Are you confused about Online MBA vs. online PGDM? Which course can help your career get a boost? Or are you wondering which course can help you turn your aspirations into reality? This blog is here to provide you with clarity on which course can be best for you. It contains features and career opportunities after the course. Both MBA and PGDM provide courses to students who are Graduates. However, understanding which course is best for you helps you align your career is very important.
Both courses help students understand business knowledge, leadership skills. However, they differ in terms of curriculum structure, industry, and long-term career impact. Let’s dive deep into this for a better understanding.
What is Online MBA vs Online PGDM?
MBA
An MBA is a Master’s Business Administration and is the most popular professional course across the globe. Every year, thousands of students graduate and look for a postgraduate course that offers the best value. Many students apply for MBA courses every year, which is highly competitive and requires a high score to get into top MBA colleges.
PGDM
AICTE ( All India Council of Technical Education) accredited institutes offer the Post Graduate Diploma in Management Program. Many People prefer PGDM over an MBA degree because it has a shorter course duration than the latter.
PGDM includes a lot of on-the-job training as compared to an MBA. The curriculum of PGDM is slightly different from the MBA.
What is the difference between an Online MBA and a PGDM?
|
Point Of Difference |
Online MBA |
Online PGDM |
|
Syllabus |
It focuses on theoretical aspects of business management. The syllabus remains the same for 5-7 years. |
More practical and industry oriented, the curriculum is flexible and regularly updated to meet industry standards. |
|
Accreditations |
UGC-approved programs. |
AICTE-approved courses. |
|
Qualification |
An MBA is a degree course. |
PGDM is a diploma course |
|
Specialisations |
Online MBA Offers multiple specialisations. The curriculum may not be updated very frequently. |
Offers a wide range of specialisations. The curriculum is updated regularly with current industry trends. |
|
Eligibility Criteria |
Bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks. Some programs may require entrance exams like CAT,XAT,SNAP,CMAT. |
Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks admission is often based on entrance exams like CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, SNAP, CMAT. |
|
Fees in INR |
₹80,000 – ₹5,50,000 for a full course. |
₹10,00,000 – ₹24,00,000 for 2 years. |
MBA vs PGDM Curriculum:
PGDM programs emphasize practical learning and hands-on experience. On the other hand, MBA programs usually focus more on theoretical concepts.
PGDM:
A program, typically two years long, that balances core business fundamentals with specialized, industry-focused courses and practical projects. PGDM academic year commences with the Harvard Business School’s pre-MBA foundation module. The first-year curriculum focuses on core functional and general management courses.
In addition, participants begin their experiential learning journey with specially curated Immersive Experiences. The second-year curriculum focuses on making participants industry-ready. It integrates functional and general management concepts and experiential learning developed in the first year by engaging participants with rigour across major and minor specialisations, a range of common electives, corporate internships, and international immersion at an international partner school through the Global Fast Track module.
MBA:
Structured around core business fundamentals in the first year, followed by specialized elective courses and a capstone project in the second year. The foundational courses, typically covered in the first two semesters, provide a holistic understanding of essential business functions. These courses include:
Accounting and Finance: Financial accounting, managerial accounting, financial management, corporate finance, and risk management.
Management & Operations: Principles of management, organizational behavior, human resource management, and operations management.
Strategy & Economics: Managerial economics, business strategy, and global business. Data & Analytics: Business statistics, data analysis, and quantitative methods for decision-making. Communication & Ethics: Business communication, presentation skills, legal aspects of business, and corporate ethics/social responsibility.
Career Opportunities
PGDM and MBA have several career options in many fields.
MBA
An MBA in Human Resource Management includes roles like employee relations, training, and development. An MBA in Marketing includes roles like brand management, market research, and advertising. An MBA in Business Analytics includes roles like Data analytics, data science, and business intelligence. An MBA in Finance includes roles like Investment Banker, corporate finance, and risk management.
PGDM
- Entrepreneurship
- International Business
- E-commerce
- Digital marketing
- Sales and business development
- Wealth management.
Conclusion
PGDM or MBA: Which is better? To choose between PGDM or MBA, it is important to consider your final objective in life. Do you want to pursue your management program because you want to start your own business or enterprise? Do you aim to enter a particular field or sector to pursue your professional goal?
Other things to consider are the fee structure and eligibility criteria for admissions. Be it a PGDM or an MBA, both degrees are excellent for getting you a fulfilling career and promising jobs with high-paying salary packages. Both degree programs have their unique advantages. An MBA from a recognized university can be availed at a low cost, while a PGDM from top B-Schools will be expensive for students.
In terms of teaching, curriculum, and industry connections, a PGDM may be more advantageous as compared to an MBA. Ultimately, understanding the difference between an Online MBA and PGDM helps you make a well-informed decision. So, if you’re wondering which is the better option in the debate of Online MBA vs Online PGDM, choose the one that best aligns with your future career goals.