Great Lakes Institute of Management

Great Lakes Institute of Management is a private business school founded in 2004 by Dr. Bala V. Balachandran, with campuses in Chennai and Gurugram. It holds AACSB (US) and AMBA (UK) accreditation, along with AICTE approval, and is recognised for its flagship one-year PGPM programme designed for professionals with at least two years of work experience, alongside a two-year PGDM for freshers and early-career candidates. The Chennai campus has built a particularly strong reputation in consulting placements, with a significant share of its PGPM cohort securing roles in that domain.

What distinguishes Great Lakes is its focus on accelerated, experience-driven management education. The PGPM is a fast-track MBA that delivers a 2.7x average pre-to-post CTC increase, according to the institute's own data. The school also offers specialisations in emerging areas like AI and Machine Learning, Product Management, and Data Science alongside traditional Marketing, Finance, and Operations tracks. Admissions are competitive, accepting CAT, XAT, GMAT, and NMAT scores, followed by a personal interview round. The Gurugram campus operates a separate PGDM programme with its own placement outcomes, which tend to be more modest than the Chennai PGPM figures.

Top Courses & Fees

Great Lakes' fee structure varies by campus and programme. The official AACSB listing provides USD figures for tuition, while Indian sources cite rupee amounts that fluctuate by intake year. The figures below are indicative and should be confirmed with the admissions office.

The remaining programme slots are filled by these executive and specialised offerings, as Great Lakes does not operate a broad undergraduate portfolio. Its focus is squarely on postgraduate management education.

Scholarships

Scholarships at Great Lakes are limited and not guaranteed for all admitted students. The official PGDM FAQ page states plainly: "We do not provide scholarships". However, other pages reference diversity and merit scholarships worth ₹2.5 Crore. This discrepancy suggests that scholarship availability may vary by programme and intake year.

Prospective students should treat scholarship availability as uncertain and confirm directly with the admissions office for their specific programme and intake.

Placements

Companies/Recruiters: McKinsey, Bain, KPMG, Accenture, Deloitte, Cognizant, Infosys Consulting, Alvarez & Marsal, EY, JP Morgan Chase, Bain, Godrej, Coca-Cola, Nestlé

The placement figures should be read with campus context in mind. Chennai's PGPM is the flagship and posts the strongest numbers; Gurugram's PGDM is a newer programme with more modest outcomes. Consulting is the dominant sector for PGPM graduates.

Admission

Entrance Exams: CAT, XAT, GMAT, and NMAT are accepted for both PGPM and PGDM. The best score across accepted exams is considered.

Application Process:

1.      Register online at the Great Lakes admissions portal; application fee is ₹2,200

2.      Submit academic transcripts, work experience proof (for PGPM), and entrance exam scores

3.      Shortlisted candidates complete an AI-proctored video interview and a faculty personal interview

4.      Final selection is based on entrance score and profile/interview performance

Eligibility Summary:

1.      PGPM: 60% across Class 10, 12, and graduation; 2+ years full-time work experience as of April 30, 2026

2.      -PGDM: 60% across Class 10, 12, and graduation; freshers or under 36 months experience as of May 30, 2026

FAQs

1.      Is work experience mandatory for Great Lakes?

For PGPM, yes—a minimum of two years full-time experience is required. For PGDM, freshers and candidates with up to three years of experience are eligible.

2.      What is the fee difference between PGPM and PGDM?

PGPM (1 year) costs approximately ₹18.66 Lakh, while PGDM (2 years) costs around ₹15.36 Lakh. The shorter PGPM format is designed for faster ROI, with the institute citing a 2.7x average CTC increase.

3.      Does Great Lakes accept NMAT?

Yes. CAT, XAT, GMAT, and NMAT are all accepted for PGPM and PGDM admissions.

4.      Are scholarships actually available at Great Lakes?

This is ambiguous. The official PGDM FAQ states no scholarships are provided, while other pages reference a ₹2.5 Crore diversity and merit pool. Prospective students should confirm directly with admissions for their programme.

5.      What is the placement scenario at Great Lakes Chennai versus Gurugram?

Chennai's PGPM is the stronger programme for placements, with an average of ₹17.8 LPA for 2025. Gurugram's PGDM recorded an average of ₹12.1 LPA for 2026. The Chennai campus benefits from a longer track record and stronger consulting recruitment.