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As you embark on your journey to choosing your dream B-school, you might find yourself at the crossroads of targeting the right B-school for your higher education. Choosing your B-school has to be a careful decision backed by an analysis of your current profile and your future aspirations. Your dream B-school has to align with your aspirations. In this article, we will provide a detailed comparison between the two key B-schools in India — the Indian Institutes of Management(IIM) and the Indian School of Business(ISB).
The IIMs are management institutes for education and research that are established by the central government of India. At present, there are 20 IIMs in India. The IIMs offer several courses related to business and management, including a full-time Master of Business Administration (MBA). However, IIMs offer these MBA degrees as a two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP). On the other hand, the Indian School of Business (ISB) is a private business school established in 2001. There are two ISB campuses in India that are located in Hyderabad (Telangana) and Mohali (Punjab). ISBs offer various specialized programmes related to management such as PGPM, PGP etc.
Below is a table of comparisons between the two schools based on some key metrics which will help you compare and choose the B-school of your choice.
| Criteria | IIM | ISB |
| Entrance Exam | IIM admissions are based on the scores obtained in Common Admission Test(CAT) | The applicants must score well in the GMAT or GRE entrance examination to get admissions to ISB. |
| Course Duration | IIMs follows US style 2 year MBA pattern | ISB follows European style 1 year pattern |
| Batch Size | ~450 | ~700-900 |
| Pedagogy | Highly academic intensive course structure with an internship opportunity | Well-designed holistic course structure with higher cross cultural exposure and an opportunity to go for exchange programs with prestigious schools abroad |
| University Recognition | IIM was established in the 90s and has a huge alumni network. The institute is well recognised both inside and outside the country. | ISB is a later entrant in the B-school paradigms in India. It has an alumni size of 3500+. However, ISB is better at international networking potential. |
| Work Experience | Typically 0 to 2 years | 2-7 years of work experience |
| Quality of Peers | >80% of the batch tends to be engineers | It has a diverse batch demographics in terms of background, work experience and age. |
| Future Prospects | Read IIM A report here | Read ISB report here |
| Course Fees | ~23 Lakhs for 2 years | ~ 36 Lakhs |
Choosing between the IIM and ISB is a personal choice and depends on what your career plans are. However, while deciding on one, choose the school that fits your profile and that aligns with your personal and professional goals. Good luck!
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