MBA application deadlines 2025: The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conduct the CAT (Common Admission Test), which is the most popular exam for MBA admissions in IIM colleges and many other colleges. The CAT 2025 registration starts on August 1, 2025, and the last date to apply is September 13, 2025. The exam will be held on November 30, 2025. Applying for MBA programs in 2025 requires careful planning and awareness of important deadlines. India’s top business schools, including IIMs and Non-IIM colleges, have specific application timelines that candidates must follow.
Additionally, many Non-IIM colleges require separate applications even if they accept common exam scores. To maximize your chances of admission, it’s important to track all relevant dates carefully. Below is a detailed overview of the key MBA entrance exam dates and application deadlines for top colleges in India for 2025.
MBA Application Deadlines 2025
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode, is scheduled for November 30, 2025 . The registration period opened on August 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM IST and closes on September 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM IST.After registration closes, candidates will have a correction window (tentative) from September 22 to 25 to modify details like test center, photo, and signature
Top MBA Colleges Application Deadlines
Applying to the best MBA colleges in India requires knowing the important deadlines. Different colleges have their own last dates to accept applications, and many require scores from entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, or GMAT. Keeping track of these deadlines helps you apply on time and increases your chances of getting admission. Below is a list of top MBA colleges along with their latest application deadlines for 2025.
Non-IIM MBA colleges Application Deadline
It’s important to know their application deadlines so you can apply on time and keep your options open. Here is a list of popular Non-IIM MBA colleges with their latest application deadlines for 2025.
College Name | Application Deadline (Tentative) | Accepted Exams | Application Mode |
XLRI Jamshedpur | December 5, 2025 | XAT | Apply through XLRI portal |
MDI Gurgaon | November 22, 2025 | CAT | Apply through MDI portal |
ISB Hyderabad | January 25, 2026 | CAT, GMAT | Separate application with essays |
IIT Delhi | January 24, 2026 | CAT | Apply through IIT Delhi portal |
IIT Bombay | January 31, 2026 | CAT | Apply through IIT Bombay portal |
JBIMS Mumbai | January 25, 2026 | CAT, MAH CET, CMAT | Separate application |
TISS Mumbai | December 9, 2025 | CAT | Apply through TISS portal |
SPJIMR Mumbai | December 22, 2025 | CAT, XAT | Apply through SPJIMR portal |
FMS Delhi | December 22, 2025 | CAT | Through DU (requires DU registration) |
IMT Ghaziabad | January 23, 2026 | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Apply through IMT portal |
IIFT Delhi | November 22, 2025 | CAT | Separate application form |
NMIMS Mumbai | October 10, 2025 | NMAT | Apply through NMIMS portal |
Symbiosis (SIBM, SCMHRD, etc.) | December 7, 2025 | SNAP | SNAP + separate institute form |
TAPMI Manipal | December 28, 2025 | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Apply through TAPMI portal |
XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | December 10, 2025 | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Apply through XUB portal |
GIM Goa | November 28, 2025 | CAT, XAT | Separate application form |
Great Lakes (GLIM) | December 1, 2025 | CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT | Apply through GLIM portal |
IRMA Anand | December 26, 2025 | CAT, XAT | Apply through IRMA portal |
MICA Ahmedabad | November 22, 2025 | MICAT + CAT/XAT/GMAT | Apply through MICA portal |
DFS/DBE (DU) | January 15, 2026 | CAT | Separate DU application |
K J Somaiya, Mumbai | January 20, 2026 | CAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, GMAT | Apply through Somaiya portal |
Welingkar (WeSchool) | January 15, 2026 | CAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT | Apply through WeSchool portal |
UBS Chandigarh | February 3, 2026 | CAT, XAT | Apply through PU portal |
IIM MBA colleges Application Deadline
You need to register for the CAT exam first, and through that single registration, you can apply to all the IIMs. It’s important to complete your CAT registration before the deadline to be eligible for admission in any IIM.
Event | Date / Deadline | Notes |
July 28, 2025 (released) | Official notice by IIM Kozhikode | |
CAT 2025 Registration Opens | August 1, 2025 (10:00 AM) | Online at iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2025 Registration Ends | September 13, 2025 (5:00 PM) | No extensions expected |
CAT 2025 Correction Window | September 22 – 25, 2025 (Tentative) | Limited edits (photo, signature, test city) |
CAT 2025 Admit Card | November 5, 2025 | Download from the CAT official site |
November 30, 2025 | Conducted in 3 sessions across India | |
CAT 2025 Result Announcement | First week of January 2026 (Expected) | Results used for IIM and other B-school shortlisting |
Also Read, List Of IIM Colleges Need Separate Application Form? Dates
MBA Application Deadlines for Top Colleges
If you want to join a top MBA college in India, you need to apply before their deadlines. Different colleges have different last dates to submit applications, and they accept scores from various entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, and others. It’s important to know these deadlines so you don’t miss your chance. Below is a list of top MBA colleges with their latest application deadlines for 2025
College / Institute | Latest Application Deadline (Expected) |
IIMs (All) | September 13, 2025 |
XLRI Jamshedpur | December 5, 2025 |
SPJIMR Mumbai | November 24 2025 |
MDI Gurgaon | November 24 2025 |
FMS Delhi | November 22 2025 |
NMIMS Mumbai | October 10, 2025 |
SIBM Pune (Symbiosis) | November 20 2025 |
Great Lakes Chennai/Gurgaon | January 2026 |
IMT Ghaziabad / IMI Delhi | January 2026 |
BITS Pilani (MBA Analytics) | February 28, 2026 |
Also Read, Non-IIM MBA Colleges Accepting Separate Application Form
MBA Application Deadlines for Entrance Exams
When applying for MBA programs in India, you need to take one or more entrance exams. Each exam has its own registration dates, exam dates, and result announcements. It’s important to know these deadlines so you don’t miss the chance to apply to your favorite colleges. Here is a quick overview of the key MBA entrance exams and their important dates for 2025
Entrance Exam | Registration Start Date | Registration Deadline | Exam Date(s) |
CAT 2025 | August 1, 2025 | September 13, 2025 | November 30, 2025 |
XAT 2025 | 1st August 2025 | December 5, 2025 | January 4, 2026 |
NMAT 2025 | 1st August 2025 | October 10, 2025 | October – December 2025 |
SNAP 2025 | August 2025 (Tentative) | November 2025 (Tentative) | 6, 14, 20 December 2025 |
GMAT | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling |
CMAT 2025 | October 2025 (Tentative) | December 2025 (Tentative) | January 2026 (Tentative) |
Also Read, CAT Percentile Required for Top 5 IIM Colleges, Check Now
MBA Application Deadlines 2025: Conclusion
Applying for MBA programs in 2025 requires strategic planning and close attention to application deadlines. The CAT 2025 registration runs from August 1 to September 13, with the exam scheduled for November 30, 2025. Apart from IIMs, Non-IIM colleges like XLRI, FMS, SPJIMR, NMIMS, and ISB have their own separate application deadlines, ranging from October 2025 to early 2026. Candidates should carefully track these dates and apply early to secure their chances at multiple institutes.
Since top B-schools accept different exam scores such as CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, and GMAT, it is important for aspirants to align their preparation with the relevant exams. Missing a deadline could mean losing out on an entire admission cycle. Therefore, keeping a calendar of MBA application deadlines 2025 ensures timely submissions and maximizes the chances of admission into India’s leading business schools.