Great Lakes Institute of Management in Chennai offers the PGPM, a one-year, full-time management course for people who already work. The batch lives on campus for the whole year. AACSB and AMBA have both accredited Great Lakes, and NIRF placed it 37th in management in 2025. The full course fee is INR 19.44 Lakhs, and a single AC room with meals adds more. You apply with a CAT, XAT, NMAT or GMAT score and at least two years of full-time work. Great Lakes then calls you for a writing test and an interview. The Class of 2026 averaged INR 18.1 LPA, and the highest offer was INR 43 LPA.
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Fees
You pay the tuition fee and the programme fee for the whole course, not per term. The caution deposit comes back when you leave. A single AC room with meals costs INR 3.96 Lakhs more.
Fee head
Amount
How it is charged
Tuition fee
INR 12.43 Lakhs
Full course, as published
Programme fee
INR 6.96 Lakhs
Full course, as published
Alumni subscription
INR 5,000
One time
Caution deposit
INR 10,000
One time, comes back when you leave
Room and meals, single AC
INR 3.96 Lakhs
Full course, as published
Total, no room
INR 19.44 Lakhs
Full course
Total with room and meals
INR 23.40 Lakhs
Full course
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Admission Dates
CAT 2026 registration is open from 3 Aug 2026 to 15 Sep 2026, and the exam is on 29 Nov 2026. Great Lakes has not announced the last dates for its four application cycles yet. Classes start in Apr 2027.
Event
Date
Status
CAT 2026 registration, last date to apply
3 Aug 2026 to 15 Sep 2026
Confirmed
CAT 2026 exam
29 Nov 2026
Confirmed
XAT 2027 exam
3 Jan 2027
Confirmed
CAT 2026 result and scorecard
Jan 2027
Tentative
Great Lakes application form, last date
Aug 2026 to Feb 2027
Tentative
Writing test and personal interview
Jan 2027 to Mar 2027
Tentative
Offer letters and final shortlist
Feb 2027 to Apr 2027
Tentative
First fee payment to hold the offer
Feb 2027 to Apr 2027
Tentative
Course registration and document check
Apr 2027
Tentative
Classes start with orientation
Apr 2027
Tentative
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Eligibility
You need a bachelor's degree in any subject and at least 50% in Class 10, Class 12 and your degree. You also need two years of full-time work by 30 Apr 2027. Great Lakes checks this before it reads your essays.
Requirement
What you need
Degree
Bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university
Marks
At least 50% in Class 10, Class 12 and the degree
Work
Two years of full-time work by 30 Apr 2027
Exam score
CAT, XAT, NMAT or GMAT, within the validity Great Lakes sets
Minimum percentile
Not published
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Admission Process
You fill the online form and pay INR 2,200. Great Lakes then calls you for a writing test and an interview. If you get an offer, pay the first part of the fee by the date on the letter.
Step
What you do
1. Apply online
Fill the form, write the essays and pay INR 2,200
2. Screening
Great Lakes reads your form, essays and work record
3. Test and interview
Sit the writing test and the interview in one of six cities
4. Offer
Accept it and pay the first part of the fee on time
5. Join
Finish course registration and orientation on campus
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Cutoff
Great Lakes does not publish a minimum percentile for the PGPM. Your score is one part of the call. Your work record, essays and interview carry the rest.
Exam
Which score Great Lakes takes
CAT
CAT 2025 or CAT 2026
XAT
XAT 2026 or XAT 2027
NMAT
NMAT from 2025 onwards
GMAT
Taken after 1 Jan 2024
Minimum percentile
Not published
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Placements
Great Lakes places the PGPM batch on campus at the end of the year. Consulting, analytics and technology firms take most of it. The Class of 2026 left with 2.6 times the pay it came in with.
Great Lakes gives two awards on merit, and you do not fill a separate form for either one. The admission team picks the winners from your application, essays and interview.
Scholarship
Who can get it
Amount or waiver
Dr. Bala V. Balachandran Merit Scholarship
The top ranked PGPM applicant of the intake
INR 12.43 Lakhs, the full tuition fee
Diversity and Merit Scholarship
40 awards each intake, at least 30% of them for women
INR 5 Lakhs each
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Ranking
NIRF ranks the school on data it files every year. AACSB and AMBA are the two bodies that have reviewed the school and accredited it.
Body
What it says
NIRF Management 2025
Rank #37 in India, score 58.05
AACSB
Accredited
AMBA, UK
Accredited, for the PGPM
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Course Structure
The PGPM takes one year on campus, with no long break in the middle. You pick one concentration and study it alongside the core subjects.
Part
What you study
Core subjects
Marketing, finance, operations, strategy and analytics
Concentrations
Consulting, Product Management, Data Science and Analytics, Fin-Tech and more
Format
Full-time and residential on the Chennai campus
Length
One year, from Apr 2027 for the next batch
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Hostel and Campus
The fee already covers a single AC room with meals. If Great Lakes cannot give you a single room, it gives you a twin sharing room and returns part of the room fee.
Item
Detail
Room
Single AC room, part of the published fee
If single rooms are short
Twin sharing, with part of the room fee returned
Meals
Vegetarian meals on campus
Campus
One residential campus in Chennai
Should you pick the PGPM at Great Lakes Institute of Management?
This course suits people with two or three years of work who want a one-year MBA and a consulting or analytics job.
Pick it if:
You want to be back at work in a year: the PGPM takes twelve months, so you give up one year of pay, not two.
You want a consulting or analytics job: Accenture, Deloitte, KPMG and Tiger Analytics all hired from the last batch.
You do not want to hunt for a room in Chennai: the fee covers a single AC room with meals on campus.
You care about pay growth, not one big offer: the college's own report puts the batch at 2.6 times the pay it came in with.
Skip it if:
You have less than two years of full-time work: Great Lakes counts your work on 30 Apr 2027, so a fresher form will not clear screening.
You are counting on a percentile to decide it: Great Lakes publishes no minimum, and the interview and your work record carry as much weight.
You want two years on campus and a summer internship: this course takes one year straight through, with no summer break.
You cannot pay a large fee early: Great Lakes shares the payment schedule only after you are admitted, so ask for it before you accept.
Counsellor's advice
If you have two clear years of full-time work by 30 Apr 2027, apply in an early cycle: Great Lakes interviews before results are out and picks its merit awards from the same application. If you are short of two years, wait a year.
PGPM Eligibility▾
Degree: A bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university.
Marks: At least 50% in Class 10, Class 12 and your degree.
Work experience: Two years of full-time work by 30 Apr 2027. Two to three years fits this course best.
Exam score: CAT 2025 or 2026, XAT 2026 or 2027, NMAT from 2025, or GMAT taken after 1 Jan 2024.
No minimum score: Great Lakes sets no percentile floor. Your score is one part of the call.
PGPM Admission Process▾
Apply online: Fill the form, write the essays and pay INR 2,200. There are four application cycles.
Screening: Great Lakes reads your form, essays, marks and work record and then calls you.
Test and interview: You sit a writing test and a personal interview in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Mumbai.
Offer and first payment: Pay the first part of the fee by the date on your offer letter or you lose the seat.
Register and start: Finish course registration and the document check on campus before classes start.
PGPM Admission Dates 2027
▾
These dates are for the batch that starts in 2027. Tap 2028 Session for the batch after it.
The 2028 calendar is not out yet. These dates are estimates based on 2027.
Confirmed
3 Aug 2026 to 15 Sep 2026
CAT 2026 registration, last date to apply
The last date to apply is 15 Sep 2026. Late forms are not taken.
Confirmed
29 Nov 2026
CAT 2026 exam
One Sunday, three sessions. Your percentile comes from this paper.
Confirmed
3 Jan 2027
XAT 2027 exam
Great Lakes also takes XAT, NMAT and GMAT for this batch.
Tentative
Jan 2027
CAT 2026 result and scorecard
Expected about five weeks after the exam, as in earlier years.
Tentative
Aug 2026 to Feb 2027
Great Lakes application form, last date
Great Lakes has four cycles and has not announced their last dates yet.
Tentative
Jan 2027 to Mar 2027
Writing test and personal interview
Held in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Tentative
Feb 2027 to Apr 2027
Offer letters and final shortlist
Early cycles get their letters first, so an early form helps.
Tentative
Feb 2027 to Apr 2027
First fee payment to hold the offer
You lose the seat if you miss the date printed on your offer letter.
Tentative
Apr 2027
Course registration and document check
Carry your degree certificate, marksheets and work experience letters.
Tentative
Apr 2027
Classes start with orientation
The course takes one year from this month, on campus.
Tentative
Aug 2027 to Sep 2027
CAT 2027 registration, last date to apply
Expected to open and close in the same months as this year.
Tentative
Nov 2027
CAT 2027 exam
Expected on the last Sunday of the month, as in earlier years.
Tentative
Jan 2028
XAT 2028 exam
Expected in the first week of January.
Tentative
Jan 2028
CAT 2027 result and scorecard
Expected about five weeks after the exam.
Tentative
Aug 2027 to Feb 2028
Great Lakes application form, last date
Four cycles are expected again, with the first one closing early.
Tentative
Jan 2028 to Mar 2028
Writing test and personal interview
Expected in the same six cities.
Tentative
Feb 2028 to Apr 2028
Offer letters and final shortlist
Expected cycle by cycle, as in this year.
Tentative
Feb 2028 to Apr 2028
First fee payment to hold the offer
Expected within a few weeks of each offer letter.
Tentative
Apr 2028
Course registration and document check
Expected in the week before classes start.
Tentative
Apr 2028
Classes start with orientation
Expected in the same month as this year.
Source: CAT 2026 notification and the Great Lakes admissions page. Confirm on the official site before you act.
Great Lakes Institute of Management PGPM Fees 2027
▾
This is the full 1-year cost, not one term. The rows carry the 2026-27 batch fee; the 2027-28 fee is not out yet. Turn on the toggle to add a room and meals.
Tuition fee
Full course, as published
INR 12.43 Lakhs
Programme fee
Full course, as published
INR 6.96 Lakhs
Alumni subscription
One time, with the first payment
INR 5,000
Caution deposit Refundable
One time, returned when you leave
INR 10,000
Add room and meals
Room and meals, single AC
Full course, as published
INR 3.96 Lakhs
Total course fee
INR 19.44 Lakhs
1 year · tuition and programme fee, room not added
Total course fee
INR 23.40 Lakhs
1 year · tuition and programme fee plus room and meals
Education loan EMI
INR 32,777
7 yr · 10.5% per year
ROI
93%
average first-year pay INR 18.1 LPA vs the full fee
Education loan EMI
INR 39,454
7 yr · 10.5% per year
ROI
77%
average first-year pay INR 18.1 LPA vs the full fee
Source: the Great Lakes PGPM fee page. Confirm on the official site before you act.
Will your score get you a call from Great Lakes Chennai?
Pick the exam you have and the work you will hold on 30 Apr 2027. Great Lakes publishes no minimum percentile.
Your exam
Full-time work by 30 Apr 2027
CAT 2026 · 2 to 3 years
Yes, you can apply. Great Lakes takes a CAT 2026 score for this batch, and it says two to three years of work fits the PGPM best.
CAT 2026 · More than 3 years
Yes, you can apply. A CAT 2026 score works for this batch, and more work than the two-year floor is welcome. The last batch averaged 3.2 years.
CAT 2026 · Under 2 years
Not yet. Great Lakes counts your full-time work on 30 Apr 2027, and two years is the floor. Your CAT score cannot make up for it.
XAT 2027 or NMAT · 2 to 3 years
Yes, you can apply. Great Lakes takes XAT 2026 and 2027 and NMAT from 2025, and two to three years of work fits the PGPM best.
XAT 2027 or NMAT · More than 3 years
Yes, you can apply. A XAT 2027 or NMAT score works for this batch, and more work than the two-year floor is welcome.
XAT 2027 or NMAT · Under 2 years
Not yet. Two years of full-time work by 30 Apr 2027 is the floor, whichever exam you write.
GMAT · 2 to 3 years
Almost. Check the date on your GMAT: Great Lakes takes a score only if you wrote the exam after 1 Jan 2024. Your work is in the range it wants.
GMAT · More than 3 years
Almost. Your work clears the floor, but a GMAT score counts only if you wrote the exam after 1 Jan 2024. Write CAT or XAT if yours is older.
GMAT · Under 2 years
Not yet. Two years of full-time work by 30 Apr 2027 is the floor, and a GMAT score does not change it.
EDITOR'S NOTE
Great Lakes interviews some applicants before their result is out. If your work record is strong, apply in an early cycle instead of waiting for a score.
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM Scholarship Calculator
Pick where you stand in the shortlist. The result is an estimate, so confirm it with the admission office.
Where you stand
Scholarships you missedYou do not qualify on your answer. Tap to see why.▾
Each card below says which award it is and who gets it.
Dr. Bala V. Balachandran Merit Scholarship
INR 12.43 Lakhs
Great Lakes Institute of Management
The full tuition fee is waived. You also get mentoring from senior alumni.
Who qualifies: the top ranked PGPM applicant of the intakeApply with the admission form
Not eligible on your answer
Diversity and Merit Scholarship
INR 5 Lakhs
Great Lakes Institute of Management
40 awards go out each intake, and at least 30% of them go to women.
Who qualifies: picked from your form, essays and interviewApply with the admission form
Not eligible on your answer
No award matches this answer. Ask Great Lakes about the payment schedule and about education loans.
Estimated total waiver
INR 12.43 Lakhs
Your net course fee: INR 7.01 Lakhs
Estimated total waiver
INR 5 Lakhs
Your net course fee: INR 14.44 Lakhs
Estimated total waiver
INR 0
Your net course fee: INR 19.44 Lakhs
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM vs similar colleges
Tap a college to see it next to Great Lakes Institute of Management. The cream box marks the better number in each row: lower fees, higher pay, less work experience asked for.
Compare with
This page
Great Lakes Institute of Management
Chennai
Compared with
S P Jain Institute of Management and Research
Mumbai
Compared with
XLRI Xavier School of Management
Jamshedpur
Compared with
Indian Institute of Management Indore
Indore
Compared with
Management Development Institute
Gurgaon
Total feesfull course, as each college publishes it
INR 19.44 Lakhs
tuition and programme fee
INR 22.66 Lakhs
INR 3.22 Lakhs more, room included
INR 25.80 Lakhs
INR 6.36 Lakhs more, academic fee
INR 27.77 Lakhs
INR 8.33 Lakhs more, Indian applicants
INR 18.50 Lakhs
INR 94,000 less, general seat
Average paylatest published batch
INR 18.1 LPA
Class of 2026
INR 24.4 LPA
INR 6.3 LPA more, Class of 2025
INR 27.71 LPA
INR 9.61 LPA more, Class of 2025
INR 27.5 LPA
INR 9.4 LPA more, Class of 2024
Not published
ROIaverage pay against the full fee
93%
on INR 18.1 LPA
108%
15 points higher
107%
14 points higher
99%
6 points higher
Not published
NIRF rankNIRF Management 2025
#37
score 58.05
#20
17 places higher
#6
31 places higher
#8
29 places higher
#9
28 places higher
Work experience neededleast full-time years asked for
2
by 30 Apr 2027
3
1 more, for its one-year course
3
1 more, managerial work
5
3 more, at the application date
3
1 more, after the degree
In short
If you have three clear years of work, S P Jain Institute of Management and Research pays more for a similar fee. If you have only two years, Great Lakes Institute of Management is the one that will read your form.
In short
If you have three years of managerial work and want the highest pay of this set, XLRI Xavier School of Management is worth the extra INR 6.36 Lakhs. If you have two years, apply here instead.
In short
If you have five years of work, Indian Institute of Management Indore pays much more for about INR 8 Lakhs more. If you have two or three years, only Great Lakes Institute of Management will take your form.
In short
If a lower fee decides it, Management Development Institute costs INR 94,000 less but asks for three years of work. If you have two years, this seat is the one open to you.
Fees and pay can change. Check each college site before you decide.
FAQs on Great Lakes Chennai PGPM
Short answers to what students ask before they apply.
How do I get into the PGPM at Great Lakes Chennai?▾
Apply online with a CAT, XAT, NMAT or GMAT score and at least two years of full-time work. Great Lakes reads your form and essays, then calls you for a writing test and an interview. An offer follows the final shortlist.
What is the full fee for this course?▾
The full one-year fee is INR 19.44 Lakhs without a room. With a single AC room and meals it comes to INR 23.40 Lakhs. Both totals sit in the fee block above.
Is a room on campus part of the fee?▾
Yes. The fee covers a single AC room with vegetarian meals on campus. If single rooms are short, Great Lakes gives a twin sharing room and returns part of the room fee.
What percentile do I need in CAT?▾
Great Lakes publishes no minimum percentile for the PGPM. Your score is one part of the call, and your work record, essays and interview carry the rest. The checker above shows what each exam needs.
Can I apply before my exam result is out?▾
Yes. Great Lakes shortlists and interviews some applicants who have registered for an exam but have no score yet. Apply in an early cycle if your work record is strong.
Which scholarships can cut this fee?▾
Two, and neither needs a separate form. The Balachandran Merit Scholarship waives the full tuition fee of INR 12.43 Lakhs for the top ranked applicant. Forty Diversity and Merit awards of INR 5 Lakhs each go out every intake.
How much do PGPM students earn after the course?▾
The Class of 2026 averaged INR 18.1 LPA and the highest offer was INR 43 LPA. Consulting, analytics and technology firms take most of the batch on campus.
The college's admission process relies on CAT, GMAT, or XAT scores, followed by group discussions and personal interviews. Additional points are awarded for work experience. The application process is supported by a student committee and concludes by February, with academic sessions beginning in April. The college offers student loans through partnerships with various banks. A mandatory online mock test determines eligibility for scholarships, including a 75,000 INR scholarship for high scores.
The faculty includes esteemed professionals, often from global institutions, offering condensed courses and crash programs. The total fee is 16.7 lakhs, covering various expenses including tuition and accommodation. In 2007/2008, fees were around 6 lakhs plus boarding. The college, located in Chennai, provides excellent facilities and air-conditioned classrooms. It achieves a 100% placement rate for its PGPM batch of 399 students, with average salaries between 12-14 lakhs and a top package of 28 lakhs.
Over 250 companies, like Google and Microsoft, recruit students primarily for analytics and consulting roles. Internships offer an average stipend of 10,000 INR monthly. The college allows one job offer per student to maintain a structured placement process. Scholarships are awarded for outstanding performance and based on CAT scores. Collaborations with banks facilitate easy access to education loans, with interest rates between 7% and 12%. Financial assistance is available for students from economically weaker backgrounds.
...Read More
By Collegedunia’s Personal AI
GLIM Chennai: 2 Answered Questions
Is an MBA (PGPM 1 year course) from Great Lakes Chennai worth 19 lakhs?
Gaurav MukharjeeGreat Lakes Institute of Management
It is based on your interests. Great Lakes is a comparatively good institute that offers effective academics and the best infrastructure facilities, especially in the IT sector. But if you are interested in concentrating on other fields like HR, Finance, and so on, then opt for NMIMS, SIBM, SCMHRD, XIMB, and the New IIMS.
Most of the leading B schools are charging close to 20 lakhs for this course, so it is worth paying around 19 lakhs at Great Lakes Institute of Management as it has better placement support
The recent Placement Statistics at GLIM are mentioned below:
What is the GMAT cutoff score for the PGPM course at Great Lakes Chennai and what is the average placement package after the same?
Gaurav MukharjeeGreat Lakes Institute of Management
Great Lakes is a highly reputed B School that offers AICTE-approved one-year PGPM and two-year PGDM programs. For its PGPM program, Great Lakes accepts CAT, XAT, and CMAT. Here are the cutoffs of these respective exams
CAT 2021/2022
80
XAT 2022/2023
80
GMAT (Taken after Jan 1, 2020, for PGPM and after Jan 1, 2021, for PGDM)
600
CMAT 2022 for PGPM and CMAT 2022/2023 for PGDM
Below 5000 All India Rank for Chennai Campus
Below 10000 All India Rank for the Gurgaon campus
Great Lakes will accept only Last year's scores of CAT and XAT for Cycle -1 of the PGPM 2023 admission process and for both the years in Cycle-2
However, the admissions are done holistically so qualifying the above cutoffs cannot alone determine your chances of admission here. The cutoffs too vary every year depending on the applicant pool and quality. Approximately, a 90+ percentile in XAT/CAT and a 600+ score in GMAT would be considered suitable subjects to meet other criteria.
Great Lakes placement for PGPM recorded 100% placements in 2023 with an average salary recorded at 18.10 LPA.
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