Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai

Overview

The Department of Management Studies, IITM, is ranked in the top 20 Business Schools in India, and is home to a successful MBA program, among others. With 277 students in the MBA and MS programs, 179 research scholars, a strong innovation profile, and 28 renowned faculty members, it is one of the best Business Schools in South India. 

The high national rank (#17 among Government Business Schools) of DoMS, IITM, is mainly due to its excellent placement record. In the most recent placement year (2023), 100% of the 62 students registered for on-campus placements received at least one job offer, with the highest CTC exceeding INR 30 Lakh per year. In addition, the average CTC was more than INR 20 LPA, showing that all students received lucrative salaries after graduation. The summer internship (SIP) program is highly successful as well, with the top quartile of students receiving more than INR 1 Lakh per month as SIP stipend.

DoMS, IITM, is a notable center of research and innovation. The Center for Research on Startups and Risk Financing published knowledge that is sought after by both entrepreneurs and venture capital firms. In addition, the Faculty of the Department, in association with the MS students, work on sponsored industry projects (21 by the year 2014 alone) and undertake projects for social impact.

Highlights

Fees

There are three categories of fees payable by MBA students of DoMS, IITM: one-time payments, semester academic fees, and living costs (including hostel and mess fees). A summary of their values can be found below:

• One-time payments: INR 12,750. Most of these are payable at the time of admission.
  • MBA Infrastructure and Placement Fee: INR 10,000.
  • Alumni Life Membership Fee: INR 1,000.
  • Miscellaneous Fees (including Student Welfare Fund, Modernization, Admission, Medical, and Grade Card Fee): INR 1,750.
• Semester academic fees: INR 1,74,813 (payable every semester). Approximately 85% of this amount is taken up by the tuition fee.
  • Tuition fee: INR 1.5 Lakh. This is payable only by General and OBC category candidates, and not by SC/ST and PwD students.
  • Professional fee: INR 10,000.
  • Industry Interaction fee: INR 5,000.
  • Other Fees (including Medical, Registration, Gymkhana, and Medical Insurance): INR 9,813.
• Refundable Deposits: INR 2,000 (Institute and Library Security Deposit).
• Living Costs: INR 23,750 per semester. This includes:
  • Hostel fee: INR 6,750.
  • Hostel deposit (refundable): INR 3,000.
  • Dining charges (mess fee): INR 14,000.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to DoMS, IITM, for different categories of candidates, are as follows:

• Indian candidates applying directly:
  • Completion of a UG degree from a recognized University, with a duration of at least three years.
  • Aggregate of at least 60% throughout their undergraduate degree. This is relaxed to 55% for SC/ST and PwD applicants. If the degree is not yet completed at the time of application, a provisional certificate may be submitted.
  • A valid Common Admission Test (CAT) score. If the applicant completed his/her UG degree from any IIT, and has a CGPA above 8 out of 10, the CAT score requirement is waived.
  • The application fee is INR 1,600 for general category candidates, and INR 800 for SC/ST/PwD applicants.
• Indian candidates applying via their company:
  • At least 60% aggregate over the course of UG studies (55% for reserved category candidates).
  • A valid CAT score.
  • At least two years of experience in the sponsoring company.
  • The application must be forwarded by the company which proposes to sponsor the applicant.
• International candidates:
  • An aggregate of 60% or higher in the undergraduate degree.
  • A valid Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score.

After the applications are submitted, the Department releases a shortlist of candidates to be invited for the Personal Interview (PI) round. The shortlist is prepared based on a composite score with five main criteria: CAT / GMAT score, undergraduate academic performance, work experience, academic diversity, and gender.

The PI round considers four main criteria:

• Composite score computed during the shortlisting process.
• Extracurricular (sports and cultural) achievements.
• Reflective Writing: An assignment that gauges how well the candidate can argue for or against a proposition, with due attention to grammar and writing style.
• Personal Interview: Communication skills and personal poise are taken into account during this phase.

The applications must be submitted by the end of January every year. The interviews happen in March, and the final results are announced in May (at which time a tuition deposit must be paid), prior to the registration and commencement of classes in July.

Placements

The 2023 placement season at DoMS, IITM, was very successful, with 100% of students placed, of which 42% accepted their Pre-Placement Offers. 62 students took part in the placement process, with 26 blue chip companies making offers to students. The highest CTC offered was INR 30.6 LPA, with the average CTC settling above 65% of the highest package, at INR 20.19 LPA. The top 10% of candidates all received offers in excess of INR 29.3 LPA. The sectors represented in the final placement offers included Analytics (29.7%), General Management (25.3%), Finance (24.3%), Operations & Supply Chain Management (12.2%), and Marketing (8.1%). A similar level of success was seen in the other programs offered by the Department; for example, MS students also enjoyed a 100% placement record, with the highest CTC exceeding INR 21.5 LPA. Most jobs were related to data and business analysis.

Some of the main recruiters on campus included Accenture, Bank of America, Dell, Deloitte, Hexaware, IBM, ICICI Bank, HSBC, Cognizant, and Cisco.

The foundation for robust final placements can be seen in the successful summer internship program. The highest package for the two month SIP was INR 2.5 Lakh, and the average was INR 1.12 Lakh. The companies which recruited students for summer internships were, by and large, similar to those involved in final placements, with the main internship fields being Analytics (e.g. Accenture, Tupperware), Finance (e.g. HSBC, Morgan Stanley), General Management (e.g. Abbott, Aditya Birla Group), Marketing (e.g. Carbon Minus, Incture), and Operations / Supply Chain (e.g. McKinsey & Company, CAMS).

Cut-Offs

The academic cut-off for applicants to DoMS, IITM, is 60% as the undergraduate aggregate across all years. This is relaxed to 55% for reserved category candidates, similar to the rule in other top MBA colleges in India. There are no other mandatory cut-offs for the other segments of the selection score:

• CAT (for Indian applicants) or GMAT (for International applicants) score: There is no minimum score cut-off in either case. However, since this is an important component in the shortlisting process, a higher CAT or GMAT score will increase the probability of admission.
• UG percentage: An exceptionally high score will have a small positive impact. In addition, IIT graduates with a CGPA above 8 are exempt from the requirement to submit CAT scores.
• Work experience: This is not mandatory, but applicants with work experience will receive a positive boost.
• Academic diversity: Students from undergraduate backgrounds and majors that are not well represented in previous MBA batches will receive an application benefit.
• Gender: Applicants from underrepresented genders may be favorably considered based on the Institute’s diversity quotas.
• Personal Interview: There is no cut-off score in the PI segment, as performance is largely based on the qualitative assessment of the interviewing panel.

Faculty & Alumni

The Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, is home to 28 highly qualified Faculty members, including 19 full Professors, 5 Associate Professors, and 4 Assistant Professors. There are also 2 Adjunct Faculty members, known for their international expertise. Their specializations are divided into six major areas: Finance, Human Resources & Organizational Behavior, Information Systems, Integrative Management, Marketing, and Operations. The unusually high proportion of full professors (almost 70%) is a testament to the high level of experience of the Faculty members of the Department.

Scholarships

The main scholarships available to students of DoMS, IITM, are as follows:

1. The Institute Merit cum Means Scholarship: Any student of the MBA program whose household annual income is lower than INR 4.5 LPA can apply, and all eligible applicants will be awarded the scholarship subject to a ceiling of 25% of the batch size. The scholarship entails a 67% tuition fee waiver throughout the duration of the course. However, in order to continue receiving the scholarship, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 5 in each semester. This is similar to many financial aid options in the best MBA colleges in India.

2. Institute SC/ST Scholarship: This is available to all SC/ST students of the MBA program, with no upper limit, as long as their parental income is lower than INR 4.5 LPA. Awardees can access free tuition, and their mess fees are waived as well. They are also given a stipend of INR 3,000 per year. Continued payment of this amount is subject to maintenance of a GPA above 5 from semester to semester.

3. Scholarships from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (SC) and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (ST): As long as the eligible students achieve a pass grade in all subjects, they are given a full tuition and living fee waiver, in addition to a Personal Computer allowance, and a stipend for Books and Stationery (INR 3,000 PA).

Preparation & FAQs

There are two main segments of the application process to DoMS, IITM, which need extensive preparation. The first is CAT or GMAT prep. This should ideally be done through a six or twelve month classroom part time program, with multiple mock tests and sample papers to ensure readiness.

For the Personal interview (PI) round, applicants must ensure that they can adequately speak about their academic history, show off their communication skills, display adequate business knowledge, and show that they can calmly take part in group assignments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Chennai?

The Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, has the highest average placement salary package among all Business Schools in the city. Along with IIM Trichy, it is the top MBA college in Tamil Nadu, and is one of the best MBA colleges in India.

Q. Do candidates need work experience to successfully apply for the MBA program in DoMS, IITM?

Both freshers and experienced candidates are accepted to the new batch of MBA students in the Department every year; the authorities talk about the advantages of having a wider perspective with some years of professional experience, but it is not a mandatory part of the selection process.

Q. What is the average package for summer internships at DoMS, IITM?

The average summer internship stipend for MBA students of IITM is INR 1.12 Lakh. The highest package is INR 2.5 Lakh, while the top 10% of students received more than INR 2.35 Lakh, and the top 25% received more than INR 2 Lakh.

Q. Can foreign students apply for the MBA program at the Department of Management Studies, IITM?

Students from any country may apply for the MBA program at DoMS, IITM, as long as they have completed their undergraduate studies from any recognized University worldwide with an aggregate of at least 60%.