Eligibility, selection weights, important dates and batch profile
MICA Ahmedabad Admission 2026-27 — Eligibility, Cutoffs, Selection Process & Important Dates
MICA admits to PGDM-Communications (PGDM-C) and PGDM through a distinctive 4-stage selection: (1) Mandatory CAT 2025 / XAT 2026 / GMAT (2024+) score, (2) MICAT — MICA Admission Test, MICA's own Computer-Based Test held twice (December and February), (3) Group Exercise (GE), (4) Personal Interview (PI). MICA is the ONLY institute in Asia dedicated to strategic marketing and communications — selection process actively assesses creative aptitude, divergent-convergent thinking, and ability to express ideas that move people to action. Final composite weights: CAT/XAT/GMAT 35% · MICAT 25% · GE 10% · PI 20% · Academic record 5% · Extra-curricular/Diversity 5%.
Programmes
PGDM-C (Marketing + Communications) · PGDM (Marketing + Analytics, with compulsory Data Science & AI sectoral specialisation) · FPM (4-5 year doctoral)
Eligibility
Bachelor's degree (10+2+3) with min 50% marks · final-year candidates eligible with provisional admission (final mark sheet by Dec 31, 2026)
Mandatory test
CAT 2025 / XAT 2026 / GMAT (2024 onwards) — best of the three scores is considered. MICA does NOT prescribe a minimum percentile.
Held TWICE per cycle. Better of two scores considered. 48+ test centres across India.
GE + PI
Group Exercise + Personal Interview conducted in March 2026 across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai
Final composite
CAT/XAT/GMAT 35% · MICAT 25% · GE 10% · PI 20% · 10th/12th/Grad 5% · Extra-Curricular/Diversity 5%
Final merit declared
End of second week of April 2026
Sanctioned intake
240 per cohort year (PGDM-C + PGDM combined) — NIRF 2026 confirmed
Eligibility + Exam details
Who can apply
Bachelor's degree (10+2+3 system) from a recognised university OR an equivalent qualification recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
Minimum 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) in Bachelor's degree from a recognised university
Final-year candidates can apply. Such candidates must produce a certificate from the institution/university certifying they are in the final year, latest by June 30, 2026.
Provisional admits must submit final mark sheet + passing certificate by December 31, 2026, failing which provisional admission stands cancelled.
CAT 2025 OR XAT 2026 OR GMAT taken on/after 1 January 2024 — at least ONE of these is MANDATORY.
Detailed selection process — what to expect at each stage
01
Stage 1 — Mandatory test
CAT 2025 / XAT 2026 / GMAT 2024+ — at least one. Best of three scores considered. MICA does NOT publish a minimum percentile cutoff (PGDM has higher QA-DI cutoff than PGDM-C).
02
Stage 2 — MICAT registration + appearance
MICAT-I (Dec 6, 2025) and MICAT-II (Feb 13, 2026). Either or both. Better of two scores considered. MICAT registration fee: ₹2,500 single programme; ₹500 additional per programme (same school only).
03
Stage 3 — MICAT evaluation (sectional)
Section A (Psychometric) first — qualifier only. Step 2: CAT/XAT/GMAT performance evaluated against minimum cutoff. Step 3: MICAT Section C (Aptitude) evaluated — sectional cutoffs and percentiles apply. Step 4: MICAT Section B (Descriptive) evaluated. Both Sections B and C have sectional cutoffs (percentile + raw scores).
04
Stage 4 — GE + PI (March 2026)
Shortlisted candidates called for Group Exercise (GE) and Personal Interview (PI) at one of: Ahmedabad / Bengaluru / Delhi / Kolkata / Mumbai. Candidates MUST be RECOMMENDED by majority of interview panellists to remain on the merit list.
05
Stage 5 — Final composite + merit list
Final composite: CAT/XAT/GMAT 35% + MICAT 25% + GE 10% + PI 20% + 10th 1.75% + 12th 1.75% + Graduation 1.5% + Extra-Curricular/Sports/Academic Diversity/Gender Diversity 5%. Merit list declared end of second week of April 2026.