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MBA Colleges in Varanasi 2026-27: BHU and Private Options
6 institutes, the exams they accept and NIRF 2025 ranks, checked against official sites.
Varanasi's MBA options are anchored by Banaras Hindu University, whose Institute of Management Studies admits MBA and MBA-IB students on CAT scores. BHU is also the city's only entry in the NIRF 2025 management rankings, at rank 60. Beyond BHU, AICTE-approved private colleges affiliated to AKTU, such as SMS Varanasi in Khushipur, Ashoka Institute in Sarnath and KIT on the Prayagraj highway, take students through CUET-PG and the state's UPTAC counselling, alongside a PGDM option at MP Institute of Management.
State admission route in Varanasi
Uttar Pradesh has no separate state MBA CET. MBA seats in AKTU-affiliated colleges are filled through UPTAC (Uttar Pradesh Technical Admission Counselling), run by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow. For 2025-26 the UPTAC brochure listed CUET-PG 2025 as the exam basis for MBA.
MBA colleges in Varanasi through CUET PG
The same Varanasi college often accepts several exams. Here is the city grouped by exam, so you can see what one score opens up.
Institute of Management Studies, School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
MBA and PGDM colleges in Varanasi
6 institutes in and around Varanasi, with the exams each accepts and its NIRF 2025 management rank. Every name links to the official website.
| Institute | Type | Exams accepted | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University (IM-BHU)BHU main campus, Lanka | central university department | CAT | 60 |
| Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU: MBA in Food and AgribusinessBHU main campus, Lanka | central university department | CUET-PG | 60 |
| School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)Khushipur, Bachhaon | private college (AKTU-affiliated, autonomous) | CUET-PG, CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, SMS online test | – |
| Ashoka Institute of Technology & ManagementPaharia, Sarnath | private college (AKTU-affiliated) | See official site | – |
| Kashi Institute of Technology (KIT)Mirzamurad, Varanasi-Prayagraj Highway | private college (AKTU-affiliated) | See official site | – |
| MP Institute of ManagementChaubeypur (Paharia-Balua Ghat road); admissions office at Mahmoorganj | private PGDM | See official site | – |
What sets the top Varanasi B-schools apart
Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University (IM-BHU)
NIRF 60Management teaching started as a department of the Faculty of Commerce in the late 1960s. It became a separate faculty in 1984 and an Institute in 2016. CAT carries 50% of the admission merit.
Official programme page ↗Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU: MBA in Food and Agribusiness
NIRF 60Admission uses the CUET-PG 2026 score plus a GD and interview, which together carry 20% weight. The NIRF rank shown is BHU's university-level management rank.
Official programme page ↗School of Management Sciences (SMS Varanasi)
A NAAC 'A' autonomous college. It is affiliated to AKTU and MGKVP, and its AICTE letters list a PGDM programme up to 2019-20.
Official programme page ↗Ashoka Institute of Technology & Management
Run by Surabhi Charitable Trust, AKTU college code 641. Admission is merit-based on qualifying marks, an entrance test score, and a GD and interview.
Official programme page ↗Kashi Institute of Technology (KIT)
Set up in 2008 under the Jain Education Society. It serves as a remote centre for IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay programmes.
Official programme page ↗MP Institute of Management
Says it is the only PGDM provider in Eastern UP (the institute's own claim) and lists exchange partners in Dubai, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
Official programme page ↗Banaras Hindu University is ranked 60 in the NIRF 2025 Management list (score 52.14). No other Varanasi institute appears in the ranked 1-100 list or the 101-125 band.
IIM Bodh Gaya (Bihar) or IIM Lucknow; road distance not taken from an official source
MBA coaching in Varanasi
National coaching brands with centres in Varanasi. We link to each brand's own centre page; phone numbers are shown only for listings the centre has verified with us.
| Coaching | Centres / locality | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| Career Launcher Varanasi | Sigra (a Lanka centre is also listed) | Visit ↗ |
| T.I.M.E. Varanasi | Lahurabir, Lanka, Sigra | Visit ↗ |
Run a coaching centre in Varanasi? List it free.
MBA careers in Varanasi
What the local economy means for summer internships and final placements:
- Banarasi silk, zari and brocade weaving: an ODOP product, with the 'Banaras Brocades and Sarees' GI granted in 2009 (ODOP UP)
- Varanasi wooden lacquerware and toys: an ODOP product, GI received in March 2015 (ODOP UP)
- Gulabi Meenakari metal-enamel craft: an ODOP product, GI received in March 2015 (ODOP UP)
Working in Varanasi? The online MBA route
If you can't leave your job, a UGC-entitled online MBA lets you study from Varanasi without an entrance exam at most universities, from ₹52,000 for the full programme. Find your match in 4 questions or compare all fees.
Deadlines coming up
MBA in Varanasi: questions students ask
Which is the best MBA college in Varanasi as per NIRF 2025?
Banaras Hindu University is the only Varanasi institution in the NIRF 2025 Management ranking, at rank 60. Its Institute of Management Studies runs the MBA and MBA-IB programmes.
Which exam is needed for MBA at BHU?
IM-BHU's MBA and MBA (International Business) take CAT scores (CAT 2025 for the 2026-28 batch), along with academics, a GD and an interview. BHU's MBA in Food and Agribusiness uses CUET-PG plus a GD and interview.
How do I get admission to AKTU-affiliated MBA colleges in Varanasi?
Seats in AKTU colleges such as Ashoka Institute and KIT are filled through UPTAC counselling, run by AKTU. For 2025-26 that counselling used CUET-PG scores. Some colleges, like SMS Varanasi, also accept CAT, MAT, XAT or CMAT for their own admissions.
Is there MBA coaching in Varanasi?
Yes. Career Launcher has a centre in Sigra and lists one in Lanka. T.I.M.E. serves Lahurabir, Lanka and Sigra for CAT, CMAT and MAT preparation.
Nearby and related
Sources
- nirfindia.org/Rankings/2025/ManagementRanking.html
- nirfindia.org/Rankings/2025/ManagementRanking150.html
- admission.bhu.ac.in/en/notice/mba-mba-ib-information-bulletin-2026/gw9lhut4400yk
- storage.bhu.ac.in/strapi-media/uploads/IM_BHU_Information_Bulletin_2026_28_33058
- storage.bhu.ac.in/strapi-media/uploads/PG_Bulletin_2026_Final_compressed_51f86cc
- bhu.ac.in/fms/
- smsvaranasi.com/informa.html
- smsvaranasi.com/mba.html
- smsvaranasi.com/aicte-approval.html
- smsvaranasi.com/contact-us.html
- ashokainstitute.ac.in/
- ashokainstitute.ac.in/departments/mba
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