The contest for admission at IBA is extremely competitive and applications are received from all over Pakistan and abroad.

IBA welcomes applications from students from all area of study. It is the quality of the individual rather than the field that the student has taken that helps him qualify for admission at IBA. The only academic requirement for applicants to the BBA (Hons.) program is a Higher School Certificate with 50% marks or equivalent in any area of study.

Those applying for MBA and MIS programs must posses a bachelor's degree with good second division from any recognized university in any area of study.

It encourages applicants with professional qualifications to pursue their degrees through IBA's continuing education program in the City campus in downtown Karachi.

There is no provision for transfer of credits from any Pakistani or foreign university.

Students' interest in IBA full time program is strong. Every year more than two and half thousand applications are received for the BBA (Hons.) program while more than two thousand apply for the MBA and MIS programs. The large number of applicants enable IBA to select a diverse and extremely motivated group of students for the programs.

The number of applicants selected for the BBA (Hons.) program has averaged around 80 in recent years while that for the MBA program has averaged around 30. However, in applying to IBA an applicant is not contesting against anyone. The number of positions in the program is not fixed and all those who qualify in the admissions procedure are granted admissions.