The College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad is a premier tri-service institution dedicated to imparting advanced management training to officers of the Indian Armed Forces. CDM offers specialized postgraduate and certificate programs, including a 1-year M.Ed in Teaching and Education and 6–42 week certificate courses in Human Resources and related fields. The college is affiliated with Osmania University and maintains a selective, merit-based admission process, primarily for nominated defence personnel. The typical application window for most programs is April–June, and the intake is limited to officers nominated by their respective defence services.
College of Defence Management Admission Deadlines
Admissions at the College of Defence Management are conducted annually, with most programs following a nomination and selection process for defence officers. The application window for the main postgraduate programs, such as the M.Ed and MMS, generally falls between April and June each year. The final deadline for nominations or applications is typically in late May, with shortlisting and selection processes concluding by June. Certificate programs may have rolling admissions or specific cycles based on service requirements.
Program | Application Window | Final Deadline | Session Start |
M.Ed | April–May 2025 | 31 May 2025 | July 2025 |
MMS (Defence Officers only) | April–May 2025 | 31 May 2025 | July 2025 |
Certificate Courses | Varies (Rolling/Batch-wise) | NA | Multiple cycles/year |
College of Defence Management UG Admission
College of Defence Management does not offer undergraduate (UG) programs. Its academic focus is on postgraduate and executive education for serving defence officers. There are no UG seats or entrance-based undergraduate admissions at CDM. All training and academic offerings are designed for commissioned officers with prior service and a graduate degree.
Program | Duration | Intake/Seats | Eligibility | Selection Process |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
College of Defence Management PG Admission
CDM’s flagship offerings are its postgraduate programs, notably the 1-year M.Ed (Teaching and Education) and the 2-year MMS (Master of Management Studies) for defence officers. The MMS program is exclusive to nominated officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with selection based on service record and leadership potential. The certificate courses range from 6 to 42 weeks, focusing on management domains like Human Resources. All PG admissions are merit-based and do not require a civilian entrance exam.
Program | Duration | Intake/Seats | Eligibility | Selection Process | Total Fees (INR) |
M.Ed | 1 year | ~30–40 | Commissioned Defence Officer, Graduate Degree | Merit (Service Record & Academic) | NA (Sponsored by Defence) |
MMS | 2 years | ~60–80 | Commissioned Defence Officer, Graduate Degree | Nomination & Service Record | NA (Sponsored by Defence) |
Certificate (HR/Management) | 6–42 weeks | ~20–30 per batch | Commissioned Defence Officer | Nomination | NA (Sponsored by Defence) |
College of Defence Management Application Process
The application process at CDM is unique, as it is primarily open to serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces. Admission is conducted through a nomination system, where eligible officers are nominated by their respective service headquarters. There is no civilian application or open entrance exam. Required documents include service records, academic transcripts, and nomination letters. Application fees are generally NA as the process is internal to the defence services.
Nomination by respective defence service headquarters
Submission of service record and academic documents
Screening/shortlisting based on merit and service profile
Final selection and intimation through official channels
Joining instructions issued to selected officers
Step | Details |
Nomination | By Army/Navy/Air Force HQ for eligible officers |
Document Submission | Service record, academic certificates, nomination letter |
Screening | Merit-based (service and academic performance) |
Selection | Final list published by CDM and service HQ |
Admission Confirmation | Official communication to selected officers |