Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) New Delhi follows a structured and transparent admission process focused on selecting meritorious candidates for its diverse academic programs in international business, trade, economics, and management. The process is designed to ensure fairness and efficiency, combining entrance exams, academic evaluation, and personal assessments.
Applications for most courses at IIFT New Delhi are accepted online via the official IIFT website (www.iift.ac.in) or the National Testing Agency (NTA) portal for entrance exams. Applicants must register first, fill out the detailed application form, upload scanned relevant documents, and pay a non-refundable application fee. Offline applications are generally not accepted except for certain certificate courses or specific cases like PhD programs, where admission is handled differently.
IIFT admission primarily depends on national-level entrance exams:
For MBA (International Business) and some PG programs, admissions are now based on the CAT (Common Admission Test) score conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management. Earlier, IIFT conducted its own exam but now uses CAT scores along with other criteria.
For M.A. Economics and other research programs, IIFT conducts its own admission tests or considers valid national eligibility tests like UGC-NET.
PhD candidates are selected through an entrance test conducted by IIFT or based on valid UGC-NET/JRF scores.
Executive and certificate programs may not require entrance exams but should meet eligibility criteria.
Selection at IIFT involves multi-layered criteria, including:
Shortlisting based on CAT percentile (or other accepted entrance exam scores for various courses).
For the final round, candidates are called for Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Writing, Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
Scores in these rounds are combined with academic details, work experience, and diversity factors (gender, academic background, etc.) to prepare a composite merit list.
Shortlisted candidates must fill an online detailed biodata form as part of the process.
Candidates must clear each stage successfully to progress to admission.
Application Window:Â Opens in October annually for the academic session beginning the following year.
Submission Deadline:Â Typically by November/early December.
Entrance Test:Â CAT exam is usually held in late November.
Shortlisting & Interviews: Conducted between January and March. Interviews and GD sessions are increasingly held online.
Final Merit List and Admission Offers:Â Released typically by April/May, followed by fee payment and document verification.
The academic session begins around July-August.
Candidates need to prepare and submit the following:
Passport-sized photographs
Valid photo ID (Aadhar card, Passport, Driving License, etc.)
Class 10th and 12th mark sheets and certificates
Graduation mark sheets and degree certificates
Entrance exam scorecard (CAT/UGC-NET/other relevant scores)
Category certificates (if applicable) for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PH)
Work experience certificates (if applicable)
Proof of payment of application fees
Additional documents may be requested at the time of counseling or admission.
For queries and assistance, candidates can contact IIFT’s admission office using:
Phone:Â +91 11 39147300 / 26966744
Email:Â admission@iift.ac.in
Official Website:Â www.iift.ac.in
Address:Â Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, B-21 Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110016, India
Admission Step | Description |
---|---|
Application Registration | Candidates must register online at www.iift.ac.in or NTA portal and fill out the application form. |
Application Fee Payment | Pay the non-refundable application fee online via credit/debit card or net banking channels. |
Entrance Exam | Appear for CAT (for MBA), IIFT own tests or UGC-NET (for research), depending on the program. |
Shortlisting | Candidates are shortlisted based on entrance exam scores and academic criteria for next stages. |
Writing & Discussion Rounds | Participate in Written Ability Test, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview as scheduled. |
Merit List Publication | The final merit list is prepared considering exam scores, GD/PI performance, academics, experience. |
Admission Offer & Fee Payment | Selected candidates receive admission offers and must remit fees before deadlines to confirm seats. |
Document Verification | Upload or present original documents for verification at the time of admission confirmation. |
Online Application:Â Visit the IIFT official portal or NTA website, register with personal details, and complete the online application form. Upload scanned documents including photograph, signature, and academic certificates. Ensure all details are correct to avoid rejection.
Entrance Exam:Â For MBA (IB), appear in CAT. Candidates seeking admission for other programs must take institute-specific exams if applicable or meet entrance standards. Foreign nationals/NRI candidates must submit valid GMAT scores.
Shortlisting:Â Based on the CAT percentile or other exam scores, candidates are shortlisted respecting category quotas and diversity policies. Shortlisted candidates must fill an online biodata form highlighting managerial traits, academics, and experience.
Personal Assessment:Â Shortlisted candidates are invited for GD/PI and WAT. These assess communication skills, leadership potential, problem-solving ability, current affairs awareness, and motivation.
Final Merit List:Â The selection committee prepares the final merit list factoring in exam scores and performance in all selection rounds. Transparency and equal opportunity underpin this process.
Admission & Fee Submission: Successful candidates receive admission offers through official communication. They must submit the requisite fees by the stipulated dates and complete document verification to confirm admission.
Course | Average Fees | Duration | Action |
---|---|---|---|
MBA | ₹18 Lakhs to INR 21.77 Lakhs (full program) | 2 | |
MA | ₹3.5 Lakhs | 2 Years | |
PGD | 4.45 Lakhs to INR 4.85 Lakhs | 1-2 year | |
Certificate | ₹75,000 to INR 1.4 Lakhs | 4 Months - 1 Years | |
PhD | ₹: INR 2.5 Lakhs to INR 5.10 Lakhs | 3 - 4 Years | |
Executive PGDM | ₹4.45 Lakhs to INR 4.85 Lakhs | 1-2 year |