Internal Audit: Admission 2025, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

Updated on Feb 19, 2025 10:25 IST
Pragati Singh

Pragati SinghSenior Executive - Content

Internal Audit courses are one of the important fields of finance, compliance, and risk management, that has vast career scope ahead. The internal auditing market in India is experiencing rapid growth, projected at 15% CAGR as per the external reports, driven by increasing compliance laws and corporate governance regulations.

To pursue these courses, you should have a bachelor’s degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, or Accounting, such as BCom, BBA, BMS, or related degrees. Several prestigious institutions in India offer specialized courses in Internal Auditing. The ICAI provides a Diploma in Internal Audit for CA Final students, while IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta offer an MBA in Finance with a focus on audit and risk management. XLRI Jamshedpur provides a PGDM in Finance & Risk Management via the XAT exam.

The ISACA India Chapter administers the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam, and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), India, conducts the CIA certification. ICFAI Business School (IBS) also offers an MBA in Finance with an audit specialization, requiring IBSAT or GMAT scores.

Internal Audit Course Details: Highlights

Several top certifications and exams cater to aspiring internal auditors. The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) requires a bachelor's degree and 1-3 years of work experience, covering governance, risk, audit, and fraud prevention in a three-part exam. 

Take a look at the table below to get a quick review of the course:

Particulars

Details

Course Name 

Internal Audit course

Course Levels

Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate and Certificates

Course Duration

UG- 3 years

PG- 2 years

Certificates- Generally 6 months

Course Average Fee

INR 5000 - INR 8 Lakhs

Course Eligibility

UG- Class 12 with 45 to 50 percent minimum aggregate

PG- Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields

Colleges

H A College of Commerce HACC, IBM, MIT-WPU, ICAI, etc.

Course Exam

CA exams, CIA exams, CPA exams

Course Jobs

Audit Manager, Risk Analyst, Compliance Officer, Quality Assurance Specialist, and Forensic Auditor

Course Recuiters

PWC, KPMG, Ernst & Young, Bajaj Capital Limited, L&T Finance

Course Salary Range

INR 3 LPA - INR 13 LPA

Note- This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

Q:   What is Internal Audit?
A:

Internal Audit can be defined as the process that ensures the integrity of financial and accounting information. It is an independent, objective assurance process which is designed to improve the efficacy of an organisation's operations. In addition to ensuring the organisation's compliance of laws and regulations, internal audit also provides risk management and safeguards against frauds and potential threats.

Q:   Is Internal Audit same as CA?
A:

Although Chartered Accountancy and Internal Audit are both responsible for the accounting processes of an organisation, an auditor is essentially responsible for reviewing the work of the accountant as well as the rest of the business processes.

Table of content
  • Internal Audit Eligibility Criteria
  • Top Internal Audit Entrance Exams 2025
  • Top Internal Audit Colleges
  • Popular Private Internal Audit Colleges in India
  • Internal Audit Syllabus
  • Internal Audit Careers, Scope, Job Profiles, Salary, and Recruiters
  • Internal Audit Course FAQs
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Internal Audit PG Courses
View More

Internal Audit Eligibility Criteria

The involvement of Internal Auditors in a company is huge, hence they have a variety of higher educational and professional backgrounds. The eligibility criteria is as follows:

  • Candidates must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Finance, Business or Accounting.
  • Most organisations require students to have taken the Certified Internal Auditor exam.
  • Some companies hire students who have a professional work experience of three to five years.

Internal Audit Admission Process 

Let’s read out the admission process for Internal Audit courses, with each steps requirements:

Check Eligibility Criteria:

If you are beginning with a bachelor’s degree then you must have passed class 12th with minimum aggregates. For UG degrees, you should possess a bachelor’s degree in relevant fields.

Check Program:

Research different universities and programs offering Auditing and Control courses, considering factors like reputation, specializations, and course curriculum. 

Application:

Apply online on the desired university admission portal with the required documents.

Entrance exams (if applicable):

Some institutions may require you to take an entrance exam like the Common Admission Test (CAT) or a specific program-based test. 

Interview:
Depending on the program, you may be called for an interview to assess your suitability for the course.

Fees and acceptance:

Upon acceptance, pay the necessary fees and complete the admission formalities. 

Q:   Is Internal Audit better than External Audit?
A:

 Internal Audit is the independent, objective assurance, proactive and consultative approach to evaluating a company's operations and internal controls. The External Adudit is often viewed as the check-the-box activity. The External Audit usually gives an opinion on the financial condition and risks of an organisation.

Top Internal Audit Entrance Exams 2025

The Chartered Accountant (CA) program by ICAI includes internal auditing as a specialization, while the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) by ISACA focuses on IT auditing, cybersecurity, and risk control, requiring a bachelor's degree plus 5 years of experience (with waivers available).

Additionally, ICAI offers the Diploma in Information System Audit (DISA) for qualified CA members specializing in IT and system auditing. Business schools like IIMs, XLRI, and FMS offer an MBA in Finance with an internal audit focus, requiring CAT/MAT/GMAT scores. 

Although there are very few colleges that offer Internal Audit courses, still you can prepare for general Accounting and Commerce examinations to get your chances of becoming an Internal Auditor through indirect pathways starting from the basics by doing a bachelor’s in a relevant field and then opting for Internal Audit courses as the specialization in masters or certificates:

UG Courses Entrance Exams 2025

Here are some common UG exams for these courses:

Entrance Exams

Exam Dates

Exam Schedule

CUET 

May '25 - Jun '25 (Tentative)

CUET Exam Date 2025 

IPU CET

Apr '25 (Tentative)

IPU CET Exam Date 2025

Relevant Links of the Auditing and Control students:

ICAI CA Foundation 2025 Important Dates

PG Courses Entrance Exams 2025

For PG courses, admission is based on CPGET, MAH CET, CUET PG, AP PGCET, etc. scores. Candidates can check the table below to see the exam details of Internal Audit courses.

Entrance Exams

Exam Dates

Exam Schedule

CPGET

Jun '25 (Tentative)

CPGET Exam Date 2025

MAH CET

May '24 (Tentative)

MAH CET Exam Date 2025

CUET PG 

Mar '25 (Tentative)

CUET PG Exam Date 2025

AP PGCET

May '25 (Tentative)

AP PGCET Exam Date 2025

20 May ' 25

CA Inter May 2025 exam Group II

22 May ' 25

CA Inter May 2025 exam Group II

15 May ' 25

CA Foundation May 2025 Paper I

17 May ' 25

CA Foundation May 2025 Paper II

8 Mar ' 25

SAT Test March 2025 Date

25 Feb ' 25

SAT Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, a...

16 May ' 25

CA Final May 2025 Group II

18 May ' 25

CA Final May 2025 Group II

Top Internal Audit Colleges

As we can see there are few colleges that offer Internal Audit courses as a separate course, you can still consider opting it as a specialisation at the certificate, diploma, or master's level. As, some universities and private institutes also provide a Post Graduate Diploma in Internal Audit & Risk Management for those with a bachelor’s degree, covering core internal audit, corporate governance, and compliance.

Top Internal Audit Government Colleges

Some of the government colleges for Internal Audit courses are:

College

Tuition Fees

ICAI - Institute of Cost Accountants of India

25 K

Gujarat University

NA 

Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.

Top Internal Audit Private Colleges

Here are a few private colleges offering Internal Audit course:

College

Tuition Fees

Miles Education

2.38 L

Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Bangalore

5.9 K - 7.9 K

Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.

1 Course
25 K
2 Courses
8.75 LPA
2.38 L
5.9 K - 7.9 K
1.05 L
Q:   Which colleges in India offer Internal Audit courses?
A:

Some of these colleges that offers Internal Audit course are:

College

Tuition Fees

ICAI - Institute of Cost Accountants of India

25 K

Gujarat University

NA 

Miles Education

2.38 L

Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Bangalore

5.9 K - 7.9 K

Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.

 

 

Popular Private Internal Audit Colleges in India

1 Course
25 K
2 Courses
8.75 LPA
2.38 L
5.9 K - 7.9 K
1.05 L

Internal Audit Syllabus

Take a look at the subjects that are taught in the Internal Audit courses:

Semester 1

Introduction to Internal Auditing

Internal Audit Standards and Ethics

Risk Management

Control Frameworks

Semester 2

Audit Planning

Audit Execution

Documentation and Reporting

IT Auditing Fundamentals

Semester 3

Operational Auditing

Compliance Auditing

Financial Auditing

IT Auditing (Advanced)

Semester 4

Internal Audit Management

Emerging Issues in Internal Auditing

Professional Development

Case Studies in Internal Auditing

 

Q:   What are the types of internal audits?
A:

There are four types of internal audits namely:

  • Compliance Audit
  • Operational Audit
  • Information Technology Audit 
  • Financial Audit

Internal Audit Careers, Scope, Job Profiles, Salary, and Recruiters

Internal Audit is a lucrative and sustainable career path. This profession is resilient and is always one of the most sought-after career paths. The entry-level salary of an Internal Auditor is good according to the industry. The industry is ever-growing and the demand for Internal Auditors is ever-increasing as companies require dedicated employees who essentially serve as eyes and ears of the company’s senior leadership.

 Additionally, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation is internationally recognized in over 170 countries, making it an ideal choice for professionals seeking global career opportunities.

Internal Audit: Jobs and Salary

In this field, one can start from an entry-level executive position and rise up to the level of a Chief Internal Auditor. Given below are some of the job roles available in Internal Audit:

Job Profile

Job Description

Average Salary (LPA)

Internal Auditor

Conducts independent evaluations of an organization's financial, operational, and compliance controls. Identifies risks and recommends improvements.

INR 8 - INR 15

Senior Internal Auditor

Leads and executes complex internal audits, often specializing in specific areas like IT or finance. Mentors junior auditors.

INR 15 - INR 25

Audit Manager

Oversees the internal audit function, develops audit plans, and manages a team of auditors. Reports findings to senior management.

INR 25 - INR 40

Director of Internal Audit

Leads the overall internal audit strategy, sets policies, and ensures compliance with professional standards. Interacts with the audit committee of the board.

INR 40 - INR 60+

Chief Audit Executive (CAE)

The top internal audit position in an organization. Provides independent assurance to the board and senior management on governance, risk management, and internal controls.

INR 60+

Note- The above salary has been taken from external sources, and hence may vary.

Internal Audit Top Recruiters

nternal Auditors are hired by banks and finance companies and auditing firms. Given below are some of the top recruiters for Internal Audit professionals.

Internal Audit Top Recruiters

Barclay Simpson

Michael Page

NCA

Bank of England

Grant Thornton

Carnival UK

PwC

Muthoot Fincorp

Capgemini

Astrum Search

Jaypee Hotels and Resorts

Cooper Fitch

FINCAP Advisers Limited

Apple

Deloitte

VISA

NATO

Citadel Pacific Ltd.

HP

Amazon

Vi

Booking.com

Oracle

Bajaj Finance Limited

Ernst & Young

KPMG

India Bulls

L&T Finance

Q:   How to make a career in Internal Audit?
A:

To have a career in Internal Audit field, one must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in Finance, Accounting or Business. After this, one can take the Certified Internal Audior (CIA) exam offered by Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

Q:   Is Internal Audit a good career option?
A:

Internal Audit is a lucrative and highly-rewarding career option. The salary packages of Internal Auditors are quite high and fancy. Moreover, Internal Audit is required by every organisation to ensure quality and integrity, hence, there is immense job security in this field.

Q:   Which are the top companies that hire Internal Audit graduates?
A:

Companies such as Barclay Simpson, Deloitte, Apple, Muthoot Fincorp, Capgemini, PwD, Bank of England, Jaypee Hotels and Resorts, Vi, Oracle, VISA, Michael Page, etc. hire Internal Audit professionals.

Internal Audit Course FAQs

Few of the FAQs for Internal Audit are given below:

Q:   What is the role of an Internal Auditor?
A:

An Internal Auditor is a trained professional who provides independent and objective evaluations of an organisation's financial and business activities. They ensure that the company runs efficiently while complying with laws and regulations. They help the organisation adopt a disciplined approach to improve efficacy and advise the management and board of directors how to better execute their responsibilities.

Q:   Which Internal Audit course is provided by ICAI? What is course fee?
A:

Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) offers Certificate Course on in Internal Audit. The course fee by ICAI for the Certificate course in Internal Audit is INR 25,000.

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular Internal Audit courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Internal Audit.

Popular Internal Audit PG Courses

Following are the most popular Internal Audit PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 months ago

Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) offers Certificate Course on in Internal Audit. The course fee by ICAI for the Certificate course in Internal Audit is INR 25,000.

J

Jiya Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Companies such as Barclay Simpson, Deloitte, Apple, Muthoot Fincorp, Capgemini, PwD, Bank of England, Jaypee Hotels and Resorts, Vi, Oracle, VISA, Michael Page, etc. hire Internal Audit professionals.

N

Nishtha Kumari

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Some of these colleges that offers Internal Audit course are:

College

Tuition Fees

ICAI - Institute of Cost Accountants of India

25 K

Gujarat University

NA 

Miles Education

2.38 L

Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Bangalore

5.9 K - 7.9 K

Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.

 

 

V

Vipra Tiwari

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Internal Audit is a lucrative and highly-rewarding career option. The salary packages of Internal Auditors are quite high and fancy. Moreover, Internal Audit is required by every organisation to ensure quality and integrity, hence, there is immense job security in this field.

R

Raj B

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

 Internal Audit is the independent, objective assurance, proactive and consultative approach to evaluating a company's operations and internal controls. The External Adudit is often viewed as the check-the-box activity. The External Audit usually gives an opinion on the financial condition and risks

...Read more

M

Mani Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Although Chartered Accountancy and Internal Audit are both responsible for the accounting processes of an organisation, an auditor is essentially responsible for reviewing the work of the accountant as well as the rest of the business processes.

M

Manisha Chauhan

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

To have a career in Internal Audit field, one must hold a bachelor's or master's degree in Finance, Accounting or Business. After this, one can take the Certified Internal Audior (CIA) exam offered by Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

N

Nishtha Rastogi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

Internal Audit can be defined as the process that ensures the integrity of financial and accounting information. It is an independent, objective assurance process which is designed to improve the efficacy of an organisation's operations. In addition to ensuring the organisation's compliance of laws

...Read more

K

Kartik Yadav

Contributor-Level 6

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