Executive Fellow Programme in Management

IIM Lucknow’s Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EFPM), at the Noida Campus, is a 4 to 5-year part-time doctoral programme for working executives targeting management research, teaching, or consulting careers. Shortlisting is based on CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, or UGC-JRF scores, followed by an entrance exam and interview. Total fees are INR 7.5 Lakhs for the standard track and INR 5 Lakhs for first-year exempt candidates.

📋 Admission Status: Admissions expected to open September 2026 (Tentative).

IIM Lucknow EFPM Fees 2027

• First-year exempt track is for MBA/PGDM holders from top 15 NIRF institutes.
• Application fee is non-refundable and paid at time of online form submission.

IIM Lucknow EFPM Admission 2027

• Shortlisting is based on CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, or UGC-JRF scores.
• Interviews are conducted at IIM Lucknow main campus or Noida Campus.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-engineering graduation with minimum 50% marks and post-graduation with minimum 55% marks, or engineering graduation with minimum 65% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Professional qualifications such as CA, ICWA, or CS with minimum 55% aggregate and B.Com with minimum 50% marks are also eligible.
• Minimum 7 years of full-time work experience as of March 31 of the application year and maximum age of 55 years at the time of application.

Admission Process

• Submit valid CAT (within two years), GMAT, GRE, GATE, or UGC-JRF scores along with the online application on iiml.ac.in.
• Candidates with qualifying MBA/PGDM from top 15 NIRF management institutes may apply for the first-year exemption track.
• Area-level screening committee reviews applications based on test scores, academic profile, and work experience.
• Shortlisted candidates appear for the EFPM Entrance Exam at the Noida Campus.
• Final selection is based on entrance exam performance, personal interview, academic record, and professional experience.

✓ Opt for this if

• Aspiring to a management research, academia, or senior consulting career.
• Working executive seeking a doctoral credential without leaving current employment.
• Hold valid CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, or UGC-JRF scores and 7-plus years of experience.
• MBA from a top NIRF institute qualifies for the shorter 4-year exempt track.
• Targeting the IIM Lucknow brand for academic or research career transition.

✗ Skip if

• Under 7 years of work experience at the time of application.
• Seeking a full-time residential PhD programme with a monthly stipend.
• Looking for a programme leading to an MBA or executive management degree.
• Not planning to publish research or pursue academic or consulting roles post-graduation.

IIM Lucknow EFPM Scholarships 2027

• Eligibility for Central Government fellowships may vary for part-time doctoral programmes.
• Candidates should verify fellowship eligibility on the National Scholarship Portal.

According to an external review site Ranking 2025, IIM Lucknow (Noida Campus) ranks 27 out of 370 colleges in India and 4th in state Uttar Pradesh for its EFPM program.

Read more on IIM Lucknow (Noida Campus) Rankings here

IIM Lucknow EFPM FAQs

Ques. What is the EFPM programme at IIM Lucknow Noida Campus?

Ans. The Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EFPM) at IIM Lucknow Noida Campus is a part-time doctoral programme designed for working executives with at least 7 years of professional experience. Unlike the full-time FPM, EFPM participants continue to work while pursuing research. The programme is equivalent to a PhD in Management and runs over 4 to 5 years based on the track selected.

Ques. What is the total fee for EFPM at IIM Lucknow Noida Campus?

Ans. The standard track EFPM fee totals INR 7,50,000, payable as an acceptance fee followed by annual installments over 5 years. The first-year exempt track totals INR 5,00,000 over 4 years. The application fee is INR 1,000 for general and OBC candidates and INR 500 for SC/ST candidates. All fees are non-refundable and payable as per the IIM Lucknow payment schedule.

Ques. What test scores are accepted for EFPM shortlisting?

Ans. Candidates must submit valid scores from CAT (within two preceding years), GMAT, GRE (valid through application deadline), GATE, or UGC-JRF. IIM Lucknow also conducts its own EFPM Entrance Exam at the Noida Campus for shortlisted applicants. The final admission decision weighs entrance exam performance, personal interview outcome, academic qualifications, and professional experience profile together.

Ques. Who qualifies for the first-year exempt track in EFPM?

Ans. The first-year exempt track is available to candidates who hold a two-year MBA or PGDM with a minimum CGPA of 6.0 on a 10-point scale from institutions in the top 15 of NIRF Management ranking, or from AMBA, AACSB, or EQUIS-accredited programmes. Such candidates complete EFPM in 4 years and pay a reduced fee of INR 5,00,000.

Ques. What are the career outcomes after EFPM from IIM Lucknow?

Ans. EFPM prepares working executives for careers in management research, teaching at business schools, and senior consulting roles. The IIM Lucknow doctoral credential is recognised by top business schools and consulting organisations. Many participants transition into faculty roles at IIMs and other management institutions, or take up research and advisory positions at think-tanks and policy organisations after completing the programme.