Considering all factors like faculty, placements, location, students, alumni, etc. IIFT is a good option for pursuing an MBA. International Business, it is the best among all the institutes mentioned here.
IIFT offers decent academics. For the MBA in International business, the first year is common for all students. After the summer semester, students can choose their specializations. You can choose Trade, Finance, or Marketing.
IIFT has a great placement record. In 2021, IIFT Delhi placements had an average CTC of INR 25.16 LPA. While IIFT Kolkata's average package for 2022 was INR 20 LPA.
Here is a video to brief you more about IIFT
Overall, IIFT is the best option among XLRI, FMS, and IIMs.
If you are waitlisted for IIFT Delhi, you will need to pay a certain fee to reserve your seat. You will move up the list, as the students ranked higher than you opt-out.
So, to simplify, there are students who got selected for IIFT Delhi, students who are selected for IIFT Kolkata, and students who are waitlisted. As a student who got admission to IIFT Delhi opts out, the first student is the list of students admitted to IIFT Kolkata moves to the Delhi list, and consequently the first students on the waiting list get into the IIFT Kolkata list.
The waitlist starts moving after reputed B-School such as IIM ABCL, XLRI, FMS, JBIMS announces their results.
Factors | XLRI | IIFT |
Established | 1963 | 1949 |
BT Ranking | 9 | 3 |
NIRF Ranking 2022 | 24 | 8 |
Specialization | MBA IB | PGDM, PGDM HRM |
Exam Accepted | IIFT Test | XAT/GMAT |
Test Cutoff | IIFT Score: 48.5 | XAT: 96 |
Full-Time Faculty | 41 | 82 |
Average Salary 2022 | 25 LPA | 32 LPA |
IIFT generally focuses on personality traits and behaviour. The interview process is not just a test of knowledge but also a reflection of your character and practical application of what you've learned. After the completion of Written ability test the selected candidates are called for GD and interview.
GDs are held as part of the second phase of the admissions process at IIFT. The group discussion (GD) lasts, on average, 15 minutes and typically involves 10 to 15 people. Participants are given one minute to consider the issue after which the group discussion (GD) begins. The IIFT covers a range of subjects, including general and current affairs-related issues.
The interview process is to evaluate your personality traits and communication skills. There are few things that you need to remember for the interview process:
Not at all. IIFT Delhi is not equal to FMS. Despite sharing a geographical location, both institutes have established very different standards and are leaders in their respective fields.
FMS is known for its ROI because the total course fee is only INR 1.92 lakhs and the average placement is INR 26.20 lakhs per year. You won't have to worry about EMIs and will have more financial freedom after completing your MBA.
On the contrary, if you want to specialize in international business, IIFT is the place to be. FMS will give you a general management degree, and your electives will determine what you specialize in, whereas the entire IIFT program is geared toward International Business. FMS lacks infrastructure, which is shared by all DU colleges. IIFT, on the other hand, has a superior infrastructure.
During the IIFT Delhi MBA IB placements 2022, the average package offered was INR 25.16 LPA. Previously, the average packages offered during the 2020 and 2021 IIFT Delhi MBA IB placements were INR 20.48 LPA and INR 21.08 LPA, respectively. As previously stated, FMS, Delhi has an average package of INR 26.20 LPA.
Finally, it comes down to your personal preferences and the institute(s) to which you were admitted. If given the opportunity, there is no reason not to attend either of these two institutions.
Yes, an average student or even a below-average student can get into IIFT. As the past academic scores are not as important as the entrance marks and the student’s performance in GD/PI at IIFT. If you can secure high marks in the entrance examination conducted by IIFT and create a lasting impression in the GD/PI round, then you can get admitted into IIFT as well as other top-rated B-schools.
Useful Tips:
Here is the question pattern of the 2020 IIFT entrance paper:
Section |
Total number of questions |
General Knowledge and current affairs |
20 |
Quantitative ability |
25 |
Data interpretation and logical reasoning |
30 |
Verbal ability and reading comprehension |
35 |
Thus, keeping this structure in mind, you can prepare your own plan of approach. If you can score high marks in the entrance and nail the GD/PI round, then your previous performance won’t hold much weight. According to the popular norm of average percentage i.e. 75%, the student can still secure a seat for himself/herself per their entrance score.
Yes, I do know a friend who managed to get calls from many top B Schools despite having an average Undergraduate Score. Her profile looked like this
Although her marks witnessed a gradual decline, she was lucky enough to study at XLRI. Past academics are considered as one but not the major factors at XLRI, unlike IIMs that focus a lot on past academics. A good XAT and GD-PI score can compensate for your poor academic record at XLRI, FMS, and JBIMS. NITIE is a top B School that does not consider past academics at all. My friend with her average profile managed to convert NITIE, XIMB, and all the IIMs except for the top ones obviously. So we can safely assume that admission into these top B Schools is possible even with an average profile provided that you score excellently in the CAT or XAT and the GDPI round.
To choose a college that is perfect for you, one needs to ponder various questions repeatedly. These questions will help you get a clear idea about what you want from MBA and which college will help you achieve that.
If the answer to it is yes, then analyze the reports of these institutes to find where each one of them stands. Looking at average CTC is not the right way and is in fact misleading.
Other things you should consider before choosing a B School are
One thing you should keep in mind is that brands are just a stepping stone in your career journey and not the main factor. These institutes have been able to establish the brand name mainly because of where their alumni have reached now. So brands are helpful in the short run only.
IIFT Delhi and Kolkata campus offers good hostel facilities. The Delhi campus has three hostels - C9, Old hostel, and new hostel. The rooms are 2 or 3 sharing. Students are provided with mess facilities. IIFT Delhi hostel fees are around INR 45k-54k.
IIFT Kolkata offers hostel facilities as well. The rooms are spacious and have basic amenities. IIFT Kolkata hostel fees are around INR 50k.
PI: Panellists do not have your IIFT entrance test scores/ percentiles. So, they are not biased and already have a good opinion of people who are in the top 1%. Before coming into the room, everyone is the same to them. Do, among other things, fill out your CV form inside and out.