Programme Overview
IIM Kozhikode's Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies & Management (PGP-LSM) is a two-year, six-term, full-time postgraduate programme that combines liberal studies with core management education. Its design is intended for students who want to develop managerial judgment beyond purely technical or quantitative business problem-solving.
The programme provides liberal-studies and core-management coverage in the first year, followed by advanced courses and electives in the second year. IIMK also includes international and rural immersion and a master's thesis as distinctive elements of the programme structure.
The programme deliberately combines management education with perspectives from liberal studies. For students, the practical distinction is that the learning approach places greater emphasis on judgment, context, interpretation and multidisciplinary thinking alongside core management principles.
Tentative Admission Dates: 2027-29
Status: Tentative / expected. IIM Kozhikode has not published the official 2027-29 PGP-LSM admission calendar in the reviewed official sources. The dates below are indicative planning windows based on the CAT-linked admission cycle and the programme's admission process.
| Event Name | Tentative Admission Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Registration | August–September 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Examination | November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Result | December 2026 |
| IIM Kozhikode Stage 1 Registration | December 2026–January 2027 |
| Shortlist / WAT & PI | January–April 2027 |
| Final Admission Offers | April–May 2027 |
| Fee Payment & Admission Confirmation | May–June 2027 |
| Programme Commencement | June–July 2027 |
This is an indicative planning timeline, not an official 2027-29 admission calendar.
Eligibility for IIM Kozhikode PGP-LSM 2026–28
For the 2026–28 admission cycle, IIM Kozhikode requires candidates with a graduation or post-graduation degree to have at least 60% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA. Candidates with CA, CMA (ICWA) or CS who do not have a graduation degree need at least 50% aggregate marks in the relevant professional qualification.
A valid CAT, GRE or GMAT score from the period specified in the official policy is also required. CAT applicants must have a positive scaled score in all sections of CAT 2025. Candidates awaiting final-year results may apply subject to the provisional-admission conditions in the official policy.
| Applicant type | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Graduation / Post-Graduation degree holders | At least 60% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA |
| CA / CMA (ICWA) / CS without graduation degree | At least 50% aggregate marks |
| Final-year candidates | May apply, subject to IIMK's provisional-admission conditions |
Entrance Exam & Selection Benchmarks
PGP-LSM accepts CAT, GRE and GMAT for the 2026–28 cycle, subject to the score-validity and programme-specific conditions published by IIM Kozhikode. CAT candidates must obtain a positive scaled score in all CAT 2025 sections.
Instead of presenting an unofficial “expected cutoff”, this page follows the official admission policy. Students should distinguish between the minimum conditions needed to enter the selection process and the competitive score/profile required to receive a shortlist.
A high “IIM Kozhikode PGP-LSM cutoff” search may refer to either eligibility thresholds or actual shortlist competitiveness. IIMK's final shortlist depends on multiple factors, including test performance and profile parameters, so a single percentile cannot be treated as a guaranteed admission score.
IIM Kozhikode PGP-LSM Admission Process
IIM Kozhikode uses a three-stage selection process for PGP-LSM.
- Check eligibility: confirm the academic qualification and accepted entrance-test requirements in the current PGP-LSM admission policy.
- Take the accepted entrance test: follow the exam and score-validity rules for the relevant cycle.
- Complete IIMK Stage 1 registration: eligible candidates complete the programme-specific online registration; registration itself is not an interview call.
- Shortlisting: IIMK prepares the Stage 2 shortlist using the Aggregate Index Score and the profile parameters in the policy.
- Attend the writing task and Personal Interview: shortlisted candidates complete the required selection activities.
- Final merit and offer: IIMK prepares the category-wise merit list and issues offers under the applicable policy and reservation norms.
- Confirm admission: pay the required acceptance/registration amount and complete document verification and fee formalities within the deadline.
IIM Kozhikode PGP-LSM Fees 2026-28
The official 2026-28 fee structure for PGP, PGP-Finance and PGP-LSM totals ₹23.50 lakh over two years.
| Fee component | Year 1 | Year 2 | 2-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | ₹7,00,000 | ₹7,00,000 | ₹14,00,000 |
| Admission | ₹15,000 | — | ₹15,000 |
| IT, Infrastructure & Miscellaneous | ₹1,20,000 | ₹1,20,000 | ₹2,40,000 |
| Library | ₹95,000 | ₹95,000 | ₹1,90,000 |
| Hostel | ₹45,000 | ₹45,000 | ₹90,000 |
| Books & Study Material | ₹1,15,000 | ₹1,15,000 | ₹2,30,000 |
| Student Activities | ₹15,000 | ₹15,000 | ₹30,000 |
| Orientation | ₹17,000 | — | ₹17,000 |
| Student Support Services | ₹20,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹45,000 |
| Workshops & Enrichment Courses | ₹14,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Examination | ₹19,000 | ₹19,000 | ₹38,000 |
| Alumni | — | ₹20,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Published total | ₹11,75,000 | ₹11,75,000 | ₹23,50,000 |
Estimated minimum published cost: ₹23.77 lakh including programme fee, caution deposit and welfare fund, before actual mess consumption, personal expenses and international-immersion costs.
IIM Kozhikode Scholarships for PGP-LSM
IIM Kozhikode lists institute and external scholarships for PGP, PGP-LSM and PGP-Finance students.
| Scholarship / assistance | Eligibility / selection | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| IIMK Merit Scholarship | Academic performance/CGPA | 1 scholarship per 20 students |
| IIMK Need Based Financial Assistance | Family income ≤ ₹8 lakh plus education-loan conditions specified by IIMK | As determined under IIMK's scheme |
| Mirae Asset Foundation | Meritorious and needy PGP students; family income below ₹8 lakh | ₹5 lakh per student |
| Aditya Birla Group Scholarship | Top eligible students under sponsor criteria | ₹1.75 lakh per year |
| OPJEMS | Top eligible PGP students under sponsor criteria | ₹1.50 lakh per year |
IIM Kozhikode PGP-LSM Placements: Year-wise Analysis
IIM Kozhikode reports final placements jointly for PGP, PGP-Finance and PGP-LSM. The following figures therefore describe the combined participating programmes and should not be represented as PGP-LSM-only salary outcomes.
| Placement year | Mean CTC | Median CTC | Highest CTC | Recruiters / students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ₹28.18 LPA | ₹27.50 LPA | ₹81.00 LPA | 169 recruiters; 561 students participated |
| 2024 | ₹28.05 LPA | ₹27.00 LPA | ₹72.02 LPA | 156 recruiters; 537 students participated |
| 2023 | ₹31.02 LPA | ₹27.00 LPA | ₹67.02 LPA | 123 recruiters; 556 students participated |
Trend analysis: the combined highest CTC increased from ₹67.02 LPA in 2023 to ₹72.02 LPA in 2024 and ₹81 LPA in 2025. The median moved from ₹27 LPA in 2023 and 2024 to ₹27.50 LPA in 2025. The mean CTC fluctuated across the three seasons, which is why median and role mix should be considered along with the average figure.
Latest 2025 placement snapshot
Domain mix students should examine
The 2025 combined report recorded consulting as the largest domain at 32%, followed by finance at 19.2%, general management at 16.4%, sales and marketing at 14.4%, IT & analytics at 13.5% and operations at 4.5%. For PGP-LSM applicants, this broad role mix is more informative than assuming that the programme leads only to a single sector or function.
Career context specific to PGP-LSM
IIMK's official PGP-LSM FAQ describes career possibilities across business, social enterprises, healthcare, hospitality and services. The combined placement statistics show the wider campus opportunity pool; students should not infer a separate PGP-LSM package unless IIMK publishes a programme-specific placement report.
Who Should Apply for IIM Kozhikode PGP-LSM?
Students who value multidisciplinary learning
A strong fit for candidates who want management education informed by humanities, social sciences and broader liberal-studies perspectives.
Future managers facing complex decisions
Useful for students who recognise that many management problems involve incomplete information, competing stakeholders and contextual judgment.
Candidates seeking a distinctive MBA alternative
Suitable for applicants who want a management degree but do not want their learning experience to be limited to a conventional functional-specialisation approach.
Freshers and professionals with academic curiosity
The programme can suit candidates who are comfortable exploring ideas across disciplines while building a management foundation.
Who Should Think Twice Before Choosing PGP-LSM?
- Candidates looking primarily for a narrowly specialised programme in finance, marketing, analytics or operations.
- Students who want only a conventional MBA curriculum and have little interest in multidisciplinary or liberal-studies learning.
- Applicants selecting the programme only as an alternative route to the IIM Kozhikode brand without understanding its academic orientation.
FAQs
Official Sources
- IIMK — PGP-LSM Programme
- IIMK — PGP-LSM Admission Policy 2026–28
- IIMK — PGP-LSM Selection Process
- IIMK — PGP-LSM Fees
- IIMK — PGP-LSM Programme Structure
- IIMK — Current programme fee / fee structure
- IIMK — Final Placements (PGP/PGP-FIN/PGP-LSM)