IIFT Kolkata Admission 2027-29: MBA (IB), CAT and Eligibility
For the 2027-29 intake, IIFT uses CAT 2026 for shortlisting applicants to its full-time MBA (International Business), followed by a Group Discussion and Personal Interview for shortlisted candidates. The official prospectus lists 240 MBA (IB) seats at Kolkata. It gives 25 November 2026 as the last date for the IIFT application and fee, four days before the scheduled CAT 2026 exam on 29 November. These details are current as of 4 November 2026; check the official IIFT Admissions 2027 page for any revised notice before submitting.
Which IIFT programme is offered at Kolkata?
IIFT’s 2027-29 prospectus lists the two-year MBA (International Business) at Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City. It lists MBA (Business Analytics) at Delhi only. This page therefore focuses on MBA (IB) at Kolkata; the MBA (BA) eligibility and fees should not be treated as a Kolkata option. Read the 2027-29 prospectus.
The prospectus says reservations follow Government of India norms. Its seat table is campus-specific, but it does not explain in that section how applicants’ campus preferences are ranked or assigned. Read the current online form instructions carefully and confirm whether your selected campus preference is binding.
The four-campus allocation sums to 720 MBA (IB) seats (240 + 240 + 120 + 120). This is a direct total of the prospectus figures, not a separate unreserved-seat count; the institute says Government of India reservation norms apply. The table also does not describe how campus preferences are processed, so do not assume a Kolkata preference is guaranteed. Check the application form’s campus choices and the later allotment notice before making housing or travel plans.
MBA (IB) eligibility
Applicants need a recognised bachelor’s degree of at least three years in any discipline, with at least 50% marks. The prospectus sets the minimum at 45% for candidates in the SC, ST and PwD categories. It also accepts completed professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India, subject to the same minimum marks. Candidates awaiting final results may apply, but must submit proof of the required qualification by 31 October 2027. The prospectus states that there is no age limit.
The later proof date concerns evidence of graduation; it does not replace the application deadline for the 2027-29 batch. If you are still completing your degree, submit the IIFT form by 25 November 2026 and then provide the qualifying proof by 31 October 2027 as directed by the institute. Check the current portal for the exact upload or submission instructions.
These are minimum eligibility conditions, not an assurance of shortlisting. Check the prospectus for the precise treatment of your qualification and category before submitting the form. The institute requires category certificates with the application and says the category entered in the form cannot later be changed.
CAT 2026 and the selection process
For MBA (IB) 2027-29, IIFT says it will use CAT 2026 scores and other defined parameters to shortlist candidates. Shortlisted candidates move to a second round consisting of Group Discussion and Personal Interview. The published GD/PI centre list includes Kolkata as well as Delhi, Kakinada, GIFT City, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow and Mumbai. IIFT reserves the right to add or remove centres or change the interview mode. Kolkata is an available centre in the published list, but the prospectus allows the institute to change centres or the mode. Wait for your candidate-specific interview notice before booking travel or accommodation.
The cited prospectus section does not set out a numeric CAT percentile cutoff or a fixed CAT score weight. Do not use an older IIFT cutoff or scoring formula as a 2027-29 rule. Applicants should rely on the current shortlist and interview notices for later-stage instructions.
Application deadline and fee
The 2027-29 prospectus gives 25 November 2026 as the deadline to submit the online IIFT application form and fee. It schedules CAT 2026 for 29 November 2026. The IIFT form deadline therefore falls four calendar days before the exam. Complete the IIFT application and the CAT process, and keep both confirmations.
The official IIFT admission page links the Admission Calendar, 2027-29 prospectus, clarifications, online application guidelines and the candidate login or registration route. Use that page to verify that you are completing the right intake form, and check it again close to the deadline in case a clarification or revised date is posted.
The MBA (IB) application fee is:
IIFT states that the application fee is non-refundable. These figures are application charges, not the MBA programme fee. The prospectus says the exact total fee for MBA (IB) 2027-29 will be informed with offer letters. It also notes that relevant category certificates must be uploaded and that the category selected in the form cannot be changed later.
Before you submit
- Confirm that your degree, marks and category meet the MBA (IB) rules in the current prospectus.
- Complete CAT registration and the IIFT application; check the current portal for any revised deadline or instructions.
- Review the campus preference instructions and the Kolkata seat allocation before submitting, because the published seat count does not itself describe how campus choices are processed.
- Upload the required certificates, review your category entry carefully, and save the completed application and payment acknowledgement.
- If shortlisted, check the later GD/PI notice for the assigned centre, mode, reporting details and documents.