Indian Institute of Foreign Trade: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Ranking & Kolkata Campus Life

About Indian Institute of Foreign Trade - [IIFT] Kolkata

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Kolkata is the eastern campus of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a public business school established in 1963 under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and headquartered in New Delhi. The Kolkata campus, set up as an off-campus centre in 2006, is located in Madurdaha in the eastern part of Kolkata, West Bengal. It functions as part of the autonomous IIFT institution that specialises in international business and foreign trade education.

IIFT holds an A grade from NAAC and global AACSB accreditation, and is recognised by the University Grants Commission as an autonomous institute of management education. The institute is ranked 17th in the NIRF 2025 Management category for its overall performance in management education. From the Kolkata campus, IIFT offers flagship MBA (International Business) and other management programmes, and hosts research and doctoral events such as the Management Doctoral and Researcher’s Colloquium (MDRC), reinforcing its position in trade and international business studies.

Key Highlights

Admission Dates 2026

IIFT Kolkata offers the full-time MBA (International Business) under the common admission cycle of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade for 2026–28. Admissions use CAT 2025 scores followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview, with applications submitted online through the IIFT admission portal.

Admission Process

Admission to IIFT Kolkata is entrance-based for its flagship MBA programmes, using CAT 2025 score for shortlisting. Final selection is based on CAT score, Group Discussion, Personal Interview, and other institutional parameters like academic diversity, gender diversity, and work experience.

MBA (International Business) & MBA (Business Analytics) Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Visit the official IIFT admissions portal at iift.ac.in and register as a new candidate using name, email, mobile, and date of birth.
2. Log in with the generated credentials and fill the online application form with personal, academic, and work experience details.
3. Select MBA (International Business) and/or MBA (Business Analytics) and indicate campus preferences (Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada, GIFT City).
4. Upload scanned photograph, signature, category certificate (if applicable), and other required documents in the specified format.
5. Pay the application fee online via debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI category and programme.
6. Review all details carefully, submit the form, and download the confirmation page and payment receipt for future reference.

Eligibility Criteria & Fees

Documents Required

• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificate
• Graduation degree and mark sheets (or provisional certificate if in final year)
• CAT 2025 scorecard
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD) if applicable
• Work experience certificate (if any)
• Passport size photograph and signature in prescribed format

Cutoff 2025

IIFT Kolkata admissions are based on CAT 2024 scores. The institute follows a two-stage selection process with initial shortlisting based on CAT percentiles, followed by Group Discussion, Personal Interview, and evaluation of academic consistency and work experience. Cutoff requirements vary by category and campus preference.

Rankings & Accreditations

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is ranked in the national NIRF Management list as a single institution (New Delhi and Kolkata campuses together), placed at rank 17 in Management in 2025 with a strong score of 62.93/100. This puts IIFT among the leading management institutes in India.

NIRF 2025

Accreditations

• NAAC: A (valid till 2027) – for Indian Institute of Foreign Trade as a deemed-to-be university (covers Delhi and Kolkata campuses)
• NBA: MBA (International Business)

Scholarships & Financial Aid

IIFT Kolkata students receive financial support through institute need‑cum‑merit schemes and central government scholarships routed via the National Scholarship Portal. Full‑time MBA students from reserved, minority and economically weaker backgrounds can get tuition fee waivers, interest subsidies or living support, subject to income limits.

Institute Scholarships

Government Scholarships

External Scholarships

• OP Jindal Engineering and Management Scholarship (OPJEMS): ₹1,50,000 for top MBA(IB) students nominated by IIFT (based on selection process score/previous year GPA); final selection through OP Jindal Group test and interview.

Comparison

IIFT Kolkata is a premier government B-school focused on international business, and aspirants typically compare it with institutes of similar stature and fees such as IIFT Delhi (same institution’s main campus) and XLRI Jamshedpur, which also offer flagship management programmes with strong placements and national rankings.

Key Strengths

• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade - [IIFT] Kolkata: Strong focus on international business and trade, integrated curriculum and placements with IIFT Delhi, and government backing with NAAC A++ status and NIRF top‑20 positioning.
• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade - [IIFT] Delhi: Flagship campus of IIFT with long legacy in trade and export management, strong policy and industry linkages, and consistently high NIRF rank and placement outcomes.
• XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur: Oldest premier private B-school with very strong HR and BM programmes, excellent corporate connect, high average packages, and NAAC A++ accreditation with top‑10 NIRF rank in Management.

Campus & Infrastructure

IIFT Kolkata is a green, fully integrated campus spread over around 7 acres in the Madurdaha area of East Kolkata, behind Ruby General Hospital. The campus has separate academic, administrative and residential blocks with water bodies and landscaped gardens, creating a compact yet resort-like environment for a fully residential MBA.

Campus Details

Academic Facilities

• Library: 84,000 books (IIFT system), 800 journals and e-journals

Hostel

Other Facilities

• 500-seater auditorium
• MDP (Management Development Programme) Centre
• Computer centre with Data Analytics Lab (40 systems with SPSS, Hadoop, SAS)
• Three campus lakes / water bodies
• Indoor games area
• Gymnasium

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entrance exam for IIFT Kolkata MBA admission?

IIFT conducts its own entrance examination (IIFT Exam) for MBA (International Business) admissions. The exam is computer-based and evaluates candidates on quantitative ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and English language skills. Around 60,000 candidates apply annually, with approximately 200 securing admission across both Delhi and Kolkata campuses.

Is the MBA program at IIFT Kolkata fully residential?

Yes, the MBA (International Business) is a fully residential 2-year program. All students are required to stay in hostels on campus. Separate residential blocks are provided for male and female students with facilities including Wi-Fi, CCTVs, RO water purifiers, geysers, washing machines, and refrigerators in each room.

What is the campus size and location of IIFT Kolkata?

IIFT Kolkata is spread across 7 acres of land in the Madurdaha area, behind Ruby General Hospital, overlooking green ridge. The campus features one academic block, one administrative block, and two residential blocks. The picturesque setting includes artistically designed buildings, well-maintained gardens, and water bodies.

Does IIFT Kolkata offer student exchange programs abroad?

Yes, the Student Exchange Program (SEP) is a highlight of the MBA (IB) curriculum. Approximately 15-20% of first-year students spend a trimester (January-March) studying at partner B-schools across Europe. Around 20 students from international partner institutions also spend time at IIFT during different trimesters, fostering multicultural learning.

What library resources are available at IIFT Kolkata?

IIFT Kolkata has one of the largest libraries in the developing world with 1,07,641 resources including 79,716 book/CD volumes, 17,796 bound periodicals, 350 Indian and 12,284 international scholarly journals, 11 national/international magazines, and 19 newspapers. The library is open 24/7 and includes Bloomberg terminals and extensive e-databases.

What sports and recreational facilities exist on campus?

The campus offers a well-equipped gym, indoor games room, basketball court, badminton court, table tennis, carrom, football, volleyball facilities, and yoga. The hostel includes a recreation block with common rooms for students to work on projects. However, the campus does not have its own ground for outdoor sports.

Are there hostel room sharing arrangements, and can students get single rooms?

Hostel rooms are allocated on double or triple occupancy basis at the institute's discretion. While some sources mention single occupancy availability, the standard allocation is twin-sharing for regular MBA (IB) students. Faculty housing offers single sharing for boys and double sharing for girls.

What are the major events and fests at IIFT Kolkata?

Key events include Battle By The Lake, Titanomachy, Advait (cultural events), Vivaan (Leadership Conclave), Model United Nations, and Quo Vadis (annual management fest). UWL is an intra-college sports fest conceptualized along IPL lines where students bid for teams. These events attract participants from top B-schools across India.

Does IIFT Kolkata have a dedicated center for North Eastern development?

Yes, IIFT Kolkata established the Centre for North Eastern Studies (CeNEST) with support from the North Eastern Council (NEC). This center provides handholding support to North-Eastern entrepreneurs, conducts research on developmental issues related to international trade, and organizes training programs for North-Eastern states.

What is the WTO Resource Centre at IIFT?

IIFT has set up a WTO Resource Centre in its library, which is the only one of its kind in India. The center focuses exclusively on WTO issues and enhances the utility of the library for research and academic work related to international trade and commerce.

How many classrooms and academic facilities are available?

The academic block contains 10 classrooms, each with a capacity of 60 students. Additional facilities include conference halls, an auditorium with 500-seating capacity, MDP Centre, two computer labs, and syndicate rooms. All lecture halls are fully air-conditioned with modern audio-visual aids.

What computer and IT infrastructure does IIFT Kolkata have?

IIFT operates three state-of-the-art computer centers with a Local Area Network comprising dedicated servers, 300 Pentium Core 2 Duo/i7 nodes with wired and wireless access. Software includes Windows 2008, SPSS, Oracle, Visual Basic, and Java. The campus has 24-hour internet access via 50 MBPS leased line.

Is there a health center on the IIFT Kolkata campus?

Yes, IIFT Kolkata has a health center with first aid facilities for students. Medical facilities are located on the ground floor of the hostel block to ensure quick access for students in case of health emergencies.

What is the Social Awareness Program at IIFT Kolkata?

Every student undertakes a one-month internship with NGOs across the city working with elderly, destitute, drug/alcohol addicts, orphans, and trafficking victims. The social awareness cell, Koshish, organizes year-round fundraisers and drives for food, books, and clothes, emphasizing corporate social responsibility.

Do second-year students get international exposure through port visits?

Yes, all second-year students visit domestic or international ports including Mundra, Vizag, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kochi in India and Dubai, Colombo, Hong Kong, Singapore abroad. These visits provide practical understanding of international business operations and serve as educational getaways with peers.

What is the hostel food arrangement and dining facility?

The hostel has a dining room and night canteen (Nescafe) to cater to students' meals and late-night hunger. The campus celebrates all major festivals with special food arrangements—biryani on Eid, sweets on Diwali, and traditional meals on Lohri, making food a cultural experience.

How is the safety and security system in hostels?

All hostels are equipped with CCTVs and have dedicated wardens responsible for student safety, security, and general welfare. The residential blocks are well-maintained with proper access control and security measures to ensure a safe living environment for all students.

What is the batch size and student community at IIFT Kolkata?

With approximately 200 students admitted annually across both campuses, IIFT Kolkata has a small batch strength, creating high bonding between students. This intimate community ensures everyone knows each other, fostering strong peer networks and collaborative learning throughout the 2-year program.