SSBF- Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune

Overview

Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance (SSBF), Pune, is one of the premier institutions training students for the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) sector. The flagship degree offered is the MBA in Banking and Finance, a two year program in which students gain academic and practical exposure through the School's ties with the biggest financial institutions in India. In addition to being ranked in the top 50 Business Schools in India, SSBF has also been ranked in the top 5 Institutions in the Banking and Finance sector, by Business Connect Magazine, in 2022 and 2023.

SSBF Pune maintains its prime position among the top MBA colleges in India because of its strong placement record. The highest CTC offered in the most recent placement season was INR 15 LPA, with the average salary exceeding 70% of the maximum. The biggest banks and Financial Services firms in the world recruit from SSBF, including ICICI Bank, JP Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley. Recent graduates took up popular roles in the BFSI industry, including financial analysis, credit operations, and branch management. The internship program is equally successful, with the highest summer stipend exceeding INR 75,000 per month.

As part of Symbiosis International University, student life at SSBF Pune is eventful. There are 17 Student Committees on campus, ranging from the Corporate Interface Committee to the Entrepreneurship Cell, and the Equity Research Cell to the BioDiversity Committee. These clubs organize events and serve as important links to alumni working in those fields. They also give opportunities to students to develop their CVs and personalities outside the classroom.

Highlights

Fees

The various components of the academic fees and living costs for MBA students of Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune, are as follows:

• Tuition fee: INR 4.035 Lakh per semester (INR 8.07 LPA).
• Total security deposits (refundable subject to good conduct): INR 35,000.
  • Institute caution deposit: INR 20,000.
  • Hostel deposit: INR 15,000.
• Hostel fee: INR 59,000 per semester (INR 2.36 Lakh for the full MBA course).
• Mess fee: INR 43,000 per semester (INR 1.72 Lakh for the full MBA course).

The total fee payable exceeds INR 20 Lakh, and is payable in four installments, at the beginning of each of the four MBA semesters.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune, are as follows:

• The candidate must have completed (or be in the final year of) an undergraduate course of study from a recognized University in India or abroad with any specialization, with a minimum duration of three years.
• The average aggregate over all semester examinations over the course of undergraduate study (all years) must be at least 50%. This is relaxed to 45% for SC, ST, and EWS candidates.
• Applicants whose UG degree is from a foreign degree must obtain a certificate of equivalence from the Association of Indian Universities.
• All candidates must appear for the SNAP test conducted by SSBF.

The steps in the admission and application procedure are:

• Filling up the online application form on the SSBF website, and attaching the documents validating that the candidate satisfies all the eligibility requirements.
• Paying the SSBF application fee of INR 1,000.
• Registering online for the SNAP entrance test and choosing one of the three dates in December.
• Paying the SNAP registration fee (INR 2,250).
• Appearing for the SNAP test.
• The SNAP results are announced in the second week of January, and the student must pay the registration fee for SSBF by the third week of January.
• All the candidates who have qualified via the SNAP test process may appear for the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
• The final merit list is prepared based on the cumulative score from the SNAP test, GD, and PI rounds. The SNAP score has 50% weightage, and the work experience (if applicable) is taken into account while deciding the PI score.

Placements

As one of the top MBA colleges in India, the placement highlights  of Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune are as follows: 

• The highest salary package offered in the most recent placement season was INR 15 LPA.
• The average and median CTC offered were INR 11 LPA and INR 10.2 LPA, respectively.
• The average salary offered to the top 10% of students in the graduating batch was INR 13.94 LPA. The top 25% had an average CTC of INR 13.47 LPA, and the top 50% had an average CTC of INR 12.17 LPA.
• The top 5 roles offered during the full time placement season were:
  • 30% of students: Banking & Financial Operations.
  • 14%: Central Branch Operations.
  • 8%: Financial Analyst.
  • 7%: Management Trainee.
  • 7%: Associate Credit Manager.
• Prominent recruiters include JP Morgan Chase, CRISIL, Infosys, Morgan Stanley, The Bank of New York (Mellon Corporation), Axis Bank, First Water Capital, Wipro, and ICICI Bank.
• SSBF Pune has a very strong summer internship program for MBA students between Year 1 and 2, with the highest stipend of INR 75,000 per month. The top 5 profiles offered by companies for internships were Equity Research, Portfolio Management, Financial Analysis, Client Service, and Global Finance & Business Management.

Cut-Offs

There are two cut-offs related to admission to the MBA program at SSBF Pune. First, all applicants must have an undergraduate aggregate of 50% averaged over all semesters. This requirement is relaxed to 45% for reserved category students. Second, there is no predetermined cut-off based on the SNAP test score. The final cut-off is decided after the shortlist for the GD and PI round is announced.

Faculty & Alumni

Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune is home to 9 highly qualified Faculty members. Two of them are full Professors, three are Associate Professors, and four are Assistant Professors. In keeping with SSBF’s status as one of the premier institutions for Finance-focused MBAs in India, most Faculty members have Banking Policy experience, with ex-General Managers from SBI joining holders of PhDs, MBAs, and the latest Banking certifications. Each Professor has 2-5 areas of specialization, from Retail Banking to Branch Management, and Behavioral Finance to Asset Pricing.

Despite its relatively young age, SSBF has produced several distinguished alumni - business leaders and finance academics - in just over a decade. The online alumni portal provides regular news updates to graduates of SSBF who sign up, and informs the alumni about donation opportunities, students who require mentorship, and upcoming internship / placement hiring windows. Finally, the flagship event of the SSBF Alumni Committee (the Alumni Meet) is organized in December every year, and features performances by current students and speeches by successful alumni from all the previous batches.

Scholarships

As in other top MBA colleges in India, there are multiple financial aid options available to students of Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune. There are three main scholarships:

1. Postgraduate Merit Scholarship: This is awarded to the class topper in each semester, and takes the form of a 50% tuition fee reduction in the semester in which the student tops the class, subject to a minimum semester GPA of 7.5. It is automatically awarded, and does not require a separate application.

2. University Sports Board Scholarship: Symbiosis International University (the parent organization of SSBF) offers 5 scholarships of INR 24,000 per year to the best sportspeople in the University; MBA students are eligible for this scholarship as well.

3. Industry Sponsored Scholarship: This is primarily a need-based scholarship funded through SSBF’s partnership with CRIF High Mark, a reputed credit information organization. The scholarship amount is INR 1 LPA, and is awarded based on financial hardship and academic excellence. The best such student is additionally given a trophy.

Preparation & FAQs

The two main components of the admission process to the MBA program at Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune, are the SNAP entrance test and the GD/PI round. The SNAP entrance test is similar in structure to other MBA Aptitude Tests, but also includes a domain-specific section. Therefore, it is important that students familiarize themselves with the format, and work out at least 10 mock tests and sample papers before the date of SNAP 2024. To succeed in the GD and PI rounds, applicants must improve their English communication skills through training sessions. Finally, they must also prepare the answers to commonly asked questions about their motivation to join the MBA program at SSBF.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the best Business School in Pune?

Symbiosis School of Banking & Finance, Pune is one of the best MBA colleges in India, and is a contender for best Business School in Pune. It is ranked #32 among all Private Business Schools in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. What is the expected date of SNAP 2024 for admission to the MBA program at SSBF Pune?

SNAP 2024 is scheduled to be held on three dates in December 2024; candidates will be assigned one of these dates at the time of online registration for the entrance test. All applicants must have a valid SNAP 2024 score, even if they have appeared for other MBA aptitude tests (e.g. CAT, XAT).

Q. Which professional certifications are offered by SSBF Pune to its MBA students?

SSBF Pune offers the latest financial certifications to its MBA students, including Financial Planning & Wealth Management (through its partnership with the NSE Academy and BSE), Credit and Risk Certification (via CRISIL), and training modules in the Bloomberg Terminal, SPSS, and R.

Q. Is work experience in the finance sector necessary for admission to the MBA program at SSBF Pune?

Work experience (in any sector) is not compulsory for admission to the MBA program at SSBF Pune. In fact, more than two-thirds of the students in each batch have no work experience after their undergraduate degree (68.75% of the most recent batch).

Q. Do students need to apply to SSBF after appearing for SNAP 2024?

Students who wish to join the MBA program at SSBF must apply separately to SSBF after appearing for and clearing SNAP 2024. They must also pay the registration and application fees for both separately.