{"id":3802,"date":"2026-07-28T15:07:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T09:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catmock.com\/blog\/?p=3802"},"modified":"2026-07-28T15:11:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T09:41:34","slug":"fpm-phd-through-cat-2026-iim-colleges-fees-eligibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catmock.com\/blog\/fpm-phd-through-cat-2026-iim-colleges-fees-eligibility\/","title":{"rendered":"FPM \/ PhD through CAT 2026: Colleges (IIMs), Fees & Eligibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A valid CAT 2026<\/strong> score doesn’t just open the door to the flagship MBA \u2014 it’s also one of the accepted entry routes into the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM)<\/strong>, the doctoral-equivalent research degree offered by nearly every IIM, from IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore to Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode. Unlike the MBA\/PGP track, FPM scholars pay little to no tuition and instead draw a monthly stipend for the length of the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide covers which IIMs accept CAT 2026<\/strong> for FPM\/PhD admission, how the fee-and-stipend structure works, eligibility norms, and the full path from your CAT percentile to a confirmed seat \u2014 so you can decide whether the research route or the MBA route fits your CAT 2026 prep better. If you’re still building your percentile, our CAT 2026 mock test series<\/mark><\/a> and free previous year papers<\/mark><\/a> are a good place to benchmark where you stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. What Is FPM, and Where Does CAT 2026 Fit In?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FPM stands for Fellow Programme in Management<\/strong> \u2014 a full-time doctoral degree that trains academic researchers and management faculty across specializations like Finance, Marketing, Economics, and Organizational Behaviour. It typically spans four to five years and closes with a thesis defense, much like a conventional university PhD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAT is one of several entrance scores IIMs accept for FPM \u2014 alongside GATE, GMAT, GRE, and UGC\/CSIR-NET JRF. If you already have a valid CAT 2026<\/strong> score, you don’t need a separate FPM-specific entrance test, which makes CAT effectively dual-purpose for anyone weighing both the MBA and the doctoral path. Registration for CAT 2026 opens August 3<\/mark><\/a>, with the exam scheduled for November 29, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. IIMs Offering FPM \/ PhD Through CAT 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of India’s 21 IIMs run an FPM or similarly named doctoral programme that accepts CAT scores alongside GATE, GMAT, GRE, or JRF. Some brand it differently \u2014 IIM Lucknow calls its version the Doctoral Program in Management (DPM) \u2014 but the CAT-based entry route stays broadly consistent across institutes. IIM Guwahati is the only IIM that currently runs just its MBA programme through CAT, without a matching doctoral track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Institute<\/th>Programme Name<\/th>Official Website<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
IIM Ahmedabad<\/td>Doctoral Programme in Management<\/td>iima.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Amritsar<\/td>PhD<\/td>iimamritsar.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Bangalore<\/td>PhD<\/td>iimb.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Bodh Gaya<\/td>PhD<\/td>iimbg.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Calcutta<\/td>Doctoral Programme (PhD)<\/td>iimcal.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Indore<\/td>Doctoral Programme in Management<\/td>iimidr.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Jammu<\/td>PhD, PhD (Working Professionals)<\/td>iimj.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Kashipur<\/td>PhD, Executive PhD<\/td>iimkashipur.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Kozhikode<\/td>DPM (Teaching Track \/ Practice Track)<\/td>iimk.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Lucknow<\/td>PhD \/ DPM<\/td>iiml.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Mumbai<\/td>PhD, PhD (Executive)<\/td>iimmumbai.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Nagpur<\/td>PhD, E-PhD<\/td>iimnagpur.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Raipur<\/td>PhD, PhD (Practice Track)<\/td>iimraipur.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Ranchi<\/td>PhD, EPhD<\/td>iimranchi.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Rohtak<\/td>PhD<\/td>iimrohtak.ac.in<\/mark><\/a><\/td><\/tr>
IIM Sambalpur<\/td>PhD, Executive PhD<\/td>iimsambalpur.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Shillong<\/td>Doctoral Program (+ WP track)<\/td>iimshillong.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Sirmaur<\/td>PhD, PhD (Executive)<\/td>iimsirmaur.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Tiruchirappalli<\/td>PhD, Executive PhD<\/td>iimtrichy.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Udaipur<\/td>PhD, Executive PhD<\/td>iimu.ac.in<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Visakhapatnam<\/td>Doctoral Program (PhD), Executive PhD<\/td>iimv.ac.in<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Note: some IIMs treat CAT as one of several accepted scores rather than the primary route \u2014 always confirm the current year’s admission notice on the institute’s own site before applying.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. FPM Fees and Stipend: Why It Costs Almost Nothing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FPM stands apart from every other IIM programme on cost. Most institutes charge no tuition at all and ask candidates to cover only hostel and mess charges \u2014 while simultaneously paying a monthly stipend that often exceeds those living costs, since FPM scholars work as research and teaching assistants alongside coursework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Institute<\/th>Approx. Monthly Stipend<\/th>Candidate’s Out-of-Pocket Cost<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
IIM Indore<\/td>\u20b930,000 (coursework) \u2192 \u20b935,000 (post-comprehensive exam)<\/td>Hostel and mess only<\/td><\/tr>
IIM Lucknow<\/td>\u20b925,000 (Yrs 1\u20132) \u2192 \u20b940,000 (Yrs 3\u20134)<\/td>No tuition; ~\u20b95,000\/month mess fee<\/td><\/tr>
Most other IIMs<\/td>Typically \u20b930,000\u2013\u20b940,000, rising by year<\/td>Hostel and mess only<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stipend figures revise periodically and vary by institute and specialization, so treat the table above as directional \u2014 always cross-check the exact current numbers on each IIM’s own FPM admissions page before you apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. FPM Eligibility Criteria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Requirement<\/th>Standard Criteria<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Minimum qualification<\/td>Master’s degree or equivalent, any discipline<\/td><\/tr>
Minimum marks (General)<\/td>55%\u201360% aggregate, varies by institute<\/td><\/tr>
Minimum marks (SC\/ST\/PwBD)<\/td>50%\u201355% aggregate (5% relaxation)<\/td><\/tr>
Accepted entrance scores<\/td>CAT, GATE, GMAT, GRE, or UGC\/CSIR-NET JRF<\/td><\/tr>
Alternative qualifications<\/td>CA \/ ICWA \/ CS with the relevant minimum marks<\/td><\/tr>
Age limit<\/td>Typically up to 50 years, varies by institute<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A few IIMs also accept a four-year bachelor’s degree with a strong CGPA in place of a master’s, and final-year master’s students can generally apply provided they complete their degree before the programme’s admission deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. FPM Specializations Offered at IIMs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n