MBA · Hyderabad
Indian School of Business (ISB)
Last updated 20 September 2026 · Reviewed by Piyush Agarwal · Latest change: Round 1 closed today. The official application-deadlines page re-opened this morning still prints Round 1 20 September 2026, Round 2 6 December 2026, Round 3 17 January 2027, with late submissions rolling automatically into the next round. The fees page re-read today still prints Rs 34,48,000 + GST for shared accommodation, single-instalment, plus a Rs 20,000 refundable deposit, marked indicative. The main PGP landing page still carries stale 'Class of 2026–27 are closed' copy — the deadlines page governs. Scholarship-coverage figure keeps its 24 August 2026 verification.
The short answer
As of 20 September 2026, ISB's PGP Round 1 for the Class of 2028 closed today. Late applications roll automatically into Round 2 on 6 December 2026; Round 3 closes 17 January 2027. Admission still requires 24+ months of work experience and a GMAT or GRE test-centre score. The AY 2027-28 fee re-read today is Rs 34,48,000 plus GST.
Selection process
- Submit the online application in one of three rounds — Round 1 by 20 September 2026, Round 2 by 6 December 2026, Round 3 by 17 January 2027; each round opens about two months before its deadline, and candidates may apply only once per application year.
- Hold a valid GMAT or GRE score from a test centre (at-home scores are not accepted); unofficial scores are acceptable at submission if the test was taken on or before the round deadline, with official scores sent to ISB through the test portal.
- Applications submitted after a deadline roll automatically into the next round's consideration; no applications for the Class of 2028 are accepted after 17 January 2027.
- Shortlisted applicants face a face-to-face or online interview; the evaluation is holistic across the application, essays, recommendations and interview.
- Early-career candidates (final-year students or under two years of experience) now apply to the PGP YL route; the older Young Leaders Programme and Early Entry Option have been discontinued.
Fees, with sources
| Item | Figure | Cycle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGP programme fee (shared accommodation, single-instalment) | Rs 34,48,000 plus GST for the academic year 2027-28, covering admission, commitment and tuition fees; plus a refundable security deposit of Rs 20,000. The school marks the fee indicative and subject to revision | AY 2027-28 (PGP Class of 2028) | ISB PGP Fees and Scholarships page (official) ↗ checked 20 Sept 2026 |
| Scholarship coverage | Approximately 25% of PGP students receive financial support each year across nine scholarship categories, from 25% waivers to full tuition (need-based support extends to on-campus expenses) | PGP Class of 2028 admissions cycle | ISB PGP Fees and Scholarships page (official) ↗ checked 24 Aug 2026 |
Is there a management quota here?
There is no management quota at ISB — there is no university system for one to exist in. ISB is a standalone private school with a single published GMAT/GRE route, a uniform fee structure that its own FAQ confirms applies equally to self-funded and company-sponsored candidates, and roughly 820 seats a year across Hyderabad and Mohali filled by one admissions committee. Any offer of an ISB seat through an intermediary, at any price, has no basis in anything the school publishes.
The Indian School of Business is Hyderabad’s flagship management institution and the structural opposite of everything this site usually warns about: one programme, one published route, one uniform fee, and no ambiguity to exploit. The one-year PGP in Management takes professionals with at least two years of full-time work experience through GMAT or GRE — test-centre scores only — into a cohort of roughly 820 across Hyderabad and Mohali.
What should an applicant plan for?
A test-centre GMAT or GRE score, first. Then the calendar: for the Class of 2028, Round 1 closed 20 September 2026, Round 2 on 6 December 2026, and Round 3 on 17 January 2027, with each round’s application opening about two months prior and only one application allowed per year. Unofficial scores are acceptable at submission if you tested on or before the round deadline. The interview — face-to-face or online — follows a holistic read of your essays, recommendations and record.
The money: Rs 34,48,000 plus GST for AY 2027-28 (shared accommodation, single-instalment), covering admission, commitment and tuition, plus a Rs 20,000 refundable deposit. ISB’s own page marks the fee indicative. Against that, about 25% of each class receives scholarship support across nine categories, from 25% waivers to full tuition.
Where does ISB fit in a Hyderabad plan?
Above everything — and priced accordingly. If you are a fresher or want a two-year degree, ISB is the wrong door entirely: look at IBS Hyderabad, NMIMS Hyderabad or the TG ICET layer in our Hyderabad guide. If you have the experience, ISB’s FT 2026 rank (12th globally, 1st in India) is the strongest card an Indian one-year programme can play; the GMAT/GRE route map shows who else accepts the same score.
How Udaan helps with ISB
We help you pick your round honestly — a strong file in Round 1 beats a rushed one — and pressure-test your essays and work-experience narrative before the school’s readers see them. Applications and payments stay on isb.edu; there is no quota to buy, and we would tell you if there were.
Official sources: ISB PGP programme page · PGP application deadlines · PGP fees and scholarships
How Udaan helps
From first question to final admission.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 counsellorGood to know
Questions, answered
- Does ISB accept CAT for the PGP?
- No. ISB requires a valid GMAT or GRE score, and only test-centre-based scores are accepted — at-home editions do not qualify. CAT, XAT, NMAT and other Indian exams play no role in PGP admission.
- What is the ISB PGP fee for the Class of 2028?
- Rs 34,48,000 plus GST for the academic year 2027-28 with shared accommodation and single-instalment payment, plus a Rs 20,000 refundable security deposit, per the official fees page accessed 24 August 2026. The figure covers admission, commitment and tuition fees and is marked indicative.
- Can a fresher join the ISB PGP?
- Not the regular PGP — it requires at least 24 months of full-time work experience as of 31 March. Final-year students and professionals under two years of experience now have the PGP YL route; the older Young Leaders Programme and Early Entry Option have been discontinued.
- Is there a management quota at ISB?
- No. ISB publishes a single merit route (GMAT/GRE, application, interview) and a uniform fee structure that applies identically to self-funded and company-sponsored candidates. Roughly 820 seats a year are filled by its own admissions committee; there is no paid or discretionary channel.
- What are the ISB PGP application deadlines for the Class of 2028?
- Round 1 closed 20 September 2026; Round 2: 6 December 2026; Round 3: 17 January 2027. Late submissions roll into the next round automatically — so a file sent after today is Round 2, not lost. You may apply only once per application year.
- Is the ISB PGP an MBA degree?
- No, and ISB says so itself: the PGP is a one-year full-time residential programme ranked alongside global MBAs (12th in the FT Global MBA Ranking 2026) but it is not a degree programme. Employers treat it as ISB's flagship MBA-equivalent.
Related guidance
Considering ISB?
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