Following the SNAP 2025 results on January 9, Symbiosis institutes have moved into the second phase of the 2026-28 admission cycle. Institutes like SIBM Pune and SCMHRD have released their shortlists, and candidates are currently booking slots for Group Exercise and Personal Interaction rounds. The selection process, primarily conducted online, evaluates communication, leadership, and soft skills through structured group and individual assessments. Final merit lists are expected by late February 2026 based on scaled entrance scores and interview performance.

As of January 27, 2026, the selection process for the 2026-28 MBA batch at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) is in full swing. Following the SNAP 2025 results declared on January 9, individual constituent institutes have released their shortlists for the next stage. Candidates who cleared the high cutoffs for flagship programs are currently navigating the online interview portals to secure their assessment slots. This critical round of the admission cycle shifts the focus from competitive testing to a holistic evaluation of a candidate's profile, including their communication skills, academic consistency, and professional aspirations.

Shortlist Status and Slot Booking

Most top-tier Symbiosis institutes, including SIBM Pune and SCMHRD, activated their selection links between January 13 and January 20.

• SIBM Pune: Shortlist for the PI round was released on January 19, with slot booking closing recently on January 25.
• SCMHRD: The interview calls were dispatched on January 19, and candidates are scheduled to appear for their assessments starting today.
• SIMS Pune: Shortlist calls were published on January 24, and the portal for choosing an interview date remains open for a limited window.
• Specialized Institutes: Colleges like SIIB and SIBM Bengaluru are also currently in the process of finalizing their selection dates for February.

Assessment Structure: GE, PI, and WAT

The current round of evaluations is designed to be comprehensive, ensuring that the final merit list reflects more than just aptitude. The GE-PI-WAT process for the 2026 cycle is largely being conducted in an online format to accommodate national applicants.

• Group Exercise (GE): This selection component typically involves 7-8 candidates discussing a case study or a specific problem statement for 15-20 minutes.
• Personal Interview (PI): A deep-dive interview conducted by faculty and alumni to judge a candidate's fit for the specific MBA specialization.
• Written Ability Test (WAT): Candidates are often asked to write a short essay on an abstract or business-related topic to test their clarity of thought and written expression during this round.

Final Merit List Weightage

The final admission offer is determined by a composite score where the entrance test carries only partial weight. This ensures that the interview performance significantly impacts the final outcome.

Conclusion

The selection phase is currently the most active part of the Symbiosis MBA admission journey for 2026. As candidates appear for their interview sessions throughout late January and February, they must ensure they have all digital documents ready for verification. Each round is mandatory, and missing any part of the GE-PI process will disqualify a candidate from the final merit list. With the first set of admission offers expected by February 27, students are advised to maintain a consistent preparation strategy for their upcoming selection dates.