Eight IIMs run a full-time one year MBA: IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX), Bangalore (EPGP), Calcutta (MBAEx), Lucknow (IPMX), Indore (EPGP), Udaipur, Shillong (PGPEx) and Mumbai (PGPEx). Each asks for 3 to 5 years of work experience at minimum, most admit on GMAT or GRE, and published fees run from ₹24.41 lakh to ₹36.20 lakh for 2027-28 (as of October 2026).
Data as of: October 2026. Every fee and eligibility rule below comes from the institute’s own programme, admissions or fee page, linked in the table. Where an institute has not published a fee for the coming batch, the row says so.
Which IIMs offer a one year MBA?
These are residential, full-time programmes: you leave your job for about 12 months and live on campus. Part-time and weekend MBAs for working professionals are covered in our executive MBA from IIM guide.
| Programme | Campus | Minimum work experience | Tests accepted | Intake | Total fee (batch) | Award | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad MBA-PGPX | Ahmedabad | 4 years after graduation as on 31 March 2027; minimum age 25 | GMAT or GRE | April | ₹36.20 lakh single housing, ₹38.30 lakh married housing (2027-28), plus the international immersion | MBA | PGPX |
| IIM Bangalore EPGP | Bengaluru | 5 years (preferably under 12) as on 31 March 2027 | GMAT or GRE; at-home scores not accepted | Check the institute page | ₹33.68 lakh with hostel and mess, ₹32.20 lakh without (2026-27), including an indicative ₹5.50 lakh immersion | MBA | EPGP |
| IIM Calcutta MBAEx | Kolkata | 5 years after graduation as on 31 March 2027; 60% in Class X, XII and graduation | GMAT only, test-centre scores, 50th percentile or above | Check the institute page | Check the institute page; no fee published for Batch 21 (2027-28) | Degree or diploma, pending the Ministry’s decision | MBAEx |
| IIM Lucknow IPMX | Noida campus | 4 years after graduation as on 31 March 2027 | GMAT or GRE, test-centre scores only | First week of April | ₹26.00 lakh + ₹20,000 refundable caution + ₹5,000 alumni fee (2027-28), excluding immersion airfare | Degree or diploma, pending the outcome of engagement with the Ministry | IPMX |
| IIM Indore EPGP | Indore | 5 years after graduation by the application deadline | GMAT or GRE (within 5 years) or CAT 2025/2026 | April (classes from 15 April 2027) | ₹26.77 lakh for Indian nationals (2027-28), including lodging and boarding | Check the institute page | EPGP |
| IIM Udaipur one-year MBA in Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) or Digital Enterprise Management (DEM) | Udaipur | 36 months after graduation as of 28 February 2027 | GMAT or GRE (centre-based, last 5 years) or CAT 2022 or later | Check the institute page | ₹24.41 lakh including ₹30,000 refundable caution (2027-28), excluding mess and the ₹5,000 alumni fee; same for DEM | MBA | GSCM, DEM |
| IIM Shillong PGPEx | Shillong | 5 years after the bachelor’s degree as on 31 March 2027 (1 year relaxed with at least 1 year of field experience outside India) | CAT (50 percentile) or GMAT/GMAT Focus (500) | April 2027 registration | Check the institute page; the finance page still shows the 2024-25 batch: ₹20.00 lakh tuition + ₹2.665 lakh non-academic fees + ₹10,000 deposit, immersion at actuals | Check the institute page | PGPEx |
| IIM Mumbai MBA-PGPEx | Mumbai | 3 to 10 years after graduation | CAT, GMAT, GRE or the IIM Mumbai Admission Test (IMAT) | Check the institute page; listed as “coming soon” | Check the institute page; the last posted schedule (instalments due October 2024 to July 2025) was ₹15.00 lakh paid annually or ₹16.00 lakh module-wise, plus taxes | MBA | PGPEx |
Eligibility sources not linked in the table: IIM Ahmedabad’s PGPX application portal, IIM Calcutta’s MBAEx admissions policy, IIM Shillong’s PGPEx 2027-28 admission process document and IIM Mumbai’s eligibility page.
Fee inclusions differ. IIM Indore’s total covers lodging and boarding. IIM Bangalore’s counts an indicative immersion that IIM Ahmedabad’s excludes. IIM Udaipur’s leaves out mess charges. Compare all-in cash, then add a year of lost salary to each row.
What is PGPX at IIM Ahmedabad?
PGPX is IIM Ahmedabad’s one year, full-time, residential MBA for experienced professionals. IIM Ahmedabad says graduates receive a Master of Business Administration degree, and lists the programme as MBA-PGPX.
You need a bachelor’s degree with 15 years of formal education, at least 4 years of full-time work experience after graduation as on 31 March 2027, a minimum age of 25 and a valid GMAT or GRE score. The programme starts in April. For the 2027-28 batch, IIM Ahmedabad’s application portal listed one round, open from 6 July to 2 September 2026, with an ₹8,000 application fee.
The fee page puts the 2027-28 PGPX fee at ₹36.20 lakh with single housing and ₹38.30 lakh with married housing. Tuition, books, accommodation and library and computing charges are included. The international immersion and usage-based utilities are billed separately.
IIM Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow and Indore one year MBA compared
IIM Bangalore EPGP. A one year residential MBA for candidates with 5 years of experience, preferably under 12, admitted on GMAT or GRE. Its PGPEM FAQ confirms the EPGP awards an MBA and offers placement services. The scholarships page lists merit awards of ₹8 lakh, ₹6 lakh and ₹4 lakh for a limited number of students.
IIM Calcutta (IIM Kolkata) MBAEx. The strictest academic bar in the group: 60% in Class X, Class XII and graduation, 5 years of experience, and a GMAT taken at a test centre. The 50th-percentile floor works out to 600 on GMAT Classic or 565 on GMAT Focus, per the July 2025 concordance tables cited in the admissions policy. IIM Calcutta says the final status of the award, degree or diploma, depends on its deliberations with the Ministry.
IIM Lucknow IPMX. Runs at the Noida campus, starting in the first week of April 2027. It needs 4 years of experience and a centre-based GMAT or GRE. IIM Lucknow also says the final status, degree or diploma, will depend on the outcome of its engagement with the Ministry.
IIM Indore EPGP. The only one of these four that accepts CAT (2025 or 2026) alongside GMAT and GRE. Classes start on 15 April 2027 and the ₹26.77 lakh fee includes lodging and boarding, which makes it good value on cash outlay.
Does IIM Kozhikode or IIM Rohtak have a one year MBA?
We found no full-time one year MBA on IIM Kozhikode’s site. The programme most people find under “IIM Kozhikode 1 year MBA” is the EPGP, a two-year programme with live classes at TimesPro classroom centres and three campus modules, priced at ₹16.75 lakh for EPGP-19 (2026-28). It suits people who want to keep working. The executive MBA guide compares it with other weekend formats.
IIM Rohtak’s EPGPX (also listed as PGPx) is the other name that comes up. IIM Rohtak’s website returned a certificate error when we checked in October 2026, so we could not confirm the current format, fee or award. Check the delivery mode and whether it awards an MBA or a diploma with the institute before applying.
How admission to an IIM one year MBA works
Selection runs in four steps at the programmes we checked: an eligibility check on degree and work experience, shortlisting mostly on the test score, an interview round, and a merit list built from weighted scores.
- Profile. Only full-time, paid work after your bachelor’s degree counts. IIM Indore says so explicitly, and IIM Shillong asks for proof such as experience letters and EPF or NPS statements.
- Test score. Every programme accepts GMAT. GRE works everywhere except IIM Calcutta and IIM Shillong, and CAT works at Indore, Udaipur, Shillong and Mumbai. IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow and IIM Udaipur do not accept at-home GMAT or GRE scores.
- Written work and references. IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow hold a written ability test (WAT) on interview day. IIM Shillong runs a group discussion. IIM Lucknow asks for two recommendation letters. Check each application form for essay prompts.
- Interview. The interview carries the largest or joint-largest weight in every published scheme we found.
The published weights show how much the test score matters at each institute:
| Programme | Test score | Profile and experience | Written test or GD | Interview | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Calcutta MBAEx | 25% GMAT | 10% academics, 15% work experience | 15% WAT | 30% | 5% diversity |
| IIM Lucknow IPMX | 30% | 30% academic and professional profile | 10% WAT | 30% | None |
| IIM Indore EPGP | 40% | None listed | None listed | 55% | 5% diversity |
| IIM Shillong PGPEx | 20% CAT or GMAT | 30% total experience | 20% GD | 30% | None |
Deadlines for the April 2027 intakes still open after October 2026 include IIM Lucknow IPMX (30 November 2026 and 20 January 2027), IIM Indore EPGP Phase 2 (11 January 2027) and IIM Udaipur’s three cycles closing on 23 November 2026, 11 January 2027 and 31 January 2027. IIM Calcutta’s final results are due on 11 January 2027.
One year MBA vs two-year PGP vs part-time executive MBA
Pick the format first, then the institute.
- Choose a one year MBA if you have at least 3 to 5 years of experience and want to change role, industry or city with campus placement support. You pay ₹24 lakh to ₹38 lakh and give up a year’s salary, so run the payback through the ROI calculator.
- Choose the two-year PGP through CAT if you are a fresher or have under 3 years of experience. None of the programmes above will admit you yet. Start with how to get into an IIM.
- Choose a part-time or weekend executive MBA if you want the degree while staying with your employer. Fees are lower (₹11 lakh to ₹20.11 lakh across the programmes we checked) and you keep your salary, but placement support is usually absent. See executive MBA from IIM.
We recommend the one year route only when you can name the target role. Add a year of forgone salary to the fee before you compare it with a two-year or part-time option.
Which IIM one year MBA is the cheapest?
Among programmes with a published fee for the 2027-28 batch, IIM Udaipur’s one-year MBAs are the cheapest at ₹24.41 lakh including the refundable caution, though mess charges are extra. IIM Lucknow’s IPMX (₹26.00 lakh plus ₹25,000 in deposits and alumni fee) and IIM Indore’s EPGP (₹26.77 lakh with lodging and boarding) follow. IIM Ahmedabad’s PGPX is the most expensive at ₹36.20 lakh.
IIM Mumbai’s last posted PGPEx schedule was lower, at ₹15.00 lakh plus taxes, but it dates from the 2024-25 cycle and no newer batch fee was listed as of October 2026. Financing options for these programmes are in IIM scholarships and education loans.
Common questions
Can I get into an IIM one year MBA without CAT?
Yes. IIM Ahmedabad’s PGPX, IIM Bangalore’s EPGP and IIM Lucknow’s IPMX admit on GMAT or GRE, and IIM Calcutta’s MBAEx accepts only GMAT. IIM Indore, Udaipur, Shillong and Mumbai accept CAT as one option alongside GMAT.
Which IIM one year MBA is the cheapest?
For the 2027-28 batch, IIM Udaipur’s one-year MBAs in Global Supply Chain Management and Digital Enterprise Management cost ₹24.41 lakh including a ₹30,000 refundable caution, excluding mess. That is the lowest published fee among the eight IIMs offering a full-time one year MBA.
Is PGPX an MBA degree?
Yes. IIM Ahmedabad states that PGPX graduates receive a Master of Business Administration degree, and the programme is listed as MBA-PGPX. IIM Calcutta’s MBAEx and IIM Lucknow’s IPMX say their final award, degree or diploma, is still subject to the Ministry.
What is the eligibility for a one year executive MBA from IIM?
A bachelor’s degree (usually 50% marks; 60% at IIM Calcutta), 3 to 5 years of full-time work experience after graduation depending on the IIM, and a GMAT, GRE or, at some institutes, CAT score. IIM Ahmedabad also sets a minimum age of 25.
What is the IIM Ahmedabad one year MBA fee?
The 2027-28 MBA-PGPX fee is ₹36.20 lakh with single housing and ₹38.30 lakh with married housing. It covers tuition, books and accommodation and excludes the international immersion programme and usage-based utilities.
What is the IIM Bangalore one year MBA fee?
IIM Bangalore lists ₹33.68 lakh with hostel and mess and ₹32.20 lakh without for the 2026-27 EPGP batch. Both totals include an indicative ₹5.50 lakh for the international immersion.
What GMAT score do I need for IIM Calcutta’s one year MBA?
IIM Calcutta’s MBAEx needs a test-centre GMAT at the 50th percentile or above. Its admissions policy gives that as 600 on GMAT Classic or 565 on GMAT Focus, based on the July 2025 concordance tables.
Does IIM Kozhikode offer a one year MBA?
We found no full-time one year MBA at IIM Kozhikode (IIM Calicut). Its EPGP is a two-year programme taken while working, with live classes at TimesPro centres and three campus modules, costing ₹16.75 lakh for the 2026-28 batch.
Do IIM one year MBAs offer placements?
Several do. IIM Bangalore says its EPGP offers placement services, and IIM Udaipur says its one-year MBA students get campus placement opportunities. Check each programme’s placement page for the latest batch outcomes.
Is a one year MBA from IIM better than the two-year PGP?
Neither is better for everyone. The one year MBA suits candidates with at least 3 to 5 years of experience who want a fast switch, while the two-year PGP through CAT is the route for freshers and early-career applicants, with a summer internship built in.
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