Chennai, Tamil Nadu · PGDM · NIRF #37 · Est. 2004 · offline · Official site
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Programmes at a glance
Great Lakes Chennai runs three programmes — the PGDM, the PGPM and the PGPM – Family Business & Entrepreneurship.
Programme
Duration
Total fee
Seats
Median
Shortlist cutoff
Great Lakes Chennai PGDM
24 mo
₹22.5L
360
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Great Lakes Chennai PGPM
12 mo
₹23.5L
420
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Great Lakes Chennai PGPM – Family Business & Entrepreneurship
12 mo
₹23.5L
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Programme 1 of 3 · flagship
Great Lakes Chennai PGDM — fees, placements, seats, eligibility, selection and batch profile
Cost and pay
The total fee for Great Lakes Chennai’s PGDM is ₹22.5 lakh including hostel, and the average package for the 2026 season was ₹15 lakh — both as published by the institute.
Total fee
₹22.5L (incl. hostel)
Average package
₹15L
Highest package
₹40L
Seats
360
Who can apply
Category
Degree · every category
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution (at least 15 years of education)
Academic record · every category
At least 50% in Class X, Class XII and graduation
Work experience · every category
Not required; applicants must have less than 36 months of full-time work experience as on 30 May 2027 (internships and part-time work don't count)
Test · every category
GMAT taken on or after 1 January 2024, CAT 2025 or 2026, or XAT 2026 or 2027; the best score counts
Final-year students · every category
May apply if they can show proof of graduation and the marksheet by 30 June
Score guide · every category
No fixed or sectional cut-off. Great Lakes calls 85+ percentile in CAT or XAT, or 600+ in GMAT, broadly suitable, and puts 80–85% of a class at 85–98 percentile (CAT, XAT) or 600–760 (GMAT)
A floor to be considered, not the percentile that got admitted.
Getting the call → Getting the offer
Great Lakes publishes no selection weights for the PGDM.
Applications are screened on the test score, academic record, work experience and overall profile
Shortlisted candidates take an AI-proctored interview, then a personal interview held online
College or university rank holders get extra weight, and the panel looks for academic diversity
Candidates still awaiting CAT, XAT or GMAT results can be interviewed early on the strength of their profile; offers follow once scores are in
No percentages are published, so there is no chart.
Who’s in the batch
About 1 in 3 students in the batch are women (35%), 65% come from outside engineering, and the average student arrives with 1.2 years of work experience.
Women
35%
Non-engineers
65%
Average work experience
1.2 yrs
Batch
348
Residential
Yes
Programme 2 of 3
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM — fees, placements, seats, eligibility, selection and batch profile
Cost and pay
The total fee for Great Lakes Chennai’s PGPM is ₹23.5 lakh including hostel, and the average package for the 2026 season was ₹18.1 lakh — both as published by the institute.
Total fee
₹23.5L (incl. hostel)
Average package
₹18.1L
Highest package
₹43L
Seats
420
Who can apply
Category
Degree · every category
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution (at least 15 years of education)
Academic record · every category
At least 50% in Class X, Class XII and graduation
Work experience · every category
At least 24 months of full-time work after graduation by 30 April 2027; internships and part-time work don't count
Test · every category
GMAT taken on or after 1 January 2024, CAT 2025 or 2026, XAT 2026 or 2027, or NMAT 2025 or later; the best score counts
Score guide · every category
No minimum or sectional cut-off. For 80–85% of a class, Great Lakes puts the desired range at 85–98 percentile in CAT or XAT and 600–760 in GMAT
A floor to be considered, not the percentile that got admitted.
Getting the call → Getting the offer
Great Lakes publishes no selection weights for the PGPM.
Applications are screened on the test score, academic record, work experience and a mandatory essay
A video interview, then a written test (AWT) and an in-person personal interview in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Mumbai
Test scores matter most for the interview shortlist and carry limited weight in the final selection
College or university rank holders get extra weight; candidates awaiting results can be interviewed early on the strength of their profile
No percentages are published, so there is no chart.
Who’s in the batch
About 1 in 4 students in the batch are women (28%) and the average student arrives with 3.2 years of work experience.
Women
28%
Average work experience
3.2 yrs
Residential
Yes
Programme 3 of 3
Great Lakes Chennai PGPM – Family Business & Entrepreneurship — fees, eligibility and selection
Cost and pay
The total fee for Great Lakes Chennai’s PGPM – Family Business & Entrepreneurship is ₹23.5 lakh including hostel, as published by the institute.
Total fee
₹23.5L (incl. hostel)
Who can apply
Category
Degree · every category
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution, with at least 50% in Class X, Class XII and graduation
Background · every category
Part of, or successor to, a family business, or an entrepreneur with a start-up; the business must be registered under Indian law. Formal work experience is not required
Test · every category
GMAT taken after 1 January 2024, CAT 2025 or 2026, XAT 2026 or 2027, or NMAT 2025 or later; applicants without one can sit Great Lakes' own aptitude test (GREAT)
A floor to be considered, not the percentile that got admitted.
Getting the call → Getting the offer
Great Lakes publishes no selection weights for the PGPM – Family Business & Entrepreneurship.
A holistic review of academics, the test or GREAT score, the family-business or entrepreneurial background and leadership potential
A personal interview, plus the GREAT test for applicants without a CAT, XAT, GMAT or NMAT score
One mandatory essay and one optional essay
No percentages are published, so there is no chart.
About
Great Lakes Institute of Management was founded in Chennai in 2004 and runs a two-year PGDM for graduates with less than three years' work experience and a one-year PGPM for those with at least two years. Both are residential, so each fee is quoted with accommodation and meals included.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total fee of the PGDM at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai?
The total fee is ₹22.5L (incl. hostel).
Which entrance exams does Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai accept?
Great Lakes Chennai accepts CAT, XAT, GMAT.
How many seats does the PGDM at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai have?
The programme has an approved intake of 360 seats.
When was Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai established?