MBA application last dates in August-December 2026

Why don't many MBA students get into a good college? Because they don’t know what to do after the results of their CAT, CUET PG, CMAT, XAT and other exams. We identify these problems after consulting students. Many MBA exam aspirants don’t really know which college they should choose. they get confused about application dates and the application process. We have seen too many brilliant students miss their dream B-school because they thought “There’s still time” or “I’ll apply later.

To resolve this issue, we came up with this MBA application calendar where you will have all the important information you really need in the year 2026. And honestly, missing these dates could cost you an entire year.

MBA application deadlines

As you may know CAT 2025 registration has been closed and the CAT exam is scheduled for 30 November 2025. After the exam the results will be declared in 1-2 months, and MBA applications will start. Many top B-schools open their admission timeline according to CAT, so you can expect that the majority of colleges will have an application process in February to May and after that the application will be closed.

So you need to keep in mind that after the CAT or any other exam you start the counseling process for MBA admissions.

MBA application by CAT exam:

Why is CAT important in application for MBA? CAT isn't just another exam. It's the exam that opens doors to IIMs and 1000+ other top B-schools. Over 3.50 lakh aspirants will appear for the CAT 2025 exam. In the year 2025 CAT exam is conducted by IIM Kozhikode, which is a prestigious MBA college. Many top B-schools only prefer CAT and CMAT score, they don’t consider CUET PG, MAT score as eligibility for MBA admissions. So you must understand the importance of CAT and CMAT.

But that doesn’t mean you should only focus on CAT, many smart aspirants are also applying for CMAT, CUET PG, NMAT, KMAT and other exams. So that they can get admission into other top B schools other than IIMs. You must also do the same and apply for these exams as well. They will help in your CAT preparation because they have the same CAT syllabus with easy mode. You can boost your confidence by giving these exams.

Managements admissions by CMAT:

Common management admission test is conducted by NTA which also conducts CUET PG examination and other big examinations such as NEET and Jee advance. This exam qualification enables you to get admission in AICTE approved institutions in all over India. This exam is mostly preferred for its good colleges in tier 1 and tier 2 cities such as JBIMS and SIMSREE.

This exam’s registration begins in September and the result is declared in the first week of February. It means you will be applying for MBA admission after February that aligns with CAT and other exams.

MBA by CUET PG exam:

This exam is also conducted by NTA but this exam is not specifically for MBA, CUET PG is a common university exam that enables students to join streams such as science, commerce, arts and management. MBA is one of the categories that comes in this exam. One of the major benefits of this exam is that you will be able to get your MBA admission in affordable and good central, state and deemed universities. BHU, TISS, IIIT Lucknow, dr. br ambedkar university delhi such prestigious universities come with this exam. MBA applications start after February because in February you will get your results.

MBA application by XAT:

Xavier Aptitude Test also known as XAT is an management entrance exam conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI that opens your way to more than 200 top B-schools across India. This exam is known for its hard format and complex questions. This exam registration usually starts from July and results are declared in January, so you can consider applying for this exam before giving your CAT exam, this can turn out to be a good test of abilities before CAT.

MBA by GMAT

This exam is a Graduate management admission test that is conducted by GMAC and has a computer based test. You can take this exam throughout the year because this exam allows students a flexible examination.

By this exam you will be able to get into college such as Indian School of Business (ISB), IIMs (for executive and one-year programs), and SP Jain, or international universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, depending on your GMAT score

Other exams: NMAT 2025 Registration

Registration of NMAT 2025 began from 1 August and ends on 10 October 2025. Exam Window for NMAT will be November 5 to December 19, 2025. This exam is also good because it provides multiple attempts, up to 3 attempts are allowed. This exam will help you target B-schools such as NMIMS, SRM, Thapar and 75+ other colleges

If you are considering giving these exams then September is essential because major deadlines are hit hard in this month. In September you usually get the date for all MBA entrance exams application forms.

Document checklist for your MBA application and other details

Here we are giving documents which are very important to get your application and admission in your dream college.

Before you hit submit and apply for exam, ensure you have:

1. Scanned graduation marksheets (more than 50% marks)
2. Category certificates (if applicable)
3. Recent passport-size photograph
4. Valid signature image
5. PwD certificate (if required)

Applying for Multiple exams doesn't put all eggs in the CAT basket. MBA entrance exam fees vary from Rs 2,000 to 3,000 per exam. For less than ₹15,000, you can apply for 5-6 major exams. Round-wise Applications Many colleges have multiple application rounds. Missing Round 1 doesn't mean game over. But earlier rounds often have better scholarship opportunities.

You must be thinking "I'll study more and apply next year for other exams” But here's the thing - For the next academic session, the admission process will commence with registrations for national level MBA entrance exams in 2027. Applications for CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT will begin in July-August 2026.

Because of that if you miss this change then you will waste your 1 year and this will be a major drawback. Every year you delay, you lose earning potential (2 years of salary = ₹10-15 lakhs), competition increases, your academic knowledge gets rustier.

Missing these deadlines isn't just about losing a year. It's about losing momentum, confidence, and opportunity. So don’t miss these opportunities and give all the exams you can give try your best to get your MBA application in IIMs and Top B-schools.

FAQs

Q: Can I apply for multiple MBA entrance exams?

A: Absolutely. Most successful candidates apply for 4-6 different exams to maximize their chances.

Q: What if I miss the CAT registration deadline?

A: Unfortunately, there are no extensions for CAT. You'll need to focus on other exams like CMAT, XAT, CUET PG, GMAT, NMAT, and SNAP.

Q: Which exam is easiest among CAT, XAT, NMAT?

A: NMAT allows multiple attempts, making it strategically easier. But "easy" depends on your strength areas.

Also Read

1. What is XAT Exam? | Complete information about XAT 2026
2. All About CMAT Exam 2026 - What is CMAT Exam and Why CMAT?