Indian School of Business

What courses does Indian School of Business offer?

Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad offers a focused portfolio of postgraduate and doctoral management programmes rather than undergraduate degrees. The flagship is the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), ISB's MBA-equivalent, supported by two Executive MBA tracks for working professionals (PGP MAX for senior leaders and PGP PRO for mid-career managers) and a five-year doctoral Fellow Programme in Management (FPM/PhD). There is also a deferred-admission route, the PGP Young Leaders Programme (PGP YL), for final-year students and early-career applicants. In 2026, every ISB management programme sits at the PG, executive or doctoral level - the school does not run any UG, diploma or BBA courses, and all programmes are concentrated in the management and business-research streams.

This narrow but deep portfolio is deliberate: ISB built its reputation as a one-year global MBA destination, ranked #1 in India and #27 worldwide in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2025 (up from #31 in 2024). Note that ISB does not participate in India's NIRF management rankings, so its standing is benchmarked through international rankings such as the FT instead.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below answers the most common ISB question - what does each programme cost, how long does it run, and who is eligible. It covers all four core ISB programmes for the 2026 cycle, with the programme name, level, duration, total fee, approximate seats, eligibility and accepted exam. Read each row as a complete profile of one programme; fees are total programme fees (the PGP figure shown is inclusive of shared on-campus accommodation, the configuration most applicants choose). Work-experience requirements rise sharply as you move from the PGP to the executive tracks.

The standout takeaways for an applicant in 2026: the one-year PGP at ₹38,67,160 is ISB's headline product and the shortest path to an ISB MBA, while the FPM is effectively free to attend (full tuition waiver plus a ₹65,000 monthly stipend and on-campus accommodation), trading money for a five-year research commitment. The two Executive MBA tracks are differentiated almost entirely by experience: PGP PRO at ~5 years and PGP MAX at ~10 years, with PGP MAX commanding the highest total fee of roughly ₹49.5 lakh inclusive of GST.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at Indian School of Business

The Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is ISB's flagship and by far its most sought-after course in 2026. It is the programme that earned ISB its FT Global MBA Ranking 2025 position of #27 worldwide and #1 in India, and it is the one most aspirants mean when they say they want to "do an MBA at ISB." Its appeal is structural: a globally ranked MBA compressed into one year (versus the two years at most IIMs), aimed at candidates who already have at least 24 months of work experience and a competitive GMAT or GRE score.

Why the PGP dominates demand

Placement strength drives the PGP's popularity. In the 2025 placement cycle, 364 companies registered and made 1,164 offers including 44 international roles, with consulting, technology and BFSI as the top three recruiting sectors. The highest package reported was ₹66 LPA, and the average package was around ₹35 LPA in 2025, up from ₹32.5 LPA for the 2024 batch - with roughly 80% of the 2024 batch securing offers above ₹35 LPA. For a one-year investment of ₹38,67,160, that placement profile explains why the PGP is consistently the most applied-to programme at ISB.

Executive and doctoral demand

Among working professionals, PGP PRO (5+ years' experience) and PGP MAX (10+ years' experience) are the popular weekend/modular Executive MBA choices, letting managers earn an ISB credential without leaving their jobs. The five-year FPM is the niche but prestigious route for those targeting academic and research careers, attractive precisely because of its full funding model.

How to Choose the Right Course at Indian School of Business

The right ISB programme in 2026 depends almost entirely on your work experience and career goal. If you have 2 to roughly 7 years of experience and want to accelerate into consulting, tech product or BFSI leadership through a globally ranked, full-time year, the PGP (₹38,67,160, 1 year) is the natural choice - it delivers ISB's strongest placement outcomes (₹66 LPA highest, ~₹35 LPA average in 2025). Its GMAT/GRE and 24-month experience bar means it rewards candidates who already have a workplace track record.

If you are a working professional who cannot pause your career, match your experience to the executive track: PGP PRO (~5 years' experience, ~18 months, ₹31,51,000 + GST) for mid-career managers, and PGP MAX (~10 years' experience, ~15 months, up to ₹49,50,040 incl. GST) for senior leaders moving into general management or board-level roles. Finally, if your ambition is research, teaching or a PhD-level academic career, the FPM (5 years, full tuition waiver plus ₹65,000/month stipend) is the only fit - it trades immediate earnings for a fully funded doctoral path. In short, the PGP suits career accelerators, the executive MBAs suit in-role professionals, and the FPM suits future academics.

Frequently Asked Questions: Indian School of Business Courses 2026

What courses are offered at Indian School of Business Hyderabad?

ISB Hyderabad offers four core management programmes in 2026: the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP/MBA), two Executive MBA tracks (PGP MAX for ~10 years' experience and PGP PRO for ~5 years' experience), and the five-year doctoral Fellow Programme in Management (FPM/PhD), plus the deferred-entry PGP Young Leaders Programme. ISB does not offer any undergraduate, BBA or diploma courses - all programmes are at postgraduate, executive or doctoral level in the management stream.

What is the fee for the MBA (PGP) course at ISB Hyderabad in 2026?

The total fee for the one-year PGP (MBA-equivalent) at ISB Hyderabad is ₹38,67,160 for 2026, inclusive of shared on-campus accommodation. The tuition-only component is about ₹25,62,000, with the total rising to around ₹42,42,040 for studio accommodation. This single-year fee covers ISB's globally ranked flagship MBA and is among the highest in India, reflecting its FT #27 global standing.

How long is the MBA course at Indian School of Business?

The ISB PGP (MBA) is a one-year (1.0 year) full-time programme, making it one of India's shortest globally ranked MBAs. By comparison, the Executive MBA tracks run longer in modular format - PGP MAX is about 15 months and PGP PRO about 18 months - while the doctoral Fellow Programme in Management takes 5 years (two years of coursework plus three years of dissertation research).

What is the eligibility for ISB Hyderabad PGP admission?

To be eligible for the ISB PGP in 2026, you need a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50%, a valid GMAT or GRE score, and at least 24 months of full-time work experience by the programme start. ISB evaluates applicants holistically, considering academics, test scores, work experience and leadership potential. The average GMAT (10th edition) score for a recent batch was around 720, with the GMAT Focus average near 669.

Which is the best programme at ISB Hyderabad?

The Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is widely regarded as the best and most prestigious programme at ISB Hyderabad, powering the school's #1 India and #27 global rank in the FT Global MBA Ranking 2025. It delivers ISB's strongest placement outcomes - a ₹66 LPA highest and ~₹35 LPA average package in 2025. The "best" choice still depends on you: PGP for full-time career acceleration, the executive MBAs for working professionals, and the FPM for research careers.

How many seats are there in the ISB PGP programme?

ISB admits roughly 870 students into the PGP across its two campuses (Hyderabad and Mohali) each year, based on the Class of 2024 intake. The two campuses share an identical curriculum, faculty and placement process, so admission is to the PGP as a whole. This relatively large, experienced cohort is a key reason 364 companies made 1,164 offers in the 2025 placement cycle.

Does ISB Hyderabad offer a PhD, and is it funded?

Yes, ISB Hyderabad offers a five-year doctoral Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), and it is fully funded. Admitted scholars receive a complete tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend of about ₹65,000, free on-campus accommodation, medical insurance and research/conference support. Eligibility requires a 4-year undergraduate degree, or a 3-year undergraduate plus a postgraduate degree, along with a valid GMAT, GRE, CAT or JRF score and a clear research or teaching interest.