Indian Institute of Cost and Management Studies & Research's (IndSearch), Pune

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Overview

The Indian Institute of Cost and Management Studies & Research's (IndSearch), Pune is known for its MBA and MMS programs. As one of the oldest Business Schools in the state, its MBA programs have been in existence for more than half a century. It is also home to two undergraduate degree programs (Bachelor of Management Studies - BMS - and Bachelor of Business Applications - International Business), which started in the academic year 2016-17. All degrees are awarded by Savitribai Phule Pune University. It has well equipped state of the art classrooms, labs, and libraries, with reputed faculty members assisting students as they prepare for internships and job interviews.

The management students of IICMSR (both UG and PG) have access to strong internships and final placements through the Career Development Cell, which ensures that a large number of reputed national and international companies provide professional opportunities to the students. Some prominent recruiters include HDFC Bank, KPMG, InfoEdge, Vodafone Idea, and Jaro Education. The Career Development Advisory Committee is a team of industry consultants and distinguished alumni who provide mentorship and inspiration to current students of IICMSR through interactive sessions and training workshops. Several companies that recruit from the Institute are also strategic HR partners of IICMSR.

The campus of IICMSR has two locations, and is known for its scenic beauty and biodiversity. Personality development is a key tenet of student life at the Institute, and sports and cultural activities are organized on a regular basis. 

Highlights

Fees

The tuition fees for various degree programs offered by IICMSR Pune are decided by the norms set down by the state Shikshan Shulka Samiti. The fees are, on average, much lower than those for other highly ranked Management Institutions in Maharashtra:

• MBA: INR 1.99 Lakh.
  • Year 1: INR 91,000.
  • Year 2: INR 1.09 Lakh.
• MMS: INR 80,000 per year.
• BMS: INR 59,340 per year.
• BBA - IB: INR 65,000 per year.

All students must pay INR 5,000 each as library and caution deposits at the time of academic registration in the first year. These amounts will be returned at the time of graduation if the student has caused no harm to Institute property.

Students who choose to stay in the hostel will also need to pay mess and accommodation fees, while students who commute from home or from a PG residence must budget for daily transportation to the IICMSR campus.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for the four courses offered by IICMSR Pune are as follows:

• MBA and MMS:
  • The candidate must be a citizen of India.
  • The applicant should hold an undergraduate degree (of minimum duration of three years) awarded by any University recognized by UGC, India.
  • The aggregate over all the UG semester examinations must be at least 50% (or 45% for reserved category candidates).
  • The candidate should have a valid rank after successfully giving any of these 5 MBA aptitude tests: MHT-CET, CAT, XAT, CMAT, or ATMA.
• BMS and BBA - IB: The applicant must satisfy any of the following four criteria:
  • Completion of Standard XII studies from any recognized Board of Higher Secondary education, with English as a compulsory subject, and a minimum aggregate of 45%.
  • Completion of a two year Diploma in Pharmacy under the Board of Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra.
  • Three year Diploma program awarded by the Board of Technical Education.
  • Completion of the Minimum Competency and Vocational Courses (MCVC) program from any recognized Institution in the state of Maharashtra.

The application process for MBA and MMS candidates has the following steps:

• Checking the admission rules on the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Maharashtra’s website, under the MBA section.
• Registering at any Admission Facilitation Center prescribed by the DTE, submitting the required documents, and paying the application fee.
• Participating in the counseling and interview process after verification of eligibility.
• 20% of the seats are filled by the Institute, 65% are filled by the Maharashtra State counseling process, and 15% are open to candidates from other states.

The application process for the BBA - IB and BMS courses is much simpler. There is no centralized counseling, and candidates apply directly to IICMSR Pune. There are three steps in the process:

• Filling out the application form on the IICMSR website.
• Payment of the registration fee (online) of INR 300.
• Submission of the relevant documents for verification, and payment of the first year’s fees to confirm acceptance of the admission offer. There is no personal interview as part of the admissions process for either undergraduate degree program.

Placements

The Career Development Cell (CDC) of IICMSR has representatives from the faculty and student body, and works to invite companies to the campus for job placements and internships, and to prepare students so that they can perform well in the qualification tests and interviews. It works with the IICMSR Career Development Advisory Committee (which has senior corporate leaders and distinguished alumni of the Institute) to schedule workshops and awareness sessions for current students. The CDC also conducts interpersonal skills and personal interview training sessions ahead of the final placement season. Some prominent companies that recruit students of IICMSR for summer internships are Tata Motors, Bharat Forge, Coca Cola, and Electronica Finance.

Some prominent companies that recruit annually from IICMSR are KPMG, HDFC Bank, Jaro Education, Glenmark, Teamware Solutions, Vodafone Idea, The Learning Curve, Satguru Travels, Opus Software, InfoEdge Solutions, and Webonise Labs. At the core of IICMSR Pune’s placement success are its strong industry connections. Multiple senior corporate leaders have issued testimonials about the work ethic of the Institute’s students, as well as the practical training they receive during their UG and PG degrees, including Senior General Managers and Human Resources Directors.

Cut-Offs

The common cut-off for all applicants to the postgraduate programs at IICMSR (MBA and MMS) is an aggregate of 50% averaged over all undergraduate semester exams. This criterion is relaxed to 45% for reserved category applicants and persons with disabilities; similar to the rule in the best MBA Colleges in India. Undergraduate course applicants (BBA and BMS) must have an aggregate of at least 45% in the Standard XII Board Examination or equivalent Diploma qualifying examination. No cut-off is specified ahead of time based on the entrance test score, for applicants to MBA and MMS; all candidates who have a valid score in any of the five entrance examinations can apply. The final cut-off is determined only after all rounds of counseling are complete.

Faculty & Alumni

At the core of IICMSR’s academic and placement activities are its Faculty members. There are 21 full time Professors in the Institute, in addition to adjunct and visiting faculty. They specialize in different fields, ensuring that students of IICMSR have access to holistic management education. Some prominent specializations are Marketing, Finance, IT Consulting and Data Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Human Resources, Economics, and Entrepreneurship Development. The Faculty members have been recognized at the Institute and State level for excellence in teaching, best research paper, 

The Alumni Cell of IICMSR (IndEx) coordinates all networking and professional outreach activities among graduates of the Institute. Alumni of IICMSR are employed in senior positions in the Manufacturing, Services, IT, and Small & Medium Enterprises sectors, in addition to management roles in MNCs in India and abroad. IndEx provides a platform for the alumni of IICMSR to share their expertise and knowledge with junior students, both to inspire them to excellence and ensure that they are well prepared for placements. The Alumni meet takes place every year in January or February, and allows for professional networking and donation activities. All alumni are expected to register online, and offline and virtual meetings happen in every major city of India, in a manner similar to that in the best MBA Colleges in India.

Scholarships

Scholarships for UG and PG students at IICMSR Pune are available in six categories, primarily for students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds:

• SC: Government of India post-matric scholarship, and the post-matric tuition fee and examination fee freeship.
• ST: Government of India post-matric scholarship, and the Tribal Student tuition fee and examination fee freeship.
• OBC: Tuition and examination fee waivers.
• VJNT and SBC category: Tuition and examination fee reduction.
• EBC: Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulk Shishyavrutti Yojna, and the Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Yojna.

Preparation & FAQs

Most students who wish to study MBA at IICMSR Pune choose to appear for the MHT CET entrance examination. This is a highly competitive test, and students must ensure that they attend classes to prepare for any MBA aptitude test (e.g. CAT or GMAT) for at least six months, in addition to appearing for 5-10 mock tests. Previous years’ CET papers and sample tests can be found on the MHT CET website, and should be consulted to make sure that the applicant has covered the complete syllabus during preparation. For the final interview on campus, students should work on their communication skills in English and their confidence in person.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Pune?

The Indian Institute of Cost & Management Studies & Research, Pune is one of the top MBA colleges in Pune, with a rank of #95 in the latest IIRF 2025 list, among the top MBA colleges in India - Private

Q. Which specializations are available for students of the MBA degree program at IICMSR Pune?

The MBA program at IICMSR Pune has six major specializations: Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and Business Analytics. Students may also take up a second specialization as a minor to improve interdisciplinary career opportunities.

Q. If a candidate fails to submit the MHT-CET 2024 application form by the given deadline, is there any alternative?

Candidates who miss the last date for submission of the MHT-CET 2024 application form may appeal to the authorities to allow late registration. However, in this case, an additional late fee of up to INR 500 may be imposed upon the candidate.

Q. Which specializations are available to candidates who wish to study BMS at IICMSR Pune?

Bachelor of Management Studies at IICMSR Pune has three specialization options. Students can choose the general BMS degree (no specialization), E-Commerce & Supply Chain Management, or Computer Applications & Business Analytics.

Q. What international education and employment opportunities are available to MBA students of IICMSR Pune?

In addition to the MNCs which recruit from the IICMSR campus for both internships and full time jobs, the MBA program also has a collaborative partnership with Wisconsin University in the United States; this allows students to participate in exchange semesters and further studies at the University.