IIM Kozhikode Welcomes MBA Cohort 2025-27 with More than 50% Women

• 51% of the incoming MBA cohort across PGP, PGP-LSM, and PGP-Fin are women candidates; PGP flagship batch sees 55% women — the fourth such instance in the last decade

• 586 students inducted into three full-time MBA programmes — PGP (489), PGP-LSM (48), and PGP-Fin (49); along with IIMK’s largest-ever PhD cohort (DPM-19) with 31 scholars

• Academic diversity continues to rise with 53% non-engineers in PGP; across full-time MBA programmes, nearly half the cohort (49%) is from non-engineering backgrounds

• Seven international students join the flagship MBA cohort from Canada, USA, UK, and UAE, reinforcing IIMK’s global reputation

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) today formally inducted the new cohort for its flagship and specialised MBA programmes for the academic years 2025–2027. The event was presided over by Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode, with Shri Aju Jacob, Managing Director, Synthite Industries, serving as the Chief Guest. 586 students across three full-time Post Graduate programmes were inducted as part of the ceremony.

In a significant reaffirmation of its pioneering approach to inclusive excellence, IIM Kozhikode has achieved an overall gender diversity of 51% women across its three full-time MBA programmes – the flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP), PGP in Finance (PGP-Fin), and PGP in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM). This marks the fourth time in the last decade that IIM Kozhikode has admitted more women than men into its MBA cohort, once again challenging longstanding gender imbalances in management education. The average work experience of the combined cohort stands at two years and the average age is 24. Students from Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh make up 35% of the class, with wide national representation. Whereas Kerala, the home of IIM Kozhikode, is being represented by 23 students.

Besides the three regular full-times programmes, IIM Kozhikode also inducted its 19^th batch of PhD Scholars (Doctoral Programme in Management) which at 31, is the largest ever Doctoral Students batch.

The flagship PGP-29 cohort of 489 students includes 55% women, against a national CAT 2024 applicant pool with only 36% women. The batch is academically diverse as well, with 53% non-engineers and 47% engineers – a reversal of the traditional dominance of engineers in Indian B-schools. The PGP also has 7 international students, representing Canada, USA, UK and the UAE.

The specialised programmes reflect this diversity too:

• PGP-Finance (PGP-Fin 06): 49 candidates, evenly split between engineering and non-engineering backgrounds, with an average age of 25.43 years and average work experience of 2.51 years.
• PGP-LSM (PGP-LSM 06): 48 students, with 60% women and a remarkable 96% from non-engineering backgrounds, showcasing the growing appeal of interdisciplinary business education.

Chief Guest, Shri Aju Jacob recounted lessons from his own MBA journey and learnings from managing his family business and added “Stay hungry, stay foolish, and above all, stay curious. It was curiosity that led me to seize opportunities and shape my journey beyond the expected. Success doesn’t follow a single formula — it requires the courage to unlearn, the wisdom to listen, and the humility to learn not just from teachers, but from peers. As you step into India’s unfolding success story, remember: your growth isn’t limited to big jobs — it lies in the value you create, wherever you are.”

Welcoming the latest entrants Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director of IIM Kozhikode, remarked, “Diversity is not a statistic for us – it is a strategic imperative. We are shaping future leaders who will thrive in a complex, pluralistic world. This cohort reflects the values we stand for: inclusion, intellect, and innovation. We have continually endeavored to create an inclusive academic community where varied perspectives and experiences enrich the learning process and prepare our students to become global leaders.”

An innovative immersion programme (16-19 June) kick-started the introduction to IIMK for the new entrants. The inauguration today, will now be followed by a week-long Orientation programme that will witness industry experts, senior IIMK faculty members, alumni and senior government functionaries interacting with the newly inducted batch. Academic classes will begin on 30^th June.

The induction of this new cohort coincides with IIM Kozhikode’s rising global profile. The Institute recently made its debut on the Financial Times (FT) Global Rankings, and has also secured a Top 3 position in India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for two years in a row. These recognitions underscore IIMK’s consistent pursuit of academic excellence, thought leadership, and global engagement.

As the Institute continues to break new ground, the Class of 2025–27 enters not just a top-ranked business school, but a vibrant ecosystem of transformation and leadership for the future.