Narayana Business School (NBS), Ahmedabad

Overview

Narayana Business School (NBS) is a highly ranked MBA college in Ahmedabad. It offers four degree programs including specialized PGDM courses and executive MBAs. It is well known for its Industry 4.0 aligned curriculum. With 9,000 distinguished alumni and 2+ decades of management education success, it is ranked among the top 30 private Business Schools in India according to the IIRF 2023 list, and is hence one of the top MBA colleges in India. It is as reputed for its student life and events as for its experiential curriculum, with more than 15 student clubs ensuring that there are always events happening every week on the NBS campus.

Narayana Business School is renowned for its consistently strong placement records. In the most recent placement season, the highest package offered was INR 32 LPA, the median was INR 9.98 LPA, and the average salary was INR 8.2 LPA. Some prominent recruiters are Kotak Mahindra Bank, Vodafone Idea, McKinsey & Company, Bajaj Finserv, Deloitte, and KPMG. More than 670 blue chip companies visit the NBS campus for internships and full time job recruitment. A large part of this success is the unique career pathway crafted for each student by the teaching staff and placement cell, in addition to robust interview, group discussion, and aptitude test training. 

The NBS Recreation Center is the hub of all sports and physical fitness activities on campus. Students can access world class indoor and outdoor sports and exercise facilities. Several clubs are active in the sports space, and Zumba and Yoga classes are also organized frequently. All the major Indian festivals are celebrated annually on the NBS campus, ensuring that students' cultural skills are also exhibited.

Highlights

Fees

The total academic fees, for all four semesters, for the four programs offered by Narayana Business School, Ahmedabad, are as follows:

• PGDM (Dual Specialization): INR 7.95 Lakh.
• PGDM (Data Science & Analytics): INR 7.95 Lakh.
• PGDM (Quantitative Finance): INR 10..85 Lakh.
• MBA + PGPCE (including INR 44,500 as fees for the MBA program): INR 7.95 Lakh.

These amounts cover tuition fees, examination costs, academic registration fees, and cost of access to common academic areas and IT resources. Two new hostels (separate quarters for boys and girls) are currently being built on the NBS campus; when it opens in 2024, students who choose to stay on campus must also budget for hostel and mess fees.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to Narayana Business School are as follows:

• Academic Record: Consistent aggregate score above 60% at all major levels: Standard 10, Standard 12, undergraduate degree. The student must hold a Bachelor’s degree of minimum three years’ duration from any recognized University in India or abroad.
• Entrance examination: All applicants to NBS must appear for the NBSAT (NBS Aptitude Test) and receive a valid score.
• Certain degree programs at NBS have special requirements. For example, the PGDM degree in Data Science and Analytics requires the student to have taken either Mathematics or Statistics in Standard XII. Engineering or Computer Science UG degrees are preferred, though not compulsory. The PGDM in Quantitative Finance has similar additional requirements.

The steps that must be followed to apply to study MBA in NBS are as follows:

• Filling out the online NBSAT application form. This has several steps:
  • Navigating to the online NBS application portal.
  • Registering on the portal with personal and contact details, and choosing the course(s) of interest.
  • Filling in additional personal details and academic history information.
  • Uploading the required documents, a passport sized photograph, and paying the application fee of INR 1,000.
• Appearing for the NBSAT: This is held in two phases every year. It is an online proctored examination, and can be taken from the privacy of the candidate’s home. It has four sections: Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation & Data Adequacy, Vocabulary & Analytical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. There is no negative marking, and candidates have an average of one minute to answer each of the 120 questions.
• Submitting a detailed Statement of Purpose (SoP). This is only for candidates who qualify via the NBSAT.
• Appearing for a Personal Interview. After this round, Narayana Business School releases the final list of selected students.

Placements

Some of the key statistics showing Narayana Business School’s success in the placement arena are as follows:

• 100% placement record for more than two decades.
• Highest package: INR 32 LPA.
• Median salary offered: INR 9.98 LPA.
• Average salary offered: INR 8.2 LPA.
• Total number of unique recruiting companies: 670+.
• 10% of candidates are offered packages higher than INR 14.43 LPA.
• 40% of candidates receive and take up pre-placement offers from summer internships.
• More than 100% Return on Investment; which means that the average salary offered is higher than the two year tuition fee.

Some prominent recruiters in different sectors include:

• Financial Services Firms: Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Bajaj Finserv, Bain Capital.
• Banking Giants: Citibank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank.
• Telecom Companies: Vodafone Idea, Airtel.
• Retail Majors: Decathlon, Panasonic, Pepsico.
• Consulting Firms: TCS, KPMG, Deloitte.
• E-Commerce Firms: Oyo, Property Pistol.

Some of the main roles for which graduates of Narayana Business School (one of the top MBA colleges in India) are hired are as follows:

• Finance Sector: Research Analyst, Financial Analyst, Data Analyst, Finance Executive, Data Scientist.
• Human Resources Sector: Management Trainee, HR Analyst, Payroll Specialist, HR Business Partner.
• Marketing Sector: Campaign Manager, Branding Executive, Territory Manager, Sales Enabler, Growth Associate.
• Information Technology Sector: SAP Consultant, Data Modeling Analyst, Big Data Architect.
• Operations Sector: Inventory Associate, Logistics Manager, Store Manager, Operations Analyst, Program Manager.

Cut-Offs

The only cut-off related to admission to the MBA and PGDM programs at Narayana Business School is based on academic performance. To be considered for admission, all applicants must have a minimum average score of 60% at three levels: Standard X and XII Board Examinations, and throughout all years of undergraduate study. No cut-off based on NBSAT score is announced in advance: the entrance examination score is considered in conjunction with the SoP and Personal Interview performance to decide the final merit list of candidates, and the total score is not made public.

Faculty & Alumni

Narayana Business School is home to more than 60 highly qualified Faculty members. Most of them have several decades of experience in various industry sectors, and hold either PhD or MBA degrees, or both. They have pioneered a unique Adaptive Curriculum concept, where the MBA syllabus is not static, but is constantly updated in real time to reflect the changing priorities of the corporate world, in its bid to become one of the best MBA colleges in India. In addition to classroom knowledge, NBS Professors also work to improve the students’ industry readiness to ensure strong placement statistics.

NBS maintains an online Alumni Directory which enables all registered graduates of the School to find fellow alumni working in similar fields. With more than 9,000 alumni in senior positions worldwide, the network is very powerful. The NBS Alumni Network has three main functions: Guidance and Mentorship (from alumni to current students, both for professional and career purposes), Professional Opportunities (specific internships and job opportunities for students in the PGDM and MBA programs), and Shared Stories (where the journeys of alumni are shared with the entire NBS community to inspire and motivate the staff members and students. The Alumni Association also organizes multiple events every year: on the NBS campus, in major cities in India and abroad, virtual workshops and interactive sessions.

Scholarships

Narayana Business School offers customized academic scholarships based on merit. The amount is not fixed ahead of time; students who require funding assistance should contact the NBS Admission Office for the latest information about scholarship amounts and applications, while submitting their financial aid requirements for consideration. The award is made on the basis of the entire academic history of the candidate, as submitted during the application to Narayana Business School, and continued receipt of any scholarship is subject to maintenance of strong academic performance.

NBS partners with leading Indian banks to offer education loans to PGDM students. Via the School, PGDM students can access the Priority Sector Lending bracket, and take up loans with a liberal repayment period, usually between 5 and 15 years. NBS has a dedicated Loan Desk that helps incoming students navigate the different financial aid options available. At the time of application for the education loan, students must submit admission letters, detailed bank statements, and any other documents which are required.

Preparation & FAQs

Preparation for admission to the MBA and PGDM programs at Narayana Business School is split into three phases:

• NBSAT: The entrance test has four sections that are similar to those in other national MBA aptitude tests like the CAT and XAT. Therefore, students who have attended coaching classes for the other tests will be able to perform well in the NBSAT provided they work out multiple customized mock tests and sample papers to familiarize themselves with the new format.
• SoP: The Statement of Purpose is an essential document that allows candidates to make their case for admission based on their past academic, professional, and extracurricular achievements.
• Personal Interview: Students must improve their English communication skills during the final preparation phase, and ensure that they are able to reiterate the talking points mentioned in the Sop persuasively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Ahmedabad?

Narayana Business School (NBS) is one of the top MBA colleges in Gujarat, and is a contender for best Business School in Ahmedabad. It is ranked #27 among the best MBA colleges in India (private), according to the IIRF 2023 ranking list.

Q. What are the main financial advantages of studying PGDM at Narayana Business School?

Narayana Business School is well known for its RoI that is greater than 100%. This means that the average placement package is greater than the total academic cost of the two year PGDM degree.

Q. What is the deadline for application to the NBSAT entrance examination each year?

NBSAT is held in two phases every year. The deadline for application to the first phase is in the middle of December, and the second phase deadline is in mid-February.

Q. What is the USP of the MBA + PGPCE program at Narayana Business School?

The NBS Post Graduate Program in Corporate Excellence is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical MBA studies and corporate requirements. It is similar to an executive education program, but is primarily targeted at recent graduates, rather than similar PGPx programs which are of interest mostly to senior corporate leaders.

Q. How many companies recruit from the Narayana Business School campus?

More than 670 companies recruit NBS students for internships and full time jobs. The average salary is almost INR 9 LPA, with a highest salary of more than INR 32 LPA.

Q. What is the application fee payable during the admission process to the MBA or PGDM program at Narayana Business School?

All applicants to any of the four postgraduate programs at Narayana Business School must pay INR 1,000 as application fees.

Q. What are the requirements related to the photograph that must be uploaded during the NBSAT application process?

During the process of filling up the NBSAT application form, candidates must upload a scan of a passport sized photograph. This must be a recent color photo, and must show the face of the candidate clearly.