MBA · Chennai

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

Private

Last updated 13 July 2026 · Latest change: Initial publication

The short answer

As of July 2026, Great Lakes Chennai admits to its one-year PGPM and two-year PGDM only through its own online application plus GMAT, CAT or XAT scores (NMAT for PGPM only), essays and interviews. The institute states in writing that it has no management quota and that third parties offering such seats are fraudulent. The 2026-27 PGPM fee is Rs 23,50,000 total.

Selection process

  1. Online application on greatlakes.edu.in (fee Rs 2,200; a single form can cover the Chennai and Gurgaon campuses)
  2. PGPM: evaluation on GMAT/CAT/XAT/NMAT score, past academics, essays and work experience, then two interview rounds (analytical writing test and personal interview) held in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata
  3. PGDM: AI-proctored video interview followed by an online personal interview, weighed together with the GMAT/CAT/XAT score, past academics and work experience

Fees, with sources

Great Lakes Chennai — published figures and where they come from
ItemFigureCycleSource
PGPM total fee (Indian students) Rs 23,50,000 total: tuition Rs 12,43,000 + programme fee Rs 6,96,000, plus single AC accommodation Rs 3,96,000, refundable caution deposit Rs 10,000 and alumni subscription Rs 5,000 (USD 41,450 for international students); refund per AICTE norms 2026-27 Great Lakes Chennai - PGPM Fee Structure 2026-27 ↗ checked 13 Jul 2026
PGPM fee for the 2027-28 batch confirm on the official page ↗ 2027-28 Great Lakes Chennai - PGPM Fee Structure page ↗ checked 13 Jul 2026
PGDM total fee Rs 22,50,000 total: tuition Rs 10,25,000 + programme fee Rs 5,78,000, plus twin AC accommodation Rs 6,32,000, refundable caution deposit Rs 10,000 and alumni subscription Rs 5,000; residential programme, hostel mandatory; refund per AICTE norms 2026-28 Great Lakes Chennai - PGDM Fee Structure 2026-28 ↗ checked 13 Jul 2026
PGDM fee for the 2027-29 batch confirm on the official page ↗ 2027-29 Great Lakes Chennai - PGDM Fee Structure page ↗ checked 13 Jul 2026
Application fee (PGPM and PGDM) Rs 2,200 per online application 2027 intake cycle Great Lakes Chennai - PGDM Admissions ↗ checked 13 Jul 2026

Is there a management quota here?

No. Both admissions pages carry the same written notice: Great Lakes does not admit students under management quota or any other form of reservation, and any third party offering such seats for its programs would be fraudulent. The only way in is the online application on greatlakes.edu.in followed by exam scores, essays and interviews. No third party is authorized to initiate applications.

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai runs two full-time programmes. The PGPM is its one-year flagship, running since 2004 per the official programme page, built for candidates with around two or more years of work experience. The PGDM is the two-year programme for freshers and candidates with under 36 months of experience, AICTE-approved and validated by AIU as an MBA equivalent, per the official programme pages. The institute is AACSB and AMBA accredited, with NBA accreditation for the PGDM (accreditations page, greatlakes.edu.in).

There is exactly one way in, and the institute says so itself. Both admissions pages carry the same notice: Great Lakes does not admit students under management quota or any other form of reservation, and any third party offering such seats for its programs would be fraudulent. No third party is authorized to initiate applications. The real process is an online application on greatlakes.edu.in (Rs 2,200, per the admissions pages), an accepted exam score, essays, and interview rounds. One detail trips people up: NMAT 2025/2026 counts for the PGPM but is not listed for the PGDM, and this acceptance is Great Lakes’ own decision, nothing to do with NMIMS. No minimum cutoff is published for either programme, but the exam itself is mandatory. For what a management quota legally is and where it actually exists, see what management quota really means.

The published money is specific. The PGPM costs Rs 23,50,000 total for Indian students, of which Rs 19,39,000 is academic and the rest is single AC accommodation, a refundable Rs 10,000 caution deposit and a Rs 5,000 alumni subscription (2026-27 fee structure, official PGPM fee page). The PGDM costs Rs 22,50,000 total, with hostel mandatory as it is a residential programme (2026-28 fee structure, official PGDM fee page). Fees for the 2027 admission cycles were not yet posted as of 13 July 2026, so confirm the current figure on the official fee pages before planning. The PGPM also carries 40 diversity and merit scholarships worth Rs 5 lakh each, at least 30% reserved for female students, per the PGPM admissions page.

How Udaan helps with admission to Great Lakes Chennai

The real decision here is which programme fits: the one-year PGPM if you have the work experience and the 50% academic record, or the two-year PGDM if you are a fresher clearing the 60% bar, both minimums per the official admissions pages. Udaan helps you pick the right exam for your timeline (NMAT only helps for PGPM), build the essays, and prepare for the interview rounds where Great Lakes actually decides. We take no commissions and you pay only the college, directly. If someone has offered you a paid seat here, the institute has already called that offer fraudulent in writing, and we will show you the official notice rather than a shortcut that does not exist. If neither programme fits your profile this cycle, we will say that plainly too. See our Chennai MBA guide for the wider picture, or talk to us.

Details on this page are indicative and compiled from official sources; always confirm current eligibility, fees and deadlines with the institute before applying.

Sources: PGPM admissions · PGDM admissions · PGPM fees · PGDM fees · Accreditations

How Udaan helps

From first question to final admission.

  1. 01

    Free, honest first read

    Share scores, category and budget on WhatsApp; a counsellor tells you which routes are genuinely open — including when the honest answer is none.

  2. 02

    A shortlist with reasons

    Colleges that fit the profile, each with the published fee, the real admission route and what it takes to convert.

  3. 03

    Guided to the seat

    Applications, documents, selection rounds and counselling dates handled step by step, up to enrolment.

Udaan is an independent practice: no partner colleges, no commissions from any institute we recommend, and every fee is paid to the college directly — never to us.

WhatsApp a counsellor

Good to know

Questions, answered

Does Great Lakes Chennai have a management quota or direct admission?
No. Both admissions pages state that Great Lakes does not admit students under management quota or any other form of reservation, and that any third party offering such seats for its programs would be fraudulent. Every admission runs through the online application on greatlakes.edu.in followed by exam scores, essays and interviews.
Which entrance exams does Great Lakes Chennai accept?
For the PGPM (2027-28 process): GMAT taken after 1 January 2024, CAT 2025/2026, XAT 2026/2027, and NMAT 2025/2026. For the PGDM (2027 intake): GMAT, CAT and XAT only; NMAT is not listed for PGDM. No minimum cutoff is published, but appearing in an accepted exam is mandatory.
What is the fee at Great Lakes Chennai?
PGPM: Rs 23,50,000 total for the 2026-27 batch, of which Rs 19,39,000 is academic (tuition plus programme fee) and the rest accommodation, deposit and alumni subscription, per the official fee page. PGDM: Rs 22,50,000 total for 2026-28. Fees for the 2027 cycles were not published as of 13 July 2026; confirm on the official fee pages.
What is the difference between the Great Lakes PGPM and PGDM?
The PGPM is the one-year flagship for experienced candidates: minimum 50% across 10th, 12th and UG, with 2+ years of work experience considered. The PGDM is the two-year, AIU-validated MBA-equivalent for freshers and candidates with under 36 months of experience, with a higher 60% academic bar. The exam lists also differ; NMAT counts only for PGPM.
Is there a minimum cutoff percentile for Great Lakes Chennai?
No cutoff is published for either programme. But the exam is not optional: the admissions pages require every applicant to appear for an accepted exam, and a final offer comes only after scores are submitted. A profile-based early interview exists for registrants still awaiting results.
Does Great Lakes Chennai offer scholarships?
For the PGPM, yes: 40 diversity and merit scholarships worth Rs 5 lakh each for the incoming cohort, with a minimum 30% reserved for female students, plus the Dr. Bala V Balachandran Merit Scholarship, a full tuition fee waiver. There is no separate application; shortlisting uses the application, essays and interviews. No PGDM-specific scheme is published.

Considering Great Lakes Chennai?

Let's check your chances, honestly.

Share the student's scores and category and we'll give a realistic read on this and other colleges, and guide the admission end to end.

WhatsApp a counsellor