IIM Lucknow Admission 2026: Complete Process, Eligibility & Selection Criteria

IIM Lucknow is one of the top management institutions in India. The institute offers postgraduate, doctoral, and certificate programs such as MBA,  MBA ABM, MBA SM, DPM, etc. IIM Lucknow admission 2026 is based on national level exams like CAT, GRE, GMAT, NET, and GATE. The IIM Lucknow selection process involves an entrance exam, and a personal interview, depending on the program.

The MBA  is the flagship course of IIM Lucknow. Admission to the MBA is based on the CAT exam. Candidates will be shortlisted based on CAT percentile. Further, shortlisted students will have to appear for the WAT, GD, and PI in person. The IIM Lucknow CAT cutoff for the MBA program is in the 90 percentile. The total IIM Lucknow seat intake for MBA, MBA ABM, and MBA SM is 490. The IIM Lucknow fees for the MBA course is INR 20,75,000.

IIM Lucknow Course Admissions 2026: Highlights

IIM Lucknow MBA Admission 2026

IIM Lucknow offers MBA courses, and students who complete all the requirements are awarded an MBA degree. The details of IIM Lucknow eligibility criteria, shortlisting criteria, and other details are given below.

MBA Eligibility

The IIM Lucknow eligibility for the MBA course is:

Educational Qualification

• Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• SC/ ST/ PwD candidates require 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• The degree should be from recognized Indian universities, institutions established by law, or deemed universities as per the UGC Act, 1956.

Mark Calculation

• The percentage is calculated based on the system followed by the awarding university/institution.
• For grades/ CGPA, conversion is done using the university's certified procedure.
• If no conversion system exists, CGPA is divided by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplied by 100 to determine the percentage.

Final Year Candidates

• Those appearing for final-year exams or awaiting results can apply provisionally.
• If selected, they must submit a certificate from their Principal/Registrar by the deadline confirming degree completion.

Equivalent Qualifications

The equivalent qualifications for the IIM Lucknow MBA eligibility are:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering/technology (4 years after 10+2/Post B.Sc./Post Diploma).
• E./ B.Tech. equivalent examinations from Professional Societies recognized by MoE, UPSC, and AICTE (e.g., AMIE by Institution of Engineers India, AMICE by Institute of Civil Engineers India).
• Any qualification recognized by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, equivalent to a UGC-recognized bachelor's degree.

Eligible Subjects for MBA-ABM

The subjects that are considered for the MBA-ABM course are:

Reservations

The reservation criteria of IIM Lucknow for MBA are:

IIM Lucknow MBA Admission Process

The IIM Lucknow admission process for the MBA course is:

Application

Students looking to apply for the MBA course at IIM Lucknow have to apply online. The process for application is:

• Visit the official portal of CAT and register for it.
• After filling out the CAT application form, apply for IIM Lucknow from the portal.

Students must note that they do not need to fill out a separate IIM Lucknow application form. After applying for the same from the CAT portal, students will be shortlisted automatically based on the CAT percentile. 

Shortlisting Criteria

• Students are initially shortlisted based on CAT scores. After that, the list of shortlisted candidates will be released on the official website of IIM Lucknow. Hence, after the CAT result students must regularly visit the official portal.
• The weightage assigned to various components for the initial selection is given below:

Selection Process

• Written Ability Test (WAT) & Personal Interview (PI) conducted in Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad from the end of February onward.
• Final selection depends on CAT score, academics, work experience, WAT, and PI performance.
• After WAT and PI, the final selection is made on the basis of the assigned weightage given below:

*Note: Candidates must score at least 12 out of 40 marks to pass the Personal Interview (PI). Those who fail will not be included in the final merit list.

Eligibility Verification

The IIM Lucknow eligibility for the MBA course is given below:

Verification of Mark Sheets & Degree Certificate

• Candidates must present all mark sheets and submit attested copies for eligibility verification during the interview.
• If selected, students must submit original degree certificates and mark sheets (all semesters/years) during joining.

 Reservation Category Requirements

• SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates must provide original caste/ class and/or disability certificates, along with a photocopy, at the interview.

Final-Year Candidates

• Must submit an original certificate from their Principal/ Registrar/ Director confirming they have obtained 50% marks or equivalent (45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories).
• If selected, they can join provisionally by submitting a certificate confirming they have completed all requirements for their degree (results may be awaited).
• Admission is confirmed only after providing the original mark sheet and qualifying degree certificate. The certificate/ marksheet must show the minimum marks requirement (50% or 45% for reserved categories).

MBA Cutoff

The cutoff marks in CAT 2025 for the MBA courses at IIM Lucknow are:

• The cutoff for MBA ABM is:

• The cutoff for MBA SM is:

IIM Lucknow PGPWE Admission 2026

The Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Working Executives (MBAWE) course is offered at IIM Lucknow Noida campus. It is a two-year management program for working executives, formerly called WMP. Students looking to apply can find the details here.

PGPWE Eligibility

The IIM Lucknow executive MBA eligibility is:

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor's degree (10+2+3 or 10+2+4 years) in any discipline with minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• If awarded grades/ CGPA, equivalence follows the university's conversion formula.
• If no conversion formula exists, IIM Lucknow calculates equivalence using a standardized method (CGPA / Maximum CGPA x 100).

 Accepted Test Scores

• GMAT/ GMAT Focus Edition/GRE (Only test center-based scores; online/home-based scores are not accepted).
• CAT
• GATE
• PGPWE Entrance Exam (This IIM Lucknow entrance exam is conducted at the Noida Campus).

 Work Experience Requirement

• Minimum 3 years of full-time post-qualification experience.
• Freelance/ training/ project work as part of curricular requirements is not considered.

PGPWE Entrance Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for the PGPWE entrance exam is:

Selection Process

IIM Lucknow admission procedure for the PGPWE course is given below:

• Application Process: Applicants must fill out and submit the online application form. Also, upload scanned copies of required documents as per eligibility criteria.
• Submission Deadline: The completed application form must be submitted by the deadline.
• IIM Lucknow Shortlisting Criteria: Applicants are shortlisted based on GMAT/ GMAT Focus Edition/ GRE/ CAT/ GATE/ PGPWE Entrance Exam scores. Note that students also need to appear for the Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).

The admission criteria for IIM Lucknow for the PGPWE course are:

Application Process

The process to apply for PGPWE admission in IIM Lucknow is as follows:

• Visit the official website of WMP/ PGPWE.
• Locate the application form and fill out the application form correctly.
• Upload the required documents.
• Preview and submit the application form.
• Shortlisted candidates must present original documents during the Personal Interview (PI).
• Applications are encouraged from SC, ST, NC-OBC, PwD, and female candidates.
• Students must pay INR 1000 (non-refundable) to complete the process.

Documents Required

The documents required to meet the IIM Lucknow executive MBA eligibility are:

• Recent color photograph (4.5cm x 3.5cm)
• Signature
• Entrance exam scorecard
• 10^th Mark sheet and Certificate
• 10+2 Certificate (HSC) Mark sheet and Certificate
• 10+2+3 Mark sheet and Certificate
• SC/ST/OBC Certificate (if applicable)
• Certificate of Disability (if applicable)
• Reliving letter, experience letter + first and last salary slips.
• Personal declaration (Self-employed professionals).
• Online application fee receipt of INR 1000.

IIM Lucknow IPMX (One-year MBA) Admission 2026

IIM Lucknow Noida Campus offers IPMX (One-year MBA). It is a residential program for mid-/ senior-level professionals who are aiming for leadership roles. The course was launched in 2008, and it is accredited by AACSB and AMBA. Applicants must note that they need a valid GMAT/ GMAT Focus Edition/ GRE score.

IPMX Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for IPMX (One-year MBA) course are:

• Bachelor's degree (10+2+3 or 10+2+4 years) in any discipline with minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• CGPA conversion follows the university's formula. If unavailable, IIM Lucknow converts CGPA using a standardized method (CGPA / Maximum CGPA x 100).
• Accepted Test Scores (Must be valid until the last date of application):
  • GMAT/ GMAT Focus Edition/ GRE (Only test center-based scores; online/home-based scores are not accepted).
  • Official scorecard/ Test Taker copy must be submitted with the application.

IPMX Selection Process

The IIM Lucknow selection criteria for the IPMX course:

• Application: Applicants must submit the online application form and upload scanned copies of the required documents.
• Recommendation Letters: Candidates must also provide email IDs of recommenders. The recommenders will receive a request to submit recommendations online directly to the admissions office.
• Shortlisting Criteria: Applicants are shortlisted based on GMAT/ GMAT Focus Edition/ GRE scores. Applicants also need to apply for the Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).

The weightage of various parameters for IPMX course selection are:

IIM Lucknow DPM (PhD) Admission 2026

IIM Lucknow's Doctoral Program in Management (DPM) was launched in 2000-01. The course helps students enhance their research abilities and develop teaching skills. Details regarding the course admission are given below.

DPM (PhD) Eligibility

The eligibility parameters for the DPM (PhD) course are:

• Master's Degree in any discipline with 55% marks (50% for SC/ST candidates).
• Bachelor's degree in engineering/ Four-year Graduate Degree with 65% marks (60% for SC/ST candidates).
• Professional Qualifications (CA, ICWA, CS) with 55% marks, plus B.Com. as an undergraduate degree.
• PGDM (2/3-year full-time, classroom-based) from any IIM with a CGPA of 6 on a 10-point scale or 60% marks.
• PGP-WE (formerly WMP) from IIM Lucknow with a minimum CGPA of 6.
• All applicants must have secured at least 55% marks in all public exams from 10th grade onwards.

DPM (PhD) Admission Process

The process of admission in IIM Lucknow for the DPM course is:

• Admission is based on valid scores from CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or JRF/ SRF (UGC/ CSIR/ ICAR).
• Additional Documentation for PGDM/PGP-WE Applicants:
  • Must submit a certificate from their awarding IIM confirming full-time enrollment.
  • Must provide percentage-conversion formula from the awarding IIM. If unavailable, scores will be scaled proportionally to a 100% scale.
• Overseas Applicants:
  • Includes NRIs and foreign nationals.
  • Selection is based on GMAT/ GRE scores from the previous year.
• Applicants must not exceed 55 years of age.

IIM Lucknow EFPM Admission 2026

The Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EFPM) course is a doctorate-level program for executive candidates. Applicants looking for the EFPM course can check the details of the course here.

EFPM Eligibility

The IIM Lucknow FPM eligibility for executive eligibility is:

• For General/OBC Category
  • Class X & XII: Minimum 55% marks.
  • Graduation (Non-engineering): Minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
  • Post-graduation: Minimum 55% marks or equivalent CGPA (Minimum duration of 2 years).
  • Graduation (Engineering): Minimum 65% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• For SC/ST Category
  • Class X & XII: Minimum 50% marks.
  • Graduation (Non-engineering): Minimum 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
  • Post-graduation: Minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (Minimum duration of 2 years).
  • Graduation (Engineering): Minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• The maximum age limit is 55 years
• Applicants should be currently employed, and the minimum work experience is 7 years.
• Qualifying examination (anyone):
  • CAT
  • GATE
  • GMAT/GMAT Focus Edition
  • GRE
  • JRF/ SRF
  • PGPWE Entrance Exam

EFPM Selection Process

The IIM Lucknow admission criteria and selection process for the EFPM course are:

• Candidates need to apply online from the official website. The application fee is INR 1000 or INR 500 for SC/ ST candidates.
• Before the application process, applicants must meet the eligibility for IIM Lucknow.
• During the application, students have to select any one of the specializations available. Note that students can select only 2 academic areas.
• After the online application, students are shortlisted by screening committees.
• Shortlisted candidates are invited for a PI at IIM Lucknow Campus in Lucknow or Noida.
• Final selection is based on the evaluation of personal interviews, and professional, and academic profiles.