Unlike CAT, RAT (Research Aptitude Test) is not a unified exam. Evert IIM conducts its own admission process for FPM and thus the pattern of RAT varies from IIM to IIM. One of the patterns is termed as minor RAT followed at IIMB and at a few other IIMs. The RAT consists of different types of CAT questions including questions on verbal skills, logical reasoning, quantitative etc. However, the quantity of questions is less and the questions are distributed differently. Questions are designed to determine minimum eligibility requirements and are not meant for elimination thus the overall test is not too difficult.
It's important to note that the RAT pattern for each of the IIMs changes every year. Though some preparation definitely needs to be made for these exams, I would not suggest giving more time to prepare for interviews than the written exam.
IIM Rohtak offers a full-time doctoral program in management or FPM (full-time). This program is designed for working professionals. The exams accepted for admission to this program are CAT/GMAT/UGC-NET/GRE/GATE (in relevant disciplines). Those who did not appear for any of these exams can sit for the RAT (Research Aptitude Test).
Here are a few highlights pertaining to the program
Duration |
4 years |
Fees |
INR 7.46 lakh |
Common eligibility |
PG degree in any discipline/ CA, ICWA, or CS/ 4 year or 8 semesters Bachelor’s degree |
Selection |
CAT/GMAT/UGC-NET/GRE/GATE/RAT |
The Ph.D. specializations offered under this program are in the following disciplines
Overall, IIM Rohtak FPM is a great choice for those working professors who are looking for a decent program to upgrade their managerial skills and climb the corporate ladder.
NITIE Mumbai offers a doctoral-level fellowship program. Recognized by the Ministry of HRD, this program is equivalent to a Ph.D. of any Indian Institute.
NITIE Fellow program is interdisciplinary in nature and covers different facets of industrial, business, and social issues. Finance, Marketing, Economics, Operation Management, Organizational Behaviour, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility & Ethics are some of the specializations of the fellow program.
There are two types of Fellow program admission, i.e. regular full-time candidates and sponsored candidates. Regular full-time candidates with valid GATE or NET JRF scores get financial assistance from the institute.
The course work for the first year is the same for all departments except three steam-specific courses. During the second semester of the program, the institute will assign you a guide as per the research proposal that you will submit during the time of admission.
It is to be cleared first that the FPM course is completely equivalent to a Ph.D degree. It takes approximately 4-5 years to complete, along with accurate learning and research work.
The fact is that ISB generally pays Rs. 40000 as a stipend along with House Allowances to the candidates who are doing FPM on a full-time basis. Thereby you are not required to pay anything from their own pocket, but they can earn 40 thousand per month.
However, the most important thing is that FPM requires accuracy to complete the study without spending money. So, you have to study with full accuracy, and earn support from this institute to carry on your personal and family expenses. You have to enroll as a full-time candidate and should not have any other source of income.
If you have any other second income, then it will not work. After completing this program, the student will get unlimited rewards, considering their knowledge and income.
The FPM program at IIM Kozhikode is designed for individuals who wish to pursue a career in research and academia. It’s recommended to be less dependent on your guide and then your program will be easier. The only disadvantage is that married students get their degree first and then married accommodation. There is intense competency for married accommodations here. Here are a few pros and cons to determine the worth of IIM Kozhikode
Pros
Cons
FPM eligibility criteria
For the IIM Kozhikode FPM program, candidates are shortlisted based on their academic performance, Qualifying examination scores, and Research Proposal. After shortlisting they are called for a Personal Interview. The minimum cut-off for the CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, and IIMB Tests is mentioned in the table below:
Category |
Cutoff |
General |
60 |
NC-OBC/ EWS |
55 |
ST/ SC/ PwD |
50 |
The difficulty of getting into the FPM program at XLRI varies from person to person depending on several factors. Some of these determining factors are the number of applicants, their qualifications, and the admissions criteria of the program. Here are the eligibility criteria of the FPM program that might give you an insight into the toughness of getting into FPM XLRI.
However, in general, the FPM program at XLRI is considered to be quite competitive, with a rigorous selection process that includes an application, an interview, and a written test. To increase your chances of being accepted into the program, it is important to have a strong academic record, relevant work experience, and a clear research proposal.
My cousin recently joined the institute and has seen students frequently vacate the FPM program of IIM Rohtak. There can be several reasons for this. However, it is somewhat unlikely and vague as well. Especially, when considering the issues concerning the director, as is known by the students.
Nobody can vouch for the scenario taking place at the institute. Thus, it is always the right choice to analyze what you are going for. It is suggested to stay updated with any information at all.
The FPM or Fellow Program in Management at IIM Kozhikode does have its own placement program. This is because the batch size is very small.
But the FPM program in itself is such a meticulous one that all its students become scholars or researchers. The recent data confirms that most of its fellows have been placed in the top IIMs or other reputed Management Schools ranked high on NIRF.
The only thing you need to be careful about is not delaying your thesis work and having good publications. If not you might face problems at the time of placements.
The FPM degree has been renamed as the PhD and IIM Kozhikode provides excellent placements for the same.
The FPM or the Fellow Program in Management is a full-time, residential, fully financially supported doctoral program of the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode.
One of my friends joined IIM Kozhikode for research under financial accounting and control. According to her, the first year is full of rigor and a rigid curriculum. The FPM students share the curriculum with MBA students in the first year along with 3 FPM courses. The shared curriculum enables them to get in insight into various aspects of Management.
Like the first year, the second to has 3 semesters of 3 months each. This year comprises core FOm courses that give a depth understanding of methodologies and various econometric tools.
One major drawback my friend faced was the improper ratio between the number of courses and their period of study. The second year has 7 courses in each term which imply 12 days per subject which is insufficient. If we consider the 30 hours of classes per course, it means we attend classes for 210 hrs ( appr 8 days).
So IIM Kozhikode no doubt offers top-notch facilities and resources but you will have to prepare yourself to physically and mentally tire yourself to avail of them. FPM is an excellent course for research aspirants and not for casual learners.
The Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) offered at IIM Kozhikode is a source of excellent management researchers and faculty resources that contribute largely to academic institutions, industry, business, government, and society. The most common job undertaken by its fellows is becoming a part of academic institutions as a faculty member.
Some of the most reputed National Institutes have hired the graduates of FPM. Some of them include
Other graduated fellows have also joined the reputed universities around the globe. Many work in Europe, North America, and the Middle East either as faculty members or as post-doctoral researchers. Some such Universities include
IIM Kozhikode does not prefer its graduates to work for the industry. They can contribute to it and occasionally work for it. But being employed by society is discouraged after this program.
Some FPM students who opted for non-academic jobs are now working in top positions at reputed firms. Some roles offered to them include
So the scope of this program is vast. You can never regret pursuing this program. You will excel in every field be it academics or non-academics.