Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is one of India’s leading management institutions and is particularly recognised for its flagship MBA in International Business (MBA-IB). Established in 1963 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, IIFT was created to develop professional expertise in foreign trade and international business.

Today, IIFT operates campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City and offers management programmes covering International Business, Business Analytics, Economics, executive education and integrated management.

For the MBA-IB 2026–28 batch, IIFT uses CAT 2025 for admission. Shortlisted candidates are evaluated through Group Discussion and Personal Interview, along with academic consistency, work experience and diversity parameters.

In the NIRF Management Ranking 2025, IIFT is ranked:

#17 in India

IIFT Highlights 2026

Particular	Details
College Name	Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
Short Name	IIFT
Major Campuses	Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada & GIFT City
Main Campus Location	Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi
College Type	Government Institution / Deemed-to-be University
Established Year	1963
Established By	Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
NIRF Management 2025	#17 in India
Flagship Programme	MBA in International Business – MBA (IB)
Duration	2 Years, Full-Time
MBA-IB Mode	Fully Residential
Accepted Exam	CAT
MBA-IB 2026–28 Exam	CAT 2025
Expected CAT Range – General	95–98+ percentile recommended; not an official cut-off
Delhi Campus Competitive Target	Around 97–99 percentile recommended
MBA-IB Fee 2026–28	Exact amount to be communicated with admission offer
Recent Fee Reference	₹19.68–₹21.82 lakh depending on campus for 2025–27
Latest Official Average Package	₹31.30 LPA
Median Package	₹26 LPA
Highest Domestic Package	₹72 LPA
Highest International Package	₹1.23 crore
Top 25% Average Package	₹49.60 LPA
Recruiters	135
New Recruiters	45
International Positions	7
Specialisations / Major Areas	International Business, Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Trade, Supply Chain, Analytics, Economics
Eligibility	Bachelor’s degree with 50%; 45% for SC/ST/PwD
Scholarships	Means-cum-Merit and government scholarship schemes
Hostel	Yes – compulsory for MBA-IB
Official Website	https://www.iift.ac.in/

About IIFT

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade was established in 1963 as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

Its original purpose was to strengthen India’s capabilities in:

• Foreign trade
• Export management
• International business
• Trade policy
• International marketing
• International finance

Over time, IIFT evolved into a multidisciplinary management institution offering programmes beyond foreign trade.

IIFT was granted Deemed-to-be University status in 2002.

IIFT Campuses

IIFT currently has four major campuses.

IIFT Delhi

IIFT Bhawan
B-21, Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi – 110016

Delhi is the oldest and historically best-known IIFT campus.

IIFT Kolkata

IIFT Kolkata offers the flagship MBA-IB and provides a fully residential management-school environment.

IIFT Kakinada

The Kakinada campus is located in Andhra Pradesh and offers management programmes including MBA-IB and the Integrated Programme in Management.

IIFT GIFT City

The GIFT City campus in Gujarat provides IIFT access to India’s emerging international financial-services ecosystem.

For MBA-IB 2026–28, IIFT lists intake across Delhi, Kolkata, GIFT City and Kakinada.

IIFT College Type

Government Institution / Deemed-to-be University

IIFT should not be categorised as a private B-school.

For the MBA4U College Finder, the preferred classification is:

Government / Deemed-to-be University

IIFT NIRF Ranking 2025

According to the official Ministry of Education ranking:

IIFT – NIRF Management Rank #17 in 2025

The institute received a score of 62.93.

This places IIFT among the Top 20 management institutions in India.

IIFT Programmes

Major academic programmes include:

Programme	Format
MBA in International Business – MBA (IB)	2 Years, Full-Time
MBA in Business Analytics – MBA (BA)	2 Years, Full-Time
Integrated Programme in Management – IPM	5 Years
MA Economics – Trade & Finance	Postgraduate
MBA-IB Online	2 Years
Executive Management Programmes	Working Professionals
PhD in Management	Doctoral
PhD in Economics	Doctoral
Certificate Programmes	Trade, Export-Import, Logistics etc.

IIFT MBA in International Business

The flagship programme is:

MBA in International Business – MBA (IB)

It is a:

• Two-year programme
• Full-time programme
• Six-trimester programme
• Residential MBA
• General-management programme with a strong International Business orientation

IIFT describes MBA-IB as a six-trimester general-management programme with a focus on international business.

What Makes IIFT MBA-IB Different?

IIFT combines mainstream MBA subjects with specialised international-business coursework.

Students are exposed to areas such as:

• International Business
• International Marketing
• International Finance
• International Trade
• Trade Policy
• Foreign Exchange
• Supply Chain Management
• Export-Import Management
• Strategy
• Economics
• Finance
• Marketing
• Operations
• Analytics

This makes IIFT particularly relevant for students interested in careers with:

• Multinational corporations
• Consulting firms
• Investment banks
• International trade organisations
• Global supply-chain companies
• Export-oriented businesses

IIFT MBA Fees 2026–28

IIFT’s official 2026–28 prospectus states that:

The exact fee applicable to the MBA-IB 2026–28 batch will be communicated when admission offers are issued.

Therefore, MBA4U should not present an estimated 2026–28 fee as a confirmed official fee.

For reference, MBA-IB fees for the 2025–27 batch were:

Campus	Total Fee
Delhi	₹21.82 lakh
Kolkata	₹21.32 lakh
Kakinada	₹19.68 lakh
GIFT City	₹19.68 lakh

A refundable:

₹10,000 security deposit

was additionally applicable.

Important Fee Difference

The Delhi/Kolkata fee included major components such as:

• Tuition
• Boarding/lodging
• Library
• Computing
• Internet
• Medical insurance
• Alumni charges
• Student-body charges

The published Kakinada and GIFT City fee figures excluded boarding and lodging.

MBA4U Recommended Listing

MBA-IB Fee:
Exact 2026–28 fee to be announced with admission offer; recent fee ₹19.68–₹21.82 lakh depending on campus.

Fee Concession

IIFT provides a:

50% tuition-fee concession

to eligible:

• SC students
• ST students
• PwD students

under its published fee framework.

Entrance Exam Accepted by IIFT

For domestic MBA-IB applicants:

CAT

is the primary entrance examination.

For MBA-IB 2026–28:

CAT 2025 is used.

Does IIFT Conduct a Separate Entrance Exam?

No, not for the current flagship MBA admission process.

Historically, IIFT conducted its own entrance examination.

The present admission process uses:

CAT → Shortlisting → GD → PI

IIFT’s official FAQ confirms that CAT is used for MBA-IB shortlisting.

IIFT CAT Cut-off 2026

IIFT does not publish one simple overall CAT percentile as the official MBA-IB 2026–28 cut-off.

Instead, shortlisting is based on:

Parameter	Weight
CAT 2025 Score	90
Work Experience	5
Gender Diversity	5
Total	100

Shortlisting also considers applicable CAT sectional cut-offs.

Expected CAT Cut-off for IIFT

For MBA4U readers, it is better to distinguish official criteria from a competitive target.

Official

No simple overall CAT percentile has been declared as the sole 2026–28 cut-off.

Recommended Target – General Category

95–98+ percentile

For applicants treating IIFT Delhi as the first preference, targeting approximately:

97–99 percentile

would provide a stronger CAT position.

These numbers are MBA4U competitive targets, not official IIFT cut-offs.

Why Sectional Scores Matter

IIFT specifically states that shortlisting considers sectional cut-offs along with overall CAT performance.

Therefore, students should avoid a preparation strategy where one CAT section is ignored.

IIFT Eligibility

For MBA-IB:

Bachelor’s Degree

Candidates must possess a recognised bachelor’s degree of at least:

3 years’ duration

with:

General / OBC / EWS

Minimum 50% marks

SC / ST / PwD

Minimum 45% marks

IIFT’s official FAQ confirms these eligibility requirements.

Can Final-Year Students Apply?

Yes.

Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree can apply, subject to meeting the final documentation and result-submission requirements for the admission cycle.

Is Work Experience Compulsory?

No.

Work experience is not mandatory for MBA-IB.

Fresh graduates can apply.

However, professional experience can contribute to the selection score.

IIFT MBA-IB Intake

For the 2026 admission cycle, the official intake is:

Campus	Seats
Delhi	240
Kolkata	240
GIFT City	120
Kakinada	120
Total	720

Reservations are applied according to Government of India norms.

IIFT Admission Process

The MBA-IB admission process broadly consists of:

Stage 1 – CAT

Stage 2 – Shortlisting

Stage 3 – Group Discussion

Stage 4 – Personal Interview

Stage 5 – Final Composite Score

Stage 6 – Admission Offer

Stage 1 – CAT

Applicants must take CAT and meet IIFT’s applicable overall and sectional requirements.

For MBA-IB 2026–28:

CAT 2025

is used.

Stage 2 – Shortlisting

IIFT allocates:

CAT – 90 points

Work Experience – 5 points

Gender Diversity – 5 points

during Stage-I shortlisting.

This makes CAT by far the dominant factor before GD-PI.

Work Experience Weightage

IIFT’s published 2026–28 shortlisting system awards the highest experience score to candidates with approximately:

30–36 months of professional experience

with progressively lower points for shorter or much longer durations.

However, freshers remain eligible.

Stage 3 – Group Discussion

Shortlisted candidates participate in a:

Group Discussion – GD

The GD can assess:

• Communication
• Team interaction
• Business awareness
• Logical thinking
• Ability to present arguments
• Listening skills

Stage 4 – Personal Interview

Shortlisted candidates also attend the:

Personal Interview – PI

Typical areas may include:

• Graduation subjects
• Career goals
• Current affairs
• Economics
• International trade
• Business awareness
• Work experience
• Why MBA?
• Why IIFT?
• International business developments

IIFT Final Selection Criteria

For MBA-IB / MBA-BA 2026–28, IIFT uses:

Parameter	Weight
CAT 2025	55
Group Discussion	10
Personal Interview	20
Work Experience	5
Academic Consistency	5
Gender Diversity	5
Total	100

Why GD and PI Matter

CAT falls from:

90% weight during shortlisting

to:

55% during final selection

while:

GD + PI = 30%

Therefore:

CAT can get you shortlisted for IIFT, but your GD and PI can decide whether you finally convert the seat.

IIFT Specialisations

MBA-IB is not limited to one narrow specialisation.

Students can build expertise in areas such as:

• International Business
• Finance
• International Finance
• Marketing
• International Marketing
• Strategy
• Supply Chain Management
• Trade & Logistics
• Economics
• Business Analytics
• Operations
• General Management
• Consulting

Is IIFT Only for International Business?

No.

This is an important misconception.

Although the degree is titled MBA in International Business, graduates are recruited for mainstream MBA roles in:

• Consulting
• Finance
• Sales & Marketing
• Product Management
• General Management
• Operations
• Analytics
• Banking
• Strategy

as well as trade and international-business roles.

IIFT Placements

The latest final placement data currently highlighted by IIFT for the flagship MBA-IB relates to the:

MBA-IB Batch 2023–25

IIFT reports:

Recruiters: 135

New associations: 45

International positions: 7

IIFT Average Package

The latest official MBA-IB placement figure is:

₹31.30 lakh per annum

IIFT Median Package

₹26 lakh per annum

Median salary gives applicants a more balanced view of placement outcomes than relying only on the highest offer.

IIFT Highest Domestic Package

₹72 lakh per annum

IIFT Highest International Package

₹1.23 crore per annum

Top 25% Average Package

For the latest placement cycle:

Top 25% Average CTC: ₹49.60 LPA

This is useful because it reflects a broader portion of the batch rather than just one exceptional offer.

IIFT Placement Highlights

Placement Parameter	Latest Official MBA-IB Data
Batch	MBA-IB 2023–25
Average CTC	₹31.30 LPA
Median CTC	₹26 LPA
Highest Domestic CTC	₹72 LPA
Highest International CTC	₹1.23 crore
Top 25% Average	₹49.60 LPA
Recruiters	135
New Associations	45
International Positions	7

IIFT Top Recruiters

The latest placement report includes employers and new corporate associations across consulting, finance, analytics, technology and general management.

Companies referenced in IIFT’s official reporting include:

• McKinsey
• JPMorgan Chase
• Deloitte
• EY
• PwC
• Infosys
• Wipro
• ZS Associates
• Blackstone
• Capgemini
• Grant Thornton
• Godrej Properties
• Tiger Analytics
• WNS
• IOCL
• Michael Page

among others.

Recruiter participation changes every year, so students should always consult the most recent placement report.

Major Placement Areas

IIFT students receive opportunities across:

• Sales & Marketing
• Consulting
• Finance
• General Management
• Strategy
• Product Management
• IT & Analytics
• Trade
• Operations
• Supply Chain

Is IIFT Good for Finance?

Yes.

IIFT is particularly relevant for candidates interested in:

• Corporate Finance
• Investment Banking
• Trade Finance
• Treasury
• Foreign Exchange
• International Finance
• Banking

The International Business curriculum can provide useful context for globally oriented financial careers.

Is IIFT Good for Consulting?

Yes.

IIFT attracts consulting and advisory firms and provides opportunities in:

• Management Consulting
• Strategy
• Operations Consulting
• Analytics Consulting
• Trade Advisory
• Business Transformation

Is IIFT Good for Marketing?

Yes.

The MBA-IB structure makes IIFT attractive for:

• Marketing
• Sales
• International Marketing
• Brand Management
• Global Market Entry
• Consumer Strategy
• Export Marketing

IIFT Scholarships

Scholarships Available: Yes

IIFT operates a New Scholarship Scheme for eligible full-time students.

Under the published scheme:

10% of students

may receive a scholarship equal to:

20% of tuition fees

Scholarship Basis

The scholarship uses a:

Means-cum-Merit

framework.

The scheme assigns greater weight to financial need while also considering academic merit.

Students should verify the latest income criteria and scholarship notification for their batch because these conditions can change.

Other Financial Assistance

Students may also be eligible for:

• Central Government scholarships
• SC/ST scholarship schemes
• Category-based financial assistance
• External scholarships
• Education loans

IIFT Hostel

Hostel Available: Yes

The flagship MBA-IB is:

Fully Residential

IIFT states that all MBA-IB students must stay in residential accommodation.

IIFT Delhi Hostel Facilities

Delhi-campus hostel rooms are generally allocated on:

• Double occupancy
• Triple occupancy

depending on institute allocation.

Facilities include:

• Wi-Fi
• CCTV
• RO drinking water
• Geysers
• Water coolers
• Washing machines
• Refrigerators
• Microwave ovens
• Mess
• Common rooms
• Recreation facilities
• Gym/Yoga facilities in applicable residences

Delhi Hostel Blocks

Major accommodation facilities include:

New Hostel

• 70 rooms
• Double occupancy
• Located within the IIFT campus
• Mess
• Gym/Yoga access

Old Hostel

• 48 rooms
• Predominantly triple occupancy
• Recreation facilities

C9 Hostel

• 32 rooms
• Double occupancy
• Located within approximately 1 km of campus

IIFT Kolkata Hostel

The Kolkata MBA-IB is also fully residential.

Accommodation may be provided in:

• Single rooms
• Twin-sharing rooms

depending on institute allocation.

Facilities include:

• Furnished rooms
• Beds
• Wardrobes
• Study tables and chairs
• Common areas
• Recreation facilities
• RO water
• Hot/cold water
• Medical support

IIFT MBA in Business Analytics

IIFT also offers:

MBA in Business Analytics – MBA (BA)

It is different from MBA-IB.

MBA-BA focuses more heavily on:

• Data Analytics
• Statistics
• Data-driven management
• Business Intelligence
• Quantitative decision-making
• Analytics tools

IIFT’s FAQ describes MBA-BA as a two-year full-time non-residential programme.

IIFT Integrated Programme in Management

IIFT also offers an Integrated Programme in Management, making the institute relevant to students looking at management education after Class 12.

This allows MBA4U to feature IIFT in both:

• MBA after Graduation
• Integrated Management after Class 12

sections.

Why Choose IIFT?

1. Government Institution

IIFT was created by the Government of India and has a long-established role in foreign-trade and management education.

2. International Business Expertise

IIFT has a distinctive curriculum in:

• International trade
• Global finance
• International marketing
• Trade policy
• Global supply chains

3. CAT-Based Admission

CAT aspirants can target IIFT alongside the IIMs without preparing for a separate IIFT entrance examination.

4. Strong Placements

Latest official figures include:

• ₹31.30 LPA average
• ₹26 LPA median
• ₹72 LPA highest domestic
• ₹1.23 crore highest international

5. Fully Residential MBA-IB

Students receive an immersive residential management-school experience.

6. Diverse Career Opportunities

Graduates are recruited for mainstream MBA roles as well as international-business careers.

Who Should Target IIFT?

IIFT should be high on your target list if you:

• Are preparing seriously for CAT
• Want International Business
• Want Consulting
• Want Finance
• Want Marketing
• Want Supply Chain Management
• Want global-business exposure
• Want a government institution
• Prefer a residential MBA
• Want a strong alternative to the IIMs

Who Should Especially Consider IIFT?

IIFT can be particularly suitable for students interested in:

• International Trade
• Export-Import
• Global Supply Chain
• International Finance
• Trade Finance
• International Marketing
• Foreign Exchange
• Global Strategy
• Multinational corporations

IIFT vs IIM Ahmedabad – Quick Comparison

Parameter	IIFT	IIM Ahmedabad
Established	1963	1961
College Type	Government Deemed University	Institution of National Importance
NIRF Management 2025	#17	#1
Entrance Exam	CAT	CAT
Flagship Programme	MBA International Business	MBA
Duration	2 Years	2 Years
Major Strength	International Business, Trade, Finance	Consulting, Strategy, Finance
Recent Fee	₹19.68–₹21.82 lakh depending campus	Around ₹27.5 lakh for recent batch
Latest Average Package	₹31.30 LPA	Mid-₹30 lakh range in recent audited data
Hostel	Yes	Yes

IIFT vs FMS Delhi

Parameter	IIFT	FMS Delhi
Entrance Exam	CAT	CAT
MBA Type	MBA-IB	General MBA
Fee	Around ₹20–22 lakh recent level	Around ₹2.4 lakh
Residential	Yes	Limited DU housing
Major Strength	International Business	ROI, Consulting, Marketing
Latest Average Package	₹31.30 LPA	₹32.27 LPA
Government Institution	Yes	Yes

FMS has a huge fee/ROI advantage, while IIFT provides a more traditional residential B-school experience and specialised international-business curriculum.

IIFT vs XLRI

Parameter	IIFT	XLRI
Entrance	CAT	XAT
Type	Government Deemed University	Private Autonomous
Flagship	MBA-IB	PGDM-BM / HRM
Major Strength	International Business	HRM, Consulting, Marketing
NIRF 2025	#17	#10
Residential	Yes	Yes

Students primarily interested in International Business may prefer IIFT, while XLRI has a major advantage for HR-focused careers.

IIFT: MBA4U Admission Perspective

A common mistake is to search for:

“IIFT CAT cut-off”

and expect one official percentile such as 95 or 98.

IIFT does not currently use such a simple admission model.

For MBA-IB 2026–28, Stage-I shortlisting gives:

CAT – 90%

Work Experience – 5%

Gender Diversity – 5%

That means CAT is extremely important, but the final interview shortlist is based on a composite process.

What CAT Percentile Should You Target?

For a General-category applicant, MBA4U recommends:

95–98+ percentile

For students strongly targeting the Delhi campus:

97–99 percentile

is a better aspirational range.

These should be clearly labelled as competitive targets, not official cut-offs.

Do Not Ignore GD and PI

At final selection:

CAT = 55%

while:

GD + PI = 30%

Therefore:

A strong CAT score can earn you the IIFT interview, but your GD and PI can still determine whether you convert the seat.

IIFT Quick Facts

Parameter	IIFT
Full Name	Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
Established	1963
Type	Government / Deemed-to-be University
Main Campus	New Delhi
Other Campuses	Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City
NIRF Management 2025	#17
Flagship Programme	MBA International Business
Duration	2 Years
Mode	Full-Time Residential
Entrance Exam	CAT
2026–28 Fee	Exact fee to be communicated with offer
Recent Fee Range	₹19.68–₹21.82 lakh
Recommended CAT Target	95–98+ percentile
Delhi Competitive Target	97–99 percentile
Average CTC	₹31.30 LPA
Median CTC	₹26 LPA
Highest Domestic CTC	₹72 LPA
Highest International CTC	₹1.23 crore
Top 25% Average CTC	₹49.60 LPA
Recruiters	135
Scholarships	Yes
Hostel	Yes
Official Website	https://www.iift.ac.in/

IIFT FAQs

What is IIFT famous for?

IIFT is particularly famous for its MBA in International Business, International Trade expertise, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain and global-business curriculum.

What is IIFT’s NIRF rank?

IIFT is ranked:

#17 in NIRF Management 2025.

Does IIFT accept CAT?

Yes. IIFT uses CAT scores for MBA-IB admissions.

Does IIFT conduct its own entrance exam?

Not for the current MBA-IB admission route. Domestic applicants are shortlisted through CAT.

What is the CAT cut-off for IIFT?

IIFT does not publish one simple overall percentile as the sole 2026–28 cut-off. For General-category candidates, 95–98+ percentile is a practical target, while 97–99 can be preferable for highly sought-after campus choices.

What is the MBA fee at IIFT?

The exact 2026–28 MBA-IB fee will be informed with the admission offer. For reference, 2025–27 fees ranged from ₹19.68 lakh to ₹21.82 lakh, depending on campus.

What is the average package at IIFT?

₹31.30 LPA

for the latest officially highlighted MBA-IB final-placement cycle.

What is the median package?

₹26 LPA.

What is the highest domestic package?

₹72 LPA.

What is the highest international package?

₹1.23 crore per annum.

Does IIFT have hostel facilities?

Yes. MBA-IB is a fully residential programme, and students are required to stay in institute-arranged accommodation.

Does IIFT offer scholarships?

Yes. Under IIFT’s published New Scholarship Scheme, eligible students can receive scholarships equivalent to 20% of tuition fees, with approximately 10% of students covered under the scheme.

Can freshers apply to IIFT?

Yes. Work experience is not compulsory for MBA-IB.

Does IIFT offer MBA in Business Analytics?

Yes. IIFT offers a two-year MBA in Business Analytics, which is currently a non-residential programme.

Is IIFT government or private?

IIFT is a Government of India-established institution and a Deemed-to-be University.

Official Website

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

https://www.iift.ac.in/

Delhi Campus

IIFT Bhawan
B-21, Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi – 110016

MBA4U Final Take

IIFT is one of India’s most distinctive top management institutions because its flagship MBA combines mainstream management education with a deep focus on International Business and Global Trade.

Its key strengths include:

• Government of India legacy
• Established in 1963
• NIRF Management 2025 Rank #17
• CAT-based admission
• MBA in International Business
• Residential programme
• ₹31.30 LPA latest official average CTC
• ₹26 LPA median CTC
• ₹72 LPA highest domestic CTC
• ₹1.23 crore highest international CTC
• ₹49.60 LPA Top-25% average
• 135 recruiters
• Scholarship support
• Strong Finance, Consulting, Marketing and Supply Chain opportunities.

For a General-category CAT aspirant, 95–98+ percentile is a sensible competitive target, while students targeting the most competitive campus preference should ideally aim still higher.

Most importantly, students should remember that IIFT’s final admission decision is not based solely on CAT. The final 2026–28 formula allocates 55% to CAT, 10% to GD, 20% to PI and the remaining 15% to work experience, academic consistency and gender diversity.

In simple terms:

CAT gets you into contention; GD, PI and your overall profile determine whether you finally convert IIFT.

For students interested in International Business, Consulting, Finance, Marketing, Trade, Global Supply Chain or multinational-company careers, IIFT deserves a strong position in the MBA college shortlist.

Profile updated: August 2026.