Great Lakes Institute of Management, established in 2004 by Padmashree Prof. Bala V. Balachandran, is a top-tier private management institution located on the East Coast Road (ECR) in Manamai, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education, Government of India, Great Lakes is one of the select Indian business schools holding prestigious triple international accreditations—AACSB, AMBA, and NBA. The institute holds prominent national standings, including ranking among the top management institutions in India in NIRF and IIRF frameworks.
Spanning a LEED Platinum-certified green residential campus along the scenic East Coast, Great Lakes Chennai provides state-of-the-art educational infrastructure. Facilities include air-conditioned, tech-enabled smart classrooms, high-performance analytical trading labs, multi-purpose auditoriums, executive research centers, a central digital library, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and air-conditioned residential hostels.
The pedagogical model integrates rigorous academic instruction with global business dynamics, featuring international guest faculty, empirical study projects, business simulation workshops, Karma-Yoga experiential leadership initiatives, and industry internships.
The tentative admission schedule for postgraduate management programs (2026–27 / 2026–28 sessions) at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai is outlined below:
Event
Tentative Dates
Online Application Window Opens
September – October 2025
Application Submission - Cycle 1 / Cycle 2 Deadlines
December 2025 – January 2026
Entrance Examinations (CAT / XAT / CMAT / NMAT / GMAT)
November 2025 – January 2026
Shortlist Announcement & Personal Interview (PI) Rounds
January – March 2026
Merit List Declaration & Offer Letter Issuance
Rolling Basis (Post-Interviews)
Final Fee Deposit & Enrollment Confirmation
April – June 2026
Commencement of Academic Session
April/May 2026 (PGPM) / July 2026 (PGDM)
Program
Duration
Target Candidate Profile
Total Program Fee (Approx.)
PGPM (1-Year Residential)
1 Year
Minimum 2+ Years Experience
INR 23,50,000
PGDM (2-Year Residential)
2 Years
Freshers & 0–3 Years Experience
INR 22,50,000
Great Lakes operates a dedicated Corporate Relations & Placement Cell that coordinates campus recruitment drives, industry mentorship, soft skills training, and summer internships.
Great Lakes Institute of Management provides international quality management education backed by triple global accreditations (AACSB, AMBA, NBA) and world-renowned faculty. Located near Chennai, its combination of 1-year (PGPM) and 2-year (PGDM) program choices, strong ROI with average salary packages reaching INR 18.10 LPA, LEED Platinum-certified residential campus, and extensive corporate recruitment ties make it one of India's premier B-Schools.
Q1. Is Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai internationally accredited?
Yes, Great Lakes Chennai holds prestigious triple accreditations from AACSB, AMBA, and NBA, placing it among top accredited business schools globally.
Q2. What entrance exams are accepted for admission at Great Lakes Chennai?
The institute accepts valid scores from CAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, and GMAT depending on the specific program (PGPM or PGDM).
Q3. What is the difference between the PGPM and PGDM courses at Great Lakes?
The PGPM is a 1-year fast-track management program designed for candidates with at least 2 years of work experience. The PGDM is a traditional 2-year full-time management program designed for fresh graduates and candidates with up to 36 months of experience.
Q4. What is the total fee for the PGPM and PGDM programs at Great Lakes Chennai?
The total course fee (including tuition, program charges, and AC hostel accommodation) is approximately INR 23,50,000 for the 1-year PGPM and INR 22,50,000 for the 2-year PGDM.
Q5. Where is the Great Lakes Chennai campus located?
The campus is located on East Coast Road (ECR), Manamai Village, Kanchipuram District, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Applicants seeking admission to the 2-year PGDM course must hold a recognized Bachelor''s degree with at least 60% aggregate marks across Class 10, Class 12, and graduation. PGPM applicants require a recognized Bachelor''s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks and at least 24 months of full-time work experience. Admission selection considers valid scores in CAT, XAT, GMAT, or NMAT, followed by Essay Writing, Analytical Writing Tests, and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. The multi-cycle admission process typically runs between November and March annually.
Prospective candidates apply online through the official portal at greatlakes.edu.in. Applicants complete the application form, submit details of academic records, professional work experience, and valid entrance exam scorecards, upload required essays, and pay a non-refundable application processing fee of INR 2,000. Shortlisted applicants are subsequently invited to attend online or offline personal interaction rounds.
Key institutional highlights include AACSB and AMBA international accreditations, Asia''s 1st LEED Platinum Rated eco-friendly campus, mandatory Karma Yoga leadership project, strong global visiting faculty network, and top-tier corporate placement records.
The Corporate Relations and Placement Cell at Great Lakes coordinates comprehensive career grooming, industry interactions, and corporate recruitment drives. In recent campus placement cycles, PGPM graduates achieved an average CTC of INR 18.10 LPA with the highest CTC reaching INR 43.00 LPA, while PGDM graduates achieved an average CTC of INR 15.00 LPA with the highest CTC reaching INR 40.00 LPA. Major recruiters include Accenture, Deloitte, Infosys Consulting, FedEx, Aditya Birla Capital, Cognizant, EY, and PwC.
Great Lakes offers merit and diversity scholarships totaling over INR 2 Crores per batch. Over 40 Diversity & Merit Scholarships worth INR 5 Lakhs each are offered to deserving PGPM candidates (with at least 30% reserved for female applicants). Additionally, the Dr. Bala V. Balachandran Merit Scholarship awards a 100% tuition fee waiver along with CXO mentorship to exceptional performers.
Located in Manamai, East Coast Road, near Chennai, Great Lakes Institute of Management is approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and holds prestigious international triple crown accreditations from AACSB, AMBA (UK), and SAQS, along with NBA accreditation.
Great Lakes holds top national and global standings; it ranked 37th nationally in the NIRF Management Rankings, featured among the top 10 private B-schools in Outlook-ICARE rankings, and holds QS World University global MBA rankings.
The 27-acre Platinum LEED-certified green campus on East Coast Road features modern academic infrastructure, including air-conditioned smart amphitheater lecture halls, advanced data analytics labs, a resource center library with digital databases, and multi-purpose auditoriums. Campus amenities feature air-conditioned student residential hostels, sports facilities, a gymnasium, central dining facilities, healthcare services, and campus-wide Wi-Fi connectivity
The curriculum focuses on developing strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and technology-driven business competencies for global executive roles. The total program fee for the 1-year flagship PGPM program is INR 23,50,000, while the total program fee for the 2-year full-time PGDM program is INR 22,50,000, covering academic tuition, learning resources, and mandatory single/twin AC hostel accommodation with dining.
Student and alumnus reviews across major educational aggregation platforms rate Great Lakes Chennai between 4.2 and 4.6 out of 5 stars. Feedback consistently highlights the peer learning environment, rigorous 1-year PGPM structure, world-class faculty, scenic campus atmosphere, and strong placement cell support.
The teaching faculty at Great Lakes consists of full-time resident professors, doctorate holders, research scholars, and visiting faculty from top global business schools like Kellogg, Stanford, and IITs. Instructors emphasize research-backed teaching, empirical studies, case study methodologies, continuous internal evaluations, and individual student career guidance.
Q1. Is Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai accredited by AACSB and AMBA?
Ans. Yes, Great Lakes Chennai holds international accreditations from AACSB, AMBA, and SAQS, and is approved by AICTE.
Q2. Where is the Great Lakes campus located in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. The campus is located at ECR Road, Manamai Village, Kanchipuram District, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Q3. What is the total fee structure for PGPM and PGDM courses at Great Lakes Chennai?
Ans. The total program fee is INR 23,50,000 for the 1-year PGPM program and INR 22,50,000 for the 2-year PGDM program, inclusive of hostel accommodation.
Q4. Which entrance exams are accepted for PGPM and PGDM admission?
Ans. Admissions accept valid scores in entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, GMAT, or NMAT.
Q5. What is the difference between PGPM and PGDM at Great Lakes?
Ans. PGPM is a 1-year intensive program for candidates with 2+ years of work experience, whereas PGDM is a 2-year program for freshers and candidates with 0–36 months of work experience.
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