IIM Lucknow PGPWE 2027: applications close October 15 for working executives

By TUF News Desk · Published 13 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

Working executives have two days left to apply for IIM Lucknow’s Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives. The first application deadline for the 2027 intake is October 15, 2026, and the process runs through the official IIM Lucknow website.

PGPWE is designed for professionals who want to study while keeping their jobs. For anyone who misses this week, there is still a second application round with a deadline of December 31, 2026, listed on the institute’s application portal. After that, the door closes for the 2027 intake.

Who can apply

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. They also need three years of full-time work experience after graduation, counted as of March 31, 2027.

One line in the official notification is worth reading carefully: freelance assignments, training work and project work done as part of academic coursework do not count toward the three years. Only full-time, post-qualification experience qualifies.

Exams accepted

There are five ways to meet the test requirement: GMAT, GRE, CAT, GATE or IIM Lucknow’s own PGPWE entrance examination.

For CAT, scores from 2024 and 2025 are accepted. For GATE, scores from 2025 and 2026. Candidates applying with GMAT or GRE scores need to make sure their scores stay valid through the application deadline.

The PGPWE entrance exam

Applicants without a valid test score can take the institute’s own entrance exam, which is expected in November 2026 at the IIM Lucknow Noida Campus. The institute has not announced an exact date yet.

The paper is a 120-minute multiple-choice test with 100 questions across three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.

How to apply

1. Go to the official IIM Lucknow website and open the PGPWE application link.
2. Register with your name, email ID and contact number, and create a login.
3. Fill in the application form with your academic and work-experience details. Our admission documents checklist covers the scans most institutes ask for, so keep those ready before you begin.
4. Pay the Rs 1,000 application fee online. The fee is non-refundable.
5. Review the form, submit it, and save the confirmation page.

One caution: once the form is submitted, no changes are allowed. Double-check every field, including the work-experience dates, before hitting submit. Exam and admission portals also tend to slow down on deadline evenings, so finishing a day early is the safer move.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to apply for IIM Lucknow PGPWE 2027?

October 15, 2026, for the first application round. A second round stays open till December 31, 2026.

What are the eligibility criteria for IIM Lucknow PGPWE?

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with 50% marks or equivalent CGPA, plus three years of full-time post-qualification work experience as of March 31, 2027. Freelance, training and curricular project work do not count.

Which exam scores does IIM Lucknow accept for PGPWE?

GMAT, GRE, CAT (2024 and 2025 scores), GATE (2025 and 2026 scores), or the institute’s own PGPWE entrance examination.

When is the PGPWE entrance exam?

It is expected in November 2026 at the IIM Lucknow Noida Campus. The exact date has not been announced.

What is the PGPWE application fee?

Rs 1,000, non-refundable, and submitted forms cannot be changed afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: NDTV, Jagran Josh, The Higher Education Review