Key takeaways
- The right choice depends on where you want to work, what you can fund and how your CAT percentile looks.
- Published fees abroad run from £77,950 for a whole UK programme to more than $90,000 per year at US schools.
- You can keep both options open: CAT 2026 is on 29 November and abroad applications run through the following year.
- Compare total cost, expected earnings and the work visa for the country, not only the school brand.
Many applicants prepare for CAT and also think about an MBA abroad. These are not mutually exclusive, and the right way to decide is to look at your goals and your numbers.
Start from where you want to work
An IIM gives you a strong network in India and recruiting aimed at Indian employers. A school abroad gives you a network and recruiting in that region, and the right to work depends on the visa rules there. If your plan is to build a career in India, the Indian programme may be the simpler route. If you want to work in the USA, UK, Europe or Singapore, look at the work rights described on our MBA abroad pages.
Compare the full cost
- Abroad: tuition plus living costs for one or two years. For example, Harvard budgets $130,318 to $186,312 for its nine month year, and London Business School lists £123,950 for its 2026 MBA.
- India: read the fee page of each programme you may join. We do not quote a figure here because fees differ by programme and year.
- Add lost salary for the time you study, and the cost of any loan.
Use your CAT result as one input
Your percentile tells you which Indian programmes are realistic. It does not directly predict your chances abroad, where tests such as the GMAT or GRE, work experience and essays count. Read how CAT percentiles work and how CAT compares with other exams.
Keep both options open
CAT 2026 is on 29 November. Use the free full length mocks and previous year paper guide to prepare, and decide after your result. You can start the abroad process in parallel by choosing a test and reading school pages. Our CAT 2026 study plan shows how to balance both.
Questions to ask yourself
- Where do I want to be working in five years?
- What can I fund without putting my family at risk?
- Would a one year programme fit my goals better than a two year programme?
- Which route gives me the network I need in my target industry?
- What is my plan if I do not get the work visa I hope for?
If you want a structured comparison of costs, start with the cost guide.
Fees change every year and each school sets its own. The figures here come from the schools' own pages and were checked in October 2026, so confirm them on the school site before you decide. This guide is for planning and is not an offer from any school.