Our
Services

Most of the people, after gaining one or two-year experience in management field, think of pursuing an MBA or a PGDM course, so as to further polish their credentials and job prospects. While many thinks that there is a difference between the two, few also perceive both as the same degree, with just a difference in the name. It is very much important for an individual to understand how both differ from each other and what their relevance is. Pursuing both these courses helps one in the growth of their career, in getting a better position and obtaining a bigger salary.

What do they mean?

• MBA: Stands for master's in business administration.
• PGDM: Stands for Post Graduate Diploma in Management.

Why are they pursued?

• MBA: A master's in business administration (MBA) is a degree course offered by the colleges affiliated to the universities. So, only universities can offer MBA programs.
• PGDM: A Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is a diploma course offered by the institutes that are recognized by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and which are autonomous and not affiliated to any university. However, accreditation by Association of Indian Universities (AIU) makes an institute’s PGDM course equivalent to an MBA.

High/low fees-

Fees is high in case of PGDM as compared to MBA. MBA institutes charge less fees as it is almost like university standard.

Are MBA and PGDM equal?

It is not mandatory that a PGDM is equal to MBA because then the college offering the PGDM course must have accreditation from AIU (The Association of Indian Universities).

Difference between the curriculum:

Although there are similarities between the curriculum of both, differences exist as well. A student pursuing MBA will be studying more of the theoretical aspects of management. An MBA institute will be following a fixed curriculum as it will be based on the university guidelines.

A student pursuing a PGDM course will be gaining knowledge regarding building soft skills and the program is more industry oriented. An autonomous institute does not have to follow university standards, so it is free to change its curriculum according to industry standards and change in the business environment. The course will prepare you for a senior level position in a company.

Famous MBA institutes in India:

• Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi weaknesses etc.)
• SIBM (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management), Pune
• IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)
• Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai

Famous PGDM institutes in India:

• IIM (Indian Institute of Management)
• XLRI (Xavier School of Management), Jamshedpur
• SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai MDI Gurgaon

With admissions to MBA colleges in full swing, students would do well to check out various attributes before zeroing in on the right college. A good college not only paves the way for an illustrious career ahead but also helps shape a person’s character, beliefs and thoughts and leads to a successful life. To choose the right business school, following important guidelines will help.

Approval:
Any institution which is offering an MBA/ PGDM should be approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). There are some institutions which are offering MBA or equivalent courses which are not approved by AICTE.

Affiliation:
Institutions are either affiliated to a university or are autonomous. Each of the categories has its own advantages and disadvantages. Universities traditionally have a solid foundation, and autonomous colleges have the advantage of updating the syllabi as per the need of the industry, on a regular basis.

Faculty:
It is advisable to check out whether the B-school in question has distinguished, full-time, qualified faculty to provide continuous guidance to students. Try to find out the ratio between the full-time faculty members and the visiting faculty members. Have a look at the kind of guest lectures at the institute. The faculty is the prime factor for providing quality education, and continuous support from faculty members brings out the best in the students.

Fee:
This is an important criterion, and if the institution has a good track record of training and placement, it brings you the right ROI (Return on Investment). But the fee should not be a make-or-break criterion for you if the ROI is good. These days, there are numerous banks which offer education loans on easy terms, and that can fulfill the requirements of completing your operating expenses of the course.

Infrastructure:
It is essential to visit the campus at least once as the students have to spend two years in the institute they join. They should feel safe, secure and comfortable. Also, there should be good facilities in the classrooms, library, cafeteria, labs and hostel, including Internet connectivity, Wi-Fi and so on. Campus should be student-friendly and have decent ambience to support studies.

Industry Linkage:
This gives you the opportunity to get industrial exposure and expand practical knowledge during the tenure of your course. Location advantage and industry partnerships help in ensuring that students obtain interesting and knowledge-enhancing internships and live projects with reputed companies. These projects help in obtaining desired jobs in future as well.

Location:
It is important that the B-school is in an area close to the industry, education hubs and policy-making bodies. B-schools in metro cities are the top choice due to the presence of industrial houses belonging to various sectors.

Placement:
Go through the placement record of the B-school. Check the company profiles, sectors of recruitments, average salary and so on. Besides a glance at the numbers, consider the quality of placements too, such as nature, reputation and the variety of companies that come to campus for recruitment. If you wish to specialize in a stream and work in that field (for example: marketing or finance), there should be a sufficient number of reputed companies from the particular field that have recruited students from that school in the past.

International exposure:
Check on the institute’s credentials about international exchange programs. These will be of great advantage while looking for career opportunities abroad. International exposure in student programs will also provide you the right platform to start your career.

Brand:
A brand is formed over the years when great practices are carried on repeatedly for a long tenure, creating a rich legacy. A branded B-school will create students as per immediate market requirements for ready acceptance in relevant job profile in reputed organizations. So, it’s always recommended that you join a ‘branded’ institution with proper industry backup.