Narayana Business School: Pros, Historical Facts, Admission Process, Famous Alumni, and more

NBS Ahmedabad is a 100% digital B-School, with Microsoft Cloud Campus deployed throughout the campus, smart classrooms, digital libraries, and cashless access to all locations, including the cafeteria. With close ties to industry bodies such as CII and NISM, Narayana Business School has a unique approach to Nation Building through its philosophy of “Learn. Lead. Transform.” It offers one MBA and three PGDM programs, in addition to multiple value-added course modules.

With more than 670 blue chip recruiters and the highest CTC in excess of INR 32 LPA, NBS has a consistent record of placement excellence.

NBS is unique in that its PGDM programs cater both to students who wish to pursue leadership roles in MNCs (through its specializations in Quantitative Finance and Data Science) and to budding entrepreneurs (through its focus on innovation and support provided to students who wish to start their own companies).

With a campus size above 10 Acres in Western India's second largest city and more than 15 student clubs on campus, NBS guarantees a vibrant student life. The alumni community is especially well connected, with more than 9,400 graduates of the University employed in leadership positions across the world. In addition to strong sports and cultural facilities, the academic life of students is enhanced through a unique three tier mentorship system: this provides guidance to all PGDM candidates, while helping them grow their careers and ultimately leading to professional success.

Highlights

Historical Facts about Narayana Business School

• The precursor to Narayana Business School - an Institute for CFA Coaching - was established in a 700 square foot space in Ahmedabad in 2001.
• In 2010, the Institute became a full fledged Business School.
• In 2017, NBS moved to its current premises: more than 10 Acres located in the western part of Ahmedabad.
• In 2022, Narayana Business School Ahmedabad took an important step in becoming a future aligned MBA college by starting PGDM courses (approved by AICTE) with dual specializations in key areas such as Quantitative Finance and Data Science.
• In 2024, NBS Ahmedabad first entered the top 30 Business Schools in the IIRF Ranking list.
• As of 2025, it has further become a globally renowned Business School with its recognition as a member of the AACSB Business Education Alliance.

Statistical Data and Tuition Fees

• There are more than 60 eminent industry and academia professionals serving as Faculty members of Narayana Business School, ensuring a healthy student to faculty ratio of 16:1.
• PGDM students of NBS (Dual Specialization) can choose from among 16 subject combinations. The basic disciplines are 5 in number: Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, Information Technology, and Operations Management. This flexibility ensures that NBS is among the best private PGDM colleges in Ahmedabad.
• Narayana Business School Ahmedabad offers 11 Value Added Certificate Courses to help its MBA and PGDM students enrich their resumes. These aim to bridge the gap between theoretical studies and the corporate world by equipping students with the skills that they will use in real life job settings:
  • Technical Skills: SAP, Microsoft Office, Market Technical Analysis.
  • Financial Market Skills: National Institute of Securities Markets, Insurance Licentiate.
  • Business Management: Digital Marketing, HR Excellence, Training & Development, Employment Enhancement Program.
  • Other Courses: Campus Ambassador, Personality Development, EXIM Trade Procedure.
• Narayana Business School Placements: NBS has a consistent record of placement excellence:
  • 100% placement record for more than two decades.
  • Narayana Business School Highest package: INR 32 LPA (lateral placements), INR 19.5 LPA (direct placements).
  • Average salary offered: INR 8.4 LPA.
  • Median salary offered: INR 9.5 LPA.
  • Total number of unique recruiting companies: More than 670.
  • 10% of candidates are offered packages higher than INR 14.1 LPA. The top 25th percentile of CTC offered is INR 11.2 LPA.
  • 40% of candidates receive and take up pre-placement offers from summer internships.
  • More than 100% Return on Investment; which means that the average salary offered is comparable to the two year tuition fee.
  • Major MNCs recruit from Narayana Business School:
    • Financial Services Firms: Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Bajaj Finserv, Bain Capital.
    • Banking Giants: Citibank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank.
    • Telecom Companies: Vodafone Idea, Airtel.
    • Retail Majors: Decathlon, Panasonic, Pepsico.
    • Consulting Firms: TCS, KPMG, Deloitte.
    • E-Commerce Firms: Oyo, Property Pistol.
• A large part of the placement success of Narayana Business School is its strong internship culture. Some highlights are:
  • 292 companies participated in the summer internship recruitment drive for 2024-25.
  • 35% of students were honored with Pre-Placement Offers, reducing the pressure during final interviews.
  • The average internship stipend during this 3 month period was INR 20,000.
  • 450 students participate annually in the internship recruitment drive across all four specializations, both MBA and PGDM.
  • 518 total offers were made in the 2024-25 internship season.

Narayana Business School MBA Fees: These amounts cover tuition fees, examination costs, academic registration fees, and cost of access to common academic areas and IT resources:

• Narayana Business School PGDM Fees (Dual Specialization): INR 9.85 Lakh.
• PGDM (Data Science & Analytics): INR 9.85 Lakh.
• PGDM (Quantitative Finance): INR 10..85 Lakh.
• Narayana Business School MBA Fees (including INR 44,500 as fees for the MBA program with the balance payable for the PGPCE portion): INR 9.85 Lakh.

Why Should You Join Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

• NBS Ahmedabad has a unique three tier mentorship program, through which students learn from experts in three ways throughout their two years at the B-School:
  • Peer Mentor: A second year student who mentors a first year student, ensuring that each fresher can navigate the MBA or PGDM world with ease.
  • Faculty Mentor: A seasoned professor who creates a customized learning path from each student under his/her care.
  • Industry Mentor: An experienced professional in the student’s sector of interest who assists him/her with career advice, internship opportunities, and live project choices.
• Practical learning is prioritized through more than 100+ days of live industry experience through a summer internship in addition to live projects.
• Narayana Business School offers customized academic scholarships based on merit.
  • The amount is not fixed ahead of time; students who require funding assistance should contact the NBS Admission Office for the latest information about scholarship amounts and applications, while submitting their financial aid requirements for consideration.
  • The award is made on the basis of the entire academic history of the candidate, as submitted during the application to Narayana Business School.
  • Continued receipt of any scholarship is subject to maintenance of strong academic performance.
• NBS partners with leading Indian banks to offer education loans to PGDM students.
  • Via the School, PGDM students can access the Priority Sector Lending bracket, and take up loans with a liberal repayment period, usually between 5 and 15 years.
  • NBS has a dedicated Loan Desk that helps incoming students navigate the different financial aid options available.
  • At the time of application for the education loan, students must submit admission letters, detailed bank statements, and any other documents which are required.
• Narayana Business School provides unique industry networking opportunities to its students through regular conferences.
  • The topics range from subjects relevant to business developments to research themes.
  • The main such event in 2024 was an International Doctoral Research Conference, focusing on global progress in management, humanities, and social sciences.
  • Other recent conference topics within the past five years include Business Innovation & leadership, and Catalyzing Inclusive Growth through Innovation.
  • The conferences aim to encourage MBA and PGDM students of NBS Ahmedabad to contribute to society and the nation through sustainable business leadership practices.

Famous Alumni of Narayana Business School

NBS maintains an online Alumni Directory which enables all registered graduates of the School to find fellow alumni working in similar fields. With more than 9,400 alumni in senior positions worldwide, the network is very powerful. The NBS Alumni Network has three main functions: Guidance and Mentorship (from alumni to current students, both for professional and career purposes), Professional Opportunities (specific internships and job opportunities for students in the PGDM and MBA programs), and Shared Stories (where the journeys of alumni are shared with the entire NBS community to inspire and motivate the staff members and students. The Alumni Association also organizes multiple events every year: on the NBS campus, in major cities in India and abroad, virtual workshops and interactive sessions.

Admission Process at Narayana Business School

Narayana Business School Eligibility Criteria: Both the PGDM and MBA + PGPCE programs offered by NBS Ahmedabad have similar entry requirements:

• Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree of at least three years' duration in any discipline.
• Candidates must not be older than 28 years as of the academic year in which they are applying to NBS.
• Applicants must appear for the NBSAT examination and obtain a valid rank.
• Narayana Business School Cutoff: A minimum academic performance of 60% must be maintained across Standard 10, Standard 12, and undergraduate studies.
• The two specialized PGDM programs in Quantitative Finance and Data Science & Analytics require the student to have taken either Mathematics or Statistics in Standard XII. Engineering or Computer Science UG degrees are preferred, though not compulsory.

The application process for either program type has the following steps for the Narayana Business School Admission 2025:

• Registering for NBSAT: This is done online, and students must create an applicant account and upload their personal and academic information before the deadline in late January every year (for the first application window). This has the following steps:
  • Navigating to the online NBS application portal.
  • Registering on the portal with personal and contact details, and choosing the course(s) of interest (PGDM or MBA).
  • Filling in additional personal details and academic history information.
  • Uploading the required documents, a passport sized photograph, and paying the application fee of INR 2,000.
• Writing and submitting the Statement of Purpose: After the application form is submitted, candidates must submit a detailed Statement of Purpose explaining why their academic and work experience qualifies them for a seat in Narayana Business School. This is one of the most important parts of the application, as the Personal Interview is largely based on the information in the SoP.
• Appearing for the NBSAT: Candidates must appear for the two hour entrance test after registering; this will test their quantitative, verbal, and reasoning aptitude in a manner similar to other MBA entrance tests.
• Appearing for the Personal Interview: Applicants who successfully make it through the NBSAT round must take part in the PI round, where most questions are related to the work experience as detailed in the SoP, with additional business and general knowledge questions.
• Academic Registration: Students who successfully qualify after the Personal Interview stage may pay the first installment of the tuition fees and complete the document verification process to begin attending MBA or PGDM classes.

The relative weightage for all the components of the application is as follows:

• NBSAT Score: This accounts for 40%, and is the most important single criterion.
• Work Experience: This accounts for 20%. Freshers may also apply, but they will not get any credit under this section.
• Statement of Purpose: This accounts for 20%; both the content and the relevance in the context of NBS are considered during scoring.
• Personal Interview Performance: This also accounts for 20%, and adherence with the SoP details, confidence, communication skills, and knowledge all play important parts.

Campus Facilities at Narayana Business School

• The 10+ acre campus of NBS Ahmedabad has several unique spaces to promote all round development of students, for example:
  • A Personality Development Room: For pressure-free enhancement of soft skills, communication styles, and confidence.
  • A Central Atrium: A study area separate from the library for students and faculty members.
  • A Boardroom: For simulations and high level meetings with senior corporate partners.
  • An Amphitheater: For outdoor performances and meetings of the 15+ student clubs on campus.
  • A Career Counseling Cell: To ensure that students are well trained in both functional and soft skills before the internship and placement seasons.
  • A Cloud Campus Library: In keeping with the 100% digital campus, it is accessible 24x7 by all students of NBS, ensuring that there is no barrier to learning.
• Narayana Business School Ahmedabad has exceptional sports facilities, even when compared to the top private MBA colleges in Ahmedabad.
  • Both indoor and outdoor sports have large grounds and courts, with training and regular access.
  • The NBS Recreation Center is the hub of all sports and physical fitness activities on campus. Students can access world class indoor and outdoor sports and exercise facilities.
  • Several clubs are active in the sports space.
  • For all round holistic development and robust mental health, Zumba and Yoga classes are also organized frequently.
  • The central gymnasium at Narayana Business School is unique as compared to other top private MBA colleges in Ahmedabad due to the full time availability of trained fitness instructors, rivaling the facilities and mentorship provided in any large private gym chain.
• The NBS campus has separate hostels for boys and girls with easy access to medical support, academic areas, and fitness spaces.
• Narayana Business School has 15 active student clubs organized into three main categories:
  • Extracurricular Activities: The Cultural and Sports Clubs organize competitions and performances, while PhilComm allows students who are interested in social welfare to help the less fortunate. There are also experiential clubs dedicated to photography, creative writing, and social media marketing.
  • Career Clubs: These correspond to the different specializations available in the primary PGDM program, including clubs dedicated to Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneurship.
  • Specialized Clubs: These carry out vital functions for the NBS Community, including the Placement Committee, the Data & Analytics Club, and the Student Council (bridging the gap between students and management).
• Students and Faculty members of Narayana Business School organise regular events.
  • Some are co-curricular activities (e.g. various corporate simulations), and others aim to bring diverse members of the B-School fraternity closer together (e.g. sports and team building sessions).
  • There are also workshops on personal and professional enhancement e.g. creative thinking, personal branding, rural immersion, gamification.
  • Finally, the Back to Bachpan festival is a unique event on the NBS campus that takes students and professors back to their happy childhood days and relieves stress.
• All the major Indian festivals are celebrated annually on the NBS campus, ensuring that students' cultural skills are also exhibited.

FAQs

Q: What is Narayana Business School known for?

Ans: Narayana Business School offers industry aligned PGDM and MBA courses with consistently excellent placement results (highest CTC of INR 32 LPA). It is one of the top private MBA Colleges in Ahmedabad.

Q: Where is Narayana Business School located?

Ans: The 10 Acre campus of Narayana Business School is located on Sarkhej Bavla Road, Circle, Sanathal, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382210.

Q: What undergraduate courses are offered by Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

Ans: NBS Ahmedabad does not offer any undergraduate courses.

Q: What postgraduate courses are offered by Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

Ans: As one of the best private PGDM colleges in Ahmedabad, Narayana Business School Ahmedabad offers four postgraduate programs: three PGDM programs with different specializations, and one MBA + PGPCE course.

Q: Are there scholarships available at Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

Ans: Narayana Business School Ahmedabad offers scholarships based on academic merit on a case-by-case basis; interested students must discuss their applications with the Academic Office.

Q: Is work experience compulsory for admission to Narayana Business School Gujarat?

Ans: Narayana Business School Gujarat recommends that candidates have two to five years of professional experience before applying to its MBA or PGDM programs. However, this is not mandatory; skilled candidates can receive offers of admission even with only a UG degree.

Q: Does Narayana Business School Gujarat offer online courses?

Ans: The NBS Digital Learning Initiative ensures that both students of Narayana Business School and external working professionals can access online modules and courses related to general management, data science, and quantitative finance.

Q: What is the student to faculty ratio at Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

Ans: With 911 students and 56 Faculty members, NBS Ahmedabad has a student to faculty ratio of 16:1.

Q: What is the deadline for application to NBSAT 2025 and NBSAT 2026?

Ans: NBSAT is held in two phases every year. The deadline for application to the first phase is in the middle of December, and the second phase deadline is in mid-February.

Q: What is the application fee payable during the admission process to the MBA or PGDM program at Narayana Business School?

Ans: All applicants to any of the four postgraduate programs at Narayana Business School must pay INR 2,000 as application fees.

Q: What are the requirements related to the photograph that must be uploaded during the NBSAT application process?

Ans: During the process of filling up the NBSAT application form, candidates must upload a scan of a passport sized photograph. This must be a recent color photo, and must show the face of the candidate clearly.

Q: What is the advantage of the PGPCE program at Narayana Business School?

Ans: The NBS Post Graduate Program in Corporate Excellence is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical MBA studies and corporate requirements. It is similar to an executive education program, but is primarily targeted at recent graduates, rather than similar PGPx programs which are of interest mostly to senior corporate leaders.

Q: What is the exam pattern of NBSAT 2025?

Ans: NBSAT 2025 will take 120 minutes for test takers to complete, and will have four sections: Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation & Data Adequacy, Vocabulary & Analytical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. It is an online proctored examination. There are 100 questions to be answered; all are multiple choice, and there is no negative marking.

Q: Where can students access NBSAT 2025 sample papers and mock tests?

Ans: NBSAT 2025 mock tests are sent to all candidates who successfully submit the application form and SoP via email.

Q: How can candidates attempt Mock Tests for the NBSAT?

Ans: Narayana Business School conducts an online mock test a few days before the NBSAT test date. This is primarily aimed at giving students familiarity with the interface and testing the technical setup for each test taker. The number of questions is only 10-20% that expected in the final exam.

Q: When are the NBSAT 2025 and NBSAT 2026 results expected to be declared?

Ans: NBSAT is held twice a year. The results will respectively be announced in mid-February and mid-December for both NBSAT 2025 and NBSAT 2026.

Q: What documents need to be submitted during the day of the NBSAT?

Ans: During the NBSAT time slot, candidates must present any one of the following identity documents to the webcam: Driving License, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, PAN Card, or Passport.

Q: What points should be kept in mind while writing the Statement of Purpose (SoP) for admission to Narayana Business School?

Ans: To write a successful SoP for admission to Narayana Business School (MBA and PGDM), candidates should:

• Write about their key professional and academic achievements: At least three major achievements should be included, and the details must be brief and factual.
• Detail what they can bring to Narayana Business School: Candidates should go through the NBS website in detail and write about how they can add value to the student body.
• Add information that can set them apart from other candidates: For example, awards earned during their work career, academic honors, sports achievements, or cultural recognitions.
  The SoP provides the basis for the personal interview; candidates should know it by heart.

Q: How should applicants to NBS Ahmedabad prepare for the Personal Interview round?

Ans: The PI Round for applicants to Narayana Business School Ahmedabad is primarily based on the candidate\s Statement of Purpose. A few general questions are also asked; students may go through business newspapers and magazines to prepare.

Q: What are the advantages of the PGDM program in quantitative finance offered by Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

Ans: NBS Ahmedabad offers a PGDM program with specialization in Quantitative Finance. This curriculum is tailored to the needs of professionals working in financial markets, and is integrated with the EY Certificate in Applied Finance, Treasury, and Analytics (CAFTA). It also has a strong integration with technical tools for quant finance experts, including Python, R, Bloomberg, and advanced Excel.

Q: What are the advantages of the PGDM program in Data Science and Analytics offered by Narayana Business School Ahmedabad?

Ans: The PGDM program in Data Science and Analytics offered by NBS Ahmedabad aims to train business professionals in statistics, data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for data insights. From basic programming and data visualization (e.g. using Power BI and Tableau) to high level data-driven decision making, it aims to create a generation of business leaders who use data analytics for big strategic moves.

Q: Should applicants to Narayana Business School Ahmedabad choose the MBA or PGDM program?

Ans: The PGDM programs offered by NBS Ahmedabad are industry oriented, with 100% guaranteed placements and 48 courses taught in six trimesters. The MBA program is more theory oriented, with 32 courses and placement assistance. It is affiliated to Gujarat Technical University, whereas the PGDM programs are recognized by AICTE, Government of India.

Q: What is the Narayana Business School Ranking?

Ans: Narayana Business School is ranked #4 in the IIRF List of Best Business Schools (Private) State-Wise.

Q: Does Narayana Business School provide internships?

Ans: Narayana Business School ensures that all students have access to 90 day summer internships, with almost 300 companies participating, resulting in an average of 2-4 offers per student.

Q: What is the age limit for application to Narayana Business School?

Ans: The maximum age of any candidate wishing to apply to Narayana Business School is 28 years as of the year in which the application is submitted.