IIM Lucknow PhD Admissions 2026: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has opened applications for its Doctoral Programme in Management (PhD) for the 2026 cohort. Interested and qualified candidates may submit their completed applications until February 16, 2026. The programme is set to begin in June 2026.
As per the institute’s announcement, the list of shortlisted candidates will be revealed in the first week of March 2026. Personal interviews are scheduled for the first week of April 2026, and the final list of selected candidates will be published in the third week of April 2026. The deadline for accepting the offer and remitting the required fees will occur in the first week of May 2026. Only those candidates who are shortlisted or selected will receive notifications via email.
Areas of Specialisation
The PhD programme is offered across multiple disciplines, including:
- Economics and Business Environment
- Agri-Business Management
- Information Technology and Systems
- Marketing Management
- Strategic Management
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Business Sustainability
- Human Resource Management
- Finance and Accounting
- Communication
- Decision Sciences
Financial Support
IIM Lucknow offers institutional financial support to full-time PhD scholars. The support includes:
- Monthly stipend: Rs.35,000/Rs.40,000
- Contingency grant: Rs.50,000
- One-time computer purchase grant: Rs.50,000
- Combined travel grant: Rs.1.60 lakh
- Domestic travel grant: Rs.1.60 lakh
- Data collection grant: Rs.50,000
Rankings
IIM Lucknow remains a prominent institution in the field of management education:
- Ranked 57th in the Financial Times (FT) Global B-School Rankings 2025 (Top 100)
- Ranked 26th in LinkedIn Global B-School Rankings 2025 (Top 100)
- Ranked 5th in NIRF among the leading management institutes in India
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- A Master’s degree or its equivalent in any field with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST candidates), or
- A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with at least 75% marks (70% for SC/ST candidates), or
- Professional qualifications such as CA, ICWA, or CS with a minimum of 55% marks.
Furthermore, applicants must have achieved at least 55% marks in all public examinations from the secondary level onwards. Although not a requirement, relevant work experience in industry or academia will be considered favorably during the selection process.
Entrance Exam Requirement
The selection process for interviews will rely on valid scores from CAT, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or JRF/SRF (UGC/CSIR/ICAR). Only scores acquired on or after January 1, 2024, will be deemed valid.
International applicants, including NRIs and foreign nationals, will be evaluated based on GMAT or GRE scores obtained within the last year.
Age Limit and Application Fee
Applicants must be under 55 years of age as of June 30, 2026. The application fee is Rs.1,000 for general candidates and Rs.500 for SC/ST candidates, which is payable online.
Programme Duration and Facilities
The PhD programme is a full-time residential course. Candidates who are admitted in the first year are expected to complete their studies in four and a half years, while those admitted in the second year are expected to finish in three and a half years. The initial two years concentrate on coursework, followed by research and thesis work.
IIM Lucknow also offers on-campus hostel accommodations, including facilities for married students and their immediate families.
Candidates are encouraged to visit the official IIM Lucknow website for comprehensive guidelines and the application process.
