Great Lakes Chennai PGDM Admission 2027
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, offers a two-year, full-time PGDM programme for fresh graduates and early-career professionals looking to build careers in management. The programme accepts entrance exam scores from CAT, XAT and GMAT. Admission is based on a candidate's academic record, entrance exam performance, work experience and Personal Interview.
The Great Lakes Chennai Admission 2027 process is open for the 2027–29 batch. Candidates can apply using CAT 2025, CAT 2026, XAT 2026, XAT 2027 or eligible GMAT scores. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks across Class 10, Class 12 and graduation. Freshers and candidates with less than 36 months of work experience as of May 30, 2027, are eligible.
Great Lakes Chennai PGDM Admission 2027: Important Dates
Great Lakes Chennai Admission 2027 applications for its PGDM 2027–29 batch. The institute has introduced multiple admission cycles to facilitate early application processing, interviews and admission offers. Candidates can apply through the official admission portal and select their preferred campus.
The institute has announced the deadline for the first admission cycle, while the dates for subsequent cycles are yet to be confirmed.
Great Lakes Chennai PGDM Admission 2027 Events | Dates |
Application process | Open |
Cycle 1 application deadline | November 26, 2026 |
Cycle 1 Personal Interview | To be announced |
Cycle 2 application deadline | To be announced |
Cycle 3 application deadline | To be announced |
Cycle 4 application deadline | To be announced |
Final admission offers | To be announced |
PGDM 2027–29 programme commencement | To be announced |
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Great Lakes Chennai PGDM Application Form 2027
Candidates seeking admission to the PGDM programme must complete the online application form through the official Great Lakes admission portal. The Great Lakes Chennai application process is common for the Chennai and Gurgaon campuses, and candidates can select their campus preferences while registering.
The application fee is ₹2,200, payable online. Candidates must provide their academic details, entrance examination information and other relevant personal details while completing the application.
Steps to fill out the Great Lakes Chennai PGDM application form:
- Visit the official Great Lakes website at greatlakes.edu.in.
- Navigate to the PGDM admissions section.
- Click on the application link to access the registration portal.
- Register using a valid email address and mobile number.
- Enter personal information and academic qualifications.
- Provide CAT, XAT or GMAT examination details. Candidates awaiting their entrance exam results can update their scores later through the application dashboard.
- Select the preferred campus, Chennai or Gurgaon.
- Upload the required documents and complete the application details.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹2,200 online.
- Submit the application form and save the confirmation for future reference.
Candidates can apply before receiving their entrance examination results, provided they have registered for an eligible examination and completed the other mandatory application requirements. Applicants must update their scores once the results are declared.
Also Read: Great Lakes Chennai Application Form 2027: Apply Online
Great Lakes Chennai PGDM Eligibility Criteria 2027
Candidates must meet the academic, entrance examination and work experience requirements prescribed by Great Lakes Institute of Management to apply for the PGDM 2027–29 batch.
The eligibility requirements for the Chennai campus are as follows:
Academic Qualification
- Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university or institution.
- Applicants must have secured a minimum of 50% marks consistently in Class 10, Class 12 and graduation.
- Candidates appearing for their final-year undergraduate examinations can also apply, subject to fulfilling the prescribed eligibility conditions.
Applicants must have a valid score in at least one of the following examinations:
Entrance Exam | Accepted Exam Year |
CAT | CAT 2025 and CAT 2026 |
XAT | XAT 2026 and XAT 2027 |
GMAT | GMAT taken on or after January 1, 2024 |
Work Experience Requirements
- Fresh graduates without prior work experience are eligible to apply.
- Candidates with less than 36 months of work experience as of May 30, 2027, can apply.
- Candidates with 24–36 months of work experience are also eligible for the two-year PGDM programme. However, Great Lakes encourages such candidates to consider its one-year flagship PGPM programme.
- Candidates with 36 months or more of work experience are not eligible for the two-year PGDM programme under the current admission criteria.
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Great Lakes Chennai CAT, XAT and GMAT Cutoff 2027
Great Lakes Institute of Management does not prescribe fixed CAT, XAT or GMAT cutoffs for PGDM admissions. Instead, the institute evaluates candidates based on their entrance examination performance, academic records, work experience and overall profile.
The institute considers entrance exam scores as one of the important components of its holistic admission process. The required score range may vary depending on the quality and size of the applicant pool in a particular admission cycle.
Based on the institute's previously published admission guidance, the following scores can be considered indicative benchmarks for applicants:
Entrance Exam | Indicative Score Range |
CAT 2025/2026 | 85+ percentile |
XAT 2026/2027 | 85+ percentile |
GMAT | 600+ score |
Also Read: Minimum CAT Percentile Required for Non-IIM MBA Colleges
Great Lakes Chennai Selection Process 2027
Great Lakes Chennai selection process for its PGDM programme. Candidates are evaluated on their entrance examination scores, academic performance, work experience, interview performance and overall suitability for the programme.
The admission process includes the following stages:
Application Screening
After submitting the application form, candidates are evaluated based on their academic background, entrance examination scores and overall profile. The admissions committee considers the applicant's consistency in academics, achievements and professional experience, wherever applicable.
Personal Interview (PI)
The Personal Interview is conducted online by the Great Lakes admissions panel. Candidates are evaluated on several parameters, including:
- General awareness and business knowledge.
- Clarity of career goals and professional aspirations.
- Communication and interpersonal skills.
- Attitude and overall personality.
- Academic understanding and subject knowledge.
- Extracurricular participation and professional achievements.
- Leadership potential and individual initiatives.
Applicants should be prepared to discuss their academic background, career interests, current business developments and reasons for choosing the PGDM programme.
Final Selection and Admission Offer
The admissions committee evaluates the candidate's complete profile before making the final selection decision. The evaluation considers entrance examination scores, academic performance, work experience, interview performance, diversity and other relevant achievements.
College and university rank holders may receive additional weightage during the selection process. Selected candidates receive admission offers through email.
Offer Acceptance and Enrolment
Candidates who receive admission offers must accept the offer and pay the initial admission fee within the specified deadline to confirm their seats. They must also complete document verification and other enrolment formalities before joining the programme.
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Great Lakes Chennai Evaluation Criteria 2027
Applicants are evaluated based on GMAT/CAT/XAT scores, past academic performance, work experience and performance in the AI proctored Interview and personal interview. The selection process builds in a criterion that facilitates evaluating each applicant on:
a) Academic Abilities: The program at Great Lakes is highly demanding and intense; candidates with consistent academic background and an ability to sustain pressure make the shortlist
b) Standardized Test Scores: To eliminate inconsistencies between colleges and universities at the Undergraduate level, Great Lakes considers GMAT or CAT or XAT scores in the overall assessment
c) Personal Interview: The Personal Interview is conducted online and aims to assess the candidate’s suitability for the program and their potential as a future management professional. Candidates are evaluated on parameters including general and business awareness, clarity of goals, attitude, people skills, communication skills, and personal, extracurricular, and professional initiatives.
d) Rank Holders: The program gives a clear advantage / brownie points to College / University rank holders.
e) Integrity and Ethical Values: Great Lakes emphasize on integrity and values including originality.
f) Diversity of Background: At Great Lakes, diversity in background facilitates peer learning which transforms ‘uncut stones’ into ‘diamonds’. We will actively try to bring an academic diversity into the PGDM classroom.
Great Lakes Chennai Admission 2027: Conclusion
Great Lakes Chennai Admission 2027 offers a two-year PGDM programme for fresh graduates and professionals with less than three years of work experience. The admission process for the 2027–29 batch accepts CAT, XAT and GMAT scores and evaluates candidates through a combination of academic performance, entrance examination results and interviews.
Candidates planning to apply should ensure that they meet the academic and work experience requirements and complete the online application before the respective admission cycle deadline. Since Great Lakes follows a holistic selection process without fixed entrance exam cutoffs, applicants should focus on presenting a strong overall profile and preparing well for the AI-proctored interview and Personal Interview.
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