IIFT Eligibility Criteria, Reservation Policy and Admission Process 2026

IIFT MBA admission is done through CAT score. Check out IIFT eligibility criteria for MBA-International Business and MBA Business Analytics for both domestic and international candidates. Also know, reservation policy for SC/ST/OBC and PwD candidates applying for IIFT 2026 admission.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi offers various PG programmes in Management like MBA, Executive MBA along with doctoral and certificate programmes. The minimum eligibility criteria of all IIFT courses is Graduation, but there are a few key aspects of the requirements that are specific to each course. In this article you will know, IIFT eligibility criteria for all courses for admission.

Until 2022, IIFT used to conduct a written test - IIFT entrance exam for admission to IIFT’s flagship MBA programme – MBA in International Business and MBA in Business Analytics. This entrance exam was held once a year in online mode. From 2023 onwards, the institute has started to accept CAT exam score for admission to MBA IB and MBA BA courses. The institute does not conduct its own exam anymore. Read below eligibility criteria for IIFT admission, MBA-IB course, EPGP, Diploma and Certificate courses.

IIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for MBA International Business

IIFT Eligibility Criteria for Domestic Candidates

• The aspirant must possess a bachelor’s degree of minimum three years’ duration in any discipline with minimum 50 per cent aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST and PwD candidates) from a recognised university
• Candidates appearing for their final year graduation examination can also apply for IIFT 2026. However, they will have to submit passing certificate by October 7, 2026
• There is no age limit to apply for IIFT exam

IIFT Eligibility Criteria Foreign nationals and NRI candidates

• Candidates must have a bachelor's degree of minimum three years' duration with minimum 50 per cent aggregate from a recognized university
• Candidates appearing for final year bachelor's degree exam can also apply subject to submission of proof of requisite qualification by October 7, 2026
• Candidates should have been resident outside India for a period of not less than 18 months as on December 31, 2025 and be outside India during the IIFT examination window
• Candidates should produce a certificate from the Indian Embassy/High Commission /Consulate of the country they are currently based in, stating that they have been living in the country for the said period
• Foreign Nationals must have a valid passport/travel document from a country other than India
• Foreign National candidates must have taken GMAT score after January 1, 2024 and should produce GMAT score latest by February 15, 2026
• NRI-sponsored candidates and children of NRIs are not considered under this category

Documents to be Submitted Along with Application Form (For NRIs and Foreign Nationals only)

• Filled in CV form
• Copy of latest GMAT score certificate
• Attested copy of all academic mark-sheets/certificates (Class 10, 12 & Graduation)
• Copy of all passport pages having official entries
• Two letters of recommendation(s), preferably, one of these should be written by a current supervisor or manager. The second one should be from someone (other than family members) who is in a position to evaluate the applicant’s professional performance as well as his/her managerial and leadership potential.
• The Indian nationals who are living, working, studying abroad should produce with application a certificate from the Indian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate of the country where they are currently based, stating their residency in that country continuously for a period of not less than 18 months as on December 31, 2024.

IIFT Exam 2026: Reservation Policy

Candidates belonging to SC/ST and PwD category can apply for admission to IIFT's MBA programme under the reservation criteria defined by the Government of India. Take a look at the table below for percentage of seats reserved for such students:

MBA International Business Admission Process

Domestic Students: On the basis of CAT score, Essay Writing, Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

Foreign Nationals and NRI Students: On the basis of General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT).

Candidates fulfilling the above-mentioned eligibility criteria can apply for admission. However, clearing just the written exam will not help applicants get admission in to IIFT. Students have to go through two-stage admission procedure as following:

Stage 1: IIFT entrance exam that is held nationwide in 68 cities including – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Allahabad, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Delhi, Dehradun, Guwahati, Indore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.

Stage 2: Essay Writing/Group Discussion/ Personal Interview – Students shortlisted on the basis of entrance exam score will be then called for Essay Writing/Group Discussion/ Personal Interview. Stage 2 will take place in the month of February 2025 in cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata and Mumbai.

After both the stages of admission process has been completed, a merit list will be prepared on the basis of which students will be offered admissions to the institute.

IIFT Eligibility Criteria for Executive Post Graduate Diploma Programmes in International Business

• The candidate must have bachelor's or equivalent degree (50 per cent aggregate) from any recognized University and managerial work experience of minimum five years
• The candidate must have postgraduate degree/ engineering degree or equivalent (50 per cent aggregate) from any recognized University and managerial work experience of minimum three years
• There is no marks relaxation for reserved category candidates but seats are reserved for them as per Government rules

Executive Post Graduate Diploma Programme in International Business Admission Process

Admission to Executive Post Graduate Diploma Programme is based on GD/PI conducted for candidates shortlisted on the basis of their application by the IIFT faculty.

IIFT Eligibility Criteria for Certificate Programmes

IIFT offers three short-term certificate courses – Certificate Programme in Export import Management, Certificate Programme in Capital & Financial Markets and Certificate Programme in Global Trade Logistics and Operations. Eligibility criteria and admission process are same for these programmes. Check Below:

• Bachelor’s degree from any recognised Indian or Foreign University or diploma holders with two years of post-diploma full time work experience
• There is no age limit to pursue certificate programmes
• Admission to these certificate programmes is done through personal interview conducted at the institute’s Delhi campus

Read more: IIFT admission process through CAT