Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM: Programme Overview
The Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is Great Lakes Gurgaon's two-year full-time management programme for freshers and early-career professionals. The programme is designed for candidates with less than three years of work experience and is approved by AICTE.
The first year builds common management fundamentals, followed by specialisation exposure before the second year. The programme also includes a summer internship, projects, mentoring and industry interaction.
Choose PGDM when you want a two-year management journey rather than the accelerated one-year PGPM. The longer format gives you more time for internship, projects, specialisation and placement preparation.
Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM Eligibility 2027-29
| Requirement | Published requirement |
|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution |
| Academic performance | Minimum 50% across Class 10, Class 12 and undergraduate studies |
| Work experience | Freshers and candidates with strictly less than 36 months of experience |
| Accepted tests | GMAT, CAT or XAT |
Candidates with 2–3 years of work experience may apply for both PGPM and PGDM. Great Lakes states that the admissions panel may recommend a specific programme based on assessment and programme fit.
Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM Admission Dates 2026 & 2027
2026 intake — official exact deadlines: 4 December 2025, 10 January 2026, 10 February 2026 and 15 March 2026.
Tentative 2027-29 schedule
The current official page has not published the complete 2027-29 calendar. These are tentative planning dates, not official dates, modelled on the latest four-cycle pattern.
| Admission event | 2027-29 tentative date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | 1 September 2026 | Tentative |
| Cycle 1 deadline | 4 December 2026 | Tentative |
| Cycle 2 deadline | 10 January 2027 | Tentative |
| Cycle 3 deadline | 10 February 2027 | Tentative |
| Cycle 4 deadline | 15 March 2027 | Tentative |
| AI-proctored interview | Within 7 days of application screening | Tentative |
| Personal Interview | 20 December 2026 to 25 March 2027 | Tentative window |
Important: use these dates only for planning. Replace them with the institute's official 2027-29 calendar once announced.
Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM Admission Process
Step 1: Take an accepted entrance test
Great Lakes accepts GMAT, CAT or XAT for the PGDM under the published admission rules. CAT and XAT are used for screening applications; the institute conducts its own admissions process.
Step 2: Submit the online application
Eligible candidates apply online through the Great Lakes website. The currently published application fee is ₹2,200.
Step 3: Application screening
The institute evaluates entrance scores, academic performance, work experience and the overall profile. College or university rank holders may receive additional weightage under the published criteria.
Step 4: AI-proctored interview
Shortlisted applicants complete an AI-proctored video interview that evaluates thought process and communication.
Step 5: Personal Interview
The personal interview considers areas such as general and business awareness, clarity of goals, attitude, people skills, communication and personal, extracurricular or professional initiatives.
Step 6: Offer, verification and enrolment
Selected candidates receive an admission decision and then complete document verification, fee payment and enrolment as instructed by the institute.
Academic details and transcripts, valid entrance-test information, personal profile details and one recommendation with the recommender's email ID are listed by Great Lakes for the application. Additional documents may be requested later.
Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM Fees 2026-28
| Fee component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee | ₹8,30,000 |
| Programme fee | ₹5,05,000 |
| Academic fee total | ₹13,35,000 |
| Twin AC accommodation | ₹6,32,000 |
| Refundable caution deposit | ₹10,000 |
| Alumni subscription | ₹5,000 |
| Total published fee | ₹19,82,000 |
What does the fee include?
Tuition includes reading material such as case studies, textbooks and online resources. The residential programme includes mandatory twin-sharing AC accommodation and vegetarian meals. Non-vegetarian food is optional and charged extra.
What is not included?
The institute specifically identifies personal laptop expenses and personal travel and miscellaneous expenses as excluded. Some non-academic housing or catering services may also be outsourced and charged through the relevant service providers.
₹19.82 lakh is the published programme fee. A student should keep a separate personal budget for laptop, travel, stationery and optional expenses.
Miscellaneous Charges and Estimated Additional Cost
The ₹19.82 lakh published fee is not the complete personal budget. Great Lakes excludes personal laptop expenses and personal travel/miscellaneous expenses. Non-vegetarian food is optional and extra.
| Expense | Official position | Planning estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | ₹2,200 currently published | ₹2,200 |
| Laptop | Mandatory; student's responsibility | ₹60,000–₹1,00,000 one-time |
| Personal travel / local transport | Excluded | ₹20,000–₹40,000 per year |
| Personal expenses / stationery | Personal / excluded | ₹15,000–₹30,000 per year |
| Non-vegetarian meals | Optional; charged extra | ₹20,000–₹50,000 per year |
| International immersion, if selected | Related travel and personal costs may be extra | Budget separately |
If you already own a suitable laptop, a practical planning buffer is around ₹40,000–₹80,000 per year for personal/local expenses, before optional food and international travel. A new laptop can add ₹60,000–₹1,00,000. These are planning estimates, not institute charges.
What Will You Study in Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM?
The PGDM combines management fundamentals with experiential learning, industry engagement, projects and a summer internship. The programme is structured so students build a common foundation before moving toward specialisation exposure.
Learning exposure
- Management fundamentals
- Summer internship
- Projects and live business exposure
- Specialisation exposure
- CXO and industry interactions
- Optional global learning opportunities
Career decision
Use the two-year format to test career hypotheses through coursework, internship and projects before locking into a target role.
Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM Placements: Year-wise Data
The latest official PGDM Class of 2025 report records an average CTC of ₹11.8 LPA and highest CTC of ₹22.7 LPA.
Three-year PGDM placement comparison
| Placement year | Average CTC | Highest domestic CTC |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ₹11.8 LPA | ₹22.7 LPA |
| 2024 | ₹11.7 LPA | ₹22.5 LPA |
| 2023 | ₹11.6 LPA | ₹20.5 LPA |
Average CTC increased from ₹11.6 lakh in 2023 to ₹11.8 lakh in 2025, while the highest domestic CTC increased from ₹20.5 lakh to ₹22.7 lakh.
Detailed placement analysis →Who Should Choose Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM?
Good fit
- Freshers and early-career professionals
- Less than 36 months of work experience
- Want a two-year management programme
- Want time for internship, projects and specialisation
Compare with PGPM if
- You already have 2+ years of work experience and want a one-year MBA.
- You want an accelerated career transition.
Great Lakes Gurgaon PGDM FAQs
What is the PGDM duration?
Two years, full-time and residential.
What is the PGDM fee?
The published 2026-28 total fee is ₹19.82 lakh.
What entrance exams are accepted?
GMAT, CAT and XAT are accepted under the published PGDM rules.
Can freshers apply?
Yes. Freshers and candidates with strictly less than 36 months of work experience can apply under the published criteria.
Is there a GD round?
The current official FAQ describes the selection process as an AI interview followed by a personal interview and states that there is no Group Discussion round.
Are 2027 admission dates official?
No. The 2027 dates on this page are clearly marked tentative because Great Lakes has not published the complete 2027-29 calendar.