IIM Executive MBA (One-Year) Program: Fees, Eligibility, and Comparison

Quick Answer: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Indore offer one-year Executive MBA programs for working professionals. The fees are generally around ₹27 lakh to ₹37 lakh, and most of these programs require a GMAT or GRE score along with a few years of work experience. Other IIMs also offer executive programs, but the duration and format can be different. For example, IIM Udaipur has a two-year Executive MBA that is mostly online.

Key Takeaways

• Fees: Approximately ₹27 lakh - ₹37 lakh for the four one-year, full-time programs.
• Work experience required: 4 years at IIM Ahmedabad; 5 years at IIM Bangalore, Kolkata, and Indore.
• Test scores accepted: GMAT or GRE at most IIMs; IIM Indore accepts CAT scores as well.
• Suited for: Working professionals with several years of experience who want a full-time, one-year MBA rather than a 2-year program.

The cost and structure of an IIM Executive MBA will depend on the IIM offering it. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kolkata, and IIM Indore each run their own 1 year, full-time Executive MBA program. The fees, eligibility, and admission requirements are different in all four of them, and in this blog we will see what each program costs, who is eligible, and how the programs differ from each other and also how they differ from a regular two-year IIM MBA.

Why Do IIMs Offer a Separate Executive MBA?

The regular 2-year MBA at an IIM is designed for learners at the early stage of their career. Admission is through CAT, and most students have little or no full-time work experience. This structure is not suitable for a learner who has several years of management experience, as the coursework and classroom discussions are built differently.

The Executive MBA is designed for learners who already have full-time work experience. This program is shorter, more focused, and completed in one year instead of two.

Which IIMs offer a one-year Executive MBA?

IIM	Program Name	Format
Ahmedabad	PGPX	1 year, full-time, on campus
Bangalore	EPGP	1 year, full-time, on campus
Kolkata	MBAEx	1 year, full-time, on campus
Indore	EPGP	1 year, full-time, on campus
Udaipur	Executive MBA	2 years, mostly online, with two campus visits

IIM Ahmedabad Executive MBA (PGPX): Fees and Eligibility

PGPX is the oldest program in this category. IIM Ahmedabad has run it since 2006, and it is regularly ranked among the top programs globally for career progress after graduation.

Detail	Information
Total fee (2026-27 batch)	Approximately ₹35 lakh - ₹37.1 lakh, depending on the accommodation option chosen
Work experience required	A minimum of 4 years of work experience after the bachelor's degree
Minimum age	25 years
Test score accepted	GMAT or GRE (from a physical test centre only), CAT is not accepted
Educational qualification	A bachelor's degree in any discipline

IIM Bangalore Executive MBA (EPGP): Fees and Eligibility

IIM Bangalore's EPGP requires 5 years of full-time work experience, and it also includes international study experience during the program.

Detail	Information
Total fee (2026-27 batch)	Approximately ₹33.68 lakh for single accommodation
Work experience required	A minimum of 5 years of full-time work after the bachelor's degree
Educational qualification	A bachelor's degree in any discipline, with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates)
Test score accepted	GMAT or GRE (from a test centre only), CAT is not accepted

IIM Kolkata Executive MBA (MBAEx): Fees and Eligibility

IIM Kolkata's Executive MBA is called MBAEx. It is designed for mid to senior professionals rather than early career managers. It also does not accept CAT scores.

Detail	Information
Total fee	Approximately ₹31 lakh
Work experience required	A minimum of 5 years
Test score accepted	GMAT only (from a physical test centre). Online GMAT scores are not accepted
Additional cost	A refundable caution deposit of approximately ₹60,000, separate from the main fee

 

IIM Indore Executive MBA (EPGP): Fees and Eligibility

IIM Indore's EPGP is different from the other three programs. It is the only one of the four that accepts CAT scores and also GMAT and GRE scores, and its fee is lower than the other three.

Detail	Information
Total fee (2026-27 batch)	Approximately ₹26.8 lakh
Work experience required	A minimum of 5 years of managerial or professional experience
Educational qualification	A 4-year bachelor's degree with 50% marks, or a 3-year bachelor's degree and a master's degree, with 50% marks
Test score accepted	GMAT, GRE, or CAT
Selection criteria weightage	Test score: 50%, personal interview: 45%, diversity factor: 5%

IIM Udaipur Executive MBA: How It Differs From the Other Four

The four programs described above are full-time and require relocating to campus for one year. The learner has to step away from their job during that time.The Executive MBA of IIM Udaipur does not follow this structure. Classes here are delivered live and online, with two campus visits included, and the program runs for 2 years instead of 1.

Detail	Information
Duration	2 years, with an option to exit after year one with a diploma instead of completing the full degree
Total fee	Approximately ₹14.2 lakh
Work experience required	A minimum of 3 years
Educational qualification	A bachelor's degree in any discipline, with a minimum of 50% marks
Test score accepted	GMAT, GRE, CAT, or IIM Udaipur admission test

IIM Executive MBA Fees: A Direct Comparison

IIM	Approximate Total Fee
Ahmedabad (PGPX)	₹35 lakh
Bangalore (EPGP)	₹33.68 lakh
Kolkata (MBAEx)	₹31 lakh
Indore (EPGP)	₹26.8 lakh
Udaipur (2-year Executive MBA)	₹14.2 lakh

IIM Executive MBA Eligibility: Common Requirements

The eligibility criteria in all these five programs follow a similar pattern, with some differences. Some of the common requirements are mentioned below:

• You must hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university, usually with a minimum of 50% marks (slightly lower for reserved categories, depending on the institute).
• You must have a minimum period of full-time work experience, ranging from 3 years at IIM Udaipur to 5 years at IIM Bangalore, Kolkata, and Indore.
• You must have a valid GMAT or GRE score for admission to most IIMs. IIM Indore and IIM Udaipur accept CAT also.
• You may need to attend a personal interview after being shortlisted, and some IIMs may also ask you to complete a written ability test or essay as part of the selection process.

How Does an Executive MBA Differ From the Regular 2-Year IIM MBA?

The regular two-year IIM MBA is called PGP, it is designed for learners who are at the start of their careers and admits them mainly through CAT. The Executive MBA differs from the regular MBA in several ways:

• Duration: 1 year for the Executive MBA, compared to 2 years for the regular MBA.
• Entrance exam: The regular MBA requires a CAT score. Most Executive MBA programs require GMAT or GRE, with IIM Indore and IIM Udaipur as exceptions that also accept CAT.
• Work experience: Regular MBA batches consist mainly of freshers or candidates with limited experience. Executive MBA batches consist entirely of candidates with several years of full-time work experience, which changes the nature of classroom discussions.
• Career objective: A regular MBA is typically the starting point of a learner’s management career. An Executive MBA is designed to accelerate or help in growing an existing career toward senior or leadership roles.

Career Outcomes After an IIM Executive MBA

An IIM Executive MBA can help experienced professionals move into senior management and leadership roles. After completing the program, learners can explore careers in areas such as business consulting, strategy, product management, marketing, sales, and operations. However, career outcomes depend on factors such as previous work experience, industry, skills, and the role a learner targets. Some of the common job roles with their average salary are given below:

Job Role	Average Salary
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)	₹37 LPA - ₹50 LPA
General Manager	₹10 LPA - ₹25 LPA
Operations Director	₹15 LPA - ₹30 LPA
Senior Project Manager	₹12 LPA - ₹26 LPA
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)	₹40 LPA - ₹90 LPA
Business Development Director	₹16 LPA - ₹30 LPA

Conclusion

An IIM Executive MBA can be a useful option if you're a working professional looking to build your management skills and get into leadership roles. You should compare factors such as fees, eligibility, entrance exams, course format, and career goals before choosing a program. If you need help in comparing IIM Executive MBA options, you can talk to a CollegeSathi expert and get free guidance based on your work experience, budget, and career goals.