ISB Admissions - Frequently Asked Questions

A) About the Post Graduate Programme in Management

1. What is the PGP?
   The PGP refers to the ISB’s full-time one-year residential Post Graduate Programme in Management. The PGP is comparable in rigor and content to a regular two-year full-time MBA programme offered by global business schools.
2. Is the PGP similar to the Executive MBA programmes offered by several business schools?
   No. As mentioned above, the Post Graduate Programme is similar in rigor and content to a regular two-year full-time MBA programme offered by global business schools.
3. Does the PGP award an MBA degree?
   No. Unlike in other countries, degrees can only be awarded by universities in India.
4. What are the concentrations being offered in the PGP?
   The concentrations offered can be viewed on ISB's website at http://isb.edu/pgp/Curriculum.Shtml?menuid=106
   

B) Admissions Criteria

a) GMAT

1) What is the GMAT?
The GMAT is the Graduate Management Admission Test conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council and is a globally recognised test for admission to business schools. For more information on GMAT please visit their official web site http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT

2) Is there a cut-off score for the GMAT at the ISB?
There is no cut-off score for the GMAT; however, a competitive score strengthens the application but does not in anyway guarantee admission. Similarly a lower score also does not necessarily mean exclusion.

3) Is it mandatory to take the GMAT before applying to the ISB?
Yes it is. The applicant has to take the GMAT and submit his/her score before sending in the application.

4) What is the validity period for a GMAT score?
Currently a GMAT score is valid for 5 years.

5) If I submit more than one GMAT score, which score will be considered by the ISB?
The higher score would be considered, provided it is within the validity period of five years.

6) How long does it take for the Official GMAT scores to reach ISB?
Normally it takes 2-3 weeks for the official GMAT score to reach us. Therefore, we strongly recommend that applicants plan and book the GMAT test dates well in advance.

7) Will I be considered for the deadline if I send my GMAT scores later?
You will not be allowed to submit your application without a valid GMAT score. However, you can submit the application with your test centre scores, but the official score should also reach us within 3 weeks of submission of your online application.

8) Are CAT/GRE scores accepted by the ISB in lieu of GMAT scores?
No. The ISB does not consider the CAT/GRE scores for admissions, only the GMAT.

9) Can the GMAT requirement be waived under exceptional circumstances?
No. The GMAT score cannot be waived under any circumstances.

b) English Proficiency Requirements

1) Does ISB require a test to prove proficiency in English?
A TOEFL/IELTS score is required for non-Indian students who did not have ENGLISH as the primary language of instruction during their undergraduate studies.

2) Where would we get more information about TOEFL?
Please visit their official web site www.toefl.org or write to toefl@ets.org

3) What is the IELTS?

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. To know more about IELTS please visit their official website http://www.ielts.org

C) Application Process

1) Where do I get a copy of the application form?
The ISB’s entire application process is available online and therefore no printed copy of the form is available/accepted. You will therefore need access to an internet enabled computer to apply to the programme. You will also need to scan some documents to be uploaded and will therefore need access to a scanner.

2) Does the entire application need to be completed within one session?
No. You can complete the online application in multiple sessions and have the option to save parts of the application as you proceed.

3) Do I also need to submit a printed copy of the application form once I have submitted it online?
No. We will not require you to send a printed copy of the application form.

4) How do I send in my academic transcripts/mark sheets, other documents and photographs required as part of the application?
You have two options to do this:
Scan your documents (both sides) and upload them as part of your online application or
Send us photo copies of these documents by courier (no snail mail please) with your application reference number clearly written on each such document.

5) How can my referees submit their recommendation forms?
Once you enter the details of your referees in the online application, you will be queried whether your referees will complete their recommendation forms online or will they send it to them by courier. Depending on the option chosen by you the following process will have to be adopted:

If you have chosen online submission, your referees will be sent an email with a link on which they will be able to complete your recommendation form. Please ensure you enter their official email addresses only since personal email addresses will not be considered.

OR

If you have chosen submission by courier, the online application system will generate a downloadable file which you can send to your referees who can then send these completed forms to us by courier.

6) How will the ISB verify my transcripts/documents?
At the time of joining the programme, you will need to bring all the original documents with which we will verify the photocopies/scans with these originals.

7) Can I reapply?
Yes. You can reapply. Please note that you cannot reapply within the same academic year. You have to submit a fresh online application along with the application fee and essays. If you wish to update part of your previous application, include the fresh material with your reapplication. An additional essay listing the changes in your profile from the last year is essential and should be filled in the Additional Optional Essay Form. However, it is important to show a significant overall improvement from the previous years in view of extreme intensity of competition.

8) Do you acknowledge receipt of application by mail?
ISB conveys the status of your application online. Do remember to check your application status.

D) Interviews

1) Do you have a GD/Personal Interview as part of the admission criteria?
As a part of the admission process, all short listed candidates will be interviewed. There is no group discussion

2) How many applicants are called for interview in Round-1 & Round-2 and how many selected?
There is no fixed percentage of students being called by the ISB either for interviews or for admission.

3) What will be the mode of my interview if I am overseas at the time of interview?
You will be interviewed over telephone. You have to call the telephone number given in the interview mail sent to you.

E) Fees

1) Can I pay the tuition fees in instalments?
Tuition fees can be paid in two instalments; however, the ISB allows a discount on fees paid one time in full.

2) Are there different fee structures for Indian and International students?
Currently the fee structure is the same for all students.

3) What is the acceptance fee?
The acceptance fee is the non-refundable deposit that you have to pay to secure your place in the class once the offer of admission has been made by the ISB. If this fee is not paid within the deadline mentioned in the admission offer, it will be assumed that the applicant is not interested in joining the programme and the ISB shall release the seat to another applicant on the wait list.

4) a) Is the acceptance fee in addition to the tuition fee?
No. The acceptance fee is part of the tuition fees.

b) I have paid the acceptance fee but due to unavoidable circumstances I will not be able to join the programme. Will the acceptance fee be refunded to me?
No. The acceptance fee is non-refundable.

5) How much time do I have to accept or decline an admission offer?
The ISB should receive your acceptance decision within 15 days from the date of the admission offer along with the acceptance fee.

6) Can the admission offer acceptance date be extended?
No. The acceptance dates are fixed by the Admissions Committee. If the acceptance amount is not received by the due date it will be assumed that the applicant is not interested in the programme and the offer made to the applicant will stand automatically withdrawn.

F) Financial Aid

1) I fulfil the eligibility criteria but cannot afford the full tuition fee. Can the ISB help?

Financial Aid is provided to students in the form of tuition waivers, scholarships and loans. Tuition Waivers: The ISB awards both merit and need based tuition waivers to qualifying applicants ranging from INR 1,00,000 to INR 3,00,000. Details of these waivers will be indicated in the admission offer where applicable.

Scholarships: The details of scholarships available to students are available on our website. Please visit the link http://www.isb.edu/isbweb/isbcms/PGP/Scholarships.Shtml for these details.

Loans: Student loans are available through a few leading financial institutions. Please check the website http://www.isb.edu/isbweb/isbcms/PGP/Loans.Shtml for details.

1) What is the difference between tuition waivers and scholarships?
Tuition waivers are discounts on the tuition fee granted by the ISB and communicated in the admission offer while scholarships are generally granted by other organisations and dependent on your performance in the programme.

2) Does the ISB offer financial aid to International students?
The ISB does offer financial aid to qualifying International students through tuition waivers.

3) What kinds of profiles usually get selected for scholarships?
The selection criteria usually depend on the organisation granting the scholarship. The qualifying process is highly competitive and the selection criteria vary from year to year.

4) How can an applicant apply for a tuition waiver?
The applicant has to write the required essay given in the application form and submit the latest income tax returns and pay slips of all the earning members in the family as supporting document.

5) When can one apply for an educational loan?
Once the admission process has been completed, all admitted students will be informed of the loan application deadlines through a separate mail.

G) Sponsorship

1) Can I get a sponsorship from the company where I am working?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to get themselves sponsored by their employers.

2) Are there any other criteria to be fulfilled by the applicant for getting sponsorship from their employer?
No, there are no separate admission criteria for such candidates and the regular admission procedure will apply.

3) How does one apply to companies for sponsorships?
Each company has its own policies on sponsoring of high potential employees. It is up to you to ensure sponsorship from the company you are currently employed with.

4) Is there a different fee structure for sponsored students?
No. The fee structure and the selection criteria are universally applicable.

H) Exchange Programme

1) How many students normally go on Exchange Programmes?
The number varies from year to year and the outgoing exchange capacity for 2006-07 was in excess of 60 students. Globally 26 business schools currently participate in the ISB Exchange Network.

2) When do students go on Exchange Programmes?
Students go on an exchange programmes depending upon the mutual schedules of the ISB and the concerned exchanged partner school; this period can range from one to two ISB elective terms, most often terms 7 and 8 although some students do go in terms 5 & 6.

3) What are the selection criteria for the Exchange Programmes?
The students are allotted bidding points which they use to bid for their preferred exchange programme.

4) How does the bidding process work?
Each student is allotted an equal number of bidding points. Each term students must apply their points towards particular courses and the highest bidder is enrolled in each course. Normally most students get a majority of the courses that they bid for.

5) How do people manage possible time-clashes between the placement season and the Exchange Programme?
Most students return during placement week to participate, while others manage their placements from overseas.

6) Will all students admitted be allowed to participate in the exchange programmes?
Yes. For more details please visit http://isb.edu/pgp/ExchangePrograms.Shtml?menuid=106

I) Internship

1) Is there a summer internship at the ISB? If yes, how does it work?
As The ISB has a one year Post Graduate programme, a summer internship is not possible. However, the ISB offers the Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) to benefit students interested in doing projects while on campus. For more on ELP please visit http://isb.edu/pgp/ExperientialLearningProgram.Shtml?

J) Placements

1) When do the Placements start?
Placements normally start in the mid 7th term and go on for a week. While a few companies start coming in from November onwards, the final offers are made/decided during the placement week only.

2) Does the ISB guarantee placements? What are the placements for graduates of the ISB PGP likely to be?
No. The ISB does not guarantee placements but every effort is made by the Career Advancement Services (CAS) Office to help students find and secure their ideal career opportunities. However placements are a function of demand and supply and the CAS helps students manage their career expectations realistically.

3) How was the placement scenario this year? Which are the companies that recruited this year? What was the average salary offered?
You will find details on the placement for the class of 2007 at http://isb.edu/pgp/PlacementStatistics2007.Shtml

K) Faculty

1) What is the role of visiting faculty at the ISB?

The ISB invites faculty to teach a course during a term and they are available on campus throughout the term. Faculty from Wharton, Kellogg, London Business School, Stanford, Chicago, Duke, and Texas among others, have taught at the ISB. For more details please visit http://isb.edu/pgp/BestinClassFaculty.Shtml?menuid=105

2) How accessible are the faculty to the students?

Faculty members are easily accessible to the students, as they stay on campus throughout the term.

L) Credentials

1) Does AICTE/UGC recognise the ISB’s Post Graduation Programme in Management?

The ISB neither offers a diploma nor a degree. It is a certificate programme for students with experience. Therefore, ISB has not sought recognition for their Post Graduate Programme in Management from either the AICTE or the UGC.

M) Infrastructure & Facilities

1) Are all students required to live on campus?

Given the rigor of the course and The ISB’s aim to build a small but highly interactive campus community, it is a fully residential programme for all students.

2) Do you provide accommodation for married students?

ISB offers fully serviced studio apartment with preferential allotment to married students. However, your preferred type of accommodation cannot always be guaranteed, though every reasonable effort is made to address your specific requirements.

3) What all is provided in the accommodation?

Accommodation information can be found in http://isb.edu/KnowISb/Housing.Shtml

4) What are the facilities provide on campus?

The ISB provides the following facilities:

ICICI Bank branch

Daily Needs store- TRINETRA

Infirmary – Branch of Apollo

Recreation Centre – Equipped with Squash, Swimming pool, basket ball ground, Tennis, Table Tennis, Gymnasium, Toddler’s room etc.

House Keeping

Please check the web site for further information http://isb.edu/pgp/WorldClassCampus.Shtml?menuid=105

N) Reservations

1) Do you have any quotas for NRI'S/SC/ST/BC?

No. We do not. However, the ISB encourages applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds.

2) Will Indian and foreign applicants be evaluated on the same basis?

Yes.

O) Campus Visits and Meeting the Alumni

1) I am interested in a Campus tour. How and when can I visit the campus?

Regular campus visits are organized by the ISB on alternate Fridays during the Admission period. For registration please visit http://isb.edu/pgp/MeetourAdmissionOfficers.Shtml?menuid=109

2) How do I contact current batch students?

Please visit http://isb.edu/pgp/ContactAlumni_Students.Shtml?menuid=109 for more details on interacting with the current students.

3) How do I contact the Alumni?

Please visit the link http://isb.edu/pgp/ContactAlumni_Students.Shtml?menuid=109 and complete the online form. Once we receive this request we shall get back to you with the contact details of the alumnus or ask the alumnus to contact you directly.

P) Miscellaneous

1) Will part-time work experience be considered?

Work experience should be full-time. Part-time work experience will not be considered.

2) Will Army service be considered as work experience?

Yes, your work experience will be viewed in the context of the responsibilities you have handled.

3) I have worked in my family owned business for the past three years – will this experience be considered?

If this experience is full-time and if you can support this with relevant documents in your application, you can apply. The quality and relevance of your experience in your business will be critical. You will still have to furnish recommendations. Recommendations from your father, friends and family will not be accepted. You should furnish recommendation from people with whom you have a strictly professional interaction like your clients, vendors etc.

4) Do I need 16 years of formal education?

No, as long as you have been awarded a Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university, you are eligible to apply

5) Do you consider deferral of admissions?

The School does not normally permit deferral of admissions. However, in exceptional cases where applicants are unable to join after accepting the admission offer and depositing the stipulated acceptance fee, the School may consider deferment of admission to the following academic year. Such decisions, if any, will be made only after due validation of the genuineness of the request for deferment and compliance by the applicant concerned with the stipulated requirements. The decision of the School in this regard will be final.

6) How important are extra-curricular activities in the application?

The ISB would like to admit well-rounded students. Extra-curricular activities add that extra dimension to your personality. In the US it is routine for people to do community service, which they can mention as an extra-curricular activity in their applications. But Indian conditions are different, so not having done such activities is understandable. However, if you look deep down, you may find some things that you may have been doing. Did you tutor a kid anytime, did you organize a festival in your apartment complex, did you volunteer your time in some campaign or raise funds for some cause, etc.? If you haven't done anything at all, it's never too late to start. Don't do it just to get your B-school admission, but do what interests you. If you are in the IT area, think of something related to IT that you can do after office hours. How about persuading your company to donate their obsolete computers to charity? The possibilities are endless.

7) Will I need to buy text books?

Although most study material is included in the course packs, periodically you will need to buy text books for various courses. The expenditure on text books for the programme is estimated at INR 15,000-INR 20,000.

8) Are there any schools for children in the vicinity of the ISB?

Yes. There are a number of schools around The ISB. More information is available upon request.

9) Having done an MBA, am I eligible for the ISB programme?

There is no restriction in applying to our Programme but you should demonstrate very good reasons in your application for wanting to do the PGP from The ISB.

10)I have completed a three year diploma course but do not have an under-graduate degree. Am I eligible for the ISB Programme?

The eligibility criterion at the ISB requires all students to have an undergraduate degree. If your diploma is considered to be equivalent to a degree by the appropriate authorities then it will be acceptable otherwise not.