India's only 1-year PGPM-HR and an MBA co-created by 30+ industry leaders.
SOIL produces leaders with character, competence, and a consistent 2x+ ROI.
Rankings & recognition
NIRF
Not in NIRF management list
Not Ranked
Industry Consortium
ABB, Aditya Birla, Mahindra, Tata, Hero
30+ Partners
Global Partners
Polimi · IESE · Shizenkan · Royal Roads · FGV
7 Universities
Quick facts
Accreditations
AICTE Approved
Campus
Gurugram (Sec 44) + Manesar · Industry co-created by 30+ companies · NCR
Programs
Flagship PGPM · PGPM-HR · PGDM (SSOBD)
Website
iima.ac.in
What makes SOIL distinctive
🏛️
SOIL Gurugram philosophy
School of Inspired Leadership · founded 2008 by Anil Sachdev. Gurugram-based · PGPM 1-year + PGDM 2-year MBA programmes. Distinctive values-based leadership pedagogy.
🎯
Inspired Leadership pedagogy
Differentiated curriculum focused on values + leadership + entrepreneurship. Personal Leadership Index (PLI) assessment throughout programme · holistic development model.
💼
Strong Gurugram placement
Direct access to Delhi-NCR + Gurugram corporate corridor. Recurring recruiters across consulting, BFSI, FMCG, IT/Tech, Pharma.
🌐
PGPM 1-year accelerated MBA
For working professionals with 24+ months work-ex. 1-year residential. Significant ROI advantage vs 2-year programmes (lower opportunity cost).
📊
Industry-immersive
Strong consulting + live-project pipeline. Industry mentors paired with students · capstone projects with real-world business challenges.
🎓
2 flagship programmes
PGDM (2-year for freshers + 0-3 years work-ex) + PGPM (1-year for 24+ months work-ex). Both AICTE-approved · residential Gurugram campus.
SOIL Placements 2025 — Average Package, Sectors & Top Recruiters
Placement headline — Batch 2025
₹12.3 LPA
Avg Package
—
Median Package
₹21.8 LPA
Highest (Domestic)
60
Companies
100%
Placed
Programme-wise placement trends
PGPM
Batch
Avg
Top 50% Avg
Highest
Firms
ROI
2021–22
₹11 L
₹13.2 L
₹19 L
43
2.52x
2022–23
₹11.5 L
₹12.6 L
₹18.5 L
49
2.37x
2023–24
₹11.75 L
₹13.7 L
₹22 L
64
2.31x
2024–25
₹12.3 L
₹15.4 L
₹21.8 L
60
2.22x
PGDM
Batch
Avg
Median
Highest
Firms
2020–22
₹9.7 L
₹9.8 L
₹20 L
61
2021–23
₹10.3 L
₹10 L
₹19.3 L
49
2022–24
₹10.75 L
₹10.5 L
₹27 L
84
2023–25
₹11.17 L
₹10.9 L
₹20.7 L
130
2024–26 (interim)
₹11.5 L
—
₹24 L
—
Specialisation-wise placements
Marketing
Avg ₹13.54 L
Highest ₹21.42 L
Analytics
Avg ₹13.27 L
Highest ₹21.81 L
Finance
Avg ₹11.18 L
Sector breakdown by placement %
IT & ITES22%
BFSI14%
Automotive14%
Consulting10%
Insurance8%
Others32%
Top recruiters
23 firms
Gartner
Research & Advisory
S&P Global
BFSI / Ratings
Deloitte (Risk Advisory / S&O)
Consulting
KPMG (Advisory)
Consulting
PwC (Advisory)
Consulting
EY (Advisory)
Consulting
Genpact
Analytics / BPM
Mahindra & Mahindra
Automotive
Hero MotoCorp
Automotive
Maruti Suzuki
Automotive
Tata Communications
Telecom
ANZ
BFSI
SOIL Fees — Total Cost, Scholarships & Education Loans
SOIL fee breakdown
Tuition fee
₹15.33 L
Library, computing, materials
—
Total programme fee
₹15.33 L
Monthly living (on-campus)
₹8,000 – 15,000
Education loan available
Up to ₹20 L · PM Vidyalakshmi scheme (no guarantor needed) via pmvidyalakshmi.co.in
Loan interest rate
8–12% p.a.
ROI check: At ₹12.3 LPA average, you recover the full ₹15.33 L fee in approximately 15 months of salary.
Scholarships available
Need Based Scholarship
Financial need assessment
Varies (case-by-case)
Merit Based Scholarship
Academic performance + entrance score
Varies by merit tier
Capt. Vikram Batra Scholarship
Defence personnel / families of martyrs
Varies
Dr. Verghese Kurien Scholarship
Rural / cooperative / agri background
Varies
Unique Achievement Scholarship
Exceptional individual achievement (sports, arts, social impact, entrepreneurship)
Reserved provision for economically and socially challenged students
Subject to eligibility
Education loans up to Up to ₹20 L · PM Vidyalakshmi scheme (no guarantor needed) via pmvidyalakshmi.co.in available. Interest rates: 8–12% p.a..
SOIL Admission 2026-27 — Eligibility, Cutoffs, Selection Process & Important Dates
SOIL Institute of Management runs three distinct programmes — the 1-year Flagship PGPM (₹15.33 L, Gurugram), the 1-year PGPM-HR (₹14.5 L, India's only dedicated 1-year HR PGPM), and the 2-year PGDM (₹17.20 L, SSOBD Manesar, AICTE-approved). PGPM and PGPM-HR share a 9-step profile-based admissions process built around a Group Exercise + Personal Interview + SOIL Entrance Test. PGDM uses a separate 5-step process featuring a half-day Design Thinking Workshop based on the Stanford D-School concept — SOIL is the only B-school in India to use this admissions model. No published cutoff percentiles for any programme; SOIL does not publish shortlist weights.
Bachelor's degree (any discipline) · min 50% aggregate · min 3 yrs post 10+2 · freshers and <36 months work-ex by 31 May 2026 · final-year UG students may apply with 50% certificate (final marksheet due 1 Oct 2026)
Entrance tests accepted — by programme
Flagship PGPM
CAT 2024/25 · XAT 2025/26 · GMAT (taken after 2022) · MAT · CMAT · NMAT 2024+ · or SOIL Entrance Test (SET)
PGPM-HR
Same as PGPM — CAT / XAT / GMAT / MAT / CMAT / NMAT / SET
PGDM
CAT 2025 · XAT 2026 · GMAT post-1 Jan 2024 · MAT 2025/2026 · CMAT 2026 — NO NMAT and NO SET accepted (different from PGPM family)
Selection & cutoffs
Published cutoffs
NOT PUBLISHED for any programme. Selection is profile-based; no minimum percentile gate.
Shortlist weights
NOT PUBLISHED. SOIL does not disclose the relative weight of test score vs interview vs profile.
PGPM / PGPM-HR selection
9-step process · Group Exercise (Design Thinking case) + 45-min Personal Interview with faculty + industry leaders + 60-min SOIL Entrance Test (only if no other entrance score)
PGDM selection
5-step process · half-day Design Thinking Workshop (Stanford D-School concept) + Group Discussion + Personal Interview · the only B-school in India using this admissions model
Batch profiles (verified)
Flagship PGPM 2025
Avg age 26.4 yrs · avg work-ex 44 months · 40% female · 19 states represented
PGDM 2025-27
22.6 yrs avg age · 46% women · 25 states · 71% freshers · 15% with 0-12mo · 10% with 13-24mo · 4% with 24+mo work-ex · UG mix: 29% B.Com, 26% BBA, 18% B.Tech, 12% BSc, 9% BA, 6% other
Scholarships & finance
Scholarships (5 named + ESCS)
Need Based · Merit Based · Capt. Vikram Batra (defence personnel / families of martyrs) · Dr. Verghese Kurien (rural / cooperative / agri background) · Unique Achievement (sports, arts, social impact, entrepreneurship) · plus ESCS provision for economically and socially challenged students
Bank loan partners
IDFC First Bank · HDFC Credila · Bank of Baroda · YES Bank · Axis Bank · ICICI Bank · Avanse · PM Vidyalakshmi (Govt of India scheme — no guarantor needed via pmvidyalakshmi.co.in)
Rolling admissions — interviews held on application-deadline rounds. Past trends show early applicants stand a significantly better chance.
Eligibility + Exam details
Who can apply
PGPM (Flagship 1-yr): Bachelor's degree (any discipline) · 2+ yrs work-ex by 30 Apr 2026 (exceptional candidates with 21+ months may be considered) · Avg admit profile: 26.4 yrs, 44 months work-ex, 40% female (2025 batch)
PGPM-HR (1-yr): Bachelor's degree (any discipline) · NO work-experience cutoff (freshers welcome) · India's only dedicated 1-year HR PGPM
PGDM (2-yr, SSOBD): Bachelor's degree (any discipline) with min 50% aggregate, min 3 years post 10+2 · Freshers and candidates with <36 months work-ex by 31 May 2026 · Final-year UG students may apply with 50% certificate · Final marksheet due 1 Oct 2026
PGPM & PGPM-HR · 1-year
9-step admissions process — Group Exercise + Personal Interview + SOIL Entrance Test
Applies to the Flagship PGPM (1-yr, ₹15.33 L) and PGPM-HR (1-yr, ₹14.50 L). Both programmes share the same selection day.
01
Online Application
Flagship PGPM: app.soil.edu.in/pgpm · PGPM-HR: app.soil.edu.in/pgpm-hr. Form covers academic transcripts, work history, entrance score (or apply for SET), short essays.
02
Submit early — rolling admissions
From past admissions trends, early applications stand a significantly better chance of being selected. Interview process runs on application-deadline rounds (rolling admissions).
03
Application fee payment
₹2,000 non-refundable.
04
Initial Screening + Interview Invite by Email
Shortlisted candidates receive interview invite by email after initial profile screening. Not all applicants reach the interview stage.
05
Group Exercise + Personal Interview + SOIL Entrance Test (SET)
GROUP EXERCISE: small-group activity tackling real-world business problems using Design Thinking principles — assesses empathy, ideation, quick solution refinement, collaboration. PERSONAL INTERVIEW: 45-minute one-on-one with faculty and industry leaders — discusses background, aspirations, programme fit, leadership style. SOIL ENTRANCE TEST (SET): 60-minute aptitude test covering data interpretation, verbal, critical thinking — ONLY required for candidates without an accepted entrance score (CAT/XAT/GMAT/MAT/CMAT/NMAT). Can be taken before or after the GEPI.
06
Final Shortlisting + Offer Letters by Email
Decisions communicated by email after the admissions committee reviews application + test + interview holistically.
07
Offer Acceptance + Initial Fee Payment
Confirms the admission slot. Fee schedule per programme.
08
Scholarship Round (if applicable)
Eligible candidates are evaluated separately for the five named scholarships: Need-Based, Merit-Based, Capt. Vikram Batra (defence), Dr. Verghese Kurien (rural / agri / cooperative), Unique Achievement (exceptional individual achievements), plus ESCS provision. Not all candidates participate — assessed individually.
09
Orientation + Course Commencement
Programme starts after orientation. Live-in residential format.
PGDM · 2-year (SSOBD Manesar)
5-step admissions process — Design Thinking Workshop (Stanford D-School concept)
Distinct from the PGPM family. SOIL is the only B-school in India using a half-day Design Thinking Workshop in admissions.
01
Fill Online Application
Apply at app.soil.edu.in/pgdm. Provide academic transcripts (min 50% aggregate UG), entrance score (CAT 2025 / XAT 2026 / GMAT post-1 Jan 2024 / MAT 2025/2026 / CMAT 2026), short essays, optional work-ex details.
02
Attend Design Thinking Workshop
Half-day on-campus workshop based on the Stanford D-School concept — SOIL is the only B-school in India to use this admissions format. Applicants are taught Design Thinking and solve real business case studies in small teams. Assesses ability to think, ability for action, ability to collaborate, and ability to communicate — not just past academic performance or test score. Encouraging environment; also helps applicants assess if SOIL is a good fit for them.
03
Group Discussion + Personal Interview
GD with peer cohort + structured PI with faculty and industry leaders. Focus on leadership potential, motivation for PGDM in Business Design, sector clarity, and alignment with SOIL's liberal-arts-plus-design-thinking pedagogy.
04
Admissions Results
Final decisions communicated by email. Rolling admissions — earlier rounds have higher selection probability.
05
Scholarship & Registration
Eligible candidates are evaluated for the five named scholarships: Need-Based, Merit-Based, Capt. Vikram Batra Scholarship (defence personnel / families of martyrs), Dr. Verghese Kurien Scholarship (rural / cooperative / agri background), and Unique Achievement Scholarship (sports, arts, social impact, entrepreneurship). ESCS provision available for economically and socially challenged students. Initial fee payment confirms the seat.
SOIL Financial Aid 2026 — Loans, EMI Options & Scholarships
SOIL scholarships — published categories
Need Based Scholarship
Financial need assessment
Varies (case-by-case)
Merit Based Scholarship
Academic performance + entrance score
Varies by merit tier
Capt. Vikram Batra Scholarship
Defence personnel / families of martyrs
Varies
Dr. Verghese Kurien Scholarship
Rural / cooperative / agri background
Varies
Unique Achievement Scholarship
Exceptional individual achievement (sports, arts, social impact, entrepreneurship)
No NIRF ranking — harder to benchmark against IIMs on standard ranking tables
!
Fees approximate — exact figures require direct contact with admissions office
!
Smaller brand and batch vs top-10 B-schools; avg salary significantly lower than IIMs
Apply if
You have 2+ years of experience, want an industry-connected leadership education in NCR, and are targeting consulting, BFSI, or HR roles with a 2x+ salary jump.
Consider alternatives if
You are targeting IIM-equivalent brand prestige or need AACSB/EQUIS accreditation for a global corporate career.
SOIL Student Reviews — Academics, Placements & Campus Life
4.1
4.1
Overall rating
Placements4.0
Academics4.2
Campus4.0
ROI4.3
"SOIL is genuinely different — the focus on values and leadership is not just talk, it is built into everything you do here."
— PGPM Alumnus, 2024
"The industry connections are real. Every project has an actual company behind it and people who care about the outcome."
— PGPM-HR Alumnus, 2023
"Gurugram location is a massive advantage — companies are literally next door and that shows in internship and placement quality."
— PGDM Student, 2025
Reviews compiled from Quora, PagalGuy, and MBA forums (2023-2025). Collvera has not verified individual claims.