IIFT admission 2027-29: eligibility, CAT and selection
For admission to IIFT’s full-time MBA-International Business (MBA-IB) and MBA-Business Analytics (MBA-BA) programmes for 2027-29, the current prospectus uses CAT 2026 scores for shortlisting, followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview for shortlisted candidates. IIFT no longer requires its former separate entrance test for this intake. Eligibility, seat count and application fee differ by programme, so applicants should use the exact programme section of the 2027-29 prospectus and check the admissions portal before paying. IIFT Admissions 2027 · 2027-29 Prospectus
Which programme and campus?
The Delhi campus offers both programmes. MBA-IB is also listed at Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City, while MBA-BA is listed at Delhi. The 2027-29 intake table gives 240 MBA-IB seats at Delhi, 240 at Kolkata, 120 at Kakinada and 120 at GIFT City; MBA-BA has 60 seats at Delhi. These are programme-and-campus figures, not a single common pool. The prospectus separately notes that reservations follow Government of India norms. Applicants should confirm the campus and programme shown in their offer rather than treating the institute’s total seat count as a Delhi intake.
MBA-IB eligibility
The prospectus requires a recognised bachelor’s degree of at least three years in any discipline, with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. It specifies a 45% threshold for applicants in the SC, ST and PwD categories. It also accepts listed professional qualifications, including CA, CS, ICWA/CMA and FIAI, subject to the prospectus conditions. Candidates in the final year of a qualifying programme may apply, but must provide proof of having completed the qualifying degree by 31 October 2027. The prospectus says there is no age limit.
Applicants relying on a professional qualification or an equivalent CGPA should check the precise documentation and conversion instructions in the prospectus. Do not assume an unlisted professional credential or a provisional mark statement automatically satisfies the requirement. The institute may ask for proof at a defined stage, and the final-year proof date is part of the stated 2027-29 conditions.
MBA-BA eligibility is more specific
MBA-BA has quantitative-subject conditions that differ from MBA-IB. One route is a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% and Mathematics or Statistics studied at graduation. A second is a B.Tech or B.E. with at least 50%. A third is a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% and Mathematics at Class 12. The prospectus specifically excludes Applied Mathematics at Class 12 for that third route. It also describes specified professional qualifications and allows final-year applicants subject to producing degree proof by 31 October 2027.
This makes transcript detail important. A degree title such as commerce, economics or engineering does not by itself establish which mathematics condition applies. Applicants should compare the transcript with the exact route in the prospectus and seek written clarification from admissions when course names or equivalency are unclear. The institute’s current programme information describes MBA-BA as non-residential, unlike the residential MBA-IB arrangement at Delhi; confirm this against the offer and current hostel information.
CAT 2026 and the selection stages
For both programmes, the current prospectus says CAT 2026 scores and other defined parameters are used to shortlist candidates. Shortlisted candidates then attend a second stage comprising Group Discussion and Personal Interview. IIFT lists physical GD/PI centres including Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow and Mumbai. It reserves the right to change centres or conduct the process online for administrative reasons. Therefore, an applicant should follow the interview instructions issued for their own shortlist rather than relying on a past-year centre list.
CAT is the entrance examination used for this cycle’s shortlisting; it is not itself an admission offer. The prospectus does not establish a guaranteed percentile or a Delhi-specific cutoff. A high CAT score cannot replace the eligibility requirements or the later selection stage. IIFT’s former separate entrance examination is not the listed route for 2027-29, so applicants should avoid old webpages and coaching summaries that describe prior admission cycles as current.
Dates, application and category documents
The 2027-29 prospectus lists 25 November 2026 as the last date to submit the online application and fee. It schedules CAT 2026 for 29 November 2026. These dates are tied to the published cycle and may be amended through an official notice. Check the live IIFT admission portal for corrections before submitting or making travel plans.
The application fee for MBA-IB is ₹3,000 for General, OBC-NCL and EWS applicants and ₹1,500 for SC, ST, PwD and transgender applicants. For MBA-BA, the corresponding amounts are ₹2,000 and ₹1,000. The prospectus says application fees are non-refundable. These are application charges, not tuition or hostel payments.
The institute states that reservation follows Government of India norms and requires relevant category certificates to be uploaded with the application. It also says the category entered in the form cannot later be changed. Applicants should check certificate format, issuing authority, validity and upload rules in the current prospectus, especially where the category name or certificate type differs from a commonly used label. Keep a copy of the submitted form and payment confirmation.
Campus and programme implications
MBA-IB is a full-time residential programme at Delhi according to IIFT’s current FAQ; MBA-BA is described as non-residential. That distinction affects accommodation planning and the cost estimate. The institute’s prospectus gives different seat counts by campus for MBA-IB, while MBA-BA’s listed intake is at Delhi. Applicants should read the programme, campus and residential conditions together, not infer the location from the institute name alone.
The prospectus says the final 2027-29 MBA-IB programme fee will be communicated with offer letters. It gives ₹19.73 lakh for the previous 2026-28 MBA-IB batch as a comparison, not a confirmed current bill. Delhi hostel and mess charges are separate. Applicants who reach the offer stage should calculate the total using the actual programme fee, accommodation choice, mess charges, deposits and payment schedule then issued. The scholarship section describes support that may be applied for; it should not be subtracted from a budget as guaranteed funding.
A practical application checklist
Before applying, select the correct programme and verify the matching academic and subject eligibility. Check that the CAT 2026 registration and IIFT application are both complete: CAT registration is separate from IIFT’s application process. Upload certificates and academic records in the requested format, and confirm the application fee for the programme and category. Record the deadline and download the completed application and receipt. If shortlisted, read the specific GD/PI notice for location, reporting time, documents and any later instructions. Finally, compare the offer’s campus and programme with your fee, accommodation and career plans. The 2027-29 prospectus and live admission portal are the controlling sources for cycle details; archived cutoffs and older selection weights should not be treated as current policy.
Sources: IIFT admission page · IIFT 2027-29 prospectus · MBA-IB programme · MBA-BA programme