IIM Kozhikode (PGP-BL)

Kozhikode, India · Public · 1-year full-time residential MBA (Post Graduate Programme in Business Leadership; April start; min. 4 years' work experience; 2-week international immersion)

Class size: 62 (Class of 2026)
Median base salary: INR 28,137 (Class of 2026)
Program tuition: INR 23,447 (full program, incl. hostel)

Deadlines

Phase 1 (April 2027 intake): July 15, 2026
Phase 2 (April 2027 intake): Aug. 31, 2026
Phase 3 (April 2027 intake): Nov. 20, 2026

Essays

Statement of Goals

IIM Kozhikode’s PGP-BL Programme has an individual element and a collective learning element. Knowing the candidate’s personal aspirations, both long-term and short-term, will help the Institute to understand the candidate’s career objectives, start a conversation and contribute to our design of the learning experience: Short term goal : Desired role, Desired Industry. Long-term goal : Desired role, Desired Industry

Alternative Resume Essay

The details in the PGP-BL application provide a good idea of the candidate’s academic, professional background and accomplishments, their self-assessment and expectations from the programme. In this alternative resume essay, IIMK give the opportunity to the candidate to express about the “rest of their story” (what the formal CV may not necessarily project) and present themselves as a total person.

Editor's notes

Only Phase 3 is left: Stage 1 closes Nov. 20, 2026, with interviews Dec. 12 to 13. You get one phase, so this is it for the April 2027 batch.
PGP-BL skews younger than most one-year Indian programmes. The last batch averaged 28 years old with 5.7 years' experience, and the FAQ names 4 to 7 years as the sweet spot. If you're at 10 years, explain why this programme and not a more senior one.
The two essays and the interview are one conversation. IIMK says the statement of goals is meant to start a conversation, and the panel scores leadership, social sensitivity and multi-dimensionality. Write nothing you can't talk about for ten minutes.
Look hard at where graduates went. Last year 41 of 57 offers by industry were in IT/ITES and consulting titles led the list. If your goal sits outside that, you'll need a plan for getting there beyond campus placement.