Institute of Business Administration (IBA)

Overview 

Institute of Business and Administration (IBA) is Pakistan’s oldest and one of the most prestigious business schools. IBA has a strong alumni network with high graduate employability rates. 

Programs Offered

IBA offers 6 programs at the undergraduate level.

1. BBA
2. BS (Accounting & Finance)
3. BS (Computer Science)
4. BS (Economics)
5. BS (Economics and Mathematics)
6. BS (Social Sciences and Liberal Arts)

Location

IBA is situated in the metropolitan city of Karachi. It has two campuses, City Campus and the Main Campus. Students depending on their courses take classes at both campuses. Campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art labs and facilities. 

Accommodation

There is an onsite campus hostel facility available. Hostels are secure with good infrastructure. Unfortunately, due to the lesser number of rooms and more demand, students have to wait for some time before they’re allotted a room.

Application Windows

There are two rounds for admission into IBA

• For 1st Round:

 Admissions usually open in January and February. Candidates can either wish to appear for a test or use SAT/ACT scores. 

• For 2nd Round:

Admissions usually open in April and May. Candidates can either wish to appear for a test or use SAT/ACT scores. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum 60% Marks in HSSC (65% for BBA).
• Minimum of B B C in A-Levels for BBA and B C C for other programs.
• Minimum of 24/45 for IB.
• Minimum of 80% in American/Canadian High School Diploma.
• Students in the last year of their studies are eligible to apply.

Note: All foreign qualifications holders must produce equivalence certificates issued by IBCC.

Detailed Admission Requirements can be found here: Click Here!

Fee Structure 

• For Undergraduate Programs

For details about other charges and updates: Click Here

Admissions Process

1. Registering at the online admissions website.(https://admissions.iba.edu.pk/)
2. Filling in personal and educational details.
3. Filling SAT/ACT scores if taken.
4. Submission of Form.
5. Choosing Academic Programs and writing a Personal Statement.
6. Payment of Fee Challan at any Meezan Bank Branch.
7. If your SAT score is more than (for BBA,BS in ECO, AF, and SSLA) 1270 with English and Maths Score more than 600 each, you’ll get exemption from the test but depending on the cut-off, you will have to appear in the interview. Usually, the direct admissions cut-off is around 1420.
8. Admit card for the test is sent by email and also appears on the portal. 
9. Candidates can also wish to submit an SAT score and appear for the test by contacting the admissions office.
10. After the test, shortlisted applicants are announced. Students meeting direct cut-offs don’t have to appear for an interview. The rest of the candidates will have their interviews. Outstation Candidates’ interviews are conducted online virtually.

Writing Personal Statement

Here are some tips to get you started!

• Pay heed to given instructions by IBA.
• Start with your personal and educational backgrounds.
• Ensure continuity in your statement.
• Talk about your participation in various extracurricular activities and hobbies.
• Try to relate your involvement in activities and hobbies with the desired program.
• Show a clear future goal. Be absolutely sure about it.
• Try to stand out from other applicants.
• Take some time to think about how you can be different from someone else.
• Never have someone else write your personal statement for you.
• Proofread it and have someone else read it. Seek their opinion about what they think.
• Save what you wrote because if you have to appear for an interview, there should be no contradiction.

Preparation for Test

For BBA and BS in ECO, ACF and SSLA

The test consists of 2 sections:

1. Mathematics

• 45 MCQs in 90 minutes.

1. English

• 45 MCQs in 50 minutes.

There’s no negative marking so you must attempt all questions.

For Mathematics

There’s no fixed syllabus, refer to past papers available on IBA’s website. 

After going through past papers, you must have gotten an idea of the difficulty level. The difficulty level is more or less the same as you’d find on a SAT. Preparing from SAT resources may be a good option. Revise Mathematics concepts from Matric and O’Levels as well. Practice all the past papers available on the website and understand them. 

Keep in mind that the test may not be hard but finishing it on time will be harder. Learn time management prior to the test. Don’t try to solve lengthy calculations.  Leave them for review if you get the time.

For English

Familiarise yourself with the basic rules of grammar. Start reading anything which interests you. You can also practice SAT English. Use KhanAcademy for that. English isn’t something that you can improve overtime. It is about how wide your exposure in English has been in the past.

For BSCS and BS (Economics and Mathematics)

Test consists of 2 sections:

1. Mathematics

• 45 MCQ’s in 90 minutes.

1. English

• 45 MCQ’s in 50 minutes.

There’s no negative marking so you must attempt all questions.

For Mathematics

You need to prepare for what comes in BBA’s test (refer above) and topics from Intermediate/A Levels as well. You can use KIPS FUNG Mathematics books available at our Discord Server for practicing MCQ’s. You must do topics such as Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions, Trigonometry and Conics Section.

For English

Familiarise yourself with the basic rules of grammar. Start reading anything which interests you. You can also practice SAT English. Use KhanAcademy for that. English isn’t something that you can improve overtime. It is about how wide your exposure in English has been in the past.

Exam Day Tips

• Try to be fully relaxed at the time of the test.
• Avoid long traveling just before the test.
• Get 6-8 hours of good sleep the night before the test.
• During preparation, learn as many short tricks as possible for the MCQs as every second counts in the test.
• Every question carries the same marks so don’t stress on a relatively difficult question. If you get absolutely no idea on how to attempt the particular question in one minute, just mark the most likely option from the 4 choices and put the question in the reviewable portion.
• Do not second guess yourself and don’t do lengthy calculations again and again just to confirm if your answer is correct. This loses you several important minutes.
• Plan before the test how you would be managing your time.

Preparation for Interview

1. Firstly, you need to have a clear set of goals. What do you want from your time at IBA and where do you see yourself after 5 years? You don’t need to be very specific, a general idea would suffice. 
2. Come up with any questions you think can be asked. They may be specific to your background and program. Make a list of all these questions. I will also add a list of commonly asked questions at the end of this article.
3. Prepare answers for every question you added to the list you made earlier.
4. Have someone ask you these questions and answers. If you have no one to help you, ask yourself in front of a mirror. This will substantially boost your confidence.
5. Read the personal statement that you submitted at the time of admission. Make sure there’s nothing contradictory between it and the answers you have prepared.
6. Go through your program’s website and acquaint yourself with anything there is.
7. Almost always at the end, they’ll ask if you have any questions for us? Do prepare a good question for them. It can be anything related to IBA or program, just make sure that is not very common and, answer to it is not easily available.
8. Never lie and get into an argument.

Interview Day Preparations

You must wear formal clothing. A suit won’t be necessary but wearing a tie with the formal dress is a must for the lads. Remain calm and relaxed. In an in-person interview, your posture should be straight, if you’re prompted for a handshake, you must do it confidently and firmly. Seek your interviewers’ permission before having a seat. 

These little things make your first impression which has the greatest impact. Reach well before stated time to prevent any inconveniences. Relax, take long breaths before entering, and don’t let the nerves get the better of you!

Expected Questions

1. Introduce/describe yourself!
2. Why IBA?
3. Why your chosen program?
4. Tell us about your hobbies/extracurricular activities. After this, they will probably be interested to know more details of your one activity.
5. Your favorite subject/field of interest?
6. Do you read books? If yes, tell us about your favorite or most recent book.
7. Do you read the newspaper? If yes, they can ask anything about current affairs.
8. What is good or bad about your current school in your opinion?
9. Your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
10. Specific questions can be asked if your background doesn’t match the selected program.
11. Do you have any backups? What if you don’t get into IBA?
12. Where do you see yourself after 5 years?
13. Do you have any questions for us?

Compiled by Mahad Imran 

For reporting any errors, write to us at team@kisuni.org