Engineers have long dominated the classroom at IIT Bombay’s management school. That changes now. In a major reset for one of India’s most selective MBA programmes, the IIT Bombay MBA at the Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) will accept applicants with three-year bachelor’s degrees across disciplines, starting with admissions for 2025–26.
Approved by the IIT Bombay Senate, the move widens the gate for candidates from commerce, economics, arts, design, media, law, healthcare, and other fields who were previously filtered out by the four-year degree preference that tilted the pool toward engineers. The institute says the change is about talent, not tags, and about building a class that mirrors the breadth of the economy it serves.
The policy shift and the fine print
What exactly has changed? Until now, eligibility leaned toward four-year bachelor’s degrees or a master’s degree in any discipline, with first-class marks or a minimum CPI of 6.5 on 10. That structure naturally favored engineering and science cohorts, given how Indian undergraduate pathways are structured.
From the 2025–26 cycle, candidates with a three-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution can apply. The minimum requirement is 60% marks or a CPI of 6.5 on 10. For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, the threshold is 55% marks or a CPI of 6.0. These relaxations mirror long-standing national norms and ensure wider access without lowering the bar on merit.
Applicants must also present a valid Common Admission Test (CAT) score. This is non-negotiable and keeps IIT Bombay’s process aligned with India’s most competitive management entry benchmark. Final-year students and those awaiting results are welcome to apply, provided their current academic performance meets the cut-off, and they can submit proof within the timelines set at the time of admission offers.
On process, expect continuity with past years. SJMSOM typically shortlists based on CAT performance and then evaluates candidates through interviews and other assessed components such as writing or discussion rounds. Profile factors like academics, work experience, and diversity indicators usually play a role. The institute has not announced any overhaul to this framework; the critical shift is about who can enter the race.
This step also brings IIT Bombay in line with other IITs and the IIMs, many of which have long accepted three-year degrees for MBA and equivalent programmes, consistent with UGC recognition of those qualifications. In that sense, the school is standardizing eligibility while keeping its selection rigor intact.
Will this flood the class with non-engineers? Not automatically. Seats are limited, and competition is intense. What is likely to change is the composition of the shortlist and the conversation in the classroom—more varied profiles at the starting line, and a broader spread of skills, industry exposure, and viewpoints.
Why the change and what it means
IIT Bombay is candid about the drivers: discipline diversity, gender diversity, and classroom impact. Management is multi-disciplinary by design. Case-based teaching thrives when a discussion brings in a financial analyst’s number sense, a designer’s user lens, a journalist’s clarity on narrative, a nurse’s understanding of patient flow, or a lawyer’s read of regulatory risk. If everyone has the same training, you get fast answers but fewer fresh angles.
Recruiters have been asking for this too. Hiring managers increasingly look for mixed teams—product managers who understand user behavior, finance associates who can write clean narratives, consultants who can handle policy nuance and stakeholder engagement. Companies visiting SJMSOM have pressed for better gender balance and a wider academic mix, and the institute has folded that feedback into policy.
This is also in step with national trends. As India’s economy diversifies, so do management roles. Think healthcare operations, sports management, climate finance, digital media strategy, public sector advisory, and social enterprise scalers. Many of these roles draw strength from non-engineering foundations. Opening the door to three-year graduates is less a compromise and more a realignment with where the jobs are.
For applicants without an engineering background, the message is simple: you now have a credible shot at one of the most respected MBAs in the country, provided you meet the marks requirement and perform strongly on CAT. CAT does test quantitative ability, so plan for that. But schools like SJMSOM also look for clarity of thought, problem solving, communication, and motivation—areas where diverse profiles can stand out.
Who stands to benefit immediately? Commerce and economics graduates targeting finance, analytics, or consulting. Arts and humanities graduates aiming for marketing, communications, or policy-facing roles. Designers moving into product management. Journalists and media professionals eyeing brand strategy or digital growth. Healthcare professionals exploring operations and healthcare consulting. Lawyers planning corporate strategy or compliance-led roles. This is not a push to sideline engineers—it is an invitation for others to join the table.
There will be questions about readiness. Will non-engineers struggle with quant-heavy courses in statistics, accounting, or operations? Most top schools anticipate this mix and support students. While IIT Bombay has not announced new bridging modules, many institutes offer pre-term prep or foundational sessions in math, spreadsheets, accounting basics, and data literacy. Candidates can also self-prepare in the months between CAT and classes using standard materials in quantitative methods and business fundamentals.
Expect the admissions lens to stay sharp. A wider pool does not mean a lower bar. On the contrary, as more candidates from varied backgrounds apply, the overall competition could intensify. Strong academic consistency, a clear story on why you want an MBA, and evidence of leadership or initiative will matter. Work experience helps but is not always mandatory; internships, campus leadership, and projects can demonstrate drive and potential.
What might change on campus? More varied conversations, more cross-functional projects, and richer alumni networks across industries. Team assignments could become more balanced—pairing, say, a finance-leaning commerce graduate with an engineer, a designer, and a journalist on a product launch case. Recruiters often favor such teams, because they mirror how modern companies operate.
For employers, this change may widen the funnel in roles where a pure technical tilt was never essential—brand management, strategy, product research, policy consulting, people analytics, sustainability, and ESG reporting. Even in analytics, where engineers are common, commerce and economics graduates with the right training can fit well. The bet from IIT Bombay is that diversity will raise the ceiling on cohort performance, not lower the floor.
If you plan to apply, organize early. The CAT application window and test date drive the timeline. After CAT, keep documents ready, track SJMSOM’s application deadlines, and prepare for interviews. Think through examples that show impact: a community project you led, a product you shipped, a newsroom story series you drove, a hospital workflow you streamlined, a campaign you scaled on a small budget. The more concrete, the better.
- Check eligibility: three-year or four-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution.
- Marks: at least 60% or CPI 6.5; 55% or CPI 6.0 for SC, ST, PwD.
- CAT score: mandatory and central to shortlisting.
- Final-year status: allowed, with proof of marks as per institute timelines.
- Documents: transcripts, category certificates (if applicable), and work experience proof if you have it.
What should observers watch next? Cut-offs and the profile of the first incoming class under the new rules. Will the institute publish more guidance on pre-term prep for students from non-quant backgrounds? Will application forms give more weight to extracurriculars and non-traditional accomplishments? Signals on these fronts will show how the policy translates into practice.
For now, the direction is clear. Management schools are moving toward classrooms that reflect how the world of work actually looks—interdisciplinary, collaborative, and shaped by different ways of thinking. By opening its doors to three-year degree holders across disciplines, IIT Bombay is telling applicants and employers that skill, intent, and performance matter more than the label on your undergraduate degree.
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