Direct Admission in IIFT Delhi| Management Quota
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
Indian Institute of Foreign TradeIndian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, commonly known as IIFT Delhi, was established in 1963. It operates as a centrally funded autonomous institution under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and it received Deemed to be University status in 2022.
IIFT Delhi is known primarily for its management programmes, especially MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics). The total fee for MBA (IB) is INR 21.92 Lakhs, while MBA (Business Analytics) costs INR 17.93 Lakhs. In the latest rankings cited in the input, the institute was placed 8th by Outlook in 2026 and 17th in India, as well as 2nd in New Delhi, by NIRF in 2025.
IIFT Delhi also stands out for strong placement outcomes. For the 2025 placement season, the highest international package reached INR 1.23 Crore PA, the highest domestic package stood at INR 72 LPA, and the average package for MBA (IB) was INR 31.30 LPA. The total seat intake across the two full-time MBA programmes is 300.
Common Queries on Direct Admission, Management Quota & NRI Quota in IIFT
Q1. Is direct admission possible in IIFT 2026?
Ace Guru Education Services: No, there is no provision for direct admission in IIFT. The institute strictly follows the official admission process via CAT scores, followed by WAT, GD, and PI. If you come across anyone offering “direct seats,” it is not authentic.
Q2. Does IIFT have a management quota for MBA (IB) admissions?
Ace Guru Education Services: No, IIFT is a government-established premier institute and does not offer management quota seats. All admissions are merit-based and go through the standard selection process.
Q3. Is there an NRI quota at IIFT?
Ace Guru Education Services: Yes, IIFT has provisions for NRI/Foreign Nationals/PIO/OCI candidates. However, these applicants also need to meet specific eligibility requirements, such as valid GMAT scores and submission of required documents. Even in this category, the admission process is transparent and merit-driven.
Q4. So how can I maximize my chances of getting Admission in IIFT 2026?
Ace Guru Education Services: The best way is to focus on a strong CAT percentile, prepare well for WAT/GD/PI, and highlight your profile strengths. At Ace Guru Education Services, we guide students with customized strategies to improve their admission chances, whether they are freshers or working professionals.
IIFT Delhi Rankings
IIFT Delhi’s MBA programme has been recognised by multiple national ranking agencies. The latest rankings mentioned in the input are shown below.
| Agency | Category | Ranking |
| NIRF | MBA | 17 in India, 2 in New Delhi in 2025 |
| Outlook | MBA | 8 in 2026 |
| IIRF | MBA | 11 in 2025 |
Who Can Apply for Direct Admission in IIFT?
If you’re planning for Admission in IIFT, the first thing to understand is who exactly is eligible to apply. The good news? IIFT welcomes students from a variety of academic backgrounds—not just commerce or economics. Whether you’re an engineer, a B.Com graduate, or even from humanities, you can apply as long as you meet the basic requirements.
Here’s the eligibility snapshot for the MBA (International Business) program:
- Educational Qualification: A bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years in any discipline, with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- Final-Year Students: Even if you’re in the final year of graduation, you can apply, provided you submit your degree and mark sheets by the deadline.
- Entrance Exam Requirement: Admission is through the CAT exam (from 2023 onwards, IIFT has stopped conducting its own entrance exam). So, a valid CAT score is mandatory.
- Work Experience: It’s not compulsory! Fresh graduates are just as welcome as candidates with work experience.
The Road to 2027: Admission Process & Cutoff
The IIFT Delhi admission 2027 process for its management programs is conducted through the CAT exam. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) from a recognised university. Applications are expected to open around September 2027 on the official IIFT website, followed by the selection rounds after the CAT 2027 results are announced.
After the CAT results, shortlisted candidates are invited to participate in the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) or Extempore, and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. Final selection is based on a composite score that includes the CAT percentile, academic record, work experience, and interview performance.
Direct Admission in IIFT: Step-by-Step Process:
IIFT Delhi Cutoff Trends
Admission to IIFT Delhi’s management programs is highly competitive. The IIFT Delhi cutoff for the General category generally lies between 90 and 95+ percentile in CAT, depending on the year’s applicant pool and difficulty level.
Here’s a realistic trend based on recent data and predictions:
- 2023: Around 94th percentile
- 2024: 93–95 percentile (expected)
- 2025: Projected 95+ percentile for IIFT Delhi
Aspirants targeting IIFT Delhi admission 2027 should aim for a CAT percentile above 95, along with strong performance in other evaluation rounds. Consistent practice in Verbal, Quantitative, and Data Interpretation sections — along with awareness of current business trends — can significantly boost the chances of selection.
IIFT Delhi Placements
As per the consolidated placement data from the IIFT Campuses for the year 2025, the highest domestic package stood at INR 72 LPA, while the highest international package stood at INR 1.23 Crore PA.
Over 160 reputed companies participated in the final placements. IIFT Delhi Placement for batch 2023-25 is given below:
| Particular | MBA IB | MBA BA |
| Highest International Package | INR 1.23 Crore PA | INR 60 LPA |
| Highest Domestic Package | INR 72 LPA | INR 72 LPA |
| Average CTC | INR 31.30 LPA | INR 25.30 LPA |
| Median CTC | INR 26 LPA | INR 20 LPA |
| Number of Recruiters | 135 | 25 |
| Top Recruiters | Accenture Strategy, Accordion, Adani Wilmar, HSBC, Indigo, McKinsey & Company, Michael Page, Microsoft, EY | Arcesium, Blackstone, Hero Fincorp, MAQ Software, Wipro, DTDC, Flipkart |
IIFT Delhi Summer Internship
IIFT Delhi has released its Summer Internship Report for 2026. This year’s summer placement season witnessed participation from over 105+ recruiters. The average stipend offered was INR 2.73 lakhs for the two-month internship, showcasing a significant year-on-year increase. The highest international stipend reached INR 6 lakhs, and the highest Domestic stipend reached INR 4.50 lakhs.
Given below are the highlights of the IIFT Delhi Summer Internship Placement Report for 2024-2026:
| Particulars | MBA (IB) | MBA (Business Analytics) |
| Highest International Stipend | INR 6 Lakhs | – |
| Highest Domestic Stipend | INR 4.50 Lakhs | INR 4 Lakhs |
| Average Stipend | INR 2.73 Lakhs | INR 1.41 Lakhs |
| Median Stipend | INR 2.5 Lakhs | INR 1.10 Lakhs |
| 60+ Stipends got | INR 4 lakhs & above | – |
| Total Recruiters | 105+ | 30+ |
| Top Recruiters | Accenture, Aditya Birla, Amazon, Deloitte, ITC, TATA, Samsung, Capgemini, etc. | Aditya Birla, Amul, Puma, Union Bank, Bank of America, Patanjali, etc. |
IIFT Delhi vs IIFT Kolkata vs MDI Gurgaon
Students often compare IIFT Delhi and IIFT Kolkata to determine which campus offers a better overall experience. According to discussions on platforms like Quora and Reddit, many students believe that the Delhi campus provides better exposure and better infrastructure, making it the preferred choice.
On the other hand, MDI Gurgaon is well known for its decent placements with global exposure. A detailed comparison of IIFT Delhi, IIFT Kolkata, and MDI Gurgaon, specifically based on the MBA (IB) program, is presented in the table below:
| Particulars | IIFT Delhi | IIFT Kolkata | MDI |
| Established Year | 1963 | 2006 | 1972 |
| Popular Course | MBA (IB) | MBA (IB) | PGDM (IB) |
| Admission Criteria | CAT Score + GD + PI | CAT Score + GD + PI | CAT+WAT+GD+PI |
| CAT Cutoff 2025 (Expected) | 98 percentiles | 97-98 percentile | 95 percentiles |
| Total Fees (2026) | INR 21.92 Lakhs | INR 21.32 Lakhs | INR 11 to 29.58 Lakhs |
| Campus Size | 6.5 Acres | 7 Acres | 35 Acres |
| Highest Package (2025) | INR 72 LPA | INR 63.3 LPA | |
| Average Package (2025) | INR 31.30 LPA | INR 24.2 LPA | |
| Rankings 2025 (MBA Category) | 15 | 21 | 14 |
FAQs: About IIFT Delhi Direct Admission
1. What is the admission process for IIFT Delhi 2027?
The IIFT Delhi admission 2027 process begins with the IIFT entrance exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in December 2027. Shortlisted candidates are invited for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. Final selection depends on your overall score, academic record, and work experience.
2. What is the expected IIFT Delhi cutoff for 2026?
The IIFT Delhi cutoff for 2026 is expected to be around 97–98 percentile for General category candidates. For OBC, SC/ST, and EWS categories, it may range between 85–95 percentile. The cutoff varies every year based on the difficulty of the exam and the number of applicants.
3. What is the total MBA fee at IIFT Delhi for the 2027 batch?
The IIFT Delhi MBA fees for the 2027–28 batch is approximately ₹22–25 lakhs, which includes tuition, hostel, and other institutional charges. The final IIFT Delhi MBA fees for 2027 will be announced in the official brochure, with flexible instalment options and financial aid available.
4. How are placements at IIFT Delhi?
IIFT Delhi placements are among the best in the country, with a 100% placement record every year. For the recent batch, the average package was around ₹29.5 LPA, while the highest package touched ₹85 LPA (international). Top recruiters include Deloitte, PwC, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, ITC, and McKinsey.
5. What are the eligibility criteria for IIFT Delhi admission 2026?
To apply for IIFT Delhi admission 2026, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). Final-year students can also apply. Additionally, NRI or foreign applicants can apply using valid GMAT scores instead of the IIFT entrance exam.
6. Is there any direct admission in IIFT Delhi through management quota?
No, there is no management quota or donation-based direct admission in IIFT Delhi. Being a government-established autonomous institute, all admissions are strictly merit-based through the IIFT entrance exam or GMAT for international applicants.
7. What is the process for Direct Admission in IIFT Delhi through NRI quota?
Direct Admission in IIFT Delhi through NRI Quota is available for NRI, PIO, and foreign nationals who apply via GMAT scores. The process involves:
Submitting the online application on the official IIFT portal.
Uploading valid GMAT scores (taken before January 2026).
Appearing for the personal interview (online or offline).
Selection based on overall merit, not donations.
8. Does IIFT Delhi offer scholarships or financial aid?
Yes. IIFT Delhi provides merit-based scholarships and need-based financial assistance to deserving students. These may cover partial or full tuition costs, depending on academic performance and family income. Additionally, IIFT has tie-ups with nationalised banks for education loans.
9. What is the ranking of IIFT Delhi among MBA colleges in India?
According to the NIRF 2025 Rankings, IIFT Delhi consistently ranks among the top 10 B-schools in India. It is also highly rated by IIRF and Outlook rankings for its MBA in International Business, global exposure, and placement performance.
10. How can I prepare for IIFT Delhi Admission 2027 effectively?
To secure admission in IIFT Delhi 2027, start preparing early by focusing on Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness. Attempt multiple IIFT mock tests, analyse past papers, and stay updated on trade-related current affairs. Consistent preparation is key to achieving the IIFT Delhi cutoff percentile.