Here are a few factors that differentiate IIFT Delhi and IIFT Kolkata campuses.
As established earlier, the Delhi campus has its advantages, but IIFT Kolkata is striving hard to bridge the gap.
At IIM/FMS/JBIMS/SPJIMR/IIFT/XLRI, attendance is seen as a crucial aspect of the learning experience. Every effort must be made to be present in class and to participate actively in the discussions. In fact, class participation is considered to be such an important factor in determining grades that a significant portion of the total course weightage is allocated to it. This system is in place to encourage students to be engaged in the learning process and to ensure that they are taking full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them.
On the other hand, at IIT Kanpur, there is a more relaxed approach to attendance. While it is still advisable to attend classes and to be present for lectures, there is no strict requirement in place. This gives students more flexibility and allows them to choose when they want to attend classes based on their personal schedules or other commitments. It also means that engineering students are not penalized if they miss a class or two, as long as they are able to make up for it by participating in other ways, such as completing assignments or preparing for exams.
Overall, both B-schools and Engineering colleges have different approaches to attendance and class participation. While IIM Ahmedabad places a strong emphasis on being present in class and participating actively, IIT Kanpur takes a more relaxed approach. Ultimately, the choice between the two institutions will depend on the individual student's preferences and learning style.
Life at IIFT Delhi and IIFT Kolkata isn’t much different than any other B-Schools in the country. The first trimester will go by in a blur with multiple assignments, guest lectures, summer placement prep, etc. IIFT follows a regular schedule. There may be days with classes from 9 am to 9 pm. You will need to do your assignments, prepare case studies, study for quizzes, and also do extra-curricular activities.
Life outside academics is more fun in Delhi. There are more places to explore nearby the campus.
It is true that IIFT Delhi has a strong reputation and a good placement record. Over the past three years, students have consistently earned an average salary package of INR 20 LPA or higher. In the latest placement drive for the 2020-22 batch of the MBA (IB) program, IIFT Delhi achieved 100% placements with 82 companies participating. The highest international CTC was INR 80 LPA, the highest domestic CTC was INR 46.5 LPA, and the average CTC was INR 25.16 LPA. Approximately 25% of the students were placed in the consulting domain.
When choosing a business school, it's important to consider factors such as placements, alumni support, exposure to the industry, and available resources like libraries and research papers. Location can also be a factor, as being in Delhi may provide more opportunities for exploration and connection with potential employers compared to Shillong. Ultimately, it's important to weigh all of these factors and choose the school that best meets your needs and goals.
Some reasons why you can consider IIFT over MDI are:
Many people I know chose IIFT over MDI Gurgaon and many did the opposite as well, after doing healthy research and a comparison of the two.
IIFT Delhi has rejected even 99.88–99.92 percentile candidates in the past. Candidates with 99.xx and 96.xx percentiles have similar entrance scores, but those who performed well have an advantage in the admission process.
Do not be complacent in the GD, WAT, and PI rounds. Candidates with high percentiles have similar absolute scores, but the entrance exam score weighs 55% of the final composite score. So individuals with high admission exam scores have an advantage but might still be dismissed if they perform poorly in future stages.
In the placement process, it is not always the B-Schools that are responsible for reporting inflated packages, but rather the companies. The figure reported by placement cells is referred to as the "Cost to Company" (CTC) and not the take-home salary. This means that simply dividing the CTC by 12 is not an accurate reflection of what you will receive in your bank account each month.
CTC consists of two main components: fixed and variable. The fixed component includes your basic salary, HRA, TA, LTA, employer's contribution to the provident fund, joining bonus, retention bonuses, and ESOPs. The variable component is based on both your performance and the company's performance and is paid out in lump sums either yearly or half-yearly.
Your take-home salary at the end of each month is calculated as basic salary + HRA + TA + other allowances - provident fund deduction - tax. The remaining amount is given to you at the end of the year. To illustrate how companies may inflate their CTC figures, here are a few examples:
Fixed component: 9 lakhs
Year 1 end retention bonus: 2 lakhs
Year 2 end retention bonus: 1.5 lakhs
ESOP: 5 lakhs to be paid over 3 years
Performance bonus: separate/not reported CTC: 17.5 lakhs
Take-home salary: 65-70k
Fixed component + Variable component: 14.5 lakhs
Relocation: 2,00,000 INR (one-time payment)
Supplemental Salary: 3,50,000 INR (supplemental salary is an accrued bonus paid out in monthly installments pro-rated from the date of joining, only applicable during the first year of joining)
CTC: 20 lakhs
Take-home salary: 95-98k
Fixed component: 9 lakhs
Variable component: 10-20% of a fixed component
CTC: 10.8 lakhs
Take-home salary: 65-68k
As seen from the examples, despite Amazon having a CTC that is double that of RBS IDC, their take-home salary is the same. This is the typical way it works. The placement teams likely do not have much control over the process.
There are 4 hostels, one for girls and three for boys. 2 of the boy's hostels are located outside the campus with one being within walking distance while the other one is located around 4.5 km away from the campus with a regular bus being there for transportation needs of the students. The rooms are nice and spacious and have all the required amenities. Mess facilities are available at each hostel with decent healthy food including Veg and Non-Veg Options. One has to opt for Hostel during registration and rooms are allocated based on the ranking. Hostels and Mess Charges are competitive and affordable.
It is worth noting that the brand value of "IIM" may vary among the different institutes. IIM Ahmedabad may have a different brand perception than IIM Lucknow, which may differ from IIM Kozhikode, and so on. With plans to establish an IIM in every state, getting admitted to one may not necessarily hold as much weight as it once did.
Older business schools may have more opportunities available to their students due to their more extensive alumni networks and long history of the establishment. Additionally, business schools located in metropolitan areas may have better access to recruiters, leading to potentially better job placements for their students.
Ultimately, it is up to you to consider these factors and make the final decision that best suits your needs and goals.
The following table shows a comparison of the mentioned colleges:
Factor |
IIFT Delhi |
MDI Gurgaon |
NIRF Ranking |
29th |
10th |
Accreditation |
NAAC ‘A’ Grade |
NBA, AACSB |
Courses |
MBA (IB), Executive MBA |
PGPM, PGPM-HRM, PGP-IM, EPGPM |
Selection Criteria |
IIFT exam |
CAT, GMAT |
Campus |
6 acres |
37 acres |
Fees |
21.7 lakhs |
23.47 Lakhs |
Average Placement |
25.16 LPA |
27.67 LPA |
Top Recruiters |
Amazon, HUL, Nestle, P&G, Goldman Sachs, |
Deloitte, KPMG, Amazon, EY, BCG, PwC |
Hope this comparison helps!