India's IIMB Aims to Compete Globally, Opening New Pathways for International Students

TEMPO.CO, Bangalore, India - The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), one of India’s premier business schools, hosted a visiting delegation of journalists from Southeast Asia, including Tempo from Indonesia, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to present its evolving academic programs, global partnerships, and new initiatives designed to make management education more inclusive and internationally connected.

The session began with a warm welcome from Balakrishna B, the Head of External Affairs at IIMB, who explained on how IIM Bangalore is adapting its curriculum to technological advances and how it aims to compete globally in management education.

Balakrishna outlined IIM Bangalore’s vision of fostering excellence in management, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on contributing to business, government, and society.

“We are an academic institution that aims to be a global player and a new-age academic centre of excellence,” he said. “Every program we design aligns with our vision and is structured to meet contemporary global challenges.”

He explained that IIM Bangalore, ranked number one in India and 28th globally for its Master’s in Management program, operates under the 2017 Government of India Act and is chaired by renowned cardiologist Dr. Devi Shetty, founder of the Narayana Health Group. Under his leadership, the institute has continued to innovate its degree and certificate programs to meet evolving industry demands.

Wide Range of Programs

The institute offers a wide range of programs, including two-year, one-year, and weekend MBA programs, as well as PhD and public policy programs aimed at both students and government officials.

“Our objective is not only to provide education to students but also to develop management faculty for academia,” Balakrishna said. He added that IIM Bangalore’s new Digital Business Entrepreneurship program, launched last year, allows up to 1,000 students worldwide to study online under the same faculty who teach on campus.

Two new undergraduate programs — BSc Honours in Economics and BSc in Data Science — will be launched in 2026 at the institute’s upcoming new campus, reflecting IIMB’s growing focus on multidisciplinary studies. In addition, IIMB continues to expand its executive education programs, serving over 5,000 industry professionals annually through customized and open courses.

Open for International Students, Partners With Top Institutions

On internationalization, Dr. Venkatesh noted that IIMB partners with top 100 institutions globally based on Financial Times rankings, enabling student and faculty exchanges. “We don’t dilute quality by going beyond the top 100,” he said. “We are open to collaboration with Southeast Asian universities, particularly those striving to climb the international ranks.”

Faculty excellence, he emphasized, remains IIMB’s greatest strength. “All our faculty members hold PhDs or equivalent qualifications and are active researchers, publishing in top A1 and A2 journals,” he said. The institute currently has 150 faculty across 11 departments, many of whom serve on national policy-making bodies, including the Reserve Bank of India.

IIM Bangalore also supports entrepreneurship through its NSR Cell, an incubation centre that nurtures startups and provides mentorship in partnership with institutions such as Goldman Sachs and the Government of Karnataka. “We are currently supporting more than 10,000 entrepreneurs every year,” Balakrishna said.

Scholarships: Students Can Receive Up to 100% Tuition Fee Waiver

During a question-and-answer session, journalists asked about scholarships for ASEAN students and international collaborations. “We treat all non-Indian passport holders as international students,” Balakrishna explained. “There is no application fee, and based on merit and socioeconomic background, students can receive up to 100 percent tuition fee waiver.” He shared that one student from Bangladesh received a 75 percent waiver last year, while many others received between 25 and 50 percent.

Balakrishna said IIMB aims to admit 10 percent international students without compromising academic quality. “Last year, we received 98 applications, interviewed 52, and selected 13 students,” he noted. “We want diversity in our classrooms because real management learning happens when people from different cultures work together.”

He also addressed comparisons between IIMB and leading global business schools such as Oxford’s Saïd School or Wharton in the US. “Our two-year MBA program costs around 25 lakh (US$28,176 or Rp466,737,500), which includes tuition, accommodation, and materials — just one-fifth or one-sixth of the cost at comparable institutions abroad,” he said. “And we provide 100 percent placement support every year.”

Balakrishna concluded by encouraging international students to consider IIMB as a world-class yet affordable destination for management education. “We don’t just produce managers — we produce leaders who understand innovation, sustainability, and social impact,” he said. “Our doors are open to the world.”

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