XLRI Jamshedpur has announced a new program that lets students earn two degrees: one from XLRI and another from a top international university. This program is for the 2026-28 batch of students. It will offer nine specializations in partnership with four well-known universities in the United States and France . This initiative aims to give Indian students a global edge in business education.
About the New Dual-Degree Program
This new offering is called the PGDM (BM) Program with International Specialization Tracks. PGDM (BM) stands for Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Business Management), which is XLRI's main management course. The program combines XLRI's strong first-year curriculum with advanced, specialized courses taught by its global university partners in the second year.
After successfully completing the program, students will receive XLRI’s PGDM (BM) degree and an MS or MBA degree from the partner university. This "dual degree" system uses credit transfer, meaning academic credits earned at one institution are recognized by the other. This efficient process helps students get two valuable qualifications.
Each international specialization track offers over 400 hours of focused content, which is more detailed than typical MBA specializations. Students will complete their first year at XLRI. Then, they will take some key second-year courses before moving to the partner university's campus in the Fall semester to finish their specialization.
Partner Universities and Specializations
For the upcoming 2026-28 batch , XLRI is working with four globally recognized institutions. These partnerships offer a wide range of specialized fields:
| Partner University (Country) | Specializations Offered |
| George Washington Business School (George Washington University, USA) | International Business |
| Sports Management | |
| Business Analytics | |
| Project Management | |
| Martin J. Whitman School of Management (Syracuse University, USA) | Marketing (STEM) |
| Rutgers Business School (Rutgers University, USA) | Healthcare Analytics & Intelligence |
| IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, France) | Healthcare Management |
These specializations cover key areas of modern business, from global trade to advanced data analysis in healthcare.
Key Benefits for Students
This international dual-degree program provides several important advantages:
- International Work Experience: Many US specializations are "STEM-designated," allowing students to apply for extended work permits like Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US after graduating. For France, agreements allow a 12-month work and residence permit , which can be renewed. This helps students gain international work experience.
- Full Support: Students get full academic and career development support from both XLRI and the partner universities. This includes career fairs and meeting industry leaders.
- Cost-Effective: The credit-transfer model and scholarships from partner universities mean students can earn two respected international degrees at a much lower overall cost.
How to Apply
The application process for these International Specialization Tracks is the same as for XLRI’s regular PGDM (BM) program. To apply, students must have completed four years of full-time education after their 10+2 schooling. Interested students can indicate their preference for these specializations directly through the XAT application form .
