All About ISB PGPMAX Program

Indian School of Business is among the top 30 global B-schools and no wonder they receive thousands of applications each year. Amongst all the courses ISB offers, PGPMAX is one of a kind program that is specially designed for senior-level executives. The program hones applicants’ business skills and helps them take their businesses to new heights. Since PGPMAX was introduced a couple of years ago, there are not many reviewers to share first-hand information on the ISB executive MBA program. To clear the doubts of applicants who plan to pursue PGPMAX from ISB, Leverage Edu experts have answered some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about PGPMAX.

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What is PGPMAX?

Indian School of Business (ISB) has introduced a set of courses for professionals in the middle of their careers.  PGPMAX is specially designed for C-level professionals and entrepreneurs to hone their business and soft skills. It invites seasoned professionals with 10-25 years of work experience. The part-time ISB executive MBA program, PGPMAX is a perfect fit for senior professionals who want to deep-dive into the domain of business management. Through this program, students can extract the maximum benefits, which in turn would help them expand their businesses while they compete with some of the global firms. PGPMAX helps professionals can expand their research as they test their knowledge of business concepts by applying it directly to their businesses. This would help them practically test whatever they learn while giving them some advanced knowledge of business management.

In PGPMAX, the curriculum runs for 15 months. A classroom session of one week is held at the ISB campus, i.e., either in Hyderabad or in Mohali. These classes are held at an interval of six weeks, which accounts for staying at the campus for 62 days in total. Along with this, candidates might as well have to devote a couple of hours each day to work on their projects and for the pre-course readings. In all, applicants might have to give up on their interests; but what they get in return is even better. It is for the same reason; ISB receives an overwhelming response from its applicants each year to enrol in PGPMAX.  

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How is PGPMAX different?

ISB’s PGPMAX has several benefits that set this program apart from other executive programs. The exclusively crafted program for experienced professionals is quite different from the regular full-time and part-time MBA programs in India.

• Best-in-class faculty- ISB is known to have a world-class faculty. What is even better is that faculty rich in academic and industry experience take the classes for students of PGPMAX at ISB. For the ISB executive MBA program, only senior faculty members from ISB’s partner schools and top 20 B-schools are invited to take these classes. Professors like W. Bruce Allen from Wharton, Sunil Chopra from Kellogg School of Management and more are a part of the teaching faculty of ISB for PGPMAX.                                       
• Diversified classrooms- ISB PGPMAX classrooms are rich in cultural and industrial diversity that plays a critical role in an individual’s learning. PGPMAX has C-level Executives, Directors, Country Heads and Entrepreneurs and that exposes students to different interpretations as they all come from different industries.
• ISB’s brand value- As much as it is important to have a quality education, it is equally important to get it from one of the best B-schools. ISB is among the top 30 B-schools in the world which adds value to an individual’s profile.
• Eliminates opportunity cost- One of the many benefits PGPMAX brings to the table is that you need not shell out extras being an Indian. One doesn’t have to pay an amount for accommodation and everyday expenses. Also, they need not distance themselves from family or work.
• The ongoing flow of income – Another great benefit of PGPMAX is that you have a constant flow of money while you’re studying. One doesn’t have to quit their job which makes them financially secure.
• Spaced-out class schedules- ISB PGPMAX has classes at an interval of every six weeks which is unlike other international ISB executive MBA programs. This eases the schedules as students do not have to travel so frequently to the ISB campus while you pay fair attention to your business.
• International Immersion- ISB pays extraordinary attention to the overall development of each individual. It exposes students to the dynamics of management through its global immersion programs, of one week each in the US and Asia.
• Numerous networking opportunities – ISB PGPMAX students have a multitude of networking opportunities through the international immersion programs and ISB alumni network. Along with this, PGPMAX candidates are members of the ISB Executive MBA council where they can connect with senior professionals just like them.

Must Read: ISB Hyderabad vs ISB Mohali

The Criterion for Admission

The criteria to secure admission to the PGPMAX course at ISB are given below:

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for PGPMAX at ISB, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification along with a minimum of 10 years of full-time work experience. Candidates would have to submit a letter of consent issued by their current employer in favour of their employee taking up the program. It can be either submitted along with the applications or once they have their offer letter from ISB for PGPMAX.

Evaluation Criteria

Even though, there are no standard criteria based on which ISB evaluates PGPMAX applicants; however, they take each applicant’s academic and personal skills into account before extending an admission letter. ISB evaluates candidates based on their academic performance during graduation. With this, they also observe candidates based on their inclination towards the programme, maturity, leadership skills, communication skills, plans, achievements and more during the interview sessions.

Must Read: Indian School of Business ISB Hyderabad

Application Deadlines

Particulars	Date
Opening of Applications	June 1, 2022
Round 1	November 6, 2022
Round 2	March 19, 2023

Application Fees

Application Submissions Dates	Application Fee
Round 1: November 6, 2022	₹ 10,000*
Round 2: March 19, 2023	₹ 15,000*

• At the time the application is submitted, a non-refundable application fee must be paid.
• Payments are to be made through net banking, debit cards, or credit cards.
• Depending on when the application is submitted, a fee will be assessed.
• To create a user login and launch the online application, there is no cost.
• At the time the completed application is turned in, the application fee must be paid.

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Documents Required

Applicants need to submit a few documents along with their applications while enrolling for PGPMAX at ISB. A well-defined application is foremost important for which they can take help from professionals who’d help you highlight your experiences, roles and responsibilities, and achievements that add value to your profile. Along with the application, the following documents are required while submitting your application for PGPMAX-

• Updated resume/ CV
• Colour photograph
• Bachelor’s degree mark sheet for all semesters
• Bachelor degree certificate
• Copy of your passport
• Proof of income
• Consent letter from your current employer (this can be submitted later as well along with the acceptance of the admission offer)
• Business card
• Two professional references (they have to provide an online evaluation as per the prescribed format in the application)
• Organizational chart

PGPMAX Curriculum

Themes	Subject
Socio-Political Economy	– Macro Economics – Government, Society & Business – Corporate Governance & Ethics
Markets & Customers	– Marketing Management – Pricing Products & Services for Profitability – Marketing for Business Markets
Money & Profits	– Accounting Analysis & Information for Executives – Financial Analysis & Decision Making – Financial Strategies for Value Creation
Organization & Fulfilment	– Management of Organizations – Global Operations Management – Supply Chain Management
Competition & Partnerships	– Competitive Strategy – Micro Economics – Organizational Growth Strategies
Innovation & Change	– Business Model Innovation – Managing Global Business – Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Leadership & Decision Making	– Leading People and Organizations – Decision-Making Under Uncertainty – Negotiation Analysis – Corporate Turnarounds
Digital Business Transformation	– Strategies for Digital Economy

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Fee for PGPMAX ISB

The intake application fee for PGPMAX 2023-24 admissions is INR 15,000 which is non-refundable and can only be paid via credit card. The program fee for the academic session 2020-21 is INR 4,023,000. Students can know more about fees and financing of PGPMAX at ISB here.

Particulars	Amount (INR)
Admission Fee	300,000
Tuition Fee	3,663,000
Contribution to Alumni Fund	25,000
For Lifetime Use of the Recreation Centre & Library	15,000
Security Deposit Amount (Refundable)	20,000
Total Amount	4,023,000

Scholarships for PGPMAX

For PGPMAX candidates, there are only a few merit-based scholarships available. These scholarships pay anywhere between 20% and 35% of the cost of tuition. If you meet the following requirements, you are eligible to apply for the scholarship:

• Socially conscious and focused on the community
• Strong professional history and accomplishments
• Leadership qualities to display Potential for outstanding performance and impact
• Possibility of developing into a fantastic ISB ambassador
• Married to a PGPMAX alum
• Women in leadership positions, particularly in the public sector

Must Read: ISB EEO

Is the PGPMAX at ISB Worth It?

There is no definite answer to whether or not PGPMAX is an ideal program for a candidate. As this is one of the recently launched programs by ISB Hyderabad and ISB Mohali, candidates may not find many reviewers to share their experiences. However, they can take help from experts who would calculate the pros and cons of PGPMAX to see if it adds value to the candidate’s current profile. No doubt, ISB is India’s best B-school that shapes future entrepreneurs, and it is known for its world-class faculty. It goes unsaid that PGPMAX has numerous benefits and it is an advantage as it exposes candidates to gain a global and holistic view of management while it uplifts the confidence of individuals. Candidates can implement what they learn through the program almost immediately which is an added advantage of the ISB executive MBA program. One cannot ignore the benefits that come post-completion of PGPMAX from ISB like, the expected promotions and salary hikes. The network of ISB alumni can be leveraged for business expansions and new opportunities. Ultimately, the merit of investing such an amount does bring greater benefits for senior professionals who are fueled to achieve big!

FAQs

So if you’re someone who wants to leverage upon these opportunities and want to make it to one of the finest programs at India’s #1 B-School, then it’s time for you to reach out to someone who has helped hundreds of students realize this dream. Click here – and book a free consulting session with a top Leverage expert today!