Planning to pursue an MBA from India? Then, two premier institutes stand out for offering exceptional business education: the IIMs and ISB. Both hold a strong reputation, excellent faculty, offer top-tier management education and placements. However, they differ in their selection criteria, fee structure, and other aspects. Hence, let’s take a closer look at ISB vs IIM to help you decide the best institute for you!
Typically, admission to an IIM requires taking the CAT exam, while ISB accepts the GMAT scores. However, this year, the Post Graduate Program in Management for Young Leaders, a 20-month program for recent graduates at ISB Hyderabad is accepting CAT scores as well. So, you can begin your CAT online coaching now to secure admission to India’s top business schools.
ISB
The prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) was founded to fulfill the demand for a world-class business school in Asia. Moreover, the founders of ISB are some of the brightest minds in the business and the academic world. Further, this premier institute aims to provide an exceptional approach of creating future business leaders.
ISB has two campuses in India, in the following cities:
- Hyderabad
- Mohali
One Year PGP Program at ISB
The most renowned program of ISB is the Post Graduate Program in Management. It is a one-year full time program which is considered equivalent to MBA. The course is eligible for candidates having prior work experience.
ISB Admission Process
The admission process at ISB is as follows:
- Candidates are shortlisted based on their GMAT scores.
- The shortlisted candidates attend the interview round.
- Based on their performance in such rounds and other factors such as their work experience and academic qualifications the final decision is made.
ISB Global Collaborations and Faculty
The prestigious ISB has collaborations with Wharton School, Kellogg School of Management and London Business School. Further, due to these collaborations ISB has international professors and experienced practitioners.
Unique Learning Environment
ISB’s curriculum offers practical insights and places a greater emphasis on real-world applications than that of IIMs. Moreover, the school actively promotes and encourages students to launch their own entrepreneurial ventures.
Top ISB Recruiters:
- Accenture
- Deloitte
- Cleartrip
- Adani Group
- Apple
- Aditya Birla Group
- Axis Bank
- Amazon
- Citi Bank
- E. Shaw India
- Dr Reddy’s Laboratories
- Ernst and Young
And many more…
IIMs
The highly esteemed Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) were founded with the objective of offering top-notch management education and training, carrying out management research, and offering consultancy services in management. Moreover, these establishments are regarded as top-tier management schools. In fact, they operate under the direction of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Further, each IIM is autonomous in its operations, rules, and curriculum. Also, there are 21 IIMs in the country.
The 21 IIMs Are as Follows:
- The IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- The IIM Mumbai
- IIM Calcutta
- The IIM Lucknow
- IIM Kozhikode
- The IIM Indore
- IIM Shillong
- The IIM Rohtak
- IIM Ranchi
- The IIM Raipur
- IIM Tiruchirappalli
- The IIM Udaipur
- IIM Kashipur
- The IIM Nagpur
- IIM Visakhapatnam
- The IIM Amritsar
- IIM Bodh Gaya
- The IIM Sambalpur
- IIM Sirmaur
- The IIM Jammu
To gain admission to these top IIMs, it’s important to excel in the CAT exam and secure a high percentile. So, review the CAT syllabus beforehand and practice each topic well, so as to increase your chances of admission.
2-year PGP Program (MBA) at IIM Ahmedabad
The flagship program of IIM Ahmedabad is the Post Graduate Program in Management (MBA). It is a two-year full time program. Its major goal is to transform individuals into professional managers who can work well in any sector of organized activity, take up leadership roles, and perform at the highest level while benefiting the society as a whole.
IIM Admission Process
The admission process at IIM is as follows:
- Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT scores.
- The shortlisted candidates attend the Written Ability Test (WAT)/ Personal Interview (PI)/ Group Discussion (GD) round.
- Based on their performance in such rounds and other factors such as their work experience, academic qualifications, etc. the final decision is made.
IIM Global Collaborations and Faculty
One of the strongest assets of IIM is that it has global connections. Moreover, IIM Ahmedabad has collaborations with Harvard Business School and London Business School.
Top IIM Recruiters:
- Accenture
- American Express
- Ranbaxy Laboratories
- HSBC Group
- Genpact
- Apollo Tyres
- HCL Technologies
- Hinduja Group
- Ameriprise Financial
ISB vs IIM: The Difference
| Basis of Differentiation | ISB | IIMs |
| Location | ISB has its campuses in Hyderabad and Mohali. | IIM has 21 campuses all across the country. |
| Way of Teaching | ISB promotes a comprehensive learning experience that includes projects, simulations, and frequent interactions with the industry. Thus, more focus on practical and research. | IIMs mostly use a case-study-based teaching technique, immersing students in real-world business settings to foster problem-solving abilities. Thus, more focus on theory and research. |
| Program Duration | The PGP is a 12 month program. | The MBA is of 2 years. |
| Admission Process | Admission is done on the basis of the GMAT/GRE exam. | The CAT exam needs to be taken in order to get admission in IIMs. |
| Strengths | Renowned for consulting and product management employment. | Renowned for finance and marketing employment. |
| Work Experience | The PGP at ISB requires a minimum of 2 years of work experience. | No work experience required for MBA but if you have then it is appreciated and might improve your chances of getting admitted. |
| Fees | Around 40 Lakhs. | Around 20 to 30 Lakhs. |
| Global Collaborations | ISB has global collaborations with the Wharton School, Kellogg School of Management and London Business School. | IIM has global collaborations with Harvard Business School and London Business School. |
| Faculty | Mix of international and Indian faculty. | Mostly Indian faculty members. |
ISB vs IIM: Which to Choose?
Choose ISB If
- You’re planning to take up product management or consulting as a profession in future. As, ISB is renowned for these fields.
- Further, if you want to finish your post-graduation studies sooner. PGP is a 1-year program.
- You are passionate about the learning style at ISB that is practical and research based.
- Moreover, if you have enough work experience. In fact, a minimum of 2 years work experience is required.
- You are ready to take the GMAT/GRE exam for admission.
- Lastly, you want significant global exposure as the faculty of ISB is a mix of Indian and international members.
Choose IIM If
- You’re interested in the marketing or finance domain of MBA. IIMs are renowned for such fields.
- Further, you are comfortable with the duration of the MBA, that is 2 years.
- You are passionate about the learning style at IIM that is theory and research based.
- Moreover, you are a fresh graduate with no work experience.
- You are ready to take the CAT exam for admission.
Hence, whichever institute you choose, make sure you’ve gone through all the information on ISB vs IIM, mentioned above. A well-researched decision will give you logical backings to support a well designed career!
Wrapping Up
Now that you have a clear understanding about ISB vs IIM, you are well aware that both institutions excel in their own ways. Thus, whichever aligns with your budget, work experience, interests, and other factors, choose accordingly! In fact, ISB is best suited for those with 2-5 years of work experience. On the other hand, IIM is perfect for recent graduates. Lastly, both institutions offer an exceptional curriculum along with opportunities for personality development. Good luck choosing the best fit for you!
