Important Facts
College Vidya Dec 11, 2023 1.5K Reads
Two of the most widely pursued managerial courses in India are an MBA (Master of Business Administration) and a PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management). However, management aspirants are often faced with a dilemma about whether an MBA or a PGDM is the right course to choose for their managerial journey. After all, a number of the nation’s best institutions offer an MBA or a PGDM, and the courses have similar timelines of completion. However, there are still a few key differences between an MBA and a PGDM that can impact the decision to choose one of the degrees.
As a management aspirant, if you are confused about the difference between a PGDM and an MBA program or apprehensive about choosing one from the two for your future managerial journey, then this blog brings to you the major characteristics of an MBA versus a PGDM for you to note the key differences between the two courses and compare for finding the best choice for yourself.
An MBA, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a two-years degree course in the domain of managerial and business studies. It is a postgraduate degree course that is divided into four semesters, of which the first two semesters involve an exploration of the core arenas of management, followed by specialisation-specific courses over the third and fourth semesters.
This course also includes additional capstone projects and assignments, in some cases, a complete dissertation, course-mandated field-training and additional industry exposure throughout the period of two years. It is a comprehensive degree course offered in various modes like part-time mode, online learning (OL) mode, the distance learning mode and the full-time regular mode.
A Post Graduate Diploma in Management, or a PGDM course, is a 2-year professional diploma course that has been granted an equivalent status to an MBA by the Association of Indian Universities or AIU. A PGDM program, an equivalent of an MBA, is a course also divided into four semesters and covering a number of fundamental and specific areas of management. A PGDM course is more specifically designed to enable the students to learn about the applied aspects of management.
Many students often find themselves at a crossroads when having to choose between an MBA program or a PGDM course. While the course structure, curriculum and criteria for admissions are nearly similar between these two postgraduate courses, there are some key distinctions which must be considered before selecting either of them–as they represent an essential and irreversible career choice.
Herein, we have dealt with the key differences between an MBA and a PGDM course along some of the prime characteristic factors.
While unanimously pointing to either an MBA or a PGDM is a tough and unrealistic decision, the choice about which course is a better option for an aspirant depends on their unique career needs and aspirations. Here is a comparison of the major aspects along which an MBA and PGDM course can be compared to make a choice about which suits your educational and career goals better.
MBA |
PGDM |
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MBA |
PGDM |
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However, it must be noted that an MBA can also be pursued as a one-year MBA course, a part-time MBA course or an executive MBA (EMBA), which can have varying durations from 12 months to 4 years.
MBA |
PGDM |
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MBA |
PGDM |
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However, the key difference in the admission procedure between an MBA and a PGDM course is that certain institutions offering a PGDM can also conduct direct admissions without the screening based on entrance performance and GD-PI rounds.
MBA |
PGDM |
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The key differences between an MBA course and a PGDM course have been listed below.
MBA |
PGDM |
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Duration |
2 Years (1 Year for EMBA) |
2 Years |
Course Structure |
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MBA |
PGDM |
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MBA |
PGDM |
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After highlighting all the key characteristics of an MBA program versus a PGDM program, here is a summarised concise comparison of the features of these two courses which can provide a detailed comparison, enabling the smoother decision of students about whether to go for an MBA program or a PGDM course.
Criteria |
MBA |
PGDM |
Accreditations |
UGC, AICTE (Preferable), AACSB (Preferable), AMBA (Preferable) |
UGC, AICTE, AIU |
Duration of Course |
2 Years/1 Year (Executive MBA) |
2 Years |
Course Type |
Degree Course |
Diploma Course |
Course Fee Range |
INR 80,,000-INR 10,00,000 or 2 years |
INR 2,00,000-INR 25,00,000 |
Eligibility for Admission |
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Needed Entrance |
CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT/ GMAT Entrance Score |
CAT/MAT/CMAT/GMAT/IBSAT/ SNAP Entrance Score |
Admission Procedure |
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Mode of Delivery |
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Curriculum & Specialisations |
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Course Structure |
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4 Semesters Spanned Across 2 Years |
Top Institutions |
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Career Scope |
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Having delved into the in-depth comparison of the various features of an MBA program and a PGDM course, it can be concluded that the ultimate choice of the right course for yourself should be based on how well each program (and a particular course from an institution if you aspire to graduate from a specific college/B-school) aligns with the academic and professional goals you have.
Along with a few other considerations, here is a list of concerns you should address to choose the right course for yourself:
As the landscape of higher education is transforming by leaps and bounds by integrating AI and other technological advances, the domain of online education is experiencing a massive growth. Having mainstreamed more during the coronavirus pandemic, the online mode of learning is now being offered by more and more eminent institutions of India and abroad. A large number of prestigious public and private management institutions are also offering an MBA or a PGDM in the full-time online mode.
Among many benefits, some of the key advantages of taking up such a course include:
Listed below are some of India’s most eminent management institutes and universities that have been duly accredited by the UGC-DEB to provide an online MBA/PGDM program.
Jain University |
Amrita Ahead Online |
Online Manipal University |
LPU Online |
Amity Online |
Dr. D. Y. Patil Online |
SASTRA University Online |
UPES Online |
BIMTECH Online |
Chandigarh University Online |
GLA University Online |
Vignan University Online |
MMU Online |
Uttaranchal University (UU) Online |
MIT School of Distance Education |
IIM Raipur |
Chitkara University |
Shoolini University |
Manav Rachna University Online |
IIM Ranchi |
OP Jindal Global University Online |
SRM University Online |
Thus, while the popularity of both MBA and PGDM courses continues to surge, many students still experience considerable confusion when thinking about which of these courses serves their academic and career pursuits the best. To arrive at the right choice, it is advisable to consider the various factors like the admission procedure, curriculum and syllabus of the specific course, the fee details and eligibility criteria, the student services like placement etc. and match them with your long-term career goals. Whether a PGDM is best or an MBA is, depends on the coure’s alignment with your unique academic and professional needs.
If you are someone seeking detailed foundational knowledge in management, then an MBA is better but if you are looking for more applied knowledge of management principles in the industrial domain, then a PGDM is a better educational choice for you.
The fee range of an MBA (approximately between INR 80,000 to INR 10,00,000) is more affordable than the fee range of a PGDM program (approximately ranging between INR 2,00,000 to INR 25,00,000).
While both MBA and PGDM courses have vast and appealing career scope, the initial job scope with respect to packages that can be earned start are at a higher range for a PGDM (INR 10 LPA to INR 20 LPA) than an MBA (INR 5 LPA to INR 10 LPA). However, with a few years of professional experience, MBA graduates can easily earn as well as PGDM graduates.
Yes, as per the guidelines of the AIU, a PGDM is a course of equivalent stature and value as an MBA program.
While there are other management aptitude examinations like MAT, SNAP etc. for selection to the PGDM program, CAT is one of the most popularly considered entrance exam scores by PGDM institutes.
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