The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) has achieved a landmark milestone in Indian higher education, recording the highest-ever representation of women in the history of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) system.
For its flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP) 2026–28 batch, the institute has admitted 499 students, including 329 women, taking female representation to nearly 66%. The achievement establishes a new benchmark for gender diversity among India’s premier management institutions.
The announcement highlights IIM Kozhikode’s long-term commitment to creating inclusive and diverse learning environments while reinforcing the growing participation of women in management education.
Record-Breaking Female Representation
According to the institute, the latest admissions cycle marks the highest proportion of women ever recorded in a flagship MBA programme across the IIM network.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleThe institute has steadily increased women’s representation over the years:
- Crossed the 50% mark for the first time in 2013 with 54% women students.
- Surpassed 50% again in 2021.
- Reached 59% in 2024, the highest among older IIMs at the time.
- Achieved a record 66% women in the 2026–28 flagship PGP batch.
Education experts view the milestone as a significant step toward improving gender balance in leadership pipelines and corporate management roles.
Total MBA Intake Reaches 599 Students
Across its three full-time MBA programmes, IIM Kozhikode has admitted a total of 599 students for the academic year.
The programme-wise intake includes:
Post Graduate Programme (PGP)
- Total Students: 499
- Women Students: 329
- Female Representation: 66%
Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM)
- Total Students: 51
- Women Students: 82% of the cohort
Post Graduate Programme in Finance (PGP-Fin)
- Total Students: 49
- Women Students: 12% of the cohort
Overall, women account for nearly 63% of students across the institute’s three full-time MBA programmes.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleThe figures place IIM Kozhikode among the most gender-diverse management institutions globally.
Strong Focus on Academic Diversity
Beyond gender diversity, the institute has also continued its emphasis on building academically diverse classrooms.
Among the flagship PGP batch:
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Add Hunterfly on Google- 57% of students come from non-engineering backgrounds.
- 43% are engineering graduates.
In other programmes:
- PGP-LSM comprises 96% non-engineering students.
- PGP-Fin includes 45% non-engineering graduates.
Overall, non-engineering graduates constitute approximately 59% of the intake across the institute’s MBA programmes.
The diverse academic mix is expected to enrich classroom discussions, case-study learning and collaborative problem-solving experiences.
Expansion of Doctoral Programmes
IIM Kozhikode has simultaneously strengthened its research ecosystem through a significant expansion of doctoral admissions.
The institute welcomed 99 doctoral scholars this year across its research programmes.
The intake includes:
- 27 scholars in the regular Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM).
- 72 scholars in the Executive Doctoral Programme.
Notably, women account for 66% of the regular DPM cohort, marking the highest female representation ever recorded in the institute’s doctoral programme.
The institute has also introduced the inaugural batch of its Doctoral Programme in Management (Teaching Track), a new initiative designed to develop future management educators and academic researchers.
Leadership Perspective
Speaking during the orientation of the incoming batch, IIM Kozhikode Director Prof. Debashis Chatterjee highlighted the significance of the milestone.
According to the institute, he emphasized that diversity and academic excellence are closely connected and that future leaders benefit from learning environments that encourage varied perspectives and experiences.
The institute also reiterated its commitment to promoting inclusivity, multidisciplinary learning and broader participation in management education.
Why This Matters
Business schools worldwide have increasingly focused on improving diversity metrics as organizations seek more inclusive leadership pipelines.
Research has consistently shown that diverse teams often bring wider perspectives, stronger decision-making capabilities and improved innovation outcomes.
The record achieved by IIM Kozhikode reflects broader changes occurring across higher education and the corporate sector, where institutions are actively encouraging greater participation from underrepresented groups.
For aspiring management professionals, the milestone also signals growing opportunities and changing demographics within India’s top MBA programmes.
Looking Ahead
As competition for admission to premier business schools continues to intensify, IIM Kozhikode’s latest intake demonstrates how diversity initiatives can reshape management education while maintaining academic excellence.
With record female representation, strong academic diversity and an expanding research ecosystem, the institute enters the new academic session having set a new benchmark not only for the IIM system but also for management education in India.
The Class of 2028 will now carry forward that milestone as it prepares for careers across business, entrepreneurship, public policy and global leadership roles.
