About Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai
Know the institute, its legacy and what makes it stand out.
Legacy and Vision
Founded in 2004, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, is acclaimed as one of India’s best private business schools focused on management excellence, innovation, and social impact. Its vision aims to bridge the gap between Indian corporate needs and global management practices through rigorous pedagogy, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship fostered within a collaborative environment.
Academic Excellence
Great Lakes offers a two-year full-time PGDM and PGPM programs benchmarked globally, with clear emphasis on analytics, leadership, ethics, and digital enterprise. Features include case method learning, industry projects, international immersions, research, and leadership labs designed to foster strategic thinking and innovative management.
Faculty members are a blend of eminent scholars, industry veterans, and entrepreneurs who impart cutting-edge knowledge via case studies, simulations, live projects, and collaborative research. The curriculum evolves annually to include recent trends like AI, Fintech, Digital Marketing, Corporate Governance, and Social Impact Management.
Program Offerings & Specializations
PGDM (Full-Time, 2 Years): General management with electives in finance, marketing, operations, analytics, and digital transformation.
PGPM (One-Year, Executive): Designed for working professionals, emphasizing leadership, strategy, and digital enterprise.
Specialized Streams: Finance, Marketing, Analytics, Healthcare, Operations, and Entrepreneurship, with industry-specific electives and international exchanges.
Infrastructure & Campus Life
The Chennai campus is a state-of-the-art facility with modern classrooms, innovation labs, digital libraries, sports complex, conference halls, and eco-friendly designs. Student clubs include Analytics, Consulting, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and CSR, complemented by cultural festivals, business competitions (like “Tradex,” “Venture Capital Summit”), and leadership boot camps.
Industry & Global Linkages
Strategic alliances with global educational institutions (e.g., U.S., Europe, Asia), with inbound and outbound exchange programs, collaborative research, and faculty exchange programs. Corporate tie-ups facilitate internships, live projects, and industry mentorship.
Alumni & Industry Impact
A reputed alumni network spans leaders in Fortune 500 companies, startups, and government organizations. Regional and global headhunters target Great Lakes graduates for roles in consulting, digital making, finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and social enterprise.
College Highlights
Important Dates 2026
Key deadlines and upcoming events
Staying updated with the Great Lakes Chennai admission calendar is the first step toward your MBA success. Great Lakes Chennai follows a multi-cycle admission process to ensure every candidate gets a fair opportunity.
| Event for Great Lakes Chennai | Important Date (Batch 2026-28) |
| Great Lakes Chennai Application Cycle 1 Deadline | December 4, 2025 (Closed) |
| Great Lakes Chennai Application Cycle 2 Deadline | January 2, 2026 (Closed) |
| Great Lakes Chennai Application Cycle 3 Deadline | February 10, 2026 |
| Great Lakes Chennai Personal Interview (PI) Window | December 2025 – March 2026 |
| Great Lakes Chennai Final Results Declaration | March – April 2026 |
| Great Lakes Chennai Session Commencement | July 2026 |
See college life in action
Explore the campus, student life and placement stories.
Campus Tour
Life at Campus
Placements & Alumni
Student Experiences
Courses Offered 2026
Programs and specializations available
The portfolio of programs at Great Lakes Chennai is designed to create future-ready leaders. Every course at Great Lakes Chennai is benchmarked against international standards, contributing to the success of Great Lakes Chennai Placements.
PGPM (One-Year MBA) at Great Lakes Chennai
The flagship one-year Post Graduate Program in Management at Great Lakes Chennai is specifically designed for professionals with 2 to 8 years of work experience. It focuses on fast-tracking career growth through intensive learning.
PGDM (Two-Year MBA) at Great Lakes Chennai
The two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management at Great Lakes Chennai is tailored for freshers and professionals with up to 3 years of experience. It provides a solid foundation in management and is highly sought after during Great Lakes Chennai Placements.
PGPM-FBE at Great Lakes Chennai
The Family Business & Entrepreneurship program at Great Lakes Chennai focuses on grooming scions of family businesses to lead their legacies with modern management tools.
Executive Programs at Great Lakes Chennai
Great Lakes Chennai also offers specialized executive programs for mid-to-senior level professionals who wish to upskill while continuing their careers.
Admission Process 2026
Eligibility, selection process and how to apply
The Great Lakes Chennai selection process is holistic, evaluating candidates on multiple dimensions beyond just their entrance scores.
Shortlisting Criteria for Great Lakes Chennai
Aspirants must submit valid scores from CAT 2024/25, XAT 2025/26, GMAT (post-Jan 2023), or NMAT 2024 onwards (for PGPM). Great Lakes Chennai uses a profile-based shortlisting process.
Selection Weightage at Great Lakes Chennai
The final merit list for Great Lakes Chennai is prepared using the following criteria:
| Parameter for Great Lakes Chennai | Weightage (%) |
| Entrance Exam Score (CAT/XAT/GMAT/NMAT) | 35% |
| Personal Interview (PI) & AWT | 35% |
| Academic Record (10th, 12th, Graduation) | 25% |
| Gender Diversity & Achievements | 5% |
Fees Structure 2026
Program fee and other expenses
Investing in an education at Great Lakes Chennai provides an exceptional Return on Investment (ROI), as seen in the Great Lakes Chennai Placements data.
| Component for Great Lakes Chennai | PGPM (1 Year) | PGDM (2 Year) |
| Tuition Fee at Great Lakes Chennai | ₹12,43,000 | ₹10,25,000 |
| Program Fee at Great Lakes Chennai | ₹6,96,000 | ₹5,78,000 |
| Accommodation (AC Single/Twin) | ₹3,96,000 | ₹6,32,000 |
| Total Estimated Fee at Great Lakes Chennai | ₹23,50,000 | ₹22,50,000 |
Placements 2026
Recruiters, packages and placement highlights
Great Lakes Chennai Placements: 2025 Highlights
The success of Great Lakes Chennai Placements is a testament to the institute's strong industry linkages. In the 2025 cycle, Great Lakes Chennai Placements achieved 100% results across both cohorts.
| Great Lakes Chennai Placements Metric | PGPM (1 Year) | PGDM (2 Year) |
| Highest Package | ₹30.80 LPA | ₹39.30 LPA |
| Average Package | ₹17.80 LPA | ₹15.00 LPA |
| Top 10% Average | ₹28.60 LPA | ₹23.30 LPA |
| Top 25% Average | ₹24.00 LPA | ₹19.90 LPA |
Top Recruiters at Great Lakes Chennai Placements:
Leading the Great Lakes Chennai Placements drive were companies like Accenture, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, KPMG, Infosys, and Swiggy. The BFSI sector emerged as a major recruiter at Great Lakes Chennai Placements, accounting for 27% of offers.
Great Lakes Chennai - Expected Cutoffs (Batch 2026)
To receive a call from Great Lakes Chennai, candidates should aim for the following minimum percentiles.
| Entrance Exam | Great Lakes Chennai Cutoff (Desired) |
| CAT 2025 Percentile | 85 - 98 |
| XAT 2026 Percentile | 85 - 98 |
| GMAT Score | 600 - 760 |
| NMAT Score (PGPM) | 200+ |
More Facts About Great Lakes Chennai
Double Crown Accreditation: Great Lakes Chennai holds both AACSB and AMBA accreditations, a rare feat for Indian B-schools.
LEED Platinum Campus: The Great Lakes Chennai campus is eco-friendly and was the first in India to receive this sustainability rating.
Karma Yoga: A mandatory experiential leadership project at Great Lakes Chennai where students work with local villages to drive social impact.
Analytics Pioneer: Great Lakes Chennai was among the first in India to introduce specialized majors in Business Analytics and AI.
Fluid Intellect: A unique pedagogy at Great Lakes Chennai that blends conceptual frameworks with real-world problem-solving skills.
Great Lakes Chennai - FAQ
Q1: What is the primary USP of Great Lakes Chennai Placements?
The USP of Great Lakes Chennai Placements is the access to top-tier Consulting, Analytics, and Product Management roles, combined with a high ROI due to the accelerated learning at Great Lakes Chennai.
Q2: Does Great Lakes Chennai accept freshers for both programs?
No, freshers can only apply for the two-year PGDM at Great Lakes Chennai. The PGPM requires a minimum of 2 years of work experience.
Q3: How is the hostel facility at Great Lakes Chennai?
The Great Lakes Chennai campus is fully residential. Hostels provide AC rooms (Single or Twin sharing) and the mess serves nutritious vegetarian food.
Q4: Is NMAT accepted for the PGDM program at Great Lakes Chennai?
No, NMAT is only accepted for the one-year PGPM program at Great Lakes Chennai.
Q5: What is the average package for the Class of 2025 in Great Lakes Chennai Placements?
The average package for PGPM stood at ₹17.8 LPA, while the PGDM average was ₹15.0 LPA in the latest Great Lakes Chennai Placements.
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