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At GIBS Bangalore, the PGDM programme gives you a good range of specializations and electives so you can shape your career the way you want.

You get to choose areas like Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Operations, Business Analytics, and other industry-relevant domains depending on what you're interested in. Along with core subjects, there are elective courses that let you dive deeper into specific topics, work on projects, and develop skills that matter in the real world.

GIBS doesn't just make you study one thing; they let you pick the areas you like, mix and match electives, and build a PGDM experience that fits your career goals and interests. It keeps learning flexible, practical, and relevant to where you want to go next.

There are many aspects that must be considered by an international student applying to GIBS Business School which will ensure that their application process runs smoothly and that the applicant's academic background is properly aligned with that of the school:

Academic Qualification Equivalence
An international applicant will be required to have their academic qualifications (e.g., 10+2 and Bachelor's degree transcripts) deemed equivalent to those of a candidate within India. In some cases, GIBS will require an equivalency certificate to establish that the applicant's foreign credential is equal to either of the requirements for admission into GIBS (10+2 or Bachelor's degree).

Entrance Examination
While Indian applicants typically submit their scores from national entrance exams (CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT), many international applicants may not have to submit these types of scores, depending upon the programme policy and equivalence guideline of the program. In such an instance, GMAT scores will often be accepted.

Supplying Evidence Of English Language Proficiency
If the education of the applicant was not in English, evidence of the applicant's proficiency in English will usually need to be supplied through testing results (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL), depending on the programme and policy at the time of application.

Assistance with Documentation and Student Visa
GIBS provides assistance to international students in the form of guidance in completing the required documentation for admission, verifying their credentials as a student or graduate of GIBS, and assisting with the immigration process to obtain a student visa.

Holistic Evaluation of Applicants
The admissions team evaluates all applicants holistically, using five separate areas to establish an applicant's overall suitability for admission, i.e., (i) Academic History; (ii) Academic Recommendations; (iii) Motivation for Enrollment; (iv) Interview Performance; and (v) Overall Fit.

Thereafter, upon submission of the application form along with a valid entrance exam score, GIBS will screen all the applications and shortlist candidates based on entrance exam scores and eligibility criteria like graduation marks. The short-listed candidates are then required to submit a Statement of Purpose, which will help the admission committee to ascertain your background, aspirations, motivations for pursuing management, and programme fit.

Evaluation rounds come next, comprising a Group Discussion or a Personal Interview or Online Personal Interview. The Institute evaluates the communication skills, analytical thinking, motivation, personality, career vision of the candidates, and overall suitability of the candidate for the programme in these rounds.

Finally, GIBS prepares a merit/selection list based on a composite evaluation of entrance exam score, academic records, SOP, GD & PI performance, and any additional factors like work experience or extracurriculars. Selected candidates are then issued an admission offer. On acceptance, they complete fee payment and documentation to confirm their seat.

At GIBS Business School, the basics for getting into BBA and PGDM are pretty straightforward and student-friendly.

For BBA, most of us just needed to have finished 10+2 (high school) from a recognised board. It doesn't always hinge on super high marks — if you meet the basic education requirement, you're good to proceed with the admission steps. There might be some personal interview or internal process, but it's not overly strict.

For PGDM, the usual requirement is a graduation degree (any discipline) from a recognised university. Many of my friends got in with a good academic record, and while competitive exam scores (like CAT/MAT/XAT) can help, GIBS also offers direct admission routes without those scores, so it's more flexible for those who didn't take those tests. The focus is on your overall profile, interview performance, and readiness for management studies.