Unlike the rest of India's top B-schools, ISB offers only one-year residential courses, and having modeled itself after leading American and European B-schools like Wharton School and London Business School, it admits only students with prior work experience. Two years is the mandatory requirement but the batches tend to have an average experience of five years. This allows students to relate to the real world and also compress their learning cycle time. This aspect is particularly appreciated by the industry, which is able to get candidates with relevant experience, background and interest.