MBA from IIMs without CAT Exam
Find out how to get an MBA from IIMs without taking the CAT exam. Discover different ways to apply, special entry programs, and other exams that can help you join the top business schools in India.
Shivani Kumari7 Aug, 2025
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MBA from IIMs without CAT Exam: Is it possible to pursue an MBA from IIMs without a CAT score? Many management aspirants often ask education counselors this question. This is a genuine query, as CAT is a highly challenging exam requiring at least six to nine months of dedicated preparation to score 98-99 percentile, which is the average CAT cut-off for admission to IIM MBA courses. Many candidates, especially working professionals, cannot dedicate that much time to CAT preparation. Learn here how to take admission in IIM without CAT.
MBA from IIMs without CAT Exam
While the CAT has traditionally been the primary pathway to prestigious MBA programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), there are now alternative options available for aspiring candidates. Several IIMs offer MBA without CAT and other management programs that do not require the CAT exam. These include courses in Sports Management, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Management Science. Candidates can pursue these programs by meeting the minimum eligibility criteria, which typically includes a graduate degree with a certain percentage of marks.| MBA from IIMs without CAT Exam Highlights | ||
| IIM | Program | Entrance Exam |
| IIM Jammu | Integrated Program in Management (IPM) | IPMAT |
| IIM Rohtak | Integrated Program in Management (IPM) | IPMAT |
| IIM Indore | Integrated Program in Management (IPM) | IPMAT |
| IIM Ranchi | Integrated Program in Management (IPM) | IPMAT |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | Integrated Program in Management (IPM) | IPMAT |
| Various IIMs | Executive MBA Programs | GMAT |
While the CAT remains mandatory for most IIM MBA programs, the availability of alternative paths demonstrates the growing diversity in India's management education landscape. Aspiring students now have more options to pursue their MBA dreams at these prestigious institutions, even without clearing the CAT exam.
Executive MBA from IIMs without CAT
There are several ways to pursue an Executive MBA from the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) without taking the CAT exam:- Executive MBA Programs : Many IIMs offer part-time Executive MBA programs designed for working professionals, such as the PGPEX at IIM Calcutta, PGPMAX at IIM Ahmedabad, and PGPEM at IIM Bangalore. These programs typically require 5-10 years of work experience but do not mandate CAT scores for admission.
- Integrated Programs : Some IIMs have integrated programs like the Integrated Program in Management (IPM) at IIM Indore, which combines undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Admission to these programs is based on entrance exams other than CAT.
- Doctoral Programs : IIMs accept GMAT or GRE scores for their doctoral programs like the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), providing an alternative path for aspiring management students.
- Exceptional Academic Achievements : Candidates with outstanding academic records may be considered for admission to IIMs without CAT, based on their undergraduate performance and other achievements.
- GMAT Scores : The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is accepted by some IIMs as a substitute for CAT. The number of Indian students taking the GMAT has been increasing, indicating its growing popularity as an alternative.
| Executive MBA from IIMs without CAT | ||
| IIM College | Course | Eligibility/Selection Criteria |
| IIM Ahmedabad | ePGD in Advanced Business Analytics | GMAT/GRE/CAT/GATE or the ePGD-ABA qualifying-cum-aptitude test |
| Online MBA | IIMA Admission Test (IAT), CAT, GMAT, GRE | |
| MBA-PGPX | GMAT/GRE | |
| IIM Bangalore | EPGP | GMAT/GRE |
| PGPEM | GMAT/GRE or CAT | |
| PGPPM | Exclusively for officers from All India Services, Central Services, and State Services | |
| IIM Calcutta | MBAEx | GMAT |
| PGPEx-VLM | Written Test | |
| PGDBA | PGDBA Entrance Test | |
| IIM Lucknow | PGPWE | GMAT/ GRE/CAT/ XAT/ GATE/ PGP-WE Entrance Exam |
| IPMX | GMAT/GRE | |
| IIM Kozhikode | PGP-Finance | GMAT/GRE/CAT |
| PGP-LSM | GMAT/GRE/CAT | |
| PGP-BL | GMAT/GRE/CAT | |
| EPGP | EMAT/ GMAT/GRE | |
| IIM Indore | EPGP | GMAT |
| PGPMX | IIM Indore Aptitude Test for PGPMX | |
| IIM Shillong | PGPEx and PGP(WE) | GMAT |
| IIM Udaipur | PGDBA Working Executives | GMAT/GRE/CAT |
| One Year MBA-Global Supply Chain Management | GMAT/GRE/CAT | |
| One Year MBA-Digital Enterprise Management | GMAT/GRE/CAT | |
| IIM Trichy | MBA Working Executives (Chennai campus) | Written Test |
| IIM Ranchi | Executive MBA | Personal Interview |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | NA | NA |
| IIM Raipur | ePGP | Personal Interview |
| IIM Nagpur | MBA for Working Professionals | IIM Nagpur Aptitude Test |
| IIM Jammu | Executive MBA | GMAT/GRE/CAT/IIMJAT |
| IIM Sambalpur | Executive MBA | GMAT/GRE/CAT/GATE/IIMSAT |
| IIM Kashipur | Executive MBA | GMAT/CAT/EMAT |
| MBA (Analytics) | GMAT/CAT | |
| IIM Sirmaur | MBA (Tourism & Hospitality Management) | GMAT/CAT/IIM Sirmaur Test |
| IIM Amritsar | Executive MBA | GMAT/GRE/GATE/CAT/IAAT |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | PGPDGM | GMAT/GRE/GATE/CAT |
| PGPEx | GMAT/GRE/IIMV Test/CAT | |
Integrated MBA from IIMs without CAT
You can get into an IIM for an integrated MBA program without taking the CAT exam. Several IIMs offer 5-year integrated management programs that students can join directly after completing 12th grade.- Integrated Program in Management (IPM): This 5-year integrated MBA program is offered by 5 IIMs - IIM Jammu, IIM Rohtak, IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Bodh Gaya. Admission is based on the IPMAT (Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test) exam, not the CAT.
- Executive MBA Programs: IIMs also offer executive MBA programs for working professionals that may accept GMAT scores instead of CAT.
- Doctoral Programs: IIMs accept GMAT or GRE scores for admission to their Ph.D. programs, which can be an alternative pathway.
- Specialized Courses: IIMs offer various short-term certificate and diploma programs that don't require the CAT exam.
| Integrated MBA from IIMs without CAT | ||
| IIM College | Course | Eligibility/Selection Criteria |
| IIM Indore | IPM | IPMAT and WAT-PI |
| IIM Rohtak | IPM | IPM Aptitude Test and WAT-PI |
| IIM Jammu | IPM | JIPMAT and PI |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | IPM | JIPMAT and PI |
| IIM Ranchi | IPM | JIPMAT and PI |
MBA from IIMs without CAT Exam
Can I pursue an MBA from IIMs without a CAT score?
Yes, several IIMs offer MBA programs that do not require the CAT exam. These include Integrated Program in Management (IPM) and Executive MBA programs.
What is the entrance exam for the Integrated Program in Management (IPM) at IIMs?
The entrance exam for the IPM is called the IPMAT (Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test).
Which IIMs offer the Integrated Program in Management (IPM) without CAT?
IIM Jammu, IIM Rohtak, IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Bodh Gaya offer the IPM program based on the IPMAT exam.
Are there Executive MBA programs at IIMs that do not require CAT?
Yes, many IIMs offer Executive MBA programs for working professionals that accept GMAT scores instead of CAT.
What other exams are accepted for MBA programs at IIMs besides CAT?
Besides CAT, some IIMs accept GMAT, GRE, JIPMAT, and other institution-specific entrance tests for their MBA programs.
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