Academic Programs
Postgraduate
| Program | Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) | PG | 2 years |
| Post Graduate Programme in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM) | PG | 2 years |
| Post Graduate Programme in Sustainable Management (PGP-SM) | PG | 2 years |
| IIM Lucknow Programme for Management Executives (IPMX) | PG | 1 year |
| Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives (PGPWE) | PG | 2 years |
| Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) | PHD | 4-5 years |
What IIM Lucknow is
The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIML), established in 1984, is one of India’s six original IIMs set up by the Government of India. It is ranked #5 in Management by NIRF 2024 and holds AACSB accreditation. The main campus is in Prabandh Nagar on the outskirts of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; the institute also operates a Noida campus, which is used primarily for executive programmes.
IIML’s flagship programme is the two-year residential Post Graduate Programme (PGP), which awards an MBA degree. The institute also runs sector-focused two-year programmes: the PGP in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM) and the PGP in Sustainable Management (PGP-SM), each with distinct intake and placement profiles.
Who it’s for
IIML’s PGP attracts candidates with CAT scores around the 90th percentile and above for eligibility, though competitive candidates typically score significantly higher. The minimum qualifying CAT percentile for the 2025-27 General category is 90 overall with 85 in each section (VARC, DILR, QA).
The PGP 2025-27 programme fee is approximately Rs 20.75 lakh for two years, which includes tuition, infrastructure, and hostel costs. Mess charges are additional and paid on an actuals basis each term.
The batch of 2025 had 583 students across PGP and PGP-ABM, with 68% male and 32% female, and a significant proportion of freshers (176 students with 0-1 year of experience). The batch drew from IITs (59), NITs (82), BITS (22), and SRCC (8) undergraduate institutions, alongside 17 CAs and 45 CFAs.
Programs offered
Post Graduate Programme (PGP), MBA, 2 years: The flagship programme. Full-time, residential, on the Lucknow campus. Structured across six terms with functional specialisations available in Finance, Marketing, IT & Systems, Operations, HRM, and Strategy. The 2025 batch placed 604 students from PGP and PGP-ABM combined, with a mean salary of Rs 32.3 LPA and median of Rs 31 LPA.
Post Graduate Programme in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM), 2 years: Focused on agribusiness, food value chains, and rural markets. Takes a smaller cohort than the core PGP. Same programme fee as PGP. Jointly placed with PGP in the final placement cycle.
Post Graduate Programme in Sustainable Management (PGP-SM), 2 years: A specialised PGDM focused on ESG consulting, corporate sustainability, and sustainability strategy. Based at the Noida campus. The 2023-25 batch (9th batch, 44 students) placed with an average CTC of Rs 22.66 LPA and median of Rs 20 LPA, with 65% of roles in sustainability domains.
IIM Lucknow Programme for Management Executives (IPMX), 1 year: A residential executive MBA for mid-career professionals with at least 5 years of full-time work experience. Based at the Noida campus. Programme fee for 2026-27 is Rs 26 lakh, including tuition, accommodation, and food.
Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives (PGPWE), 2 years: A part-time programme for working professionals. Conducted on weekends at the Noida campus.
Fellow Programme in Management (FPM): IIML’s doctoral programme. Fully funded with fellowship for admitted scholars.
Campus and infrastructure
IIML’s main campus occupies approximately 200 acres in Prabandh Nagar, Lucknow, about 15 kilometres from the city centre. It includes academic blocks with modern facilities, student residences, faculty housing, a library, sports infrastructure, and dining facilities. All PGP students are required to reside on campus.
The Noida campus hosts the executive and working professional programmes and is located in Sector 62, Noida, with proximity to Delhi NCR’s corporate ecosystem.
Lucknow is a state capital with good rail and air connectivity to Delhi (approximately 500 km), Kanpur, and Varanasi.
Things to verify before applying
- CAT cutoffs: The stated minimum (90th percentile for General) is an eligibility threshold for WAT-PI shortlisting, not a guarantee of a call. Competitive candidates typically score 97-99+ percentile overall.
- Programme fee: The 2025-27 PGP fee is approximately Rs 20.75 lakh. This includes infrastructure and hostel charges but excludes mess fees, which vary by actuals. Verify updated figures from the official IIML fee structure document before committing.
- PGP-SM vs PGP: PGP-SM is at the Noida campus, not Lucknow. It is a smaller batch with a different placement profile and lower average salary than the core PGP. Treat them as distinct programmes.
- Placement data notes: The 2025 Final Placement Report covers the combined PGP and PGP-ABM batch of 583 students with 604 offers secured. Consulting dominated at 38% of offers. Ask for domain-specific and function-specific data if you have a particular sector in mind.
- IPMX vs PGP: For candidates with 5+ years of work experience, the one-year IPMX at the Noida campus is a separate decision from the two-year PGP at Lucknow — campus environment, cohort, and career trajectory differ meaningfully.
Where to go next on this site
- CAT exam guide
- MBA programme overview
- PGDM programme overview
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Calcutta
Sources Used
Fees — 2025-27
Program Fees
| Program | Level | Annual Fee | Total Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) | PG | — | INR 20,75,000 | brochure |
| Post Graduate Programme in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM) | PG | — | INR 20,75,000 | brochure |
| Post Graduate Programme in Sustainable Management (PGP-SM) | PG | — | INR 19,25,000 | brochure |
| IIM Lucknow Programme for Management Executives (IPMX) | PG | — | INR 26,00,000 | official-website |
Scholarships
Amount: Varies; disbursed term-wise subject to academic requirements. One year duration, no auto-renewal.
Amount: Full or partial tuition fee waiver as per Government of India norms for Central Educational Institutions
Fee figures are indicative. Verify the complete fee structure on the institution's official website.
Admissions — 2025-27
Entrance Exams
Eligibility
Minimum CAT 2024 percentile: 90 overall and 85 in each section (VARC, DILR, QA) for General/EWS; 82 overall and 77 sectional for NC-OBC/EWS; 65 overall and 55 sectional for SC; 60 overall and 50 sectional for ST/PwD. Bachelor's degree from a recognised university required.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 (qualifying exam) | November 2024 |
| WAT-PI shortlist release | January–February 2025 |
| WAT-PI process | February–March 2025 |
| Final admission offers | April–May 2025 |
Selection Process
- Stage 1 (Eligibility): CAT 2024 percentile screened against minimum cutoffs by category. Composite Score for WAT-PI shortlisting calculated with: CAT Score 60%, Class XII marks 10%, Graduation marks 10%, Work Experience 10%, Diversity Factor 10%.
- Stage 2 (WAT-PI): Shortlisted candidates attend Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). PI is conducted at multiple centres across India.
- Stage 3 (Final Selection): Final score computed as: CAT Score 30%, Academic Performance (Class XII + Graduation) 5%+5%, Diversity Factor 5%, Work Experience 5%, WAT 10%, PI 40%. GoI reservation policy applied for category-wise merit list.
Placements — 2024-25
Top Recruiters
Placement data is sourced from institutional records. Verify current data on the institution's official website.