PGDM FAQ's

What is PGDM?

PGDM refers to the SOIL’s fulltime two year Post Graduate Diploma in Management for candidates with 0-36 months of work experience.

What is Business Design?

The course curriculum integrates Management with Design Thinking and Liberal Arts. This is called as Business Design where students focus on solving business problems with a design thinking mindset.

The business design curriculum helps students in developing their creative business problem solving skills.

What are the specializations being offered in the PGDM?
  • Specializations are offered in 4 areas
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Human Resources
  • Analytics
What is Business Design?

The course curriculum integrates Management with Design Thinking and Liberal Arts. This is called as Business Design where students focus on solving business problems with a design thinking mindset.

The business design curriculum helps students in developing their creative business problem solving skills.

Is the course officially recognized by AICTE?

Yes. The course is officially approved by the AICTE committee. You can view the letter of approval by clicking here.

What is the fee structure for the course?

You can find the fee here.

Do you have tie-ups with banks for education loans?

Yes, students can avail loans at competitive terms from leading Education loan providers such as Axis Bank, HDFC Credila, Avansa, Yes Bank, Bank of Baroda & IDFC First Bank.

Can I get a sponsorship from the company where I am working?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to get themselves sponsored by their employers.

Does the college provide any scholarships?

School of Business Design is committed to ensuring that its unique 2 Year program is available for the most committed and high potential Business Design Leaders of tomorrow. It ensures that every candidate who is selected is able to attend the program irrespective of their socio-economic background. In order to achieve this, it has allocated generous scholarships:

  • Need-based Scholarship
  • Merit Based Scholarships
  • Unique Achievement Scholarships
  • Dr. Verghese Kurien Scholarship
  • Defence Personnel Scholarship

For more details about scholarship, please click here

Can I get a sponsorship from the company where I am working?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to get themselves sponsored by their employers.

What is the minimum work experience required in order to apply for the course? Can freshers apply?

Freshers and candidates with less than 36 months of work-experience by 30th June 2025 ONLY are eligible to apply.

I had applied for the PGDM program in the past but did not get selected. Can I reapply?

Yes. You can reapply provided your GMAT/CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT/NMAT* score is still valid.

*NMAT score will also be considered, subject to the submission of an AICTE-approved all-India test score, such as GMAT/CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT/ATMA. The best among all the scores will be considered.

My application did not get shortlisted in earlier cycles? Can I re apply?

In case you do not have a better entrance exam score to apply with or if there is no significant change in your application form, you are advised not to reapply.

I have not completed my graduation yet. Can I still apply?

Candidates in the final year of Graduation can apply provided they have the proof of graduation and marksheet by 30th June 2025.

Will part-time work experience or internship be considered?

Internship or part time work experience is not considered. Only full time work experience is considered.

I have been an entrepreneur or have worked in my family owned business – will this experience be considered?

Yes, provided the experience is full-time experience.

What are the exams that I can use to apply for SOIL PGDM?

All applicants are required to appear for GMAT / CAT / XAT/ MAT/ CMAT/ ATMA/ NMAT* before applying to SOIL’s 2 Year PGDM.

*NMAT score will also be considered, subject to the submission of an AICTE-approved all-India test score, such as GMAT/CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT/ATMA. The best among all the scores will be considered.

What is GMAT?

The GMAT is the Graduate Management Admission Test conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council and is a globally recognized test for admission to business schools. For more information on GMAT please visit their official web site http://www.mba.com/india/the-gmat-exam/about-the-gmat-exam.aspx.

What is CAT?

CAT is the Common Admissions Test conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management for admissions to their Post Graduate Program. For More information please visit – https://iimcat.ac.in.

I appeared for the GMAT/ CAT/ XAT/CMAT 3 years ago. Are the scores still valid or do I need to re-take the exam?

GMAT scores taken on or after 1st Jan 2022 will be considered for admission.

Candidates applying on the basis of their CAT score must note that only the scores for CAT-2024 will be accepted.

Candidates applying on the basis of their XAT/ CMAT score must note that only the scores for XAT-2025/ CMAT-2025 will be accepted.

What are the minimum CAT/ GMAT/XAT/CMAT score required in order to apply for the course?

There is no minimum score to apply. We consider the complete profile including academic performance and relevant work experience.

Are there sectional cut offs for CAT/GMAT/XAT/CMAT?

We do not have sectional cut offs for CAT/GMAT/XAT/CMAT.

Can the GMAT/ CAT/ XAT/CMAT requirement be waived under exceptional circumstances?

No. The CAT/GMAT/XAT/CMAT score cannot be waived under any circumstances. It is a mandatory requirement by AICTE.

Does SOIL require a test to prove proficiency in English?

A TOEFL/IELTS score is required only for non-Indian students who did not have ENGLISH as the primary language of instruction during their undergraduate studies.

What are the factors considered for admission?

SOIL gives importance to the overall performance of an individual rather than excellence in a single field.We look at the candidate’s past academic records, work experience, recommendations and essays.

In addition, performance in GMAT/CAT/XAT/CMAT and during the Design Thinking Workshop and the Personal Interview are considered while evaluating applicants.

What is a Design Thinking Workshop?

The Design Thinking (DT) Workshop is a mandatory process for students to undergo as part of their admissions process. The DT workshop is a hands-on, activity-based session built around the Design Thinking process.The aim of the DT workshop is to find students who are extremely good and efficient at real time working environments rather than identifying students solely on the basis of their past academic performances and entrance exam scores.

How long will the Design Thinking workshop happen for?

It is usually around 90 minutes.

Can I apply online?

Yes. You can apply online through our Application Portal.

How do I submit the recommendation letter?

Applicants have to provide the details/official e-mail id’s of the recommenders while filling the application form. The recommendation letters will be collected from the final selected candidates’ recommenders in an online format at a later date.

Can students from other streams apply (apart from Engineering / Science / Commerce background?)

Students from other streams can also apply for the course. The candidate should hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university.

Does the entire application need to be completed within one session?

No. You can complete the online application in multiple sessions. The changes will have to be saved every time the application is updated.

Do I also need to submit a printed copy of the application form once I have submitted it online?

No it is not required.

Which score will you consider for the admissions process?

It is at your discretion – However, if more than one score is reported, we will consider your best score for the admissions process.

Will SOIL conduct its own admission test this year?

No.

When will the interviews and final admissions take place?

Details of the interviews and final admissions are available at “Key Dates” section of the admissions process page.

What are the centers for PI?

Details of the interviews and final admissions are available at “Key Dates” section of the admissions page. The venue in each center will be intimated to you through e-mail.

When will the result for PI be announced?

The interview result will be announced after 2 weeks from the personal interview date.

What is the usual course commencement time?

The course usually starts in July.

As the bank loan sanction is getting delayed and my loan amount includes the installment amount also, can I pay once the loan is sanctioned?

Students have to get in touch with the admissions team to solve their queries. Usually the school relaxes time for students to resolve their issues.

What is the refund policy?

Our refund policy is as per AICTE norms.

Deferred Admissions

No. We do not have deferred admissions for this cycle.

Do you have any quotas for NRI’S/SC/ST/BC?

Yes. We follow the AICTE criteria in this. You can know more about the score cut offs in our admissions process page.

Will Indian and foreign applicants be evaluated on the same basis?

Yes.

Do you offer placement help to all your students?

SOIL has a dedicated Career Development Academy team to help students in placements.

What was the average salary offered to a SOIL student last year?

The average salary offered to last year Batch (2022-24) was 10.3 LPA where in the highest Placement was 27 LPA. For more Details please Click here.

What is a summer internship?

Summer internship is a mandatory requirement wherein students work on a real time project in a company. Summer Internships will allow you to apply the skills and lessons learned in a classroom in the real world of business. The summer internships lasts for 2 months, and the placements process happens during Year 2 of the program.

Internship details for PGDM batch

For the internship report, please visit here

Where is the campus located?

The campus is located in Manesar, Gurgaon.

Is medical care available in campus?

Yes

Where is the hostel located?

The hostels are located within 2 kms from the campus.

Transportation from campus to hostel and vice versa?

The college operate a bus for student’s travel from these two locations.

Campus Visits

I am interested in a Campus tour. How and when can I visit the campus? Please fill the form to schedule a campus tour.

From whom should I get recommendations?

We prefer professional recommendations because they are more relevant in terms of judging your professional capabilities. However, we also accept academic recommendations if it is from very senior faculty from your college.

Does the academic recommendation have to be by the head of department/Dean?

No. The recommendation can be by any professor who has taught or guided you in your graduate program.

Is it mandatory to provide the official email-address of my recommenders?

Yes. The admission form will not accept public domain email addresses such as gmail, yahoo etc.

How will the recommenders be contacted for reference?

The recommenders will be emailed a username and password that they can use to login to our website in order to complete the recommendation process.

Can I give the email address of my previous employer for recommendation?

Yes.

Can I give the email address of my earlier supervisor who has left the company and joined elsewhere?

Yes.

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