- IIFT does not run its own MBA entrance test for 2027-29. It shortlists on your CAT 2026 score and other defined parameters, then holds a group discussion and a personal interview.
- The IIFT application is separate from CAT and closes on 25 November 2026, four days before CAT on 29 November.
- Eligibility is a bachelor's degree of at least 3 years with 50 percent (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD). MBA (BA) also needs a maths or statistics background.
- The brochure publishes no weightage for the stages, so any weights you see quoted are unconfirmed.
The IIFT MBA admission CAT score route is how the 2027-29 batch is filled. IIFT no longer runs its own entrance test. It shortlists on CAT 2026 and other defined parameters, then holds a group discussion and a personal interview. A CAT score alone does not apply for you, though. You must apply to IIFT separately, and that form closes before CAT is held.
As of 6 November 2026 the brochure is out and applications are open until 25 November. This post is a step-by-step for the CAT route, with eligibility, fees, deadlines and a plain note on what is not confirmed, such as the weight of each stage.
What changed: IIFT dropped its own MBA entrance test
Older pages still talk about a separate IIFT entrance test and its old weightages. For the 2027-29 batch, the brochure uses CAT 2026 as the test. The score counts for the 2027-29 batch only.
IIFT is the admitting body and CAT is the test, run by the IIMs. The brochure says the IIMs have no role in IIFT's selection process or in running the programme. So you deal with two organisations: CAT for the score and IIFT for the application.
Programmes and campuses: MBA (IB) and MBA (BA)
| Programme | Intake as listed | Application fee (general, OBC-NCL, EWS / SC, ST, PwD, transgender) |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (IB) | 720 seats: Delhi 240, Kolkata 240, Kakinada 120, GIFT City 120 | Rs 3,000 / Rs 1,500 |
| MBA (BA) | 60 seats at Delhi | Rs 2,000 / Rs 1,000 |
The brochure shows a programme fee for MBA (IB) of about Rs 19.73 lakh for the 2026-28 batch, and says the exact 2027-29 amount will be informed later. Hostel and mess are extra. For the 2023-25 MBA (IB) batch, IIFT reported an average package of Rs 31.3 lakh a year and a median of Rs 26 lakh. Check the latest placement report before you decide.
Eligibility: graduation percentage and the BA maths requirement
- A recognised bachelor's degree of at least 3 years in any discipline, with 50 percent (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD). CA, CS, CMA and FIAI qualifications with the same marks also count.
- Final-year students can apply. Proof of graduation is due by 31 October 2027.
- No age limit is stated, and no work-experience requirement is listed.
MBA (BA) adds a requirement: mathematics or statistics at graduation, or a B.Tech or B.E. degree, or mathematics at 10+2, with 50 percent or a CGPA of 5.0 out of 10.
IIFT MBA admission CAT score: why you must apply separately
The sequence matters because the IIFT form closes before the test.
- Register for CAT 2026. Registration closed in September, so this step is done or missed.
- Complete the IIFT online application and pay the fee by 25 November 2026. This fee is separate from the CAT fee.
- Sit CAT on 29 November 2026.
- Wait for the CAT result, expected in the first week of January 2027.
- If shortlisted, attend the group discussion and personal interview.
Selection stages: CAT shortlist, GD and PI
IIFT shortlists on the CAT 2026 score and other defined parameters. It then holds a group discussion and a personal interview in physical mode. The listed centres include Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow and Mumbai. The brochure does not state shortlist or result dates.
Because these stages are in person and carry weight, prepare them early. The GD and PI prep note covers both.
Why reported stage-two weights differ
You will see different percentages for the group discussion and interview on different pages. The brochure publishes no weightage. Figures quoted online may come from older cycles, when the process was different, or from sources that do not say where the numbers come from. Do not plan around any of them.
What you can plan around is that both stages count and both are physical. On the score itself, our estimate of the CAT percentile for about a 50 percent chance of an interview call at IIFT is around 97.5, for the General category with an average profile. That is an estimate, not a cutoff. The MBA Predictor will give a range from your own CAT score.
Deadlines and what to prepare now
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 25 November 2026 | IIFT online application and fee close |
| 29 November 2026 | CAT 2026, in three sessions. Admit cards can be downloaded from 6 to 29 November. |
| First week of January 2027 | CAT result, likely |
| Not stated | IIFT shortlist, GD and PI dates |
| 31 October 2027 | Final-year proof of graduation due |
Dates checked on 6 November 2026. This week, finish the form, gather mark sheets and category certificates, and take a timed mock on the free CAT Compass before 29 November. Track all dates on the MBA deadline tracker.
Where the PGDM (IB) differs
IIFT's home page lists a separate PGDM (IB) programme with applications closing on 30 November 2026, the day after CAT. We have not verified its selection route, fee or eligibility. Do not assume it follows the MBA rules above. Read its own page before you apply.