CAT 2026 registration is the first and foremost step towards taking admission into top MBA schools of the country. However, filing and securing a good percentile does not mean that you have applied to all the MBA schools of the country. The BLACKI and IIM Shillong are the ones that consider CAT registration for shortlisting candidates directly, however, for other MBA schools, one needs to register by visiting their websites.
While a maximum number of B schools accept CAT 2026 scores, however, candidates need to fill out separate application forms by visiting their websites. Missing out on these forms means losing the opportunity for admissions, even if you have scored 100 percentile in CAT. Hence, MBA aspirants should maintain a separate MBA college application tracker for the sake of convenience regarding application starting date, last date, fee, eligibility, etc. In this blog, we have shared all the details regarding MBA colleges that require separate forms.
Join iQuanta’s diversified student community for free and prepare with other 4.1L+ peers. Get access to 24*7 doubt-solving, mentorship, free webinars, etc., all at one single platform.
MBA Application Form Date 2026: Which IIMs Require a Separate Form in 2027?
The application process varies for each of the IIMs. Their registration start date, end date, fee, etc., varies. The table below has the details related to admission to IIMs via the CAT exam.
| Admission Pathway | IIMs in India | Tentative Application Timeline |
| CAP | IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Sirmaur | January 2027 expected (CAP Required) |
| JAP | IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Tiruchirappalli | January 2027 expected (JAP Required) |
| Institute-specific | IIM Rohtak, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Amritsar and others | December 2026–January 2027 expected |
| CAT-based | IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore | During CAT registration |
IM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur (CAP 2027)
The following given IIMs are expected to participate in CAP 2027. Candidates are expected to use the CAP registration instead of submitting forms separately at each institute.
| IIM | Expected Registration | Expected Last Date | Graduation Requirement |
| IIM Jammu | Third week of January 2027 | Last week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | Third week of January 2027 | Last week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| IIM Sirmaur | Third week of January 2027 | Last week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Tiruchirappalli (JAP 2027)
Four of the IIMs, i.e. IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Tiruchirapalli and IIM Ranchi accept admission through JAP 2027. Candidates have to apply online via JAP by filling the application forms. Their registration is expected to begin in the first week of January 2027.
| IIM | Expected Registration | Expected Last Date | Graduation Requirement |
| IIM Kashipur | First week of January 2027 | Third week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| IIM Tiruchirappalli | First week of January 2027 | Third week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| IIM Ranchi | First week of January 2027 | Third week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| IIM Raipur | First week of January 2027 | Third week of January 2027 | Minimum 50% (General/NC-OBC/EWS); 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
Expected IIM Application Timeline 2027 for IIM Admission
The following table has the expected timeline for admission to IIMs. The application process will begin online from December 2026 and will continue until February/March 2027. Candidates are expected to visit the official websites regularly to stay updated with the dates.
| Expected Period | Application Activity | Institutes to Watch |
| Late December 2026 | Individual forms may open | IIM Rohtak, IIM Visakhapatnam |
| First week of January 2027 | Institute applications begin | IIM Nagpur, IIM Amritsar |
| First week of January 2027 | JAP registration expected | Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Tiruchirappalli |
| Third week of January 2027 | CAP registration expected | Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Sirmaur |
| Third to fourth week of January | Several individual forms may close | Selected institute-specific IIMs |
| February 2027 onward | PI and further selection stages | CAP, JAP and individual IIMs |
Colleges Other Than IIMs Accepting CAT Scores: Application Form Dates
There are leading government and private MBA colleges that are in as much demand as the IIMs for admission to MBA programmes. Colleges such as FMS Delhi, IIT Delhi (DMS), DSE MBA, Delhi School of Economics, NITs, MDI Gurugram, SPJIMR Mumbai, XIM, MICA, GIM Goa etc. are leading institutions that accept CAT scores.
We have listed the top MBA colleges other than IIMs accepting CAT scores with their application dates for 2027-29 batch.
Government/Public MBA Colleges Requiring Separate Forms
| MBA College/Institute | Expected Form Deadline for 2027–29 |
| FMS Delhi | November 2026 |
| IIFT Delhi/Kolkata | December 2026 |
| IIT Bombay – SJMSOM | January 2027 |
| IIT Delhi – DMS | December 2026 |
| IIT Kharagpur – VGSoM | January 2027 |
| IIT Kanpur – DoMS | December 2026 |
| IIT Madras – DoMS | December 2026 |
| IIT Roorkee – DoMS | January 2027 |
| IRMA Anand | December 2026 |
| DFS, University of Delhi | January 2027 |
| DSE MBA, Delhi School of Economics | January 2027 |
| NIT Trichy | March 2027 |
| NIT Warangal | June 2027 |
| NIT Calicut | June 2027 |
| MNNIT Allahabad | June 2027 |
List of Private MBA Colleges for MBA Admission: Application Dates
The following table has the list of top B schools other than IIMs for MBA programmes. It displays the MBA institute name with the expected application timeline. Currently, SPJIMR Mumbai is the only MBA college which is accepting application forms for admission to MBA programmes.
| School/Institute | Expected Application Timeline |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 15 September 2026 – 27 November 2026 |
| MDI Gurgaon | Expected around November 2026 |
| IIFT Delhi/Kolkata | Expected around December 2026 |
| IITs | Generally expected between December 2026 and January 2027 |
| FMS Delhi | Expected around November 2026 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | Expected to remain open during the later part of 2026 |
| GIM Goa | Expected from October 2026 onward |
| FORE School of Management | Expected from October 2026 onward |
| TAPMI Manipal | Expected from October 2026 onward |
With just a few days left for the CAT 2026 examination, your preparation needs the right balance of revision and problem-solving. But preparation isn’t just about solving questions on your own; asking doubts, discussing problems, and learning from peers are equally important to strengthen your concepts and improve your approach.
This is where iQuanta’s CAT preparation community comes in. With 50K+ aspirants already connected, the community gives you a space to discuss questions with peers, clear doubts, stay updated with the latest exam details, and access courses, past papers, mocks, free study material, and more all in one place.
The snapshot below gives you a glimpse of the real discussions CAT aspirants have in the community while preparing for the exam.
With the community of 50k+ aspirants, you can get several tricks and smart strategies to conclude your problem-solving for the CAT 2026 examination.
Although, there is various free study material available on the iQuanta CAT preparation app community that streamlines preparation in the right direction. Focus on each module to specify your sectional as well as overall percentile.
To become a part of this amazing community, candidates simply need to download the iQuanta CAT Preparation App and join a growing community of 50K+ aspirants working towards success.
If you’re an Android user, download the iQuanta app from the Google Play Store. iPhone users can download it directly from the App Store and get access to the community, discussions, study resources, and more.
Common Mistakes to Avoid while Applying for Admission to IIMs & Other Top B Schools
The most common mistake that many of the CAT aspirants make is that they assume that if they have filled the CAT application form, appeared for it and qualified it, then they are eligible to apply at any of the colleges accepting CAT scores.
In short, they assume that “I have filled out the CAT form, so I have applied to all CAT colleges.”
This is not the case.
CAT registration and individual B-school applications are filled separately. Each institute has its own admission criteria based on which it admits students. BLACKI and IIM Shillong are the ones where one does not need to fill a separate application form.
Therefore, candidates should maintain a college-wise application tracker containing rhe following details:
- College name
- MBA Programme
- CAT eligibility
- Separate application required
- Application form starting date
- Application form closing date
- Application fee
- Official application link
- Required documents
- Selection process
- PI/WAT dates
Having these details at a consolidated place will give them a clear view of the important dates related to admission.
Conclusion
Filling out the CAT application form 2026 and appearing for the test is just the beginning of the MBA admission process. After this, one has to fill out separate application forms based on their choice of college. Though many of the CAT accepting colleges begin accepting application forms from November/December onwards, to know about the exact date, one must visit the official website to get clarity and not miss out on applying.
MBA aspirants should also have a separate MBA tracker and list down their most preferred MBA college so that they do not miss out on applying. This will ensure transparency in the application process based on the college.
