Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

The Global Master of Business Administration (GMBA) at RIIM - Arihant Group of Institutes, Pune is a 2-year full-time international management program offered in collaboration with the University of South Wales (USW), UK. The program is structured as a dual-degree pathway: students earn 80 credits in Year 1 at RIIM Pune and 100 credits in Year 2 at the University of South Wales, UK, leading to a globally recognized MBA degree. The course covers core management subjects including Leadership, Financial Analysis, Operations Management, and Marketing Management, along with specializations in Finance, HR, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Entrepreneurship. The first-year fee is Rs. 5,50,000 (including a registration fee of Rs. 50,000), and the second-year fee is approximately 6,000 GBP (Rs. 7 Lakhs approx). The program is popular among students seeking international exposure, a UK degree, and post-study work visa opportunities in the UK. RIIM is AICTE-approved and is recognized as Pune's first corporate-style B-School.

Admissions for the 2026-28 batch are currently open. RIIM accepts scores from CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, and MAH MBA CET for admission. Applications can be submitted directly through the RIIM website at riimpune.com. The admission process involves submission of entrance exam scores, followed by a Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). Students are advised to apply early as seats are limited for the international program.

Key Points

The GMBA is a dual-degree program: students spend Year 1 at RIIM Pune (80 credits) and Year 2 at the University of South Wales, UK (100 credits), earning a globally recognized MBA degree.
University of South Wales (USW) is a public university established in 1913, ranked 13th in student satisfaction for Business and Management studies (Complete University Guide), and QAA-certified.
Students are eligible for a 2-year Post-Study Work Visa (Graduate Route) in the UK after successfully completing the program, enabling them to work in the UK.
The program includes IELTS training, English language preparation, and an English waiver option for students who scored 65-70%+ in HSC English, making it accessible even for students without prior IELTS scores.
RIIM provides additional certifications in Digital Marketing, AI, Business Analytics, Six Sigma, SAP, and MS Excel as part of the curriculum, enhancing employability.
The program includes IIM MDP (Management Development Programme) participation, national tours, industry visits, and live projects as part of the overall learning experience.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
FAQs

RIIM Pune Latest Updates and News

Key Updates1

Other Updates2

02 Apr, 2026 MAH MBA/MMS CET 2026 session 1 exam will be held from Apr 6 to 8, 2026. The city intimation slip and admit card have been released @cetcell.mahacet.org.

RIIM GMBA Fees

The GMBA at RIIM Pune is a two-phase fee program. The first year at RIIM Pune costs Rs. 5,50,000 (inclusive of a registration fee of Rs. 50,000), while the second year at the University of South Wales, UK costs approximately 6,000 GBP (roughly Rs. 7 Lakhs at current exchange rates). Accommodation in the UK is an additional cost of approximately Rs. 5-6 Lakhs per year. The total investment for the complete GMBA program is approximately Rs. 18-20 Lakhs, inclusive of tuition and UK accommodation, making it a cost-effective route to a UK MBA compared to direct UK university admissions.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Year 1 Tuition Fee (at RIIM Pune, incl. Registration Fee of Rs. 50,000)	5,50,000
Year 2 Tuition Fee (at USW, UK - 6,000 GBP approx)	7,00,000 (approx)
Total Tuition Fee	12,50,000 (approx)

Hostel Accommodation Fees

Hostel / Accommodation Fees	Amount
RIIM Pune Hostel (Year 1, compulsory for 1st year)	Rs. 85,000 per year (Rs. 82,000 accommodation + Rs. 3,000 maintenance)
UK Accommodation (Year 2, USW)	Rs. 5,00,000 - 6,00,000 per year (approx)

Hostel accommodation at RIIM Pune is compulsory for first-year students.
UK accommodation and food charges are subject to change as per the Hostel Services Agreement at USW.
Air ticket to the UK and UK visa charges are additional and as per actual costs.
Exchange rate fluctuations may affect the INR equivalent of the UK tuition and accommodation fees.
Scholarship amounts (up to Rs. 1,50,000) can be adjusted against the second-year fee at RIIM.
No EMI details are officially published; contact RIIM admissions for payment schedule options.

RIIM GMBA Admission 2026

Admissions to the GMBA at RIIM Pune are based on national management entrance exam scores, followed by a GD/PI round conducted by RIIM. The 2026-28 batch admissions are currently open. RIIM accepts a wide range of entrance exams, making it accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds. For the UK year, students must additionally meet the University of South Wales eligibility requirements, including IELTS or an English waiver.

RIIM GMBA Admission Dates

Event	Date
Admissions Open for 2026-28 Batch	Open (Ongoing)
Application Submission	Rolling basis - apply at riimpune.com
GD/PI Rounds	Conducted on a rolling basis after application
Batch Commencement (Year 1 at RIIM)	July/August 2026 (Tentative)
Year 2 Commencement (at USW, UK)	September 2027 (Tentative, as per USW academic calendar)

Accepted Entrance Exams

Exam	Details
CAT (Common Admission Test)	Conducted by IIMs; scores accepted for RIIM GMBA
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)	Conducted by XLRI; scores accepted
MAT (Management Aptitude Test)	Conducted by AIMA; scores accepted
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)	Conducted by NTA; scores accepted
ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions)	Conducted by AIMS; scores accepted
MAH MBA CET	Maharashtra state-level exam; scores accepted

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 50% (45% for reserved category candidates).
For the UK year (USW): minimum 60% aggregate in graduation, IELTS overall 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or English waiver for students with 65-70%+ in HSC English (subject to board).
Valid passport required for the UK year.

Admission Process

Register and apply online at riimpune.com with entrance exam scores.
Shortlisted candidates are called for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) at RIIM Pune.
Selected candidates receive an offer letter and must pay the registration fee of Rs. 50,000 to confirm the seat.
Complete documentation for RIIM Year 1 enrollment.
For Year 2 (USW, UK): apply to USW through RIIM's international admissions team, submit IELTS scores or apply for English waiver, obtain UK student visa, and travel to the UK for the second year.

RIIM GMBA Scholarships 2026

RIIM offers a well-structured institutional scholarship program for GMBA students based on academic merit and entrance exam performance. Scholarships are adjusted against the second-year fee at RIIM and can go up to Rs. 1,50,000. These scholarships make the program more accessible for meritorious students. There are no government scholarships specifically for international MBA programs, but students may explore education loans from nationalized banks.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount (Rs.)
Merit Scholarship - Tier 1	Above 90% aggregate in 10th, 12th, and Graduation	1,00,000
Merit Scholarship - Tier 2	Above 80% aggregate in 10th, 12th, and Graduation	50,000
Merit Scholarship - Tier 3	Above 70% aggregate in 10th, 12th, and Graduation	25,000
Entrance Exam Scholarship - CAT/XAT above 80 percentile	CAT/XAT score above 80 percentile	1,50,000
Entrance Exam Scholarship - CAT/XAT above 70 percentile	CAT/XAT score above 70 percentile	1,00,000
Entrance Exam Scholarship - CAT/XAT above 60 percentile	CAT/XAT score above 60 percentile	75,000
Entrance Exam Scholarship - CAT/XAT above 50 percentile	CAT/XAT score above 50 percentile	50,000
Entrance Exam Scholarship - MAT/ATMA/CET above 90 percentile	MAT/ATMA/CET score above 90 percentile	25,000
Special Scholarship - Armed/Police Forces Children	Children of Armed/Police Forces personnel	25,000
Special Scholarship - North East/Kerala/J&K Domicile	Students from North East, Kerala, J&K	25,000
Special Scholarship - IIT Graduates	Graduates from IITs	50,000
Special Scholarship - Siblings	Sibling of current/past RIIM student	25,000
Special Scholarship - Sports	State/National/International level sports representation	25,000
Girls Merit Scholarship	Girls with 60%+ throughout in 10th, 12th, and Graduation	30,000

Only one Special Scholarship is applicable per student; Merit Scholarship cannot be clubbed with Special Scholarship.
Scholarship amount is adjusted against the second-year fee at RIIM (not paid directly to the student).
Minimum 80% attendance is mandatory during the PGDM/GMBA course to retain the scholarship.
Scholarship continuation is subject to maintaining 90% marks in all semesters; failing which, the student is placed on Academic Probation.
All scholarships are at the sole discretion of RIIM's Scholarship Committee.

RIIM GMBA Placement 2026

RIIM's GMBA program offers dual placement opportunities - domestic placements through RIIM's Training and Placement Cell and international placement/work opportunities in the UK through the Post-Study Work Visa. RIIM has a strong recruiter network of 600+ companies visiting campus annually. The average domestic salary package for RIIM management graduates is in the range of Rs. 4-8 LPA, while UK-based placements post the second year can yield salaries of GBP 30,000-40,000 per annum (approximately Rs. 30-40 LPA). Top recruiters include Deloitte, Nestle, Capgemini, TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv, ITC, Godrej, and ZS Associates.

Placement Statistics

Placement Parameter	Details
Average Domestic Package (India)	Rs. 4-8 LPA
Average UK Package (Post Year 2)	GBP 30,000 - 40,000 per annum (approx Rs. 30-40 LPA)
Post-Study Work Visa (UK)	2 years after course completion
Top Domestic Recruiters	Deloitte, Nestle, Capgemini, TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank, ITC, Godrej
Total Recruiters	600+ companies

RIIM GMBA FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between the GMBA and the regular PGDM at RIIM Pune?

Ans. The GMBA (Global MBA) is a dual-degree program where Year 1 is at RIIM Pune and Year 2 is at the University of South Wales (USW), UK, leading to a UK-recognized MBA degree. The regular PGDM is a 2-year program entirely at RIIM Pune, approved by AICTE, and leads to a PGDM diploma. The GMBA offers international exposure, a UK degree, and eligibility for a 2-year Post-Study Work Visa in the UK, while the PGDM is more affordable and India-focused. The GMBA has a significantly higher total cost due to the UK year.

Ques. Do I need IELTS to apply for the GMBA at RIIM?

Ans. Not necessarily for the first year at RIIM Pune. However, for the second year at the University of South Wales, UK, you need an IELTS score of overall 6.0 with no band below 5.5. RIIM provides IELTS training as part of the curriculum. If you scored 65-70% or above in HSC (12th standard) English (depending on your board), you may be eligible for an English waiver from USW, avoiding the need for IELTS. This makes the program accessible to students who have not taken IELTS yet.

Ques. What is the Post-Study Work Visa benefit after completing the GMBA?

Ans. After successfully completing the GMBA program at the University of South Wales, UK, you are eligible to apply for the UK Graduate Route (Post-Study Work Visa), which allows you to stay and work in the UK for 2 years after graduation. This is a significant advantage as it allows you to gain international work experience and potentially earn GBP 30,000-40,000 per annum in the UK job market. The visa is subject to UK government immigration rules and is not guaranteed by RIIM or USW.

Ques. What are the specializations available in the GMBA program?

Ans. The GMBA offers six specializations: MBA Global (General), MBA Global - Finance, MBA Global - Human Resource Management, MBA Global - Marketing, MBA Global - Supply Chain Management, and MBA Global - Entrepreneurship. The specialization is chosen during the program and determines the elective subjects and industry focus during the UK year at USW.

Ques. Is the GMBA degree from USW recognized in India for government jobs or higher education?

Ans. The MBA degree from the University of South Wales (USW) is a UK-accredited degree recognized by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), UK. For Indian government jobs, recognition depends on the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) equivalence. Students planning to use the degree for Indian government jobs or PhD admissions in India should verify AIU equivalence. For private sector employment and international opportunities, the USW MBA is widely recognized.

Ques. What is the total cost of the GMBA program including living expenses in the UK?

Ans. The total cost of the GMBA program is approximately Rs. 18-22 Lakhs. This includes Year 1 tuition at RIIM Pune (Rs. 5,50,000) + Year 1 hostel at RIIM (Rs. 85,000) + Year 2 tuition at USW (approx Rs. 7 Lakhs) + UK accommodation (approx Rs. 5-6 Lakhs) + air ticket and visa charges (approx Rs. 1-1.5 Lakhs). Living expenses in the UK (food, transport, personal) are additional. Students can explore education loans from nationalized banks (SBI, Bank of Baroda, etc.) which cover tuition and living expenses for international programs up to Rs. 1.5 Crore.