Frequently asked questions (FAQs) | PGDM

SPJIMR’s Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is a two-year, full-time residential programme deemed equivalent to an MBA. It is for candidates who do not have any work experience and for those with up to 5 years of work experience.  Every year the PGDM admission process begins in September. The shortlisted candidates are usually called for an interview in January and February. The final results are announced in March.

SPJIMR PGDM frequently asked questions about admission and program information.

  • What are the eligibility criteria for the PGDM programme?

    Indian applicants: To be eligible, an applicant has to have a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent (10+2+3) from a recognised university. The applicant must score a minimum of 50% or an equivalent CGPA at graduation. Participants in the final year of graduation can also apply. PGDM Programme accepts the entrance exam scores of CAT and GMAT.

    For further details on eligibility and the selection process, click here

    International applicants: To be eligible, an applicant must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA awarded by an institute deemed to be a University in the applicant’s country of residence. The applicant’s Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification must entail a minimum of three years of education after completing higher secondary schooling (10+2) or equivalent. The degree awarded by an institute/university should be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)/other appropriate authorities. Participants in the final year of graduation can also apply. PGDM Programme accepts the entrance exam scores of CAT and GMAT.

    For further details on eligibility and the selection process, click here 

  • What is the programme fee?

    The fee for Indian participants is INR 26.50 lakhs*

    This fee includes tuition fee and basic hostel/ accommodation. *This fee is indicative and is subject to revision.

    [The Global Fast Track (GFT) and International Exchange is an optional component of the PGDM and PGDM (BM) programmes. Please note that the fees mentioned above do not include the expenses associated with these components].

    International participants: The fee for International participants is INR 35.94 lakhs*

    This fee includes tuition fee and basic hostel/ accommodation. *This fee is indicative and is subject to revision.

    [The Global Fast Track (GFT) and International Exchange is an optional component of the PGDM and PGDM (BM) programmes. Please note that the fees mentioned above do not include the expenses associated with these components].

  • Is it a residential programme?

    The Post Graduate Diploma in Management is a 2-year full-time residential programme. It is mandatory for all participants to reside on campus.

  • Is it necessary to have work experience to apply for the programme?

    Work experience is not mandatory for this programme.

  • What is the total intake of the programme?

    The intake of the PGDM programme is 240. In addition, 36 extra seats have been sanctioned for PIO/OCI, children of Indian workers in the Gulf countries and Foreign Nationals. The maximum total intake of the programme is up to 276 seats. NRI applications will be considered at par with the Indian applications

  • Which entrance scores are accepted by the programme?

    The programme accepts CAT and GMAT scores.

  • Do I need to indicate an area of specialisation while applying for the programme?

    You will be required to state your two specialisation preferences from the 4 options stated below:

    1) Marketing

    2) Finance

    3) Operations and Supply Chain

    4) Information Management and Analytics

    A choice at this stage helps:

    • Applicants develop a clear and sharp focus early on in the programme
    • Achieve segmentation at the time of admission based on differentiated need of the recruiting organisations
    • Broaden the spectrum of recruiters as participant’s graduate
    • Foster better bonding with peers resulting in productive collaborations especially with participants opting for different areas of specialisation

  • Can we apply for more than one specialisation?

    You will be asked for your 1st and 2nd preference, out of which the 2nd preference is optional.  

  • How does opting for two specialisations benefit me?

    If you are not shortlisted for your 1st preference, your application will be considered for your 2nd preference. The outcome of the first option will have no bearing on the process for considering the applicant for the second preference.

  • Am I allowed to change my specialisation once I join the programme?

    The first year curriculum aims at strengthening fundamentals in all functional areas of management and provides a holistic perspective of general management. The second year provides inputs in the chosen area of specialisation and is customised to the career focus of participants and industry requirements.

    A change of specialization option will be provided at the end of the first year on the basis of the candidate’s performance, merit and faculty panel decision.

  • Is registration on the Study in India (SII) portal mandatory for international applicants?

    As per the Ministry of Education’s guidelines, it is now mandatory for all international applicants enrolling in both long-term and short-term courses in India to register on the Study in India (SII) portal.

    Link : https://www.studyinindia.gov.in/admission/registrations.

    This registration is essential for completing student visa formalities in compliance with the authorities. Kindly register yourself in the SII Portal and obtain the SII registration ID before filling the application form.

  • What will be the date of commencement of the programme?

    The programme commences in June every year

  • When does the application process for PGDM begin?

    The online application form will begin from September 16, 2025. To start your application, click here

  • When is the last date to submit the form?

    Candidates can submit the online application form by November 28, 2025. However, we strongly recommend you submit the application well in time to avoid any last-minute technical glitches that may happen due to website overload.

  • Do I need to send my GMAT score card or score report to SPJIMR?

    It is mandatory to submit the GMAT score through GMAC. To send the official GMAT scores, you can search using the PGDM Programme code – 6DQ-MJ-98 or search by ‘S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research – Post Graduate Diploma in Management’.

    GMAT: Exams taken between January 1, 2023, and December 10, 2025, will be considered.

    GMAT Focus Edition: Exams taken between November 2023 and December 10, 2025, will be considered.

  • Can I submit the form without the CAT percentiles or GMAT scores?

    You can submit your application form without the entrance exam scores, however, you will have to enter your exam registration number carefully. You may not have your CAT/GMAT scores by the time you submit the form, hence that is not expected. The submitted application form will be made available again for applicants to update their entrance exam scores after the CAT results are declared.

  • Which modes of GMAT scores are accepted for applying to the programme?

    GMAT and Focus Edition scores are accepted for the programme. Only scores for tests taken in-person (test centres) will be accepted for GMAT/GMAT focus edition.

  • How do I pay the application fees?

    The application processing fee is ₹ 2000 (This is subject to revision). You can pay the application fees online through the admission portal using the following:

    • Net Banking
    • Debit / Credit Card

  • During online payment the amount was deducted from my bank account but the transaction Id was not generated and I am not able to submit the form. What should I do?

    Queries regarding transaction id or payment non-confirmation can be sent to admissions.pgdm@spjimr.org mentioning the following details:

    • Applicant’s Username
    • Date of payment
    • Name of the bank
    • Approximate time of payment
    • Copy of bank statement showing that the transaction was successful

  • Who should I contact If I have a question regarding the status of the application?

    For all your admissions-related queries connect with us at admissions.pgdm@spjimr.org. You may also login to the application dashboard and raise a ticket for your query by clicking on the “Ask Queries” tab.

  • When do I need to submit the documents to support the data I have filled in the form?

    The documents are required during the verification process prior to the interview. Subsequent document verification also takes place post selection, once the course begins. Academic documents, work experience documents and all achievement and extra-curricular activity details mentioned in the application should be substantiated with proof.

  • Do I need to fill a separate application for a profile based shortlist?

    There is only one application form for applying to the PGDM and PGDM (BM) programmes. If your application is shortlisted, you will be called for an interview only once, which may be based on either a profile shortlist or a profile-cum-score shortlist.

  • What is the qualifying entrance test score and deadline to submit the score?

    Indian applicants

    The applicants must meet the minimum overall cut-off and the sectional cut-off in at least one of the entrance exams (CAT/GMAT). For eligibility criteria, click here

    International applicants

    Please check the PGDM eligibility document here

    The applicants must meet the minimum overall cut-off and the sectional cut-off in at least one of the entrance exams (CAT/GMAT).

  • What is the selection process for the Programme?

    The selection process is mentioned in the eligibility document. Please refer to the same.  

  • Can I reschedule my Interview date once I choose a slot?

    You have the option to choose your interview slot if shortlisted but once selected, you cannot reschedule your interview date or slot.

  • When are the profile and profile cum score based interviews conducted?

    The interviews are usually held in January and February.

  • What will be the mode of my interview if I am overseas at the time of interview?

    You will be interviewed over an online platform of the institute’s choice. (For International applicants only)

  • How do I get a loan?

    Various banks provide loans based on the offer letter given by SPJIMR. For updated details, connect with us at admissions.pgdm@spjimr.org.

  • Is there any scholarship available?

    The institute offers financial assistance to candidates based on the assessment of need, academic performance, and conduct. A form will need to be completed and submitted to the PGDM office. Any financial assistance will be made available (subject to approval by the panel after evaluation) only once the programme commences.

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