CAT 2016: How to apply to IIMs in less than Rs 100; online registration to end on 22nd Sept

With CAT 2016 season already in full-swing, MBA aspirants have been sweating it out trying to build a successful strategy to ‘bell the CAT’ this year. The online application process for CAT 2016 has already begun on 8^th August and is expected to end on 22^nd Sept 2016. While many have already completed their online CAT 2016 registration process, many are still in the process to complete it. A key change in this year’s CAT exam has been the hike of Rs 100 in the CAT 2016 Fees, which has to Rs 1700. Many have criticized this move and asked for a roll back. But, if you look at it from a different perspective, CAT 2016 might not be as expensive as it might appear.

Currently, registering for CAT 2016 in the online format allows the candidate to apply for to one or all the IIMs. As we all know, there are 20 IIMs including the old IIMs (BLACKI). If you we divide the total CAT 2016 fee of Rs 1700 by the total number of IIMs in the country, the application fees to apply per IIM comes out to Rs 85. However, in order to be eligible to be considered for short listing by different IIMs, candidates will have to select the respective IIM and its preferred programme at the time of registration for CAT 2016. Therefore, ensure that you select the right IIMs and the right programme on offer there to be eligible for short listing.

Contrary to this, other MBA entrance exams like XAT 2016, SNAP 2016 and NMAT by GMAC, require candidates to pay the registration fees for the examination but it doesn’t include the admission application fees to all the participating institutes. Candidates appearing for all other MBA entrance tests need to separately apply to participating B-schools by paying additional application fees to be considered for admission.

Another interesting point to keep in mind is that, CAT 2016 registration fees of Rs 1700 opens up opportunity for candidates to apply to for 48 different programmes at all IIMs. In other words, you can apply to one or 48 different MBA programmes on offer at 20 different IIMs throughout the country for a meagre amount of Rs 1700. Again, this option is not offered by other MBA entrance examination and candidates have to pay additional fees to apply for different MBA programmes on offer at different participating B-schools.

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We have listed all the programmes available with IIMs (alphabetically) for which candidates can apply under their CAT 2016 registration fees.

As stated above, there is no need to separately apply to all or different IIMs to be considered for the programmes on offer. Once CAT 2016 results are declared in the month of Jan 2017, IIMs will begin their shortlisting process for candidates and if you are shortlisted for any programme they will communicate the same to you. In the mean while, it is advised that candidates browse through the website of different IIMs and check the management programmes they are eligible for.

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