SDA Bocconi IMB Admissions 2026
Applications Deadline - 22nd January 2026 | Offers full-time PGP in International Master in business (IMB) Equivalent to MBA under following specializations Marketing, HR, Operations, and many more
Many prominent business schools require candidates to have some work experience. Generally, students should have work experience of two to five years in relevant disciplines. Now, the question arises, as to why leading business schools require prior work experience.
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MBA and PGDM are among the popular postgraduate management degrees offered by business schools. Graduates learn the fundamentals of business management, good communication skills, leadership and managerial skills, and job-specific skills such as problem-solving and decision-making.
“Is having prior work experience essential to apply for an MBA” is a debate that has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the recession. Those in favour of the argument agree that having work experience is important before applying for an MBA as it gives them a competitive edge. However, others may argue that an MBA provides a good platform for experiential learning by including internships and project work in the course curriculum.
There is no fixed criterion as to how much experience is required for enrollment in an MBA. Many business schools do not even require prior experience. Some of the top B-schools offer admission to their postgraduate programmes based on entrance exam scores and work experience, such as IIM Ahmedabad requires 4 years of work experience for their PGPX programme. Similarly, IIM Udaipur requires 3 years of work experience for an MBA in Global Supply Chain Management and IIM Calcutta accept students with 5 years of experience for the MBA Ex course.
Apart from the candidates, many business schools also benefit from candidates having prior work experience. While graduates having work experience gain a competitive edge over other applicants, business schools also benefit by enrolling qualified candidates.
Applications Deadline - 22nd January 2026 | Offers full-time PGP in International Master in business (IMB) Equivalent to MBA under following specializations Marketing, HR, Operations, and many more
Application Deadline 15th Jan’26 | UGC Approved Programs | Near 100% Placement Record | Up to 100% Scholarships | Highest CTC 21.32 LPA
Candidates also benefit from having prior work experience. Students gain various practical skills that are highly desired by employers due to their real-life work experience. Listed below are some of the benefits of having prior work experience before an MBA:
Read further: For further information on MBA, students can read the articles mentioned below:
Many candidates may have this question in their minds, “is prior work experience a necessary criterion for an MBA?”, the answer is no. When discussing an MBA, work experience does play a crucial role, however, many B-schools do not require work experience. That does not mean that it is an ideal approach. One cannot deny the fact that prior work experience plays a significant role in management education.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
You have scored 234 (QA: 78, VA: 84, LR: 72), you have a higher chance of getting a call from the NMIMS Mumbai MBA Core call, as it is the nearest score to the 235 cutoff. You have a good score in the verbal subject and have a decent score in QA/LR, which makes a call quite possible. It also depends on the final year's cutoffs and the specific section requirements. Around 230-250 marks are considered a good score. I hope this information helps you.
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Hello
Yes, it is possible to pursue an MBA again, even if you have already completed your first MBA from a state university. Many students can do an MBA course twice for skills enhancement, a stronger network and significant career growth. It helps to grow the work experience to show a real need for the second degree. If you need any information regarding the MBA course, please read the article List of B-School Exams in India which was published on our official website, careers360.
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MBA colleges Admissions are usually based on entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, or CMAT.
Some MBA colleges in India offer direct admission without entrance exams. These colleges usually admit students based on graduation marks, basic eligibility criteria, and document verification.
It is important to check UGC approval, accreditation, faculty quality, and placement support before choosing any college offering direct MBA admission.
Some Top Colleges in North:
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, XLRI Jamshedpur, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research Delhi NCR, IMT Ghaziabad
Some Top Colleges in South:
IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, PSG Institute of Management Coimbatore, LIBA (Loyola Institute of Business Administration) Chennai, XIME Bangalore, SDMIMD Mysore
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree offers a wide range of specialized fields, allowing professionals to focus their expertise on specific industries or business functions. Choosing the best specialization depends heavily on your prior work experience, career goals, and the industry you wish to target. You can explore a detailed list of all MBA types and specializations here: Choosing the best specialization depends heavily on your prior work experience, career goals, and the industry you wish to target. You can explore a detailed list of all MBA types and specializations here: Types of MBA Courses and Specializations .
Hello,
Here are Types of MBA Scholarships in India:
Now, here Popular MBA Scholarships:
Aditya Birla Scholarship
OP Jindal Management Scholarship
IIM Scholarships
Government Scholarships
For more details access below mentioned link:
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/scholarship-for-mba-students-in-india
Hope it helps.
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