Great Lakes Chennai: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Cutoff, Placement, Ranking

Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, popularly known as GLIM Chennai, is a premier private business school established in 2004, securing the 37th position in NIRF Management 2025 rankings. AACSB accredited and approved by AICTE and NBA, Great Lakes Institute Chennai holds strong global associations. The Great Lakes Chennai campus in Kanchipuram features modern classrooms, residential facilities, and WiFi-enabled infrastructure for experiential learning.

GLIM Chennai offers admission to the Postgraduate Programme in Management (PGPM), Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), Executive PGPM (PGXPM), PGPM FLEX, Corporate learning Programmes and Certification in Digital Marketing. Admission to these courses is based on CAT/XAT/CMAT scores. The executive-level courses also require work experience.

Great Lakes Institute Chennai placements for the 2025 PGDM batch achieved strong outcomes, with an average package of INR 15 LPA and a highest package of INR 39.3 LPA. Over 100 recruiters, including top firms like Deloitte, Accenture, and EY, participated. The PGPM batch averaged INR 17.8 LPA, with a high of INR 53.2 LPA, highlighting robust records in consulting, finance, and IT, positioning Great Lakes Institute of Management as a top choice for career-driven aspirants.

Great Lakes Chennai Highlights

Great Lakes Chennai was founded in 2004 by Late. Prof Bala Balachandran. The institute aims to impart a global mindset with Indian roots. The key details about GLIM Chennai are mentioned below:

Great Lakes Chennai Courses & Fees

The total fee for the flagship two-year PGDM program at Great Lakes Chennai is INR 21.63 Lakhs for the entire duration of the course. GLIM Chennai offers diverse programs for freshers, professionals, and entrepreneurs. The two-year PGDM admits around 300 students in specializations like Finance, Marketing, and Operations. 

The one-year PGPM targets mid-career professionals with 2+ years experience, while PG Programme in Management Flex focuses on flexible learning for family business leaders. PGXPM caters to senior executives with 8+ years, and FPM for researchers. Fees are competitive, emphasizing ROI through strong placements. Explore full course details including specializations and curriculum at Great Lakes Chennai Courses & Fees.

Great Lakes Chennai Admission 2026

Admission to Great Lakes Chennai for 2026 PGDM is through a holistic profile-based process across four cycles, evaluating CAT/XAT/GMAT scores, academics, and interviews, with 300 seats available.

The process for PGDM, PGPM, and PG Programme in Management Flex at GLIM Chennai involves online application with INR 2,200 fee, shortlisting on eligibility, AI-proctored video interview, and personal interview. Early profile-based interviews allow applications pending exam results. Diversity and rank holders receive extra weightage. PGDM offers 300 seats, with no reservations or management quota.

Great Lakes Chennai Admission Process 2026

1. Eligibility Check: Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree with at least 60% marks in 10th, 12th, and graduation. For PGDM, work experience should be less than 36 months. Final-year students may apply provisionally, subject to meeting the criteria upon completion.
2. Entrance Exam: Candidates need to appear for CAT 2025, XAT 2026, or GMAT (scores post January 2023). For PGPM and PG Programme in Management Flex, NMAT is also accepted alongside these exams. Scores play a significant role in shortlisting.
3. Application: Register online on the official website greatlakes.edu.in/chennai, fill in personal, academic, and professional details, and provide the email of a recommender. Pay the non-refundable application fee of INR 2,200 through the portal.
4. Shortlisting and Interviews: Based on the profile including entrance scores, academics, work experience, and diversity factors, candidates are shortlisted for an AI-proctored video-based personal interview. Successful candidates then proceed to an online personal interview conducted by faculty and industry experts to assess communication, leadership, and analytical abilities.
5. Final Allotment: Admission offers are made based on a composite score from entrance exam performance, interview ratings, academic record, work experience, and diversity contributions. Selected candidates must confirm their seat by paying the admission fee within the specified deadline for their application cycle.

Candidates can apply to both Chennai and Gurgaon campuses via one form. For detailed guidelines including cycle timelines, visit Great Lakes Chennai Admission. Queries: admissions@greatlakes.edu.in.

Great Lakes Chennai Admission Dates 2026

Great Lakes Chennai Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

The expected CAT 2025 cutoff for PGDM for Great Lakes Chennai admission 2026 is 80-85 percentile for General category, with similar for XAT 2026 at 80-85 percentile and CMAT 2026 at 90-95 percentile, based on previous trends for 300 seats. Cutoffs vary by exam difficulty and applicant pool. GLIM Chennai prioritizes holistic profiles over strict cutoffs.  See past trends at Great Lakes Chennai Cutoff.

CAT Cutoff 2025 (Expected Percentile)

CMAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected Percentile)

XAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected Percentile)

Great Lakes Chennai Rankings 2025

Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai ranks 37th in NIRF Management 2025, reflecting its excellence in teaching, research, and placements. GLIM Chennai excels in national rankings, recognized for innovation and industry relevance. The latest Great Lakes Chennai rankings include:

For a comprehensive view, check Great Lakes Chennai Ranking.

Great Lakes Chennai Placements 2025

Great Lakes Chennai PGDM 2025 placements recorded an average CTC of INR 15 LPA and highest of INR 39.3 LPA, with 100% placement across sectors like BFSI and Consulting.

The institute's career services facilitated robust placements for the 2025 batch, with over 100 recruiters. PGPM averaged INR 17.8 LPA, highest INR 53.2 LPA. 63 PPOs were offered post-internships. For complete reports, refer to Great Lakes Chennai Placements.

Great Lakes Chennai Campus Life and Facilities

The 32-acre green campus of Great Lakes Chennai is known to be one of the most beautiful academic campuses in India. Located in Chennai, it is also the first campus to have received a LEED Platinum rating in South Asia. The GLIM campus is just 9 km away from Mahabalipuram which is a UNESCO heritage site. With its tranquil environment, the green campus provides an ideal setting for students to undertake intellectually challenging courses.

• Students at GLIM Chennai are encouraged to join at least one club or committee during their academic tenure. The 26 student-run clubs and committees host a variety of activities and events, enriching campus life and fostering holistic learning.
• Activities related to student welfare, college fests, placements, social work, branding, etc., are undertaken by the student clubs and committees.
• Student clubs include the marketing club, editorial team, film appreciation club, and supply chain & operations management club among others.
• Among the student committees of GLIM are the placement committee, events committee, food committee, sports committee, competition committee, etc.

Great Lakes Chennai Facilities

Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai has world-class facilities and a robust infrastructure. Some of the other Great Lake Chennai campus facilities include:

• Open Amphitheater 
• AC Classrooms
• Wifi Campus
• Cafeteria
• Sports Ground
• ATM Facility
• Medical Facilities
• Gym
• Library
• Auditorium
• Convenience store

Great Lakes Chennai Scholarships

Great Lakes Chennai offers merit-cum-means scholarships like Diversity & Merit up to 50% tuition waiver for PGPM, enhancing accessibility for diverse talents.

The institute supports high-achievers through various aids, yielding strong ROI with average CTCs exceeding fees. ENCORE provides up to 100% waiver for women on career breaks in certificate programs.

Apply post-admission with proofs via portal. With PGDM fees at INR 21.63 Lakhs and avg CTC INR 15 LPA, ROI is promising. Learn more at Great Lakes Chennai Scholarship.

Great Lakes Chennai Alumni

Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai has an Alumni Association with more than 10,500 alumni members. Great Lakes Chennai alumni are present in over 30 countries. Out of the 10,500 alumni members, more than 300 alumni hold CXO or senior management positions at various businesses and organizations.

The following list includes some of Great Lakes Chennai's notable alumni.

Great Lakes Chennai Collaborations

Great Lakes Chennai has partnered with top international management schools to help students gain crucial business insights from a global perspective. Some of the Great Lake Chennai International collaborations are:

Great Lakes Chennai vs Goa Institute of Management vs Tapmi Manipal

Candidates seeking admission to Great Lakes Chennai should also take a look at similar colleges. GLIM Chennai vs other top B-schools data is presented below in terms of total tuition fees and median package is given below.