IIM Calcutta PhD Admission 2026
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta invites applications for its Doctoral Programme (Ph.D.) 2026, aimed at candidates with strong academic backgrounds and research aptitude who wish to pursue advanced studies in management sciences and related disciplines.
Areas of Specialization
Economics | Finance & Control | Human Resource Management | Management Information Systems | Marketing | Operations Management | Organizational Behaviour | Public Policy and Management | Strategic Management
Eligibility
Applicants must meet any one of the following criteria:
- First Class Master’s degree or two-year postgraduate diploma in any discipline and a three-year Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks,
OR - CA with minimum 50% marks or CS/CMA with minimum 55% marks, along with a B.Com degree,
OR - B.Tech/4-year degree with 6.5 CGPA or equivalent.
Non-engineering candidates who have completed 10+2+5 years of education are also eligible. CMA (USA) candidates may also apply.
Additionally, applicants must have secured at least 50% marks in aggregate in either Secondary or Higher Secondary Examination.
Final-year students of relevant programs can apply, provided they complete degree requirements by June 30, 2026. Provisional admission will be confirmed only upon submission of final mark sheets by December 31, 2026.
Admission Tests
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two areas of specialization. Applicants must have taken the CAT 2025 or, depending on specialization, an alternative test valid on January 30, 2026.
GMAT scores must be reported using code 9CP-HT-94 and GRE scores using code 7496.
Only test center-based GMAT/GRE scores are accepted (online or take-home exams are invalid).
Validity: Test scores (except CAT) must be within two years from the test date and valid on the application deadline.
| Area of Specialization | Test(s) in lieu of CAT |
|---|---|
| Economics | GMAT / GRE / GATE in Economics / UGC-NET in Economics |
| Finance & Control | GMAT / GRE |
| Human Resource Management | GMAT / GRE / UGC-JRF in Economics, Management, Law, Labour and Social Welfare, HRM, Labour Welfare, Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, Psychology, Sociology |
| Management Information Systems | GMAT / GRE / GATE (any discipline) / UGC-JRF (any discipline) |
| Marketing | GMAT / GRE / GATE (any discipline) / UGC-JRF (any discipline) |
| Operations Management | GMAT / GRE |
| Organizational Behaviour | GMAT / GRE / GATE (any discipline) / UGC-JRF in Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Administration, Social Work, Management, Labour Welfare, Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, HRM |
| Public Policy & Management | GRE / GATE in Architecture & Planning / UGC-NET in Anthropology, Economics, Education, Environmental Science, Geography, History, International & Area Studies, Law, Management, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Social Work, Sociology |
| Strategic Management | GMAT / GRE / GATE (any discipline) |
Exemptions for the IIM Calcutta PhD Admission 2026
Candidates holding an MBA/PGDM (two-year full-time) from any IIM with CGPA 6.00/9.00 or above (or equivalent) are exempted from admission tests. They can apply directly through the Doctoral Programme (DP) Online Application Process, paying the applicable fee and meeting the same selection standards as other applicants.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted online through the official IIM Calcutta website. Candidates can select up to two specializations without paying an additional fee.
Each applicant must provide details of two referees in the online form—preferably academic professionals able to assess the candidate’s research aptitude. Applications without recommendation details will be treated as incomplete.
Application Fee:
- SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD candidates: Rs. 1500/-
- All other candidates: Rs. 3000/-
Important Dates
| Application form opens | November 1, 2025 |
| Last date to apply | January 30, 2026 |
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