | January 1-2, 2026 (Expected) | January 31, 2026 (Expected) | Rs. 2,898 | Link To Be Available Soon | |
CAT, GMAT, XAT, XGMT | Early September 2025 | January 20, 2026 |
| Link To Be Available Soon | |
GMAT, ATE, XAT | Early February (Tentative) | Third week of March, 2026 (Tentative) |
| Link To Be Available Soon | |
CUET-PG, CAT | First week of November, 2026 (Tentative) | Third week of November, 2026 (Tentative) |
| Link To Be Available Soon | |
GMAT, GRE, CAT | Approx. October 2025 | February 22, 2026 | Rs. 2,500 (non-refundable) | Link To Be Available Soon | |
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune | SNAP | August 2026 (Tentative) | December 2026 (Tentative) | Rs. 1,000 plus GST | Link To Be Available Soon |
Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune | SNAP | To be announced soon | To be announced soon | Rs. 1,000 | Link To Be Available Soon |
Here are the MBA application deadlines 2026 for MBA entrance exam (both state and national) level which will be conducted in 2025 and 2026. We have also included the MBA application fees and MBA exam form link for your ease.
Exam Name | Application Start Date | MBA Admission 2025 Last Date | Exam Date | MBA Form Fees | MBA Forms Apply Link |
National-Level Exams | |||||
August 1, 2025 | September 13, 2025 | November 30, 2025 | General/NC-OBC/EWS - Rs. 2,500 SC/ST/PWD - Rs. 1,250 | ||
August 1, 2025 | October 10, 2025 | November 5, 2025 - December 19, 2025 | Rs. 3,000 + applicable taxes | ||
July 10, 2025 | December 5, 2025 | January 4, 2026 | Rs. 2,200 and Rs. 200 for additional fee for XLRI program (if applicable) | ||
August 1, 2025 | November 20, 2025 |
|
| ||
November 14, 2025 (Expected) | December 25, 2025 (Expected) | April 6 or April 13, 2025 | Rs. 2,000 for General (Male) and Rs. 1,000 for all other categories | ||
First week of December 2025 (for February 2026 session) | Second week of March 2026 | March 2026 | Between Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,800 | ||
July 1, 2025 | Third week of December 2025 | December 21-22, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday) | Rs. 1,800 (non refundable) |
Exam Name | Application Start Date | MBA Admission 2025 Last Date | Exam Date | MBA Form Fees | MBA Forms Apply Link |
State-Level Exams | |||||
Last week of December 2025 (Tentative) | Last week of February 2026 | March or April 2026 (over multiple sessions) (Tentative) |
(Fees is subject to revision) | ||
Third or fourth week of January 2026 | Third week of February 2026 | Second or fourth week of March 2026 |
| ||
January 2, 2026 | February 8, 2026 | Last week of February 2026 (Tentative) |
| Application Link | |
Fourth week of June 2026 (Session 1) | Third week of September 2026 (Tentative) | Fourth week of September 2026 (Tentative) |
| ||
Missing an MBA application deadline can mean waiting an entire year to register yourself for the exam. Therefore, it is very crucial for the candidate to keep themselves updated with the upcoming deadlines. Here are some of the key ways through which you will be able to stay ahead of the upcoming dates and notifications.
You must visit and bookmark the official admission pages of the top B-schools such as XLRI, NMIMS, SPJIMR, IIMs and others which you might feel are important to you. Keep an eye on all the college pages as they update their portals with the key dates.
There are many official exam portals such as CAT, XAT, NMAT and SNAP wherein you can put in your credentials and they will offer email notifications about the exam.
You can also maintain a spreadsheet or use tools like Google Calendar to track upcoming MBA exam application open and close dates, entrance exam windows and document submission deadlines.
You can also join Whatsapp and Telegram MBA groups which constantly share real-time updates from multiple colleges. Make sure you look out for groups moderated by MBA mentors or education counsellors.
Lastly, you must keep an eye on the Careers360 MBA page as we keep updating our pages with all the latest information regarding upcoming MBA exams.
Missing an MBA application deadline can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the road. Here are some key points that you must keep in mind in case you miss an MBA application deadline.
Many B-schools extend their deadlines quietly, sometimes by a few days. Make sure to regularly visit the official website or call the admission offer to confirm extensions.
Look for institutes which accept applications on a rolling basis. These institutes include SDA Bocconi, Great Lakes, NMIMS, among others.
For an MBA application, one typically needs to submit certain documents such as academic transcripts, entrance exam scores (like GMAT, GRE or CAT), recommendation letters, resume, a statement of purpose (SOP) or essay, proof of identity, address proof, passport-size photograph and other supporting documents.
Here is the following list of documents required for MBA admission:
Academic Documents:
Transcripts and Certificates
Degree Certificate
Transfer or School Leaving Certificate
Migration Certificate
Entrance Exam Scores:
GMAT/GRE/CAT/NMAT Scores
Professional and Personal Documents:
Work Experience Certificates
Resume
Passport-size Photograph
Identity and Address Proof
Application Essays and Letters:
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
Other Documents (Vary by Program):
Caste/Category Certificate
Domicile Certificate
Application Fee Receipt
As of early August 2025, MBA applications are open for national exams like CAT, NMAT and MAT. For the 2025 intake, many colleges have closed their application periods but there are still some schools left which are accepting application forms for the 2026 session.
The ideal time to start applying for MBA applications is at least six to twelve months before your target enrollment year.
Yes, it is possible to pursue an MBA without taking entrance exams such as CAT, XAT or MAT. There are many private and autonomous colleges which offer direct admission based on the candidate’s academic record, work experience and other factors.
KL-MAT exam syllabus usually covers Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, English or Verbal Ability, and General Knowledge or Current Affairs. It is designed similar to other MBA entrance exams but at a moderate level. Yes, KL University accepts CAT scores for admission into MBA along with MAT, XAT, CMAT and its own KL MAT. If you already have a valid CAT score, you don’t need to appear for KL MAT separately. The difference between CAT and other management entrance exams is mainly in difficulty level and competition. CAT is the toughest and is accepted by IIMs and top B schools across India.
Hello Aspirant,
I saw a cat. The cat found an old map inside a drawer of the king's palace.
Here's why:
"a cat": It's the first time we mention the cat, so it's indefinite.
"The cat": Now we're talking about that specific cat we just mentioned, so it's definite.
"an old map": It's the first time we mention a map, and "old" starts with a vowel sound, so "an."
"a drawer": It's one of possibly many drawers, not a specific one known to us yet.
"the king's palace": This is a specific, unique place, so "the."
Hello Kapish
You can find the last 5 year questions of DILR for CAT at Careers360 website. Moreover, you can find the previous year papers of all the subjects i.e. DILR, Quants and VARC. I am attaching the link through which you would be able to access the same.
Here's the link:
CAT Previous Year Papers by CAREERS360
Sample paper of DILR:
CAT Sample Paper (DILR) by CAREERS360
Thank You!!!
Hello Divya,
Yes, candidates with an online BBA can sit for both CAT and GMAT provided that the degree is from a recognized (UGC approved in India or accredited abroad) institution. The leading B-schools in both India and abroad do not look down upon online degrees as long as the degree is from a recognized body, they will mostly be looking at your test scores, academic performance, work experience, and profile holistically. What matters is the legitimacy of the institution and how you showcase your abilities, not whether your degree was obtained online or in-person.
Yes, someone with an online BBA can sit for both CAT and GMAT, provided the degree is from a UGC recognized university. Top B-schools in India (like IIMs) and abroad generally accept online degrees if they are valid, and you won’t be marked down just because it’s online. What matters more is your entrance exam score, academic record, work experience, and overall profile.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
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