IIFT MBA 2027 admission fills the MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics) 2027-29 seats at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. IIFT no longer holds its own test: it shortlists on CAT 2026 scores (exam on 29 November 2026), then holds group discussions and interviews. Applications are open from 12 October to 25 November 2026.
IIFT MBA 2027
This page covers how IIFT admits MBA students in 2027 through CAT 2026: dates, how to apply, fees, eligibility, seats, selection and the old IIFT papers.
| Full name | IIFT MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics) admission 2027-29 |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Deemed to be University, Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Exam level | National; no separate IIFT test since 2023, CAT 2026 score is used |
| Courses / Purpose | MBA (IB) at Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City; MBA (BA) at Delhi |
| Exam date | CAT 2026 on 29 November 2026 (conducted by the IIMs) |
| Application | 12 October to 25 November 2026, online on IIFT's admission portal |
| Application fee | MBA (IB) Rs 3,000 (SC/ST/PwD/TG Rs 1,500); MBA (BA) Rs 2,000 (Rs 1,000) |
| Eligibility | Bachelor's degree of 3+ years with 50% (45% SC/ST/PwD for MBA IB); final-year students can apply |
| Selection | Shortlist on CAT 2026 score and other parameters, then group discussion and interview |
| Mode | No IIFT written test; GD and interview in person at 10 cities |
| Official website | iift.ac.in |
Does IIFT hold its own entrance exam in 2027?
No. IIFT stopped its own MBA entrance test after the IIFT MBA (IB) 2023-25 test, which the National Testing Agency (NTA) held on 18 December 2022. From the 2024-26 batch, IIFT has picked MBA students on CAT scores, and the 2027-29 prospectus says it will use the CAT 2026 score.
| Then (up to the 2023-25 batch) | Now (2027-29 batch) |
|---|---|
| IIFT’s own entrance test, run by NTA from 2019 | CAT 2026, held by the IIMs on 29 November 2026 |
| One IIFT form for the test and the course | CAT form on iimcat.ac.in plus a separate IIFT application on applyadmission.net |
| Shortlist on IIFT test marks | Shortlist on CAT 2026 score and other parameters, then GD and interview |
IIFT’s prospectus also states that the IIMs have no role in IIFT’s selection process. So a CAT 2026 score alone does not put you in the race: you must also apply to IIFT before its deadline.
IIFT MBA 2027 Important Dates
The table lists IIFT’s 2027-29 admission calendar together with the CAT 2026 dates that IIFT depends on.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| IIFT MBA | 12 October to 25 November 2026 Open |
| CAT 2026 admit card download | 4 to 29 November 2026 Upcoming |
| Exam | 29 November 2026 Upcoming |
| Merit list | January 2027 Expected |
| CAT 2026 result | By 7 January 2027 Expected |
| Group discussion and personal interview | February 2027 Expected |
| Result | April 2027 Expected |
| MBA 2027-29 programme begins | June 2027 Expected |
How to apply for IIFT MBA 2027?
You apply online on IIFT’s admission portal between 12 October and 25 November 2026 (11:59 PM), and you must also be registered for CAT 2026, whose registration closed in September 2026. MBA (IB) and MBA (BA) need separate registrations and separate fees.
Apply Online for IIFT MBA 2027
Applications for IIFT MBA 2027 are open: 12 October to 25 November 2026.
- Open the official application portal, choose MBA (International Business) or MBA (Business Analytics), and click New Log In.
- Register with a valid email ID and a password of your choice, then submit. IIFT sends an acknowledgement to that email.
- Keep ready your photo and signature (JPG, under 100 KB each), Class 10, Class 12 and graduation marksheets (PDF, under 300 KB each), any work-experience and category certificates, and a copy of your CAT 2026 application.
- Log in again with your email ID and password, fill the application form and save it, then upload the photo, signature and documents.
- Accept the undertaking and pay the fee by debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. You get an application number after payment, and the form cannot be edited after this step.
- Print the completed form for your records. You do not have to post it to IIFT.
| Category | MBA (IB) fee | MBA (BA) fee |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS | Rs 3,000 | Rs 2,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Transgender | Rs 1,500 | Rs 1,000 |
The application fee is not refunded. The category you choose in the form cannot be changed later, so upload a valid central-government format certificate if you claim SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD or Kashmiri Migrant status.
Who can apply for IIFT MBA 2027-29?
For MBA (International Business), you need a recognised bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years in any subject with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD). A completed CA, CS, CMA (ICWA) or FIAI qualification with the same marks also counts.
For MBA (Business Analytics), you need one of these with at least 50% marks or a 5.0 CGPA out of 10:
- a bachelor’s degree with Mathematics or Statistics as a subject at graduation;
- a B.Tech or B.E. degree in any discipline;
- a bachelor’s degree with Mathematics at the 10+2 level (Applied Mathematics in Class 12 is not accepted);
- a completed CA, CS, CMA (ICWA) or FIAI qualification (45% for SC, ST and PwD).
Final-year students can apply for both courses but must show proof of the required degree by 31 October 2027, or the admission is cancelled. There is no age limit.
How does IIFT select students for MBA 2027-29?
IIFT shortlists applicants on their CAT 2026 score and other parameters it defines, then calls them for a group discussion and personal interview. The prospectus does not publish the weights for each part.
- Take CAT 2026 on 29 November 2026; the IIMs expect to declare the result by 7 January 2027.
- IIFT puts the list of shortlisted candidates on iift.ac.in in the last week of January 2027.
- Group discussion and interview from February 2027, in person at Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow and Mumbai.
- The final list of selected candidates is due in the last week of April 2027, and classes start in June 2027.
IIFT can add or drop a GD/PI centre, or move interviews online, for administrative reasons. Seats are reserved as per Government of India norms.
How many seats and what fees does IIFT MBA have?
IIFT offers 780 MBA seats in the 2027-29 prospectus: 720 in MBA (IB) across four campuses and 60 in MBA (BA) at Delhi.
| Course and campus | Seats | Total fee (2026-28 batch) |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (IB), Delhi | 240 | Rs 19.73 lakh |
| MBA (IB), Kolkata | 240 | Rs 19.73 lakh |
| MBA (IB), Kakinada | 120 | Rs 19.73 lakh |
| MBA (IB), GIFT City | 120 | Rs 19.73 lakh |
| MBA (BA), Delhi | 60 | Rs 17.93 lakh |
These are the 2026-28 batch fees; IIFT will state the exact 2027-29 fee in the offer letters. SC, ST and PwD students get a 50% concession on the tuition fee, and hostel and mess charges are extra.
Are old IIFT question papers still useful?
Yes, for practice. The IIFT papers test quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, logical reasoning and verbal ability, the same areas as CAT, though IIFT also had a general awareness section that CAT does not. Our year-wise archive of the past IIFT tests:
- IIFT 2023 question paper: the last IIFT test, with the final answer key
- IIFT 2022 question paper: Set 1 and Set 2
- IIFT 2021 and IIFT 2020 question papers with final answer keys
- IIFT 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 pen-and-paper tests
For the current route, practise in the CAT format with a free CAT mock test.
IIFT MBA 2027 Official Notices and Downloads
- PDFIIFT MBA (IB) and MBA (BA) 2027-29 ProspectusOfficial site · iift.ac.inOpen
- LINKIIFT MBA 2027-29 Admission CalendarOfficial site · applyadmission.netOpen
- PDFIIFT MBA 2027-29 Guidelines to Apply OnlineOfficial site · applyadmission.netOpen
- LINKIIFT Admission 2027 page (official website)Official site · iift.ac.inOpen