About the Programme

Indian Institute of Management tiruchirappalli offers flagship programmes like PGPM (MBA) and PGPM‑HR (MBA‑HR) for the 2026‑28 batch, with admissions primarily through the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 and a multi‑stage selection process. IIM Trichy participates in the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026 along with IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, and IIM Ranchi.

1. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the MBA/PGPM programme:

· Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).

· CAT Exam: Must have appeared for CAT 2025 and achieved a valid score.

· Final‑year students can apply, subject to meeting graduation requirements by the deadline.

2. CAT Cut‑Off & Shortlisting

Admission to IIM Trichy begins by meeting CAT cut‑off requirements:

Expected CAT Cut‑Offs (2026 Cycle)

· General Category: Overall ~96+ percentile with sectional thresholds (e.g., 75% in VARC, DILR & QA).

· EWS/NC‑OBC/SC/ST/DAP: Relaxed cut‑offs apply as per category norms.

· These cut‑offs can vary slightly each year based on exam difficulty and applicant pool.

Note: Meeting the cut‑off is necessary but not sufficient to secure an interview call; shortlisting also considers competition and category distribution.

3. Selection Process

Admission is based on a holistic evaluation through multiple stages:

3.1 Joint Admission Process (JAP 2026)

For the 2026 cycle, IIM Trichy follows the JAP 2026, which streamlines shortlisting and interviews across participating institutes.

3.2 Shortlisting for PI

· Candidates who meet the specified CAT percentile and sectional requirements are shortlisted for the Personal interview (PI).

· Shortlisting is based on CAT performance and category‑wise criteria.

3.3 Personal interview (PI)

· The PI evaluates communication skills, analytical ability, leadership potential, career goals, and overall fit.

· The PI may be conducted at multiple centres as notified by JAP.

4. Final Merit & Weightages

After PI, the final merit list is prepared using a composite scoring formula that typically includes:

· CAT Percentile / Score: Major weightage (around ~50‑52%).

· Personal Interview: Significant contribution.

· Academic Performance: Class 10, 12 and undergraduate scores.

· Work Experience: Extra points for relevant experience.

· Diversity Factors: Gender/discipline diversity may also be considered.

This composite approach ensures a balanced evaluation of both exam performance and overall profile.

5. Admission Timeline (Expected)

Though specific 2026 dates may vary, the typical cycle includes:

· CAT 2025: november 2025

· CAT Results: december 2025

· JAP Registration & Shortlisting: January‑February 2026

· Personal Interviews (PI): February‑April 2026

· Final Offers: April‑May 2026

· Programme Commencement: june 2026 (tentative)

6. Important Points to Remember

· CAT performance is the first major filter but not the only criterion for final admission.

· Work experience, academic consistency, and interview performance significantly influence the final outcome.

· IIM Trichy’s participation in JAP 2026 simplifies the application process for multiple IIMs through a single window system.

Conclusion

Admission to IIM Trichy for the MBA/PGPM 2026‑28 batch is competitive and profile‑based. Candidates must clear the CAT 2025 cut‑off, perform strongly in the Personal Interview, and have a good overall profile — including academics and work experience — to secure a seat.

 

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