IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) is a management education institute established by the Government of India. It offers programmes focused on International Business, Business Analytics, Economics and related areas.
For IIFT 2026, candidates interested in MBA admissions should check the latest admission notification because the selection process has changed from the earlier standalone IIFT entrance examination. For the current MBA (IB) and MBA (BA) admission cycle, IIFT uses CAT scores for shortlisting, followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview.
IIFT 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade |
| Short Name | IIFT |
| Established | 1963 |
| Institute Status | Deemed to be University |
| Major MBA Programmes | MBA (International Business), MBA (Business Analytics) |
| Admission Test for Current MBA Cycle | CAT |
| Selection Process | CAT + GD + PI + Other Parameters |
| Campuses | Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City |
| MBA Duration | 2 Years |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | iift.ac.in |
What Is IIFT?
IIFT is a management institute known for its focus on international business and global trade.
The institute offers a two-year full-time MBA (International Business) programme and an MBA (Business Analytics) programme. IIFT currently has campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City.
The MBA (IB) programme focuses on management along with international business, while MBA (BA) focuses on data-driven decision-making and business analytics.
IIFT 2026 Admission Process
Candidates planning to apply for the full-time MBA programmes should understand that IIFT no longer follows the old standalone entrance-exam model for its current MBA admission process.
For the latest admission cycle, IIFT uses CAT scores for shortlisting candidates. Shortlisted candidates then participate in Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Other factors can also contribute to the selection process.
The process can be broadly understood as:
CAT → Shortlisting → GD → PI → Final Selection
Candidates should check the 2026 admission notification for the final selection criteria.
IIFT 2026 MBA Programmes
MBA in International Business
The MBA (International Business) programme is a two-year full-time programme focused on management and international business.
It is available at:
- Delhi
- Kolkata
- Kakinada
- GIFT City
The current IIFT information lists an intake of 240 seats each at Delhi and Kolkata and 120 seats each at GIFT City and Kakinada for MBA (IB).
MBA in Business Analytics
The MBA (Business Analytics) programme focuses on analytics, data-driven decision-making and management applications.
The programme is offered at the Delhi campus.
IIFT 2026 Eligibility
For MBA (International Business), the current eligibility requires a bachelor's degree of at least three years in any discipline with 50% marks. The requirement is 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
MBA (Business Analytics) has additional academic requirements. Candidates generally need Mathematics or Statistics at graduation, or a BTech/BE degree, or Mathematics at the 10+2 level, along with the required marks.
Candidates appearing in their qualifying examination may also be eligible subject to the conditions specified by IIFT.
IIFT 2026 Exam Pattern
For MBA admissions, candidates should focus on the CAT examination pattern because the current IIFT selection process uses CAT scores for shortlisting.
This is different from the earlier IIFT entrance examination, which had its own separate question paper.
Therefore, candidates preparing for IIFT MBA admission should primarily prepare for CAT, followed by GD and PI preparation.
IIFT 2026 Application Form
Candidates apply online through the official IIFT admission portal.
The application process generally involves:
- Visiting the official IIFT admission website.
- Creating an account.
- Entering personal details.
- Providing academic information.
- Uploading required documents.
- Providing CAT-related information as required.
- Paying the application fee.
- Submitting the form.
The official IIFT website provides online application instructions for its MBA programmes.
IIFT 2026 Selection Process
The selection process can include multiple components.
For the current MBA (IB) and MBA (BA) admission cycle, the first stage uses CAT score, work experience and gender diversity for shortlisting.
The second stage includes:
- Group Discussion
- Personal Interview
The final selection can consider additional parameters such as academic consistency and other criteria specified by IIFT.
IIFT 2026 Campuses
IIFT currently has four domestic campuses:
- Delhi
- Kolkata
- Kakinada
- GIFT City
The programme availability can differ between campuses, so candidates should check the programme-wise information before applying.
IIFT 2026 Important Points
IIFT is best known for its focus on International Business and global trade management.
For the current full-time MBA admission process, candidates should not prepare for IIFT as if it were a separate entrance examination. CAT is used for shortlisting, followed by GD and PI and other selection parameters.
Candidates should check the latest official admission notification for 2026 before applying because eligibility, dates, selection criteria and programme details can change.