School of Inspired Leadership (SOIL), Gurgaon

SOIL describes its two-year PGDM as India's first programme integrating Business, Design Thinking and Liberal Arts, while its PGPM is positioned as a one-year accelerated management programme for experienced professionals.

SOIL can be considered by students looking for a management programme with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, leadership, design thinking, creativity and industry interaction.

Key Advantages

• Established management institute with a leadership-focused academic approach.

• AICTE-approved two-year PGDM.

• Strong focus on experiential learning.

• Business, Design Thinking and Liberal Arts integration.

• Industry-oriented curriculum.

• Leadership development programmes.

• Corporate interaction.

• Live projects and experiential assignments.

• International exposure.

• Strong focus on communication and collaboration.

• PGDM option for freshers and early-career candidates.

• One-year PGPM for experienced professionals.

• Dedicated PGPM-HR for HR careers.

• Gurgaon-Manesar location advantage.

• Alumni network across multiple industries.

• Focus on responsible and purpose-driven leadership.

SOIL's major management programmes include:

• PGDM – 2-Year Programme

• PGPM – 1-Year Programme

• PGPM-HR – 1-Year Programme

The PGDM is targeted at freshers and candidates with limited work experience, while the PGPM is designed for candidates with at least two years of prior work experience.

1. PGDM at SOIL

The two-year PGDM is SOIL's flagship programme for students seeking a full-time management education after graduation.

SOIL describes the programme as integrating Business, Design Thinking and Liberal Arts, with approximately 50% of the curriculum being experiential and industry immersive.

• Duration: 2 Years

• Mode: Full-Time

• Location: Manesar, New Gurgaon

• Work Experience: 0–3 years

• Approval: AICTE

• Target Candidates: Freshers and early-career graduates

• Major Learning Areas

• Marketing

• Finance

• Strategy

• Operations

• Entrepreneurship

• Business Analytics

• Design Thinking

• Leadership

• Liberal Arts

• Organisational Behaviour

• Business Communication

• Innovation

• Digital Business

• PGDM Specialisation & Career Areas

Students can develop career capabilities across several management functions.

Marketing

• Brand Management

• Digital Marketing

• Sales

• Consumer Behaviour

• Marketing Strategy

• Finance

• Corporate Finance

• Financial Analysis

• Investment Management

• Financial Planning

• Strategy

• Business Strategy

• Consulting

• Competitive Analysis

• Corporate Strategy

• Analytics

• Business Analytics

• Data-Driven Decision Making

• Business Intelligence

• Market Analytics

• Entrepreneurship

• New Venture Creation

• Startup Strategy

• Innovation

• Business Model Development

• PGDM Eligibility

For the current PGDM admission cycle, candidates must generally:

• Hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

• Have at least 50% aggregate marks.

• Have completed a minimum three-year undergraduate programme after 10+2.

• Be a final-year student or graduate meeting the institute's academic requirements.

• Have a valid score in an accepted aptitude examination.

SOIL states that freshers and candidates with less than three years of work experience are eligible for the two-year PGDM.

Entrance Exams Accepted for PGDM

SOIL's current PGDM admission information lists:

• CAT

• XAT

• GMAT

• CMAT

• MAT

• NMAT

• SNAP

• ATMA

The institute states that the best valid submitted score is considered, with NMAT and SNAP subject to the additional conditions specified by SOIL.

Candidates without an accepted aptitude-test score should check the current admission cycle for the institute's alternative assessment requirements.

• Step 1: Submit Application

Candidates complete the SOIL online application form and submit their academic, examination and achievement details.

Step 2: Profile Shortlisting

SOIL evaluates the overall profile rather than relying only on examination scores.

The institute considers:

• Academic performance

• Leadership potential

• Extracurricular activities

• Intellectual ability

• Work experience, if applicable

• Step 3: Group Exercise / Design Thinking Assessment

Shortlisted candidates participate in an assessment designed to evaluate collaboration, creativity, problem-solving and leadership.

Step 4: Personal Interview

The Personal Interview assesses:

• Communication

• Career goals

• Motivation

• Leadership potential

• Academic background

• Programme fit

• Step 5: Final Selection

The final selection is based on the institute's holistic evaluation framework.

PGDM Selection Weightage

For the current PGDM admission process, SOIL lists:

This makes the selection process broader than simply evaluating CAT/XAT/other entrance scores.

SOIL's published fee structure for the 2027–29 PGDM batch lists a total academic/programme fee of ₹17.20 lakh, excluding the refundable security deposit of ₹30,000.

• Total

• ₹17.20 lakh

The official SOIL page confirms the PGDM is a 24-month full-time programme commencing in June 2027

2. PGPM at SOIL

The Post Graduate Program in Management (PGPM) is a one-year full-time management programme designed primarily for professionals with prior work experience.

SOIL positions the PGPM as a leadership-oriented accelerated management programme with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and industry exposure.

• Duration: 12 Months

• Mode: Full-Time

• Location: Gurgaon

• Work Experience: Minimum 2 years

• Target Candidates: Working professionals

• Focus: Leadership and Management

SOIL states that approximately 50% of the curriculum is experiential immersion based.

Candidates applying for the one-year PGPM generally need:

• A bachelor's degree from a recognised institution.

• At least 50% marks in graduation.

• At least 60% in Class 10 and Class 12.

• Minimum 2 years of prior work experience.

• A valid accepted management entrance score.

SOIL currently lists CAT, XAT and NMAT scores for the PGPM, with SOIL's own aptitude test available for candidates who do not have one of the specified scores.

The PGPM selection process includes:

• 1. Application

Submit academic, professional and entrance examination details.

2. Profile Evaluation

SOIL considers:

• Academic record

• Professional experience

• Leadership achievements

• Extracurricular achievements

• Career goals

• 3. Group Exercise

Candidates participate in a group exercise involving collaborative problem-solving.

4. Personal Interview

The interview evaluates:

• Career aspirations

• Leadership potential

• Communication

• Professional experience

• Programme fit

• 5. Final Decision

Selected candidates receive an admission offer from SOIL.

3. PGPM-HR at SOIL

The Post Graduate Program in Management – Human Resources (PGPM-HR) is a one-year full-time programme designed for students and professionals interested in building careers in Human Resources.

Major Areas

• Human Resource Management

• Talent Management

• Organisational Behaviour

• Leadership

• Employee Engagement

• Learning & Development

• HR Analytics

• Talent Acquisition

• Strategic HR

• People Management

• Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue roles such as:

• HR Business Partner

• Talent Acquisition Specialist

• HR Consultant

• Learning & Development Professional

• Employee Engagement Specialist

• Talent Management Professional

• HR Analytics Professional

• People Operations Manager

SOIL lists PGPM-HR as a 12-month full-time programme in Gurgaon.

SOIL's published fee structure for the PGPM-HR programme lists a total fee of approximately ₹15.33 lakh, including GST and the refundable caution deposit of ₹30,000.

Component

• ₹15,33,226

The PGPM-HR is a 1-year full-time programme at SOIL's Gurgaon campus.

Note: The above fee excludes hostel/accommodation, books, course materials, Sidhbari Trip and other expenses. GST is payable with the respective fee components.

SOIL does not rely on a single publicly guaranteed CAT percentile cutoff for admission.

Its selection process evaluates the overall candidate profile, including:

• Entrance examination score

• Academic performance

• Extracurricular activities

• Work experience

• Group Exercise

• Personal Interview

• Leadership potential

• Career clarity

For the PGDM, SOIL assigns 35% weightage to entrance examination scores and 40% to Group Exercise and Personal Interview performance.

Therefore, students should focus on building a strong overall profile rather than targeting only a particular unofficial cutoff.

SOIL reports placement outcomes across its PGDM and PGPM programmes.

The institute's current programme pages highlight:

• PGDM

• Average CTC: ₹11.17 LPA

• Highest CTC: ₹20.7 LPA

Recruiters include organisations such as BlackRock, S&P Global, Infosys and Accenture.

PGPM

• Average CTC: ₹12.3 LPA

• Highest CTC: ₹21.8 LPA

Recruiters include Aditya Birla, Infosys and Accenture.

These are institute-reported figures and should be interpreted according to the relevant placement batch and programme. Students should review the latest official placement report for programme-specific outcomes.

SOIL's current PGPM information reports:

• Highest CTC: ₹21.8 LPA

• Average CTC: ₹12.3 LPA

• Top 25% CTC: ₹18.8 LPA

• Top 50% Average: ₹15.4 LPA

• 70+ Visiting Firms

• 2,000+ Alumni

SOIL also states that the average CTC increased by approximately 2.2 times after PGPM for the reported placement data.

Major Recruiting Sectors

SOIL students can explore career opportunities across sectors such as:

• Consulting

• Business Consulting

• Management Consulting

• Strategy

• Advisory

• Technology

• IT Services

• Technology

• Digital Business

• Analytics

• Finance

• Banking

• Financial Services

• Investment

• FinTech

• Consumer & Retail

• FMCG

• Retail

• E-Commerce

• Consumer Services

• Human Resources

• Talent Acquisition

• HR Consulting

• Learning & Development

• People Operations

• Industry Exposure

Industry interaction is an important part of SOIL's teaching approach.

Students can gain exposure through:

• Industry Projects

• Live Projects

• Guest Lectures

• Corporate Interactions

• Business Simulations

• Internships

• Case Studies

• Leadership Sessions

• Corporate Mentoring

SOIL describes its programmes as strongly experiential, with a significant portion of the curriculum built around industry immersion.

Experiential Learning

SOIL differentiates its management education through experiential learning.

Students may participate in:

• Design Thinking Workshops

• Live Business Projects

• Social Impact Projects

• Leadership Activities

• Industry Immersions

• Outdoor Learning

• Business Simulations

• Team-Based Projects

This approach is designed to develop practical problem-solving and leadership skills alongside academic knowledge.

Design Thinking & Liberal Arts

One of the distinctive features of SOIL's two-year PGDM is its integration of:

• Business

• Design Thinking

• Liberal Arts

The institute describes the programme as India's first PGDM integrating these three areas.

This approach can help students develop:

• Creative Thinking

• Problem-Solving

• Empathy

• Innovation

• Communication

• Strategic Thinking

• Business Understanding

• Leadership Development

Leadership development is central to SOIL's educational philosophy.

Students are encouraged to develop:

• Self-Awareness

• Communication

• Decision-Making

• Collaboration

• Ethical Leadership

• Strategic Thinking

• Emotional Intelligence

• Social Responsibility

SOIL describes its objective as developing leaders with character, competence and enthusiasm who can contribute to sustainable organisations.

SOIL incorporates international and cross-cultural exposure into its management education.

Students can gain an understanding of:

• Global Business

• International Markets

• Cross-Cultural Management

• Global Leadership

• International Business Practices

The institute also highlights experiential journeys and international immersion as part of its broader leadership-development approach.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

SOIL encourages students to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and new business models.

Students can develop capabilities in:

• Startup Strategy

• Business Model Development

• Innovation

• Design Thinking

• Market Research

• New Venture Creation

• Business Planning

• Entrepreneurial Leadership

This can be particularly useful for students interested in startups and innovation-driven businesses.

SOIL provides facilities designed around collaborative and experiential management education.

• Smart Classrooms

• Learning Spaces

• Library

• Digital Resources

• Discussion Areas

• Student Activity Spaces

• Accommodation Facilities

• Sports & Recreation

• Collaborative Work Areas

• Corporate Interaction Spaces

The residential learning environment supports teamwork and collaborative projects.

SOIL encourages students to participate in academic, cultural and leadership activities.

Students can engage in:

• Clubs

• Student Committees

• Business Competitions

• Cultural Events

• Leadership Activities

• Workshops

• Seminars

• Social Impact Initiatives

• Sports

• Industry Events

These activities help students develop:

• Teamwork

• Leadership

• Communication

• Networking

• Creativity

• Decision-Making

• Location Advantage

SOIL's campuses are located in the Gurgaon-Manesar region, one of India's major corporate and startup hubs.

The location provides access to organisations in:

• Consulting

• IT

• Banking

• Financial Services

• FMCG

• E-Commerce

• Manufacturing

• Startups

• Professional Services

This can provide students with opportunities for internships, corporate interaction and networking.

• Marketing

• Brand Manager

• Marketing Executive

• Digital Marketing Professional

• Sales Manager

• Business Development Manager

• Finance

• Financial Analyst

• Corporate Finance Executive

• Investment Analyst

• Banking Professional

• Finance Associate

• Consulting

• Business Analyst

• Consulting Analyst

• Strategy Associate

• Management Consultant

• Analytics

• Business Analyst

• Data Analyst

• Business Intelligence Analyst

• Analytics Consultant

• Human Resources

• HR Business Partner

• Talent Acquisition Specialist

• HR Consultant

• Learning & Development Professional

• People Operations Manager

• Entrepreneurship

• Founder

• Startup Consultant

• Business Development Professional

• Innovation Manager

• SOIL vs Traditional MBA/PGDM

SOIL follows a somewhat different approach from a conventional management programme.

Feature

• SOIL Approach

• Learning

• Experiential

• Leadership

• Strong emphasis

• Design Thinking

• Integrated into PGDM

• Liberal Arts

• Integrated into PGDM

• Industry Exposure

• High focus

• Case-Based Learning

• Yes

• Live Projects

• Yes

• International Exposure

• Available

• Entrepreneurship

• Strong focus

• Communication

• Strong focus

Students who prefer a highly experiential and leadership-oriented learning environment may find SOIL particularly relevant.

Who Should Choose SOIL?

SOIL can be a suitable option for students who want:

• Experiential management education.

• Strong leadership development.

• Design Thinking exposure.

• Liberal Arts integration.

• Industry-oriented learning.

• Entrepreneurship exposure.

• Corporate interaction.

• International exposure.

• A two-year PGDM as a fresher.

• A one-year PGPM after gaining work experience.

• A specialised HR management programme.

School of Inspired Leadership (SOIL), Gurgaon, now operating as SOIL Institute of Management, is a management education institution established in 2008 with a distinctive focus on leadership, experiential learning, innovation and responsible management.

Its two-year PGDM is designed for freshers and early-career candidates and integrates Business, Design Thinking and Liberal Arts, while its one-year PGPM is aimed at professionals with at least two years of work experience. SOIL also offers a dedicated PGPM-HR programme.

For the published 2027–29 PGDM fee structure, SOIL lists ₹17.20 lakh in academic/programme fees plus a refundable security deposit. The published PGPM fee is approximately ₹15.33 lakh including GST and refundable caution deposit, while PGPM-HR is listed at ₹14.50 lakh.

SOIL can be considered by students who value experiential learning, leadership development, design thinking, innovation and strong industry exposure alongside traditional management education.

For the SOIL Admission 2026 cycle, the institute offers:

• Two-Year PGDM

• One-Year PGPM

• One-Year PGPM-HR

The PGDM is designed primarily for freshers and candidates with limited work experience, while the PGPM is designed for experienced professionals.

4. What is the SOIL PGDM duration?

The SOIL PGDM is a two-year full-time programme conducted at the Manesar, New Gurgaon campus.

The programme integrates Business, Design Thinking and Liberal Arts, with an emphasis on creative problem-solving and experiential learning.

5. What is the SOIL PGPM duration?

The SOIL PGPM is a one-year full-time management programme conducted in Gurgaon.

It is designed primarily for professionals with 2+ years of work experience who want an accelerated management education and leadership development experience.

The SOIL PGPM-HR is a one-year full-time programme designed for graduates aspiring to careers in Human Resources and people leadership.

It focuses on developing skills relevant to HR management, leadership, organisational development and people strategy.

For SOIL PGDM Admission 2026, the programme is designed for freshers and graduates with 0–3 years of work experience.

Candidates are evaluated through a profile-based approach that considers their academic background, work experience and overall profile. SOIL also provides a profile-based eligibility checker for PGDM and PGPM applicants.

The SOIL PGPM is primarily intended for professionals with 2+ years of full-time work experience.

The institute's current programme information describes the PGPM as a one-year accelerated MBA-equivalent programme for professionals with 2+ years of work experience.

For SOIL Admission 2026, the institute's admissions information lists accepted scores including:

• CAT

• XAT

• GMAT

• NMAT

• MAT

The applicable examination year and score requirements can vary by programme and admission cycle, so candidates should check the relevant SOIL Admission 2026 criteria.

SOIL follows a profile-based admission approach, rather than relying exclusively on a single published entrance-test percentile.

The SOIL PGDM Cutoff 2026 should therefore not be presented as an unofficial fixed percentile. The institute evaluates candidates using their academic, professional and co-curricular profile along with applicable entrance-test scores.

The SOIL PGDM Admission Process 2026 involves profile evaluation and assessment of the candidate's overall suitability for the programme.

The process can consider:

• Academic performance

• Entrance examination score

• Work experience

• Professional achievements

• Co-curricular achievements

• Leadership potential

• Overall profile

SOIL describes its selection approach as profile-based shortlisting.

The SOIL PGPM Selection Process is designed to identify candidates with leadership potential, purpose and the ability to contribute meaningfully to organisations.

The institute evaluates candidates on their academic, professional and co-curricular achievements, along with their overall fit with SOIL's leadership-oriented approach.

The SOIL PGDM Fees 2026 should be taken from the latest official fee schedule applicable to the relevant admission batch.

SOIL's official programme page provides programme, admissions and fee information, but the currently accessible page does not display a consolidated 2026–28 fee figure in the programme overview. Therefore, an unverified amount should not be presented as the final SOIL PGDM Fees 2026.

The SOIL PGPM Fees 2026 should likewise be confirmed from the latest official fee schedule or programme brochure before publishing a final amount.

For website content, it is safer to state that the SOIL PGPM fee is applicable according to the official programme fee structure rather than using an outdated or unofficial figure.

SOIL's programmes are conducted in the Gurgaon/Gurugram and Manesar campuses, and accommodation arrangements may form part of the student experience depending on the programme.

For website content, the SOIL Hostel Fees 2026 and room details should be checked against the latest programme-specific accommodation information before publishing an exact amount.

The SOIL PGDM provides exposure to major management areas including:

• Marketing

• Finance

• Operations

• Analytics

• Sales

• Human Resources

• Strategy

• Design Thinking

• Business Innovation

SOIL describes its PGDM as a programme integrating Business, Design Thinking and Liberal Arts.

17. Does SOIL offer Business Analytics?

Yes. SOIL Business Analytics is an important component of its management education.

The PGDM includes Analytics among its areas of specialisation, while the curriculum also incorporates technology, problem-solving and data-oriented business learning.

18. Is SOIL good for Finance?

Yes. SOIL Finance can be considered by students interested in financial services, corporate finance, investment, banking and related business functions.

Finance is one of the specialisation areas available within the SOIL PGDM.

19. Is SOIL good for Consulting and Strategy?

Yes. SOIL Consulting and Strategy can be relevant career pathways for students interested in problem-solving, business transformation and management consulting.

SOIL's emphasis on design thinking, business problem-solving, experiential learning and leadership can help students develop skills relevant to consulting careers.

20. Is SOIL good for Product Management?

The SOIL PGDM can be relevant for students targeting Product Management and technology-oriented roles.

The programme integrates design thinking, analytics, business strategy and innovation, which are useful areas for product-oriented careers. SOIL's current PGDM batch profile also shows representation from Product & Tech backgrounds.

Yes. SOIL industry exposure is a major component of its learning model.

Students can gain practical experience through:

• Live industry projects

• Experiential learning

• Case-based problem solving

• Simulations

• Industry interactions

• Leadership immersions

• Design-thinking activities

SOIL states that around 50% of the PGDM curriculum is experiential and industry immersive.

Yes. SOIL international exposure is supported through its global partnerships and international learning opportunities.

The institute lists global partners and provides international exposure as part of its broader management education ecosystem.

SOIL provides career management and placement support through its Career Management Services (CMS).

Its published placement information currently highlights a ₹21.8 LPA highest CTC, ₹12.3 LPA average CTC, ₹18.8 LPA CTC for the top 25%, and ₹15.4 LPA average for the top 50% placed students in the cited placement data. These figures should be clearly labelled according to the applicable placement report rather than presented as guaranteed 2026 outcomes.

After completing a SOIL PGDM or PGPM, graduates can explore careers in:

• Consulting

• Finance

• Marketing

• Business Analytics

• Product Management

• Technology

• Strategy

• Operations

• Human Resources

• Business Development

• General Management

• Entrepreneurship

SOIL's published placement information shows opportunities across sectors including IT & ITES, BFSI, Consulting, Manufacturing and Pharma.

Yes. SOIL scholarships may be available to eligible candidates depending on the programme and applicable admission cycle.

Candidates should check the latest SOIL Scholarship 2026 criteria, scholarship amount and eligibility conditions before applying.

26. Is SOIL PGDM equivalent to an MBA?

SOIL's own website describes its PGDM as a 2-year MBA programme and its PGPM as a 1-year accelerated MBA-equivalent programme. However, for website content, it is best to retain the official programme name Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) rather than replacing it with MBA.

27. Is SOIL PGDM suitable for freshers?

Yes. The SOIL PGDM is designed for freshers and graduates with 0–3 years of work experience.

The current SOIL programme information specifically positions the two-year PGDM for candidates at the beginning of their professional careers.

28. Is SOIL PGPM suitable for freshers?

The SOIL PGPM is primarily designed for experienced professionals with 2+ years of work experience.

Fresh graduates should generally consider the SOIL PGDM if they meet its applicable eligibility requirements.

29. Is SOIL worth it in 2026?

For students and professionals looking for management education with a strong emphasis on leadership, experiential learning, design thinking, innovation and industry exposure, SOIL Institute of Management 2026 can be an option worth considering.

Key highlights include:

• Two-year PGDM

• One-year PGPM

• One-year PGPM-HR

• AICTE-approved PGDM

• Design Thinking

• Business Analytics

• Finance

• Marketing

• Leadership Development

• Experiential Learning

• Industry Immersion

• International Exposure

• Career Management Services