ISB PGP YL Selection Criteria 2026
The Indian School of Business Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders (PGP YL) is offered at the ISB Hyderabad campus and it is a 20 month full time residential program designed for fresh graduates and young professionals with maximum 2 years of professional experience. It is structured for those individuals who have demonstrated excellence in academics and beyond, showing a clear intent to become changemakers of the future. This programme aims to provide a unique blend of academics with campus experience.
In this blog, we will cover the ISB PGP YL selection criteria 2026, which includes its eligibility criteria, required work experience, its selection process, cutoff and interview preparation tips.
ISB PGP YL Eligibility Criteria 2026
ISB PGP YL candidates must possess qualities such as graduation, strategic leadership potential, commitment to learning and growth, and management of global business. While candidates must meet the following requirements:
Academic: Applicants must pursue their final year of an undergraduate program or must hold either a three-year or a four-year bachelor's degree from a recognised institution
Test score: The prerequisite for the ISB PGP YL programme is that applicants must submit their unofficial test scores of any one of the GRE, GMAT, or CAT during the application submission.
English Proficiency: If the primary language of instruction was not English for undergraduate studies, then your TOEFL or IELTS score is required.
Read More: ISB Hyderabad Admission Process, Cut off, Courses, Fees
ISB PGP YL Work Experience
The PGP YL is designed for "Young Leaders." The PGP (flagship program) has a 24-month minimum work experience requirement.
Work experience: The ISB PGP YL programme is designed for students with no work experience. Those with less than 24 months of full-time work experience are eligible.
Fresh Graduates: Fresh graduates with no work experience (directly from college) are welcome to apply.
Quality vs Quantity: ISB will evaluate the roles, responsibilities, and impact created by a candidate with less than 2 years of experience, rather than looking at just the months of experience.
ISB PGP YL Selection Process
To apply for the ISB PGP YL program, follow these steps to ensure a smooth process. Begin by registering on the official portal and submitting your application along with all required documents before the deadlines. Here's a breakdown of the selection process.
Application Submission: Register on the official portal to begin your application process and complete the application along with all required supporting documentation online on the admissions portal before the application deadlines.
Application review: The Admissions Committee reviews academic records, test scores, essays, achievements, and recommendation letters.
Shortlisting for the Interview: Shortlisting is done based on this review. The invite for an interview is sent 3-7 days in advance. The interview lasts 30 minutes and may be either online or on-site.
Interview & On-the-Spot Essays: Candidates need to write two on-the-spot essays at the time of the interview, which helps them to assess thought clarity and fitness of the candidates.
Final Decision: Admission to the ISB PGP YL programme is finalised by the committee consisting of ISB faculty and alumni.
How to Get into the ISB PGP YL Program?
The candidates are required to have a strategic preparation to get admission to the ISB PGP YL Program.
Secure a Competitive GMAT or GRE Score: The candidates are primarily filtered based on their test scores of GMAT/GRE/CAT, so the candidates need to have a good score in this test to get admission in the PGP YL program.
Need a High Impactful Profile: ISB looks for exceptional experiences on your undergraduate record that show potential for future leadership.
- A candidate should have leadership experience demonstrating a history of responsibilities in college fests, student councils and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
- The ISB admires the competitive achievements of the candidates by winning national or international case competitions, sporting achievements, or debate awards.
- The ISB expects quality internships by gaining experience with established startups, management consulting firms and research opportunities to show the candidates matured professionally and understand how to thrive in high-pressure situations.
Craft coherent and strategic essays: Typically, the essays form the narrative bridge from your past accomplishments to your future career aspirations. You must clearly articulate the essays with goal alignment which clearly define your short-term and long-term goals and it should be institutional fit, which clearly explains why ISB is the best fit for you, including specific faculty members, programs that appealed to you about the "one-year" model and candidate should justify why the PGP YL trajectory completes your evolving career at this early stage.
Obtain Significant Recommendation Letter: You want to have recommendation letters (LOR's) that provide third-party verification of your potential. The candidates should have recommendations from high-ranking individuals like professors, managers who know you really well, but who can provide specific anecdotes regarding your work ethic, leadership capabilities, and way of thinking.
Excel in the Personal Interview: The personal interview is the final hurdle in the selection process. The PI is usually conducted by the ISB alumni. In the interview, candidates should give their answers in an authentic and structured manner.
Read More: How to Get Into ISB Hyderabad? Admission Process, Cut Offs
ISB PGP YL Cutoff
One of the most common questions among the applicants is: "What is the minimum cutoff for ISB PGP YL?". However, no minimum cutoff is officially announced by ISB for the PGP YL program. ISB maintains a holistic review process in the selection, and it is evaluated not solely by entrance exam scores in an application but based on the applicant's strong profiles, academic excellence, and benchmark achievements.
In order to remain in the "safe zone," the following scores should be required for the ISB PGP YL selection:
Exam | Average score |
CAT | 98 - 99 percentile |
GMAT FE | 665+ |
GRE | 325+ |
Note: These are not the official cutoffs. These cutoffs are based on the previous year trends and the reputation of the ISB.
Read More: ISB PGP YL Cut Off 2026, Check Previous Years Cut-off Analysis
ISB PGP YL Interview Tips
The interview is more of a conversation than an interrogation, so take advantage of these tips to help you get through it successfully:
Know Your Resume - Every line of your application is a fair game to be asked about, so be prepared to discuss everything on your resume, whether it is an internship or a hobby.
Master The STAR Method - Making use of the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) will help you respond to behavioural-type questions, conflict resolution questions and ethical dilemma questions.
Articulate To Interviewer Why You Have Chosen To Attend The PGP YL Program - You must be able to articulate clearly how you envision the 20-month program bridging the gap between where you are today and where you ultimately want to be in terms of your career.
Be Current With Business Trends - Keep up with all major global business trends, industry trends and Indian economy insights that may ultimately impact your desired future industry
Practice Your Mock Interviews - Practice having your own mock interview with your mentors or peers as if they were conducting a panel-style interview.
ISB PGP YL Selection Criteria 2026: Conclusion
The ISB PGP YL 2026 program is designed for young leaders who want to build a successful career in management. It is open to fresh graduates and those with limited work experience. The program helps you grow by offering both academic learning and opportunities to develop leadership skills. It’s ideal for individuals who want to make a real impact in global business.
To get into the program, focus on doing well in your entrance exams, building a strong profile with leadership experience, and submitting a well-prepared application with clear essays and good recommendations. The ISB PGP YL program is a great opportunity that will help you gain the skills and network you need to kick-start a successful career.
