TAPMI Manipal MBA admissions 2027–29
T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) is accepting applications for its 2027–29 MBA intake. The institute's official admissions page lists 15 October 2026 as the opening date and 31 December 2026 as the application deadline. Group Discussion and Personal Interview rounds are scheduled for February to March 2027, with the first merit list tentatively planned for April. TAPMI says the schedule and venues may be updated, so recheck the live page before applying or booking travel.
One application can cover up to seven MBA programmes across the Manipal and Bengaluru campuses. You must choose the programmes in the application: TAPMI prepares separate shortlists and merit lists for each, and selection for one programme does not guarantee selection for another. The seven-programme limit applies to its MBA options, not to the separately administered BBA Honours or five-year Integrated Programme in Management.
Eligibility for Indian applicants
The published 2027–29 criteria require at least 50% aggregate marks in Class 10 and Class 12 and a bachelor's degree from a recognized university with at least 50%. Final-year undergraduate students may apply. A selected final-year candidate receives a provisional offer and must secure at least 50% aggregate in the qualifying degree before joining and submit required documents by 30 September 2027. Do not substitute the 60% graduation condition printed in TAPMI's older 2026–28 prospectus; the current admissions page gives 50% for this cycle.
MBA-AI&DS has a specific academic-background condition: the applicant must hold a B.E./B.Tech, BCA or B.Sc. degree specializing in Computer Science, Information Technology, AI/ML, Data Science or a related discipline. The general eligibility and exam rules apply alongside that requirement. Applicants to other MBA programmes should read any programme-specific notes on the current page, particularly when applying for MBA Technology Management or a non-Indian applicant category.
Accepted tests and score rules
For the 2027–29 intake, TAPMI lists CAT 2026, XAT 2027 and GMAT scores taken from 1 January 2022 through 31 January 2027 for the MBA. MBA-BKFS, Marketing, HRM, International Business, Technology Management and AI&DS also accept NMAT 2026; the page marks NMAT as not accepted for the general MBA. Candidates may submit more than one eligible score, and TAPMI says it considers the highest score. Confirm the exam edition, score-reporting route and validity dates in the current application instructions before submitting.
The current page does not publish a single numerical percentile cutoff for the 2027–29 cycle. It says shortlisting uses the best valid test score together with the overall profile, including Class X, Class XII and graduation results, work experience, extracurricular activities and other achievements. Historical percentiles in older prospectuses or third-party pages should not be treated as a current guaranteed threshold. TAPMI notes that shortlists are programme-specific and that it may change the process.
Selection stages
1. Apply online. Select one or more programmes and pay the applicable non-refundable application fee. Use TAPMI's official application link from its website; the institute specifically warns applicants against unofficial sites claiming to be the portal.
2. Stage I: shortlisting. TAPMI reviews the best valid entrance-test score and the wider profile. Shortlist decisions are sent to the email address registered in the application. A high score alone does not guarantee an interview or offer, and applicants should ensure that academic records, work history and achievements are complete and accurate.
3. Stage II: Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Shortlisted candidates attend GD and PI. The page lists Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Manipal as locations. TAPMI says it refines the process each year and will communicate any 2027–29 changes to shortlisted candidates. The older 2026–28 prospectus also included a Written Ability Test; the current cycle page describes GD and PI, so applicants should follow their current invitation rather than assume last cycle's exact components.
4. Final selection. TAPMI says final selection considers the candidate's profile and overall performance in Stages I and II. The current 2027–29 admissions page does not publish a numeric composite-score formula. The 2026–28 prospectus listed 35% entrance test, 15% academics, 45% GD/PI and 5% gender diversity and extracurricular activities, but explicitly said the formula was subject to change. Treat it as a historical formula, not a promise for the present cycle.
TAPMI also describes Fast-Track Admits: candidates with outstanding academics, leadership potential and a strong GD/PI may receive an offer within 48–72 hours of the interview. This is an institute-selected route, not a separate application or guaranteed timeline.
Application fee and dates
For Indian applicants, the official page lists application charges by the number of programmes selected: ₹2,500 for up to two, ₹3,000 for three, ₹3,500 for four, ₹4,000 for five, ₹4,500 for six and ₹5,000 for seven. The fee is non-refundable. If you are considering several programmes, compare their campus, curriculum, eligibility and career fit before selecting them; a larger application does not make the selections interchangeable.
The merit-list and term-start dates are expressly tentative. Confirm any revised dates directly on the admissions page and through official TAPMI communication. Retain your application confirmation and check the registered email, including spam folders, for shortlist and interview updates.
Programme and applicant-category distinctions
The general MBA accepts CAT, XAT and GMAT for this cycle. NMAT is listed for BKFS, Marketing, HRM, IB, Technology Management and AI&DS, but not for the general MBA. AI&DS also requires a related technical or science degree. MBA Technology Management is based at TAPMI Bengaluru; the other listed programmes are associated with Manipal. Verify the programme campus and any specialized conditions on the official programme page before paying.
NRI and NRI-sponsored applicants, OCI candidates and foreign nationals follow separate eligibility, exam, fee and programme rules. TAPMI's admissions page states that foreign nationals and OCI applicants can apply only to the MBA, while NRI and NRI-sponsored applicants may apply to a specified group of MBA programmes. Their application and tuition charges differ from the Indian-applicant table above. Use the dedicated section on the official page or contact admissions rather than applying the domestic rules to these categories.
TAPMI states that it has no management quota. For questions about eligibility equivalence, score reporting, document formats, interview changes or category-specific rules, contact the Admissions Office using the address and telephone details on TAPMI's official page. Since the 2027–29 prospectus is marked as forthcoming, the admissions page and a candidate's current official communication are the best available sources for this cycle's published rules.
Applicant checklist
Before submitting, confirm that your school and undergraduate marks meet the current requirement; verify that your chosen exam and score date are valid for each selected programme; check the AI&DS degree-background rule if relevant; and ensure the registered email and phone are accessible. Use the official application portal linked from tapmi.edu.in, select programmes deliberately, and budget for the non-refundable application fee. After applying, monitor shortlist notices and interview instructions, which may update the stated process. Keep the 2026–28 prospectus's numeric weight formula and old percentile thresholds clearly separated from the 2027–29 rules unless TAPMI republishes them for the new cycle.