MHRM Department of Humanities and Social Science, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur

Overview

The Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), IIT Kharagpur, is a unique postgraduate course that combines business management and human resources. It is a two year degree program with sixty students in each batch, and has a strong core curriculum taught by distinguished Faculty members, industry professionals who deliver frequent guest lectures, summer internships in the HRM space, and challenging live projects. The alumni of the MHRM program have always been deeply involved with training and mentorship activities over the 4+ decade history of the Department.

The placement statistics for the MHRM program at IIT KGP are among the most impressive for any postgraduate HR course in India. For example, the highest salary offered during the recent placement season was INR 23 LPA, with an average CTC of INR 15.4 LPA. Students were offered HRM roles in some of the country’s biggest corporations, including ICICI Bank, Morgan Stanley, and EY India. The summer internship statistics are equally impressive, with a highest stipend of INR 2.4 Lakh per month.

Highlights

Fees

The total tuition fee for General and OBC category students of the MHRM program at the Department of HSS, IIT KGP, is INR 5 Lakh. This is for the complete two year program, and is payable on a per-semester basis. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are exempt from the payment of tuition fees. This includes all academic fees, and does not include establishment charges and living costs.

The hostel and mess fees form the main component of living costs. The total fee per semester is INR 27,855, with approximately 60% of this amount spent on Hall (hostel) Charges. Students must also pay a total refundable security deposit of INR 6,000: INR 1,000 towards the Institute, INR 1,000 to the Library, and INR 4,000 towards the hostel caution deposit.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to the MHRM course in the Department of Humanities and Social Science, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, are as follows:

• All applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree of minimum four years’ duration in Engineering, Technology, Pharmacy, or Medicine. As an alternative, any candidate with a Master’s degree in any subject can apply for the MHRM program at IIT KGP.
• General and OBC candidates must have a minimum UG aggregate of 60%, or a CGPA of 6.5 (or equivalent).
• SC, ST, and PwD candidates must have a minimum UG aggregate of 55%, or a CGPA of 6.0.
• The applicant must have a valid percentile score in the CAT entrance test. No other MBA aptitude examination scores are accepted.
• Students in the final year of a qualifying undergraduate or Master’s degree will also be allowed to apply, provided that they submit all degree certificates and academic transcripts by October 31 of the year in which they are admitted to the MHRM program at IIT KGP.

The steps in the application and admission procedure to the MHRM program are as follows:

• The candidate must appear for the CAT examination and receive a valid score.
• The applicant must complete the online application form for the MHRM course at IIT KGP.
• The registration fee must be paid online, via netbanking or debit card.
• After the online application is submitted, a file containing all the information submitted is generated by the portal. Candidates should download and print this out for future reference.
• The IIT KGP MHRM authorities generate a shortlist of eligible candidates based on the application details, academic history, and CAT percentile score.
• The offline Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds are held in two phases: mid-March has the GD and PI rounds in Mumbai and Bangalore, with the Kolkata and Delhi rounds being held in the final week of March. 
• After the GD and PI rounds, the MHRM admission authorities generate a Cumulative Performance Score based on all the elements of the application, and make the final offers to 60 candidates. The final results are declared in late April or early May every year.

Placements

As one of the top MHRM colleges in India, the placement highlights of IIT KGP (MHRM course) are as follows: 

• 40+ MNCs recruiting from the 60-student MHRM outgoing batch for 10+ roles.
• Prominent roles: HR Business Partner, HR Analyst, Management Trainee - Human Resources, People Advisory Services Consultant, Business HR (IAS), Talent Transformation Consultant.
• The highest salary package offered to the outgoing MHRM batch was INR 23 LPA.
• The average salary package was INR 15.4 LPA.
• The robust placement performance is due, in part, to the strong Summer Internship (SIP) program. The stipend offered during the 2-3 month SIP is almost equal to the total tuition fee, with the average offer being INR 1.26 Lakhs per month, and the maximum SIP stipend exceeding INR 2.4 Lakhs per month.
• Some of the prominent recruiters are Morgan Stanley, Hitachi, Wipro, Zycus, Pepsico, Capgemini, ICICI Bank, Delotte, EY, Puma, and the Mahindra Group.

Cut-Offs

There is only one predetermined cut-off for admission to the MHRM program at IIT KGP. It is based on the overall undergraduate percentage. General and OBC category candidates must have a UG aggregate above 60%, or a CGPA above 6.5. SC, ST, and PwD applicants must have a UG aggregate above 55%, or a CGPA above 6.0. There is no CAT cut-off announced ahead of time. However, a higher CAT percentile score will improve the probability of admission to IIT KGP in the final MHRM program merit list.

Faculty & Alumni

The distinguished alumni of the MHRM program in IIT KGP are employed in senior positions across the globe. There is a dedicated MHRM Department Alumni Cell, which maintains strong professional relationships with thousands of alumni across the world, and invites them to the campus for interactive sessions with current students. Alumni in India also have a big role to play in increasing the industrial exposure to students, including live projects and workshop mentorship.

Scholarships

As in other top MHRM colleges in India, there are multiple financial aid options available. All the scholarships available to PG students of IIT KGP are also open to MHRM students. The flagship scholarship is the Merit cum Means scholarship, which is awarded to fresher students based on their previous academic performance and overall family income. The MCM scholarship entails a full or partial tuition fee waiver.

The other scholarships awarded by internal and external agencies to MHRM students of IIT KGP include:

• Inspire Scholarships.
• Alumni grants to meritorious and needy students.
• Free Mess and Pocket Allowance to special category students.
• SGR International Travel Grant.
• Incubation support for student startups.

Preparation & FAQs

There are two main components of the MHRM (IIT KGP) selection process which need careful preparation. Students must first prepare for CAT 2024 through a classroom or online program, over the course of at least one year. After theoretical study, it is important to work out sample papers and mock tests, to ensure accuracy and speed of solutions. Even though there is no predetermined cut-off, students should still check the CAT score range of the previous batch, and use it to come up with a target score, and ensure that their standard in the mock test matches the goal. 

The GD and PI rounds require strong communication skills and the ability to make logical inferences based on business scenarios provided. The best way to prepare for these rounds are through mock sessions organized by CAT preparation agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Kharagpur?

The Department of Humanities and Social Science, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, is home to one of the best MHRM colleges in India, and is a contender for best Business School in Kharagpur. It is ranked #18 among all Government Business Schools in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. What is the last deadline to apply for the MHRM program at IIT KGP?

The deadline for application to the MHRM program at IIT KGP is in the last week of February every year. For example, the 2024 deadline is on February 25.

Q. Is an MHRM degree from IIT KGP better than an MBA degree?

Students who wish to specialize in Human Resources should consider the MHRM degree from IIT KGP, because of its 40+ year history of success and focus on HR. For such students, it is better than an MBA from an institution of equivalent ranking.

Q. What are the main courses taught in the MHRM degree at IIT KGP?

In addition to courses focused on industrial psychology and HRM best practices in the workplace, the MHRM program at IIT KGP also gives its students exposure to the theoretical basis of HRM including psychology and psychometric testing.