Global Business School, Hubli

Overview

Global Business School (GBS), Hubli, is one of the top MBA colleges in Karnataka, and has a successful MBA program with an intake of 120 students per batch. GBS is affiliated with Karnatak University in Dharwad, and has achieved multiple national recognitions, including the 36th place among South Indian Business Schools (zone rank) according to the IIRF rankings in 2024, a premium AA+ rating by Careers360, and the 55th ranking among B-Schools in South India according to The Week.

GBS Hubli offers several value-added modules to its students. For example, all candidates with the Marketing specialization receive a Certification from the London School of Digital Business. In addition to multimedia classrooms, there is also an emphasis on experiential learning, collaborative research work, and corporate interactions (both online and offline). Other unique features include a dedicated Faculty Mentor for each student and the Industry Oriented Internship Program. The ratio of adjunct to full time faculty members is approximately 2:1, leading to further exposure to real time industry standards.

Global Business School has a history of successful placements, with a highest package of INR 10.5 LPA in the 2023 season. The median salary was INR 4.75 LPA, and 44 companies were involved in the recruiting process. Some prominent recruiters were HDFC Mutual Fund, ICICI Bank, Flipkart, Decathlon, D-Mart, Coca Cola, Puma, and Jaro Education. Some of the main events in the student social calendar of GBS Hubli are Pinnacle, the Sports Meet, Reminiscence, the Alumni Summit, Galacto, the Management Festival, and Bhumika, the parent-student graduation event.

Highlights

Fees

The tuition fee payable by MBA students of Global Business School, Hubli, varies according to whether the student is admitted via the PGCET (pure academic and entrance examination merit) quota, or the management quota:

• PGCET candidates pay a total of INR 5 Lakh as tuition fee over the two years of the program.
  • INR 50,000 is payable during the time of registration, to confirm the candidature.
  • INR 1 Lakh is to be paid by the end of the Academic Orientation, before the  classes for Semester 1 start.
  • INR 1 Lakh is to be paid before appearing for the first semester exams.
  • INR 1.5 Lakh is to be paid at the time of admission to the Second Year.
  • INR 1 Lakh is to be paid before appearing for the third semester exams.
• Management Quota candidates pay a total of INR 6 Lakh as tuition fee over the two years of the program.
  • INR 50,000 is payable during the time of registration, to confirm the candidature.
  • INR 1.5 Lakh is to be paid by the end of the Academic Orientation, before the  classes for Semester 1 start.
  • INR 1 Lakh is to be paid before appearing for the first semester exams.
  • INR 1.5 Lakh is to be paid at the time of admission to the Second Year.
  • INR 1.5 Lakh is to be paid before appearing for the third semester exams.

The living cost (including hostel and mess fees) for students who are not from Karnataka is INR 1 LPA.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to the MBA program at Global Business School, Hubli, are as follows:

• The applicant must hold pass certificates at Standard X, Standard XII, and Bachelor’s degree levels (with minimum duration three years).
• The minimum percentage aggregate across all semester exams at UG level must be 50%. This is relaxed to 45% for SC, ST, and PwD applicants.
• The candidate must have a valid score in any of the national MBA entrance examinations (e.g. CAT, NMAT, CMAT), or in the Karnataka PGCET, or in the GBSAT.

These strict criteria are valid for the normal admission pipeline. However, the GBS authorities reserve the right to modify the entry requirements for admission via the management quota.

There are two parallel modes of application to Global Business School, Hubli:

Stream 1 consists of students who have given any national MBA entrance examination (e.g. CAT) or the Global Business School Aptitude Test (GBSAT). The steps in admission are as follows:

• The candidate must apply and register for the GBSAT examination.
• The exam can be given in either online or offline mode.
• In both cases, a virtual or in-person Personal Interview (PI) will be conducted after the test.
• Candidates are assigned a score based on both rounds. The top 15 in this merit list can apply via the merit quota, and they pay lower fees. All others must apply via the Management quota.
• In addition, all candidates appearing for GBSAT must also appear for any one national Management Aptitude examination.
• Candidates receiving an offer of admission under either quota must confirm their acceptance by paying the registration advance amount of INR 50,000.

Stream 2 consists of students who apply via the Karnataka PGCET examination and centralized counseling process.

• Candidates must apply via the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) website, and register for the PGCET after passing the eligibility criteria test.
• They must receive a valid rank after the test, and participate in the KEA counseling process.
• The students who are allotted a seat in GBS Hubli at the end of the PGCET counseling cycle must pay the registration fee prescribed by the KEA, and report to Global Business School for the admission formalities.
• If any seats are left vacant after the process (due to students canceling their registration), they will be filled through the Management Quota, and will have higher fees attached.

Placements

The 2023 placement season at GBS, Hubli, was one of the most successful on record, with the highest package of INR 10.5 LPA offered by Asian Paints, and the median salary settling at INR 4.75 LPA. 44 companies took part in the placement process; some prominent recruiters included major Indian banks (ICICI, Axis, HDFC, Bandhan Bank), large industries (Berger, Asian Paints), retail firms (Decathlon, MRF, Puma), and E-Commerce companies (Flipkart, Reliance Digital). 96% of students in the graduating batch were placed (a figure similar to that in the best MBA colleges in India), and 34 different companies offered jobs. Most students received job offers in middle management, including Territory Sales Managers, Business Development Executives, Relationship Managers, Financial Analysts, Management Trainees, and Property Advisors.

Nine industrial sectors were represented in the 2023 placement season, with approximately half the students choosing Banking, Financial Services & Insurance jobs. Other prominent sectors were Retail, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, and E-Commerce (the second largest, in terms of number of students). The factors leading to the impressive placement performance include presence of adjunct faculty members with live experience in the industry, including companies actively hiring from the GBS campus, dual specializations, and faculty mentors ensuring that students are well prepared for the summer internship and placement process.

Cut-Offs

All applicants to the MBA program in Global Business School, Hubli (whether directly via GBSAT or indirectly via the Karnataka PGCET counseling process) must have a minimum aggregate percentage of 50% (or 45% for reserved category candidates) across their 3/4/5 years of undergraduate study. There is no minimum prescribed score in the qualifying entrance examination; the cut-off is only determined at the end of the selection process.

However, the top 15 candidates according to the combined GBSAT and Personal Interview score will receive lower fees and access to scholarships; this cut-off is also determined after the online and offline shortlisting processes are completed. If any candidate rejects his/her seat, the cut-off is not further lowered by admitting the 16th candidate in the merit list.

Faculty & Alumni

Global Business School, Hubli, has 11 full time Faculty members. Of these, two are full Professors, three are Associate Professors, and six are Assistant Professors. In addition to teaching different courses according to their specialized fields of study, they also guide students in their professional endeavors, and are in charge of upskilling them in preparation for the placement season. GBS is also home to 19 Adjunct Faculty Members. They are typically industry veterans or respected self-employed professionals - for example, some of them are senior managers at Amazon, Ernst & Young, and Titan. They conduct regular guest lectures to boost the confidence of the students and give them valuable career tips.

The Global Business School Alumni Association was founded in 2010, and has several functions:

• To forge strong bonds among the School, its alumni, and Business Leaders.
• To organize seminars and professional talks.
• To publish informational material and newsletters to enrich its members' knowledge base.
• To help the current students and Faculty members of Global Business School set up industry visits, internship opportunities, and final placements.
• To provide financial assistance (scholarships and loans) to needy students.
• To help the School with infrastructure.
• To raise funds and help with CSR initiatives as and when required.

Scholarships

Students who appear for the GBSAT and Personal Interview selection steps are ranked in a merit list, and the top 15 entrants in the list are eligible for Global Business School Institute Scholarships, and have to pay INR 1 Lakh less than other MBA students of GBS Hubli. In addition, all students of the College may take its help while applying for education loans; it provides the necessary documents proving that the applicant is a student in good standing, and the loan is usually approved subject to a check of the parents’ CIBIL scores.

Preparation & FAQs

In addition to the normal course of preparation required for the national Management Aptitude Test (e.g. CAT, NMAT, XAT, or CMAT), students must also prepare specifically for either Karnataka PGCET or GBSAT 2024. These examinations have syllabi that are similar to that of the CAT, but the weightage of different topics and the time per question are different. Therefore, it is important to work out at least 5 mock tests, and go through the past five years’ solved exam papers in order to be familiar with the difficulty level, question pattern, and solving tips.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Hubli?

Global Business School is among the top MBA colleges in India, and is the best Business School in Hubli.

Q. Which specializations are available to MBA students of Global Business School, Hubli?

MBA students of Global Business School, Hubli, can choose from among three specializations: Marketing, Human Resources, and Finance. Dual specializations are also available. 45% of candidates specialize in Marketing.

Q. Are scholarships available to aid needy candidates who study in GBS Hubli?

Global Business School assists needy candidates with tuition fee loans and financial assistance for hostel and PG fees.

Q. What are the benefits of applying directly to GBS Hubli by giving GBSAT 2024?

Candidates who finish in the top 15 after the combined GBSAT + Personal Interview round have to pay program fees that are INR 1 Lakh lower than those of Management quota applicants. In addition, the process is completed in a time period shorter than that of Karnataka PGCET counseling.