PGDM Admissions Process

Admission Process

Eligibility Criteria - Admissions PGDM 2025 Intake

Admission Process

Evaluation Process

What B Schools look for in MBA Candidates?

Profile-based Early Interview Process:

Key Dates

Great Lakes is introducing two rounds of interviews for PGDM to enable and optimize early processing of applications and sending out offers to candidates. The details are below:

All applicants are required to appear for GMAT^x/CAT*/XAT⁺ before applying to Great Lakes Institute of Management.
For PGDM 2025 Intake, Great Lakes Institute of Management will accept scores of GMAT taken after 1st January 2022, CAT taken in 2023/2024, XAT taken in 2024/2025.
All applicants should possess a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution and minimum 60% score across 10^th/12^th/Undergraduation.
Freshers and candidates with strictly less than 36 months of work experience as on 30th June 2025 ONLY are eligible to apply.
Candidates with 2-3 years of work experience by 30th April 2025 are encouraged to apply for the One Year Flagship PGPM. They are also eligible to apply for the Two year PGDM.
In case an eligible candidate would like to apply for both the programs, they may do so by filling the application forms for both PGPM and PGDM separately. Candidates will be evaluated based on the respective program’s admission criteria. The admissions panel may also recommend the candidates for a specific program based on the assessment and program fit
Candidates with family business experience, or belonging to business families and planning to join the business after their MBA, can enroll for the PGPM - Family Business & Entrepreneurship program
There will be a special preference for College / University rank holders in terms of an extra weightage gained as part of the selection process. The onus of proof of rank is vested in the applicant.

*Great Lakes uses CAT scores only for screening applications for admissions and IIMs have no role in the conduct of Great Lakes academic programs

+Great Lakes is not an associate institute of XLRI but uses XAT scores only for screening applicants for admission & XLRI has no role to play in the conduct of any of Great Lakes Management programs

^xAll editions of GMAT - Classic, Focus and Online will be accepted.

Admissions to Great Lakes programs are carried out only through the online application available on www.greatlakes.edu.in. Great Lakes Institute of Management has not authorized any third party to initiate applications on its behalf.

Great Lakes Institute of Management does not admit students under Management Quota or any other form of reservation. Any third party organization or individual offering management quota seats for Great Lakes programs would be fraudulent and applicants are requested not to approach such organizations or individuals.

Candidates meeting the eligibility criteria can apply to Great Lakes Institute of Management by completing an online form.
To apply, candidates must fill in the online application form on www.greatlakes.edu.in after making a payment of INR 2,000 online. Candidates have the option of either applying to Great Lakes, Chennai and Great Lakes, Gurgaon campuses separately or for both the campuses through the common application form by selecting the appropriate option in the registration form.
Candidates have to provide the official email-id of the recommender. The recommendation letter will be collected from the final selected student’s recommenders and it must be submitted online

All your queries regarding admission process can be sent to us at admissions@greatlakes.edu.in.

Applicants are evaluated based on GMAT/CAT/XAT scores, past academic performance, essays, work experience and performance in the 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) Video Interview and Personal Interview: The AI-proctored video interview before the final PI will test a candidate for their thought process and communication skills. Shorlisted candidates from this round will go to the final PI process which aims to determine the suitability of the candidate for the program and as a future management professional. Candidates are assessed on a number of parameters including general and business awareness, clarity of goals, attitude, people skills, communication skills, personal and extra-curricular/professional initiatives, etc.

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.

The above conditions / clauses / terms can be reviewed by the Institute from time to time. Hence, the prospective candidate is encouraged to visit the Great Lakes website at www.greatlakes.edu.in for regular updates.

All your queries regarding admission process can be sent to us at admissions@greatlakes.edu.in.

Mr. Gautam Lakhamraju, Admissions Director talks with Unacademy about what MBA colleges like us look for in MBA candidates and also shares tips on approaching and preparing for admissions.

Eligibility Criteria

All GMAT Takers [GMAT 2022 | GMAT 2023 | GMAT 2023 (taken on or before 1^st December 2024)]
All CAT 2023 & 2024 takers
All XAT 2024 takers
Candidates appearing for CAT 2024 | XAT 2025 or GMAT (taken on or before 31^st Jan, 2025) can also apply in Cycle 1 and submit their forms pending the availability of their scores. Selected candidates will be interviewed basis their profiles in Cycle 1. Learn more about Profile Based Early Interviews in Cycle 1.

Application Deadline

1^st December, 2024

Personal Interview (PI)

Result Declared

Final Offers

Offers sent to shortlisted candidates

Great Lakes will conduct Early interviews for PGDM Admissions 2025 wherein applicants who have registered for eligible GMAT/CAT/XAT exams but are yet to get the results would be shortlisted and interviewed along with candidates with scores basis the strength of their profiles. These profile based early interview candidates would be considered for final offer post submissions of scores once the test results are declared.

The Profile Based Early Interview process has been introduced to enable students with a strong demonstrated track record to apply early and subsequently get their result early. The Early Interview process aims to give students additional time to prepare for the start of the program.

Following factors would be evaluated for the Profile-based Early Interviews: