One-Year MBA Round 2 Deadlines 2027-28: ISB, IIMA PGPX, IIMB EPGP, IIMC MBAEx and IIML IPMX Compared

Q: Can I apply to PGPX, EPGP, MBAEx and ISB all in Round 2?

Yes, the calendars allow it and the deadlines are spread over about two weeks. Each application needs its own preparation, so two to four is a practical ceiling.

Career Simplified

Oct 15

10 min read

If you are applying to more than one one-year MBA this cycle, Round 2 is where your calendar stops being a list of separate deadlines and becomes a scheduling problem. Between 17 October and 6 December 2026, five of India's major one-year and executive MBA programmes close an application round, and their interview weeks and offer-acceptance windows collide in December and January. This guide puts every Round 2 date side by side, explains what each programme does differently at this stage, and shows how to sequence your applications so that one result never forces a decision on another before you have it.

One caution before the table. Dates here come from the schools' published schedules where we could verify them and from secondary sources where we could not, and several school pages have been out of date in past cycles. Treat every date as expected until you have confirmed it on the programme's own admissions page. Also note that "Round 2" is not a universal label: IIM Lucknow runs phases, and INSEAD and XLRI follow different structures.

Round 2 at a glance: every deadline, interview window and result date

The table uses the 2027-28 admission cycle (entry in 2027) and the closest Round 2 equivalent for each programme. Read across for one programme, and down to see how the weeks between now and February stack up.

Programme	Round 2 deadline	Interviews	Results
ISB PGP (Class of 2028)	6 Dec 2026	Week 1 Jan to Week 3 Feb 2027 (tentative)	End Feb 2027; accept within about 10 days
IIMA PGPX	23 Nov 2026 (shortlist 4 Dec; essays 4 to 6 Dec)	Dec 2026 to Jan 2027	22 Jan 2027
IIMB EPGP	25 Nov 2026	12 to 13 Dec 2026	Offers 24 Dec; accept by 4 Jan 2027
IIMC MBAEx	1 Dec 2026	19 to 20 Dec 2026	11 Jan 2027
IIML IPMX (Phase 2)	17 Oct 2026	WAT and PI 12 to 20 Dec 2026	15 Jan 2027
IIML IPMX (Phase 3)	1 Dec 2026	WAT and PI 16 to 24 Jan 2027	15 Feb 2027
INSEAD (Aug 2027 intake, Round 2)	3 Nov 2026	Notified by 4 Dec 2026	22 Jan 2027
XLRI PGDM-GM	Confirm with XLRI (XAT on 3 Jan 2027)	Per XLRI	Per XLRI

A few things the table does not show. IIM Lucknow's Phase 2 deadline of 17 October is two days away as of this writing, and its rules make that deadline weightier than it looks: IIML states that a candidate rejected after the personal interview in one phase cannot reapply in a later phase for the same batch. XLRI is the odd one out, with no Round 2 in the usual sense. Its PGDM-GM accepts GMAT, GRE or XAT, and XAT 2027 is scheduled for 3 January 2027 with registration reported to close on 6 December 2026, so confirm its application dates directly with XLRI. INSEAD's row refers to the August 2027 intake, since the January 2027 intake has effectively finished its rounds. For a full year-view of the Indian programmes, our one-year MBA playbook is the companion to this piece, and Launchpad's free MBA Journey Playbook maps these dates week by week if you would rather not keep your own spreadsheet.

What the calendar tells you: three clusters

The dates fall into three clusters, and each one calls for a different kind of preparation.

The late-November squeeze (23 to 25 November)

PGPX closes on 23 November and EPGP on 25 November, two days apart. Both require a test-centre GMAT or GRE score and both ask for a mature work story (four and five years of experience respectively). Applying to both means two sets of essays and one forms-heavy week. Finish the shared material first, namely the resume, the career narrative and a bank of six to eight work episodes, and then adapt it for each school rather than writing each application from scratch. Our guides to the IIM Ahmedabad PGPX Round 2 timeline and the IIM Bangalore EPGP application cover each in depth.

The early-December cluster (1 to 6 December)

MBAEx and IIM Lucknow's Phase 3 both close on 1 December, and ISB's Round 2 closes on 6 December, the same day XAT registration is reported to close. This is the cluster for applicants who needed the extra weeks to raise a score or deepen a profile. It is also the cluster where being rejected earlier matters most: IPMX's no-reapplication rule means a Phase 2 interview rejection removes Phase 3 as an option.

The interview and results cascade (12 December to February)

EPGP interviews run on 12 and 13 December, IPMX's Phase 2 WAT and interviews fall between 12 and 20 December, MBAEx interviews on 19 and 20 December, PGPX interviews from December into January after its 4 December shortlist, and ISB's from the first week of January to the third week of February. If you are applying to all of them, December is an interview month, so protect those dates with your employer now, before you know which schools will call.

Programme by programme: what actually changes in Round 2

ISB PGP (Class of 2028)

ISB's Round 2 deadline is 6 December 2026, with interviews tentatively from the first week of January to the third week of February and final results by the end of February. ISB rolls late applicants forward automatically, so applying after Round 1's 20 September closes lands you in Round 2, and missing 6 December lands you in Round 3 on 17 January. The first-time application fee is ₹7,500 in Round 2 (₹2,500 flat for re-applicants), and offer acceptance is shorter in later rounds, reported at 10 days from the offer. Shortlisted candidates are told three to seven days before their interview, so you need to be interview-ready weeks early. Our ISB PGP application guide has the fee and eligibility detail, and the ISB WAT preparation guide covers the written test.

IIM Ahmedabad PGPX

Round 2 reportedly closes on 23 November, with a 4 December shortlist, a 48 to 72 hour essay window on 4 to 6 December, interviews in December and January and final selection on 22 January 2027. The distinctive feature is the short essay sprint after the shortlist, which rewards applicants who prepared material before they knew whether they would be called. Only a minority of interviewees receive offers; our analysis of IIMA's RTI data on acceptance rates is worth reading before you set expectations.

IIM Bangalore EPGP

EPGP's Round 2 window reportedly runs from 19 August to 25 November 2026, with interviews on 12 and 13 December in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, offers and waitlist on 24 December and an acceptance deadline of 4 January 2027. Candidates may apply in only one round, so the choice between Round 1 and Round 2 is final. Eligibility asks for five years of experience by 31 March 2027 and a test-centre GMAT or GRE score, and the Round 2 application fee is reported at ₹7,000. The process includes a written test; see our IIMB EPGP WAT guide. EPGP is the earliest result of the group, which creates the acceptance-timing problem covered below.

IIM Calcutta MBAEx

MBAEx's Round 2 deadline is 1 December 2026, with interviews on 19 and 20 December and results on 11 January 2027, all taken from IIM Calcutta's own schedule as covered in our MBAEx interview schedule post. Two features set it apart. It accepts only GMAT Focus Edition scores, with no GRE and no CAT. And it selects by relative ranking within each round, so there is no fixed cutoff to clear: you are compared with everyone who applied in your round, using GMAT, academics and work experience together. A Round 1 waitlist or rejection is therefore not a verdict on your candidacy, and a Round 2 application with a stronger score or clearer statement of purpose is a different file. The MBAEx complete application guide has the eligibility and fee detail.

IIM Lucknow IPMX

IPMX uses three phases. Phase 2 closes on 17 October, with the WAT and interview between 12 and 20 December and results on 15 January 2027; Phase 3 closes on 1 December, with WAT and interviews between 16 and 24 January and results on 15 February. The published weighting is 30% for the GMAT or GRE score, 30% for academic and professional profile, 10% for the WAT and 30% for the interview. The no-reapplication rule after an interview rejection makes IPMX the programme where applying early with a weak file costs you the most, so readiness matters more than speed. See the IPMX complete application guide and the IPMX WAT preparation guide.

XLRI PGDM-GM

XLRI's programme runs 18 months, not 12, and it is the only one in this group that accepts XAT alongside GMAT and GRE. It requires three years of managerial or supervisory experience, which makes it the realistic option for applicants who fall short of the four- and five-year floors at PGPX, IPMX, MBAEx and EPGP. Our XLRI PGDM-GM guide covers the details, and the official site is the only reliable source for this cycle's application dates.

The European programmes

INSEAD's August 2027 intake has a Round 2 deadline of 3 November 2026, with interview notification on 4 December and final decisions on 22 January 2027. That puts INSEAD's decision on the same day as PGPX's, which is worth knowing if both are on your list. HEC Paris reports rolling deadlines for its January 2027 intake on 18 October and 15 November 2026. IE Business School admits on a rolling basis with earlier rounds carrying better odds, and we have not been able to verify Round 2 dates for IESE or London Business School, so check those directly. For the substance behind each school, see our European one-year MBA comparison, the INSEAD guide for Indian applicants and the IE rolling admissions guide.

Side by side: eligibility, tests and fees

The table below puts the hard filters in one place. Experience is counted as of 31 March 2027 where the school specifies it, and fee figures are as reported for the current cycle, so they can change.

Programme	Minimum experience	Tests accepted	Reported programme fee
ISB PGP	2 years	GMAT Focus Edition or GRE (test centre)	₹34.48 lakh plus GST (shared room, one instalment)
IIMA PGPX	4 years	GMAT Focus Edition or GRE (test centre)	₹34.15 or ₹36.20 lakh reported for 2027-28 (IIMA published ₹35 and ₹37.10 lakh for 2026-27)
IIMB EPGP	5 years	GMAT or GRE (test centre)	₹33.68 lakh residential (reported)
IIMC MBAEx	5 years	GMAT Focus Edition only	₹33.5 lakh (reported)
IIML IPMX	4 years	GMAT Focus Edition or GRE (test centre)	₹26 lakh (reported)
XLRI PGDM-GM (18 months)	3 years	GMAT, GRE or XAT	Confirm with XLRI

Two practical points follow from the table. First, the test decides more than it seems to. If you have only a GRE score, MBAEx is off your list, and if you have only an XAT score, XLRI is your option. If you are still choosing a test, our GMAT versus GRE guide for one-year MBAs will help, and the GMAT Focus Edition score expectations by programme show what each school's classes have looked like. Second, the fee spread is narrow for the full-time Indian programmes (roughly ₹33 to ₹36 lakh) with IPMX the clear outlier at ₹26 lakh. That makes the decision about format, cohort and career outcomes more than price.

The decision domino: offers, acceptance windows and deposits

This is the part of Round 2 that most applicants never plan for. Results arrive in a fixed order: EPGP offers on 24 December, MBAEx on 11 January, IPMX on 15 January, PGPX and INSEAD on 22 January, and ISB by the end of February. Acceptance windows run on the offering school's clock, not yours. EPGP's reported acceptance deadline of 4 January falls a week before MBAEx's results, and ISB's Round 2 acceptance window is reported at 10 days.

Consider a concrete case. You apply to EPGP, MBAEx and PGPX. EPGP offers you a seat on 24 December and asks for acceptance by 4 January. MBAEx and PGPX are still pending, and your first choice is PGPX. You must either accept a seat you may not want, with the commitment fee that goes with it, or decline a sure offer on the hope of a later one. Work out your ranking and your risk tolerance before the offers arrive, not after. Ask each admissions office in writing whether any flexibility on the acceptance date exists, and do not assume it does. Read the fee circular attached to each offer for refund terms before paying a commitment fee: MBAEx is reported to ask for a ₹2,00,000 commitment fee on acceptance, and instalments at some programmes become non-refundable if you later decline.

How many programmes, and which ones?

Two to four applications is a workable number for most people. More than that, and the quality of each file drops. Three portfolios cover most profiles.

With two to four years of experience, your realistic set is ISB (two-year minimum) and XLRI (three-year minimum), because PGPX and IPMX need four and EPGP and MBAEx need five. With four to five years, PGPX, IPMX and ISB open up, with MBAEx and EPGP available at five. With five or more years, the full Indian set is open, and the question becomes which two or three fit your story and your calendar. Match the portfolio to your test too: GMAT Focus Edition holders have every option, GRE holders lose MBAEx, and XAT holders have XLRI.

If you want a free, no-signup read on where you stand before you commit to a set, Launchpad's Admit Chance Calculator covers ISB, the IIMs and the major global programmes. For help deciding between rounds and schools, our piece on why spreading applications across rounds matters explains the logic of not putting everything in one window.

A prep calendar working back from the deadlines

Use the dates above to set four windows.

Now to 31 October: finalise the foundation

Confirm your test status. If you are retaking, book now, since official scores take time to reach schools. Fix every number in your resume (designations, dates, team sizes, budgets) in a single reference document. Decide your two to four schools and note each programme's essay or statement requirements.

1 to 22 November: build and draft

Write the story bank and the shared career narrative, then draft school-specific statements. If you are targeting INSEAD's 3 November round, that deadline arrives first and needs the earliest effort. Aim to submit PGPX and EPGP three days early, because portals and payment gateways struggle near deadlines.

23 November to 6 December: finish and bridge

PGPX and EPGP are in, and MBAEx and ISB are still open. Use the days after each submission to start extempore and WAT practice, because PGPX's essay sprint and the written tests at EPGP, IPMX and ISB reward people who have written under time pressure before.

7 December to February: interviews and decisions

Run mock interviews against the actual panel format of each school, hold your leave dates, and write your decision ranking before the first offer lands. Having the ranking written down before December 24 is the single best defence against a rushed acceptance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply to PGPX, EPGP, MBAEx and ISB all in Round 2?

Yes, the calendars allow it, and the deadlines are spread over about two weeks. The limit is quality: each application needs its own statement and preparation, so two to four is a practical ceiling.

Which Round 2 deadline is closest?

IIM Lucknow's IPMX Phase 2 closes on 17 October 2026, followed by INSEAD's August 2027 intake Round 2 on 3 November and PGPX on 23 November.

What if I miss a Round 2 deadline?

It depends on the school. ISB rolls late applicants into the next round automatically, IPMX has a Phase 3, and EPGP and MBAEx have no later round reported for this cycle, so you would wait for the next admission year.

Are the dates in this article final?

No. They are reported or tentative for the 2027-28 cycle, and several official pages have been out of date before. Confirm each date on the school's own admissions page before you plan around it.