MBA Application Forms Closing in November 2026: Open Now, Opening Soon and Last Dates
CAT 2026 is on 29 November, but several top B-school forms close before it, and some of the biggest names, like FMS Delhi, have not opened yet. If you wait for the CAT result to start applying, you will miss some of them. Here is the full calendar, with what is open, what is about to open and what to do first.
The Short Answer
Five forms close in November before or around CAT: MICA (21 November), SNAP registration (25 November), FMS Delhi and SPJIMR (27 November) and MDI Gurgaon (28 November). IMT Ghaziabad is open with no closing date announced yet. FMS Delhi is not open yet and is expected to open in early November, but it closes two days before CAT, so you will have a short window. The rest, including IIFT, TAPMI, XIMB, IMI Delhi, GIM Goa and the IIT MBA programmes, close in December, January or later. Fill the November forms first, because you can apply before your CAT score is declared.
MBA Forms Calendar: November 2026 to January 2027
Dates marked "expected" are based on past cycles and announcements, and they can shift, so treat them as planning dates.
Forms Closing in November
MICA Ahmedabad: 21 November
MICAT I is on 5 December, and the form closes on 21 November, which is before CAT. There is a second attempt in February, with registration from 25 November to 30 January. Read our full guide to MICAT 2027 for the pattern, fee and which attempt to choose.
SNAP: 25 November
SNAP is the exam for Symbiosis institutes, including SIBM Pune. Registration closes on 25 November, and the tests are on 13, 19 and 26 December. You pay a separate fee for each Symbiosis programme you add. If you are choosing between SNAP and NMAT, read our comparison of SNAP vs NMAT.
FMS Delhi: 27 November
FMS Delhi's form is not open yet, but it closes on 27 November, two days before CAT. It is expected to open in the first week of November, which leaves you only about three weeks. The application fee is expected to be about ₹1,000 for general candidates. FMS accepts only CAT, and the shortlist depends on your CAT score, so keep your documents ready before the form opens. Our comparison of FMS vs MDI vs SPJIMR helps you decide where it fits on your list.
SPJIMR: 27 November
The PGDM and PGDM (BM) form closes two days before CAT. The school looks at profile first, so do not leave it until the result. Our post on who should apply to SPJIMR explains how academics, work experience and the score are weighed.
MDI Gurgaon: 28 November
MDI's form is listed to close on 28 November. Our post on the MDI Gurgaon application form has the steps and the details.
BITSoM Mumbai: 15 November (Round 1)
BITSoM runs application rounds, with Round 1 closing on 15 November and Round 2 on 24 January. If you want the earlier round, this one closes first.
Open Now, With No Closing Date Announced
IMT Ghaziabad
The common application for IMT Ghaziabad, Nagpur and Hyderabad is open, but IMT has not announced the last date. GMAT scores must reach the office by 15 January 2027. Do not assume you have until the end. Our guide to the IMT Ghaziabad application form has the details.
Not Open Yet: What to Expect
FMS Delhi is also not open yet. Its details are in the November section above, because it closes on 27 November.
IIFT Delhi
IIFT's form is expected to close in December, and the fee is expected to be around ₹3,000. It accepts CAT.
TAPMI Manipal
TAPMI's last date is expected in December. It accepts CAT, XAT, GMAT and CMAT, and the application fee ranges from about ₹1,800 to ₹4,000 depending on the category.
Great Lakes
Great Lakes Chennai and Gurgaon are expected to close in January 2027. The fee is expected to be around ₹2,200, and the last date is yet to be announced.
IIT MBA programmes
IIT Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur and Roorkee run management programmes that accept CAT. Their forms are expected to open and close in January and February 2027. Our post on the best IITs for MBA compares them.
IIMs
Most IIMs ask for a separate profile form after the CAT result, so they are not part of this calendar. See our posts on IIM Calcutta's selection criteria for 2027 and the top six IIMs to plan for that stage.
December Deadlines to Plan For
XAT is on 3 January 2027, and registration closes on 6 December. Our guide to XAT 2027 Decision Making covers the section that makes XAT different.
How to Plan Your Applications
- Fill the November forms first. MICA, SNAP, FMS, SPJIMR and MDI close before or around CAT, and you can apply without a score.
- Check eligibility before you pay. Each college has its own rules on graduation marks, work experience and final-year applicants.
- Keep your documents ready. You will need your Class 10, Class 12 and graduation marksheets, ID, photo, signature and any work experience documents.
- Do not skip the profile sections. Many of these colleges shortlist on profile, so give specific details instead of leaving fields thin.
- Do not leave all forms for the last week. Servers slow down near deadlines, and a document mismatch can take days to fix.
- Avoid paying for colleges you will not attend. Every form has a fee, so build a realistic list. Our guide to the mistakes to avoid in the last six weeks before CAT 2026 covers how to balance form-filling with your CAT preparation.
What We Do Not Know Yet
- FMS Delhi's opening date is an expectation (early November), so watch for the form.
- IMT Ghaziabad's last date is not announced.
- Expected dates for IIFT, TAPMI, Great Lakes and the IIT programmes can move, so treat them as planning dates.
- Application fees change from year to year, and some are not final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which MBA forms close in November 2026? MICA (21 November), SNAP registration (25 November), FMS Delhi and SPJIMR (27 November), MDI Gurgaon (28 November) and BITSoM Round 1 (15 November).
Can I apply before the CAT result? Yes. These colleges accept applications before your CAT score is declared, and you add the score later.
Has the FMS Delhi form opened? Not yet. It is expected in the first week of November, and it closes on 27 November.
What is the last date for IMT Ghaziabad? IMT has not announced it. GMAT scores must reach the office by 15 January 2027.
When does the XAT registration close? 6 December 2026, and the exam is on 3 January 2027.
When do IIM forms open? Most IIMs ask for a separate profile form after the CAT result in December, so they are not part of this November calendar.
Which colleges accept CAT, XAT and GMAT? IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, IMI Delhi, GIM Goa, TAPMI and Great Lakes accept several of these. Each college lists its own accepted exams, and a few, like FMS, accept only CAT.
Should I apply to every college? No. Build a list based on your profile and score range, and keep the fee and preparation time in mind.
Final Word
The November deadlines are the ones that can cost you a college, because they fall before CAT. Fill MICA, SPJIMR, MDI and SNAP first, be ready for FMS Delhi to open and close within about three weeks, and keep your documents ready for the rest. Dates and fees change, so confirm the latest details on each college's official admissions page before you pay.
Kavya Kumar
Founder of GRADSCALE, which he architected and built from scratch — the daily drill engine, PYQ access, analytics and leaderboards behind the platform's daily execution system.
