IIM Lucknow invites applications for PhD in Management 2026 batch; apply by February 16

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has invited applications for admission to its Doctoral Programme in Management (PhD) for the 2026 batch. Eligible candidates will be able to complete the application process for IIM Lucknow PhD admission 2025 through the official website at iiml.ac.in.

The last date to complete the application process is February 16, 2026. As per the institute, the IIM Lucknow PhD programme will commence in June 2026. To complete the registration process, candidates belonging to the General category are required to pay an application fee of Rs 1,000, while those from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories are required to pay Rs 500.

The PhD programme is offered in several areas of specialisation, including Agri-Business Management, Business Sustainability, Communication, Decision Sciences, Economics and Business Environment, Finance and Accounting, Human Resource Management, Information Technology and Systems, Marketing Management, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Strategic Management.

IIM Lucknow PhD Programme: Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for the IIM Lucknow PhD programme are given below.

• Candidates holding a Master’s degree or equivalent in any discipline with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks are eligible.
• Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a four-year graduate degree with a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent grade point average are eligible.
• Candidates possessing professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost Accountant (ICWA), or Company Secretary (CS) with at least 55% aggregate marks and a BCom degree at the undergraduate level are eligible.
• Candidates who have completed a full-time two- or three-year PGDM from any Indian Institute of Management (IIM) with a minimum CGPA of 6 on a 10-point scale or 60% are eligible.
• Candidates holding a Post Graduate Programme in Management for Working Executives (PGP-WE), formerly known as Working Managers’ Programme (WMP), from IIM Lucknow with a minimum CGPA of 6 are eligible.
• Candidates should have secured at least 55% marks in all public examinations from Class 10 onwards.
• As per the age limit criteria, candidates should be below 55 years of age as on June 30, 2026.

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IIM Lucknow PhD Admission 2026: Selection Process

Selection for PhD admission will be based on valid scores from the Common Admission Test (CAT), Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Junior Research Fellowship/Senior Research Fellowship (JRF/SRF) conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), or Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Only scores obtained on or after January 1, 2024, will be considered valid.

Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria through a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) or Post Graduate Programme in Management for Working Executives (PGP-WE) from any Indian Institute of Management (IIM) are exempted from submitting test scores. Such candidates are required to provide proof that the programme completed was full-time and must submit the percentage conversion formula issued by their respective IIM.

The institute has also states that admission is open to overseas candidates, including Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign nationals, who will be considered based on Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores obtained within the preceding one year.

IIM Lucknow will also implement reservation for admission as per Government of India norms. Candidates admitted to the programme will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver, fellowship, and financial assistance for participation in domestic and international conferences, along with a computer grant and health insurance. Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and foreign candidates will be required to bear all expenses related to the programme.