IBSAT 2025: Last Date to Apply for MBA/PGPM is December 20
Attention MBA Aspirants! The IBSAT 2025 registration window, open since July 1, is set to close around December 20, 2025. This is your final opportunity to apply for admission to the prestigious MBA/PGPM programs at ICFAI Business School (IBS), including the flagship IBS Hyderabad. The exam is scheduled for December 27 & 28. Discover why the IBSAT path offers a critical advantage, from the student-friendly exam pattern (no negative marking!) to the renowned case-study based pedagogy of the ICFAI Institutes. Don't miss this deadline.

The journey to a successful MBA career begins with timely preparation, and for thousands of management aspirants, the IBSAT 2025 is a crucial checkpoint. Conducted by the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), the IBSAT (ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test) is the gateway to the highly respected MBA and PGPM programs across nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses, including the flagship IBS Hyderabad. With the registration window rapidly approaching its close, aspirants must act decisively to secure their application slot and focus on the final leg of exam preparation.
- Application Window: July 1 to December 20, 2025 (Expected)
- The application process commenced on July 1, 2025, and is expected to conclude around December 20, 2025. This offers a five-month window, but the approaching deadline necessitates prompt action for interested candidates.
- Application Fee: The fee to register for the IBSAT 2025 is ₹1800. This single fee covers the application process for all participating IBS campuses.
- How to Apply (Online & Offline)
- Online Mode: Candidates can register and pay the fee directly through the official website: ibsindia.org/admissions. This is the fastest and most preferred method.
- Offline Mode: For those preferring a physical application, candidates can purchase the application voucher from the authorized marketing offices of the ICFAI Institutes.
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- IBSAT Exam Dates & Mode
- The IBSAT 2025 exam is officially scheduled to be held on December 27 and December 28, 2025.
- The test will be conducted in a remote proctored computer-based mode, allowing candidates the flexibility to take the exam from their homes under secure, monitored conditions.
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The IBSAT Advantage: Eligibility, Format, and Admission Pathways
Understanding the specific benefits and flexibility IBSAT offers, especially when compared to more rigorous entrance exams, is key for strategic application planning. IBSAT is designed to be a student-friendly test that assesses core aptitude skills essential for management studies.
- Eligibility Criteria for Aspiring Managers
- Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree (in any discipline) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
- The medium of instruction for the degree must be English. Candidates who do not meet this English medium criteria must submit valid scores from tests like TOEFL/IELTS.
- Crucially, final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply, provided they can furnish proof of degree completion by May 2026.
- The Student-Friendly Exam Structure
- IBSAT is a two-hour (120 minutes) objective test consisting of 140 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across four sections: Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation.
- Key Advantage: No Negative Marking. Unlike many other national-level MBA entrance exams, IBSAT does not penalize incorrect answers, providing a significant confidence booster and encouraging educated guesswork.
- Multiple Admission Pathways
- Aspirants have two routes to gain admission into the MBA/PGPM programs at IBS campuses:
- IBSAT Score: Taking the in-house IBSAT exam directly.
- External Test Scores: Submitting valid scores from other major national/global exams, including NMAT by GMAC™, XAT, GMAT™, or CAT (from 2023 onwards). This flexibility allows candidates who performed well in other exams to still target IBS admissions.
- Aspirants have two routes to gain admission into the MBA/PGPM programs at IBS campuses:
Why Choose IBS: Setting the Stage for Your MBA Career in 2026
For aspirants making a final decision on which B-School to target for the 2026-28 batch, the reputation, pedagogy, and placement record of ICFAI Business School provide compelling reasons to prioritize the IBSAT application.
- The Global Power of Case-Based Learning
- IBS is a pioneer in India for adopting a 100% case-based methodology. Students are immersed in real-life business situations (case studies from the in-house IBS Centre for Management Research and Harvard Business School cases) to develop sharp analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills—abilities highly valued by top recruiters.
- Exceptional Placement Record and Industry Interface
- IBS boasts a strong placement record, consistently achieving 95-99% placements across its campuses over the years.
- The Career Management Centre (CMC) maintains robust connections with over 4,000 national and international companies, ensuring graduates are placed across high-growth sectors, including BFSI, Consulting, IT/ITES, E-commerce, and E-commerce. Recruiters include major corporations like Google, Deloitte, TCS, and Oracle.
- Exceptional Placement Record and Industry Interface
- IBS is a pioneer in India for adopting a 100% case-based methodology. Students are immersed in real-life business situations (case studies from the in-house IBS Centre for Management Research and Harvard Business School cases) to develop sharp analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills—abilities highly valued by top recruiters.
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- Strategic Advantage for Diverse Graduates
- IBS programs are particularly beneficial for graduates from diverse backgrounds (Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Arts, etc.). The analytical and logical thinking developed in these fields is successfully channeled into management roles through the IBS curriculum, bridging the gap between technical expertise and leadership roles in specialized sectors like Healthcare, Finance, and Consulting.
- Scholarship Opportunities
- IBS offers merit scholarships worth up to ₹10 Crores to top performers in the IBSAT exam, as well as to specific categories like wards of IBS Alumni and physically challenged candidates, providing significant financial support for deserving students.
- Scholarship Opportunities
- IBS programs are particularly beneficial for graduates from diverse backgrounds (Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Arts, etc.). The analytical and logical thinking developed in these fields is successfully channeled into management roles through the IBS curriculum, bridging the gap between technical expertise and leadership roles in specialized sectors like Healthcare, Finance, and Consulting.
Conclusion
With the IBSAT 2025 registration deadline on the horizon—expected around December 20, 2025—MBA aspirants must treat this as a final call for a pivotal opportunity. The examination on December 27 and 28 serves as an accessible and strategic entry point into the highly-rated MBA/PGPM programs offered by the nine ICFAI Business Schools. By providing multiple application pathways, a manageable exam format, and a globally recognized, case-based learning model, IBS ensures that diverse graduates are equipped with the skills necessary to excel as future business leaders. Apply now through ibsindia.org to secure your chance at a transformative management education.