The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Udaipur is readying to launch a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), the first-of-its-kind online bilingual undergraduate programme across the IIMs.
While some IIMs do offer undergraduate programmes or integrated programmes combining undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in management, IIM Udaipur’s offering seeks to open up access to the IIM brand to India’s underserved learners.
“For decades, management education in India has remained the preserve of a small, English-speaking, urban elite,” Prof Ashok Banerjee, director, IIM Udaipur, told ET, citing reasons including high cut-offs, residential requirements and an implicit expectation of cultural fluency.
IIM Udaipur’s four-year BBA programme, set to be launched in July 2026, turns that on its head. “It is designed for learners who have been historically excluded: students from Hindi-medium schools, rural and small-town youth, NEET (not in education, employment or training) learners, homemakers looking to resume education, first-generation college aspirants and students from non-commerce academic backgrounds,” said Banerjee.
The unique aspect of this programme is its inclusive approach to language of instruction, aligned with the National Education Policy mission that aims to promote both Indian and foreign languages in education. While the programme offers Hindi as the primary medium of instruction in the first three years, students have the choice of opting for English right from the first year.
The institute is deploying artificial intelligence (AI), using AI-based voice cloning and lip-syncing to allow students to access the same content in both languages, enhancing comprehension and accelerating English proficiency, without burdening faculty with additional work.
The programme is structured to offer multiple exit points: a certificate after Year 1, a diploma after Year 2, a BBA after Year 3 and a BBA (Honours) after Year 4. This flexibility has been introduced keeping in mind that many learners, especially women or those from economically weaker backgrounds, cannot always commit to a residential course.
The first year of the programme focuses on ‘workplace survival and entrepreneurship’, laying the groundwork for income generation and micro-enterprise; while the second year develops ‘MSME and operations readiness’, equipping students with the tools to manage or contribute meaningfully to micro, small and medium enterprises. The third year focuses on ‘strategy and leadership’, deepening skills in decision-making, finance and project execution, and the fourth year prepares learners for ‘global and research readiness’, transitioning to full English instruction and postgraduate preparedness.
The programme is mobile-first, low-bandwidth friendly and largely asynchronous. Content will be hosted on public platforms like YouTube for easy access, and assessments will be conducted at regional centres.
Tuition fee for the programme starts at Rs 50,000 per year and rises to Rs 2,00,000 by the fourth year. But merit-based and need-based scholarships are offered simultaneously. A student from a low-income household who performs well could pay Rs 87,500 for the entire three-year BBA, and Rs 1.37 lakh for the four-year honours degree.
While some IIMs do offer undergraduate programmes or integrated programmes combining undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in management, IIM Udaipur’s offering seeks to open up access to the IIM brand to India’s underserved learners.
“For decades, management education in India has remained the preserve of a small, English-speaking, urban elite,” Prof Ashok Banerjee, director, IIM Udaipur, told ET, citing reasons including high cut-offs, residential requirements and an implicit expectation of cultural fluency.
IIM Udaipur’s four-year BBA programme, set to be launched in July 2026, turns that on its head. “It is designed for learners who have been historically excluded: students from Hindi-medium schools, rural and small-town youth, NEET (not in education, employment or training) learners, homemakers looking to resume education, first-generation college aspirants and students from non-commerce academic backgrounds,” said Banerjee.
The unique aspect of this programme is its inclusive approach to language of instruction, aligned with the National Education Policy mission that aims to promote both Indian and foreign languages in education. While the programme offers Hindi as the primary medium of instruction in the first three years, students have the choice of opting for English right from the first year.
The institute is deploying artificial intelligence (AI), using AI-based voice cloning and lip-syncing to allow students to access the same content in both languages, enhancing comprehension and accelerating English proficiency, without burdening faculty with additional work.
The programme is structured to offer multiple exit points: a certificate after Year 1, a diploma after Year 2, a BBA after Year 3 and a BBA (Honours) after Year 4. This flexibility has been introduced keeping in mind that many learners, especially women or those from economically weaker backgrounds, cannot always commit to a residential course.
The first year of the programme focuses on ‘workplace survival and entrepreneurship’, laying the groundwork for income generation and micro-enterprise; while the second year develops ‘MSME and operations readiness’, equipping students with the tools to manage or contribute meaningfully to micro, small and medium enterprises. The third year focuses on ‘strategy and leadership’, deepening skills in decision-making, finance and project execution, and the fourth year prepares learners for ‘global and research readiness’, transitioning to full English instruction and postgraduate preparedness.
The programme is mobile-first, low-bandwidth friendly and largely asynchronous. Content will be hosted on public platforms like YouTube for easy access, and assessments will be conducted at regional centres.
Tuition fee for the programme starts at Rs 50,000 per year and rises to Rs 2,00,000 by the fourth year. But merit-based and need-based scholarships are offered simultaneously. A student from a low-income household who performs well could pay Rs 87,500 for the entire three-year BBA, and Rs 1.37 lakh for the four-year honours degree.
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