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Education Expert
There are actually a lot of MBA colleges where Indian students can apply without a GMAT score.Many schools now care more about your full profile — your work experience, leadership skills, and career goals — instead of just your test scores.
Schools like INSEAD (France/Singapore), ISB Hyderabad, and HEC Paris sometimes waive the GMAT for strong applicants, especially if you have a great professional background. Also, a lot of universities in the UK and Australia offer MBA programs that don’t need GMAT at all if you show good work experience.
Even in the US, some top colleges offer GMAT waivers if you meet certain conditions like having a strong GPA, solid work experience, or another master’s degree.
So yes, you have options. If you focus on building a strong application and showing why you’re a good fit, you can still aim for great schools — even without a GMAT score.
Content Writer
Yes, some MBA colleges don’t need the GMAT Focus Edition from Indian students—especially if you have good work experience or a strong academic record.
Here are a few examples:
- IE Business School (Spain): GMAT is optional. You can take their own admission test instead.
- INSEAD (France/Singapore): Waivers are possible if you have a solid background in quant-heavy degrees like engineering, economics, math, or computer science.
- Schulich School of Business (Canada): You can skip the GMAT if you have more than 5 years of work experience and a good GPA.
- Rotman School (Canada): Waivers are often given to candidates from tech, finance, or analytics fields.
- Imperial College Business School (UK): GMAT is not required. They look at your profile as a whole.
To get a waiver, you usually need to apply for it and show that you’ve done well in math-related subjects or worked in data-driven roles.
Checkout this blog for MBA colleges offering GMAT waivers for Indian students.
Experienced Human Resources Specialist | Talent Acquisition | Employee Relations | HR Operations Expert
Yes, some MBA programs let Indian students apply without the GMAT Focus Edition, especially if they have strong academics or solid work experience.
For example, Oxford Said can waive the test if you’ve done well in college, especially if you studied subjects like engineering or business. Warwick Business School also accepts strong profiles without GMAT, especially if you’ve worked in roles that involve numbers, like finance or analytics.
In Canada, Ivey Business School offers waivers, too. Many Indian applicants with 4–6 years of experience in consulting or tech have been admitted without taking the test. Schools like DeGroote and John Molson are also known for being flexible.
To boost your case, you can take online prep courses like MBA Math or HBS CORe during or before the application process. These help show that you're ready for MBA-level coursework, even without a GMAT score.
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Many top MBA programs today don’t make GMAT mandatory for Indian students.
A lot of schools understand that great candidates can’t be judged only by a test score That’s why they focus more on your work experience, leadership skills, and overall achievements.
In India, ISB sometimes grants GMAT waivers if you have a strong professional background. Outside India, business schools like HEC Paris, IE Business School, and Warwick Business School offer MBA options where GMAT may not be required, especially if you have solid work experience or another advanced degree.
There are also universities in the UK, Australia, and Canada that welcome applicants without GMAT, mainly if your academics and career track are impressive. Some US colleges even offer waivers if you meet certain conditions.
So if you’re serious about applying, focus on building a strong story — your experience, your recommendations, and your goals — because with the right profile, you can easily get into a top program even without a GMAT score.