Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Delhi MBA Review 2026: Fees, Placements & Global Career Scope

IIFT Delhi MBA Review 2026 – Fees, Placements & Global Career Opportunities Explained

1) Program at a glance

• Degree: MBA (International Business) — full-time, two-year / six-trimester flagship program.

• Typical intake: ~240 seats for the full-time MBA (varies year-to-year).

• Program emphasis: international trade, cross-border strategy, export-import operations, trade policy, global supply chains and international finance.

2) Curriculum & pedagogy — what makes IIFT different

IIFT’s pedagogy is focused on combining core management fundamentals with applied international trade modules. Expect:

• Core terms covering finance, marketing, operations, and strategy.

• Specialized courses in international trade policy, cross-border logistics, global marketing, trade finance and export-import documentation.

• Case-method sessions, live projects with exporters/importers and industry-linked capstone projects.

• Guest lectures and exchange opportunities (IIFT runs collaborations with more than two dozen international universities).

Practical implication: if your career goal is export/import, trade policy, trade finance or roles in MNCs with an international remit, IIFT’s curriculum directly maps to those skills.

3) Fee structure and living costs (2026 figures)

Multiple reputable sources report the total tuition & fees for the full-time MBA (IB) at IIFT Delhi in the ballpark of ₹21.8–21.92 lakhs for the entire program (2026 figures used by colleges and aggregators). First-year instalments often cross ₹11 lakh, and hostel charges are additional (~₹45k–₹54k per year depending on accommodation).

Breakdown (approximate, 2026):

• Tuition & academic fees (total): ~₹21.8 L (full course).

• First-year payable: ~₹11.0 L (typical split).

• Hostel (annual): ₹45,000–54,000 (approx.).

• Other expenses (books, living, travel): variable — plan ₹1.5–3 L per year depending on lifestyle.

Tip: always check the official fee notification on IIFT’s website during admissions to confirm exact headcounts and refundable deposits before making payment.

4) Admissions snapshot — eligibility, intake & selection stages

• Basic eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (minimum marks as per official notification). For 2026 entry, selection commonly uses national entrance tests (CAT/GATE/others as applicable) with subsequent WAT/Group Exercise/PI or equivalent rounds — check current year notification. Historically, IIFT has used CAT scores and later stages like WAT/PI for shortlist.

• Intake: ~240 seats (subject to yearly revision).

Application tip: prepare a concise WAT sample and practice extempore/PI answers on international trade topics (trade wars, supply chain disruptions, FTA negotiations, etc.).

5) Summer placements (internships) — 2025 highlights

Summer internship reports are strong indicators of recruiter interest and role quality. For the 2023–25 batch, IIFT reported successful summer placements with high average stipends in several core areas (highest reported summer stipend ~₹4.5 L; average stipend ~₹2.67 L in 2025 summer placements). These internships are often in consulting, international trade, analytics, finance, and supply-chain roles.

Why summer placements matter: strong internships translate into more pre-placement offers and help clarify career trajectories before final placements.

6) Final placements — 2025 snapshot and trends

Headline numbers (placement cycle 2025):

• Average CTC (reported): ~₹31.3 LPA (MBA-IB figure reported in 2025).

• Highest international CTC reported: ~₹1.23 Cr (noted in placement summaries).

• Highest domestic CTC reported: ranges reported up to ₹72 LPA (varies by role).

A few observations:

• The 2025 average reflects a strong year driven by a higher share of specialized, senior international roles and high-paying corporate offers.

• IIFT’s placement reports show not only pay but also breadth: new recruiters join each year and international placements (though fewer in absolute numbers) significantly lift the average.

Caveat: averages can be skewed by a handful of very high international offers. Look for median and sector-specific averages if you want a conservative picture of expected pay in your target domain.

7) Recruiters, roles & sectoral breakdown

Typical recruiter mix and roles:

• Consulting & Analytics: Strategy roles, market-entry projects, and analytics (domestic & cross-border projects).

• FMCG & Retail: International sourcing, export strategy, category management.

• Banks / Trade Finance / NBFCs: Trade finance, international payments, treasury roles.

• Logistics & Supply Chain firms: Global logistics, customs compliance, trade ops.

• E-commerce / Tech: International expansion teams, marketplace operations and business analytics.

IIFT’s official placement pages and year reports list 100+ recruiters in active cycles, with many new recruiters added in 2025 — a sign of expanding demand for international-business-trained MBAs.

8) Global career scope — international roles & collaborations

IIFT’s proposition for global careers:

• The program branding and coursework target international trade, making graduates attractive for roles involving exports, import compliance, trade policy, global supply chain, and cross-border business development.

• International collaborations and student exchanges (IIFT lists partnerships with multiple universities) increase exposure and can facilitate internships or placements overseas, though the absolute number of international placements remains limited relative to domestic offers.

• The 2025 placement cycle produced several high-value international offers (including one reported highest at ₹1.23 Cr), showing that students who target and prepare for global roles can achieve premium compensation.

Real-world counsel: if your primary objective is a career abroad, plan at least one strong international internship, build language/region expertise, and leverage faculty/exchange networks.

9) ROI analysis: salary vs cost vs opportunity

With total fees in the ₹21.8 L range and an average CTC reported ~₹31.3 LPA (2025), a simplified ROI look:

• Payback horizon: For students getting close to or above the average CTC, payback of tuition (ignoring living costs, taxes and personal commitments) can be 1–2 years of post-tax earnings in the best-case scenarios.

• Risk factors: If you land a mid-level domestic offer or enter a niche function with lower starting pay, ROI will lengthen. Thus preparing for high-demand roles (consulting, analytics, trade finance) improves ROI probability.

Conclusion: IIFT offers strong ROI for students who target the program’s strengths (international trade, trade finance, global strategy) and secure placements near the program averages.

10) Student life, campus and soft-skill preparation

• Campus life includes student bodies focused on consulting, trade-societies, cultural events and talks by trade practitioners. IIFT’s Delhi campus is well-connected to business hubs.

• Soft-skill prep: placement cells emphasize case-interviews, communication skills, resume reviews and domain-specific interview prep (trade policy, customs regulations). Engage actively with cell activities for best outcomes.

11) Strengths, weaknesses and who should choose IIFT

Strengths

• Laser-focused international trade curriculum and brand recognition in trade circles.

• Rising placement averages and high-value international offers in recent cycles.

• Good industry connections for export-import, trade finance and logistics roles.

Weaknesses

• Smaller volume of international placements compared to domestic — international roles exist but are limited in absolute numbers.

• Program fees are in the bracket of top B-schools — requires clear career alignment to justify cost.

Best-fit candidate

• Applicants aiming for careers in international trade, export-import management, trade policy, trade finance, global supply chain and international business development.

12) FAQ — common questions (includes focus keyword)

Q: What makes the IIFT Delhi MBA Review 2026 special compared to other Indian B-schools?

A: The IIFT Delhi MBA Review 2026 highlights IIFT’s domain specialization — a curriculum tailored for international trade and cross-border business, strong recruiter interest in trade/finance/logistics, and rising average salaries in recent placement cycles, which together create a unique pathway for global-business careers.

Q: How much are the fees for IIFT Delhi MBA in 2026?

A: Total fees are reported around ₹21.8–21.92 L for the full program (confirm with official fee notice at admission).

Q: What average salary should I expect after IIFT?

A: The program reported an average CTC of ~₹31.3 LPA in 2025, but averages vary by batch and role — consult sector-wise medians for a conservative estimate.