MBA Application Deadlines Before CAT 2026: FMS to MDI

Four top non-IIM schools that shortlist on CAT 2026 close their forms before the exam on 29 November 2026: FMS Delhi and IIFT on 25 November, SPJIMR on 27 November and MDI Gurgaon at 5 pm on 28 November. Your CAT form does not apply to any of them. Each needs its own application, filed now.

The CAT result is likely only in the first week of January 2027, so waiting to see your score is not an option for these four. Miss a window and a good percentile cannot get you into that school this cycle. Two weeks out, it costs one evening to finish every form and get back to mocks.

MBA application deadlines before CAT 2026 at a glance

Source: iimcat.ac.in, fms.edu, iift.ac.in, spjimr.org, mdi.ac.in, mica.ac.in and xatonline.in, read 12 November 2026.

Mistakes to avoid

• Do not wait for your CAT result: FMS, IIFT, SPJIMR and MDI all close their forms before the 29 November exam.
• Do not leave MDI Gurgaon to the last day; its form shuts at 5 pm on 28 November, the afternoon before CAT.
• Choose your category carefully on the IIFT form, because it cannot be changed once filled.
• Register for MICAT by 21 November, 11:50 pm, if MICA is on your list; a CAT score alone is not enough there.
• Do not stop at the form; finish the fee payment and save every receipt as a PDF.

Do you need to apply separately to non-IIM colleges after the CAT form?

Yes. The CAT 2026 bulletin says non-IIM member institutions may use CAT scores, and that "IIMs have no role in the selection process of non-IIM institutions". Registering for CAT puts you in the exam. It does not send your name to FMS, IIFT, SPJIMR or MDI.

Each of these schools runs its own portal, fee and shortlist. If you never fill their form, your CAT score never reaches them, however high it is. The bulletin also says each IIM sets its own eligibility, cut-offs and weights, so read the admissions page of every school on your list rather than relying on one summary.

Which colleges close their forms before CAT 2026?

Four CAT-based schools close before the exam, in this order: FMS Delhi and IIFT on 25 November, SPJIMR on 27 November, MDI Gurgaon on 28 November. MICA's MICAT I registration shuts even earlier, on 21 November.

• FMS Delhi. The FMS notice lists 25 November 2026 as the last date for online registration and application for the MBA (Full-Time). The same date applies to its MBA Executive programmes.
• IIFT. The MBA 2027 brochure gives 25 November 2026 as the last date to submit the online form and the fee for both MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics).
• SPJIMR. PGDM applications for the 2027-29 batch opened on 15 September and close on 27 November 2026.
• MDI Gurgaon. The online application for the 2027-29 batch is available until Saturday, 28 November 2026, till 5 pm. That is the afternoon before CAT.

Notice what that does to your last week. Three of the four deadlines fall in the four days before the exam, exactly when you want to be resting and revising. Treat 25 November as your own deadline for all four.

How do IIFT, SPJIMR and MDI use your CAT score?

All three use CAT 2026 to decide who moves on, but each adds its own second round. Knowing this now tells you what to prepare after 29 November.

• IIFT shortlists on the CAT 2026 score and other parameters, then calls candidates for a group discussion and personal interview. Seats are spread across Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City.
• SPJIMR assesses applicants on their profile, entrance scores and the interview, so the form itself is part of the evaluation. Write it with care, not in a rush on the last night.
• MDI Gurgaon requires CAT 2026 for its PGDM, PGDM-HRM, PGDM-IB, PGDM-Business Analytics and PGDM-BFS programmes. Applicants to PGDM-IB alone may use a GMAT score from a test centre instead.

How much do the forms cost?

IIFT is the one school here whose brochure sets out fees by category. The MBA (IB) form costs Rs 3,000 for General, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates and Rs 1,500 for SC, ST, PwD and transgender candidates. The MBA (BA) form costs Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively.

Check the fee on each school's own portal at the payment step, and budget for all the forms together. A few thousand rupees spread over four applications is small next to losing a year's chance at a school you would have converted.

How to file every form before 29 November: a step list

1. Write down your list of non-IIM schools tonight and open each admissions page from the school's own website, not from a forwarded link.
2. Keep your CAT 2026 registration number, academic marksheets and work-experience dates ready in one folder.
3. Register for MICAT I by 21 November, 11:50 pm, if MICA is on your list.
4. Submit FMS Delhi and IIFT by 25 November. Finish the fee payment, not just the form.
5. Submit SPJIMR by 27 November. Give it a full sitting, since SPJIMR weighs your profile as well as your score.
6. Submit MDI Gurgaon well before 5 pm on 28 November.
7. Save every confirmation page and payment receipt as a PDF, and check your email for each acknowledgement.

What about MICAT and XAT?

MICA needs a separate test as well as a CAT, XAT or GMAT score. MICAT I registration closes on 21 November 2026 at 11:50 pm and the exam is on 5 December 2026, so a CAT score alone will not get you a MICA seat.

XAT 2027 registration closes on 6 December 2026, and the exam is on 3 January 2027 from 2 pm to 5 pm. If XLRI or other XAT schools are on your list, register before that date. Read the XAT 2027 rule change on unanswered questions before you start practising for it.

What to do next

Finish the forms this week, then put the hours back into the paper that decides all of them. Take your remaining full-length mocks in the same time slot as your CAT session, and keep one section warm each day with the Daily Challenge. When results arrive in January, use the MBA colleges pages to compare schools before interview calls start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply to FMS, IIFT, SPJIMR and MDI separately from the CAT form?

Yes. The CAT 2026 bulletin says non-IIM institutions may use CAT scores but that IIMs have no role in their selection. Each school has its own portal, fee and deadline, and your score reaches it only if you have filed its form.

Can I apply to FMS Delhi after the CAT 2026 result?

No. FMS lists 25 November 2026 as the last date for the MBA (Full-Time) application, four days before the exam. The CAT result is likely only in the first week of January 2027, so you must apply without knowing your score.

What time does the MDI Gurgaon application close?

MDI's online application for the 2027-29 batch is available until Saturday, 28 November 2026, till 5 pm. That is the day before CAT, so submit it earlier in the week rather than on exam eve.

How much is the IIFT application fee for 2027-29?

The MBA (International Business) form costs Rs 3,000 for General, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates and Rs 1,500 for SC, ST, PwD and transgender candidates. The MBA (Business Analytics) form costs Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively. The last date to pay is 25 November 2026.

Is a CAT score enough for admission to MICA?

No. MICA requires MICAT as well as a CAT, XAT or GMAT score. MICAT I registration closes on 21 November 2026 at 11:50 pm, and the exam is on 5 December 2026.

How long is the CAT 2026 score valid?

The CAT 2026 bulletin says the score is valid only till 31 December 2027. It covers admissions for the 2027-29 batch, not later cycles.