Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Released - Check Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Work Experience

    XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Released - Check Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Work Experience

    Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 10 Jul 2025, 10:27 AM IST

    XLRI Jamshedpur has released the XAT eligibility criteria 2026 along with the official notification of the XAT exam 2026. The XAT eligibility criteria are the minimum requirements to be met by the candidates who want to appear for the XAT 2026. It includes minimum academic qualification, marks in qualifying exams, age limit among others, XAT eligibility percentage, etc. Candidates who have fulfilled the XAT eligibility, their application considered valid. Read this article to know more about age limit, educational qualifications, etc.

    This Story also Contains

    1. XAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
    2. XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for XLRI courses
    3. Who is Not Eligible for XAT 2026?
    4. XAT Registration 2026
    5. XAT Admit Card 2026
    XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Released - Check Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Work Experience
    XAT Eligibility Criteria

    XAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026

    Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is a national-level entrance exam held for admission to the postgraduate programme of XLRI and other XAT accepting colleges. The candidates applying for the entrance exam are required to go through the detailed eligibility criteria of XAT. The eligibility criteria for domestic and NRI candidates are different as given below.

    1. Educational Qualifications

    • Candidates must hold a three-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university
    • Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply for the XAT exam provided they can furnish their bachelor's degree certificate and mark sheet by June 08, 2026.
    BIMTECH PGDM Admissions 2026

    AACSB Accredited | Highest CTC: 22 LPA

    Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

    Application Deadline: 10th March | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025

    2. XAT Exam Age Limit

    • There is no upper age limit as XAT eligibility criteria, which means candidates of any age group can apply.
    XAT College Predictor
    Know your chances of MBA calls through XAT percentile based on category, academics. Check college-wise XAT eligibility and cutoff scores for PI calls.
    Try Now

    3. XAT Entrance Exam Eligibility Criteria & XLRI Eligibility is the same

    • It must be noted that the XAT exam eligibility and that of the XLRI are the same. On the pattern of XAT eligibility criteria 2026, XLRI also does not impose minimum mark restrictions in applying for the PGDM course.
    • However, depending on the course pursued, the eligibility criteria for XLRI may vary but the basic eligibility criteria remain the same.
    ITM Business School MBA Admissions 2026

    400+ Company Visits | Highest CTC Offered: 21 LPA | Average CTC Offered: 8.65 LPA | 100% Placement Assurance

    UPES MBA Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #36 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement

    4. XAT Eligibility Criteria for NRIs

    • According to XAT eligibility criteria, the domestic candidates seeking admission to MBA/PGDM must appear in XAT.
    • However, the NRI and foreign candidates can apply through their valid GMAT scores. They do not need to appear for the entrance exam.

    XAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for XLRI courses

    More than 160 XAT participating institutes accept XAT scores, and the XAT eligibility and the programme eligibility criteria are different. At present, XLRI Jamshedpur offers three management courses namely - PGDM in Human Resource Management, Business Management, and General Management Programmes. The candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria of the course for which they want to apply.

    XAT Eligibility Criteria XLRI Jamshedpur

    Programme

    Eligibility Criteria

    General Management Programme

    • Candidates must have a minimum of three years of bachelor’s degree in any discipline
    • Candidates must mandatorily have, at least 5 years of managerial/supervisory experience in either of the sectors i.e. public, private, or non-governmental.
    • XAT entrance exam or GMAT score can also be used

    Human Resource Management and Business Management

    • A Bachelor’s degree of a minimum of three years is mandatory from any recognized university
    • Final year appearing candidates can also apply provided they complete their Bachelor’s degree before June 10, 2026

    Who is Not Eligible for XAT 2026?

    Those who have not completed their bachelor's degree or equivalent by the specified deadline are ineligible for XAT 2026. Additionally, candidates with a degree from a non-recognized institution are not eligible. Those who do not meet the minimum eligibility criteria, such as scoring below the required percentile in the previous year's XAT or having an invalid GMAT score, are also disqualified.

    Candidates who fail to submit the necessary documents or information within the stipulated time are not considered eligible. Lastly, individuals found to have provided false information or engaged in misconduct during the application process are also excluded from eligibility.

    XAT Registration 2026

    The registration process for XAT entrance exam begins in online mode on July 10, 2025 in online mode. Those who meet the XAT eligibility criteria of XAT exam 2026 can apply at the official website, xatonline.in till December 5, 2025. XAT registration can be done online by paying the application fee of Rs. 2200.

    XAT Admit Card 2026

    XLRI will issue the XAT admit card in online mode at xatonline.in on December 20, 2025. Candidates who have successfully submitted their XAT registration form 2026 can only able to download the XAT admit card. XAT login ID and password are required to download XAT admit card.

    Candidates will have to carry a XAT admit card along with government-issued photo ID proof at the exam centre to seek entry. Thus, it is advisable to download the admit card and take a printout for future reference. Candidates must download the admit card well in advance to avoid last-minute hustle and bustle.

    B-Schools Accepting XAT Score - Location-Wise

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the XAT exam date 2026?
    A:

    XLRI Jamshedpur will conduct XAT 2026 entrance test on January 4.

    Q: Does XAT have reservation?
    A:

    For the XAT 2026 examination, there is no provision for caste-based reservation for any applicants. Candidates belonging to categories such as SC, ST, OBC, PwD, and EWS who are applying for XAT 2026 will need to submit their applications for the general (unreserved) seats within the XLRI colleges. However, it's important to note that other educational institutions that accept XAT 2026 Scores might have their distinct reservation policies, which applicants should be aware of.

    Q: Is maths compulsory for XAT?
    A:

    Yes, Maths is compulsory for the XAT exam, as per the XAT paper pattern, XAT has a Quantitative Aptitude section. 

    Q: Is XAT easier than CAT?
    A:

    Yes, the XAT is easier when compared to the CAT exam

    Q: How many attempts for XAT?
    A:

    The Xavier Aptitude Test is held on a yearly basis, allowing individuals the chance to participate in a specific academic year just once. Nevertheless, those interested can reattempt the Xavier Aptitude Test in the subsequent year without any limitations on the number of tries.

    Q: Does XLRI require work experience?
    A:

    XLRI requires five years of experience for Executive PGDM course. However, no fresh graduates can apply for this course. 

    Q: Is there any age limit for XAT?
    A:

    No, XAT eligibility criteria does not have any specific age limit for candidates to apply for XAT.

    Q: Can a final year candidate apply for XAT?
    A:

    Yes, final-year candidates can fill out the XAT application form.

    Q: Who is eligible for XAT exam?
    A:

    According to the eligibility criteria of XAT, the candidates must have passed a three-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent exam in any discipline from a recognized university.

    Q: Is it necessary to have a work experience for XLRI Jamshedpur?
    A:

    If a candidate is applying for PGDM General Management, he/ she must have at least five years of work experience.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Bschool Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    VITBEE Application Date

    31 Oct'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    PU MET Application Date

    3 Dec'25 - 28 Mar'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Online MBA
    Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
    Corporate Law
    Via National Law University, New Delhi
    Strategic Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Online BBA
    Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
    Management of Commercial Banking
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Management of Inventory Systems
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Udemy
     703 courses
    Edx
     467 courses
    Swayam
     236 courses
    Emeritus
     231 courses
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe
    University of Essex, Colchester
    Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
    Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
    Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
    Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
    Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
    Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
    Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
    University of Reading, Reading
    Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
    Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
    The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

    Questions related to XAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to XAT ?

    The IRMA XAT 2026 cutoff is expected to be in the range of 55 to 60 percentile for ST category candidates. At an XAT score of 47 percentile, it is unlikely to get a PI call for the IRMA MBA admission 2026.

    Assuming the candidate is from the general category with a decent academic profile, sectional scores, and work experience can get PI calls from XLRI, Jamshedpur, XIMB, GIM, Goa, SPJIMR, and more. You can refer to XAT college predictor for more information.

    IMT Ghaziabad XAT 2026 cutoff varies in the range of 85-90+ percentile. You may get a PI call from IMT Ghaziabad, depending on your academic profile and category. For more information, you can refer to the XAT 2026 cutoff .