Difference Between MBA and PGDM Course: Benefits, Duration, Fee, Career Opportunity, Salary & job Placememt

Difference Between MBA and PGDM Course: MBA and PGDM Courses both are the most popular management courses in India. However many candidates get confused when it comes to choosing between these two. The reason behind this confusion and uncertainty can be the lack of awareness about the Difference between MBA and PGDM courses. So, in order to help such candidates to make accurate course choices, We are writing this article to differentiate between MBA and PGDM courses, and also answer the question "MBA or PGDM, Which one is better ?"

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Details in MBA (Master of Business Administration) Course

An MBA Course is a 2-year Post-Graduate course offered in the discipline of Management by the Universities or Colleges affiliated with the University, An MBA Program is approved by UGC (University Grant Commission). In India, there are many renowned universities and Business Schools that offer MBA courses across various specializations. The MBA Program is designed in a way that the student gets more theoretical knowledge, the MBA programs offered by most Institutions have a uniform curriculum as the curriculum cannot be revised without the consent of the University, so the curriculum remains unchanged for a long time.

Specializations of MBA Course

• MBA in Finance
• MBA in Human Resource Management
• MBA in Hotel Management
• MBA in Operations Management Course
• MBA in Business Analytics Course
• MBA in Hospitality Management
• MBA in International Business
• MBA in International Finance & Accounting
• MBA in Rural Management
• MBA in Event Management

 Details about PGDM (Postgraduate Diploma in Management) Course

A PGDM is a 2-year - Postgraduate Diploma course offered in the field of Management by autonomous institutes (Institutes that are not affiliated with any university), a PGDM program is approved by AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education). Many top business schools/Institutes (such as IIMs, XLRI, MDI, NMIMS) offer PGDM courses in various specializations. 

The PGDM program focuses more on industry-oriented skills such as developing soft skills, Communication skills, and managerial skills, a PGDM course is flexible, and its curriculum can be changed or updated as per the industry’s demands and changes. Most Institutes make regular changes in the PGDM program’s curriculum every year according to industry trends.

Specializations of PGDM Course:

• PGDM in Finance Course
• PGDM in Information & Technology
• PGDM in Human Resource
• PGDM in Business Analytics
• PGDM in Marketing
• PGDM in Operations
• PGDM in Supply Chain & Logistics
• PGDM in Rural Development
• PGDM in Event Management
• PGDM in Enterprise Management 
• PGDM in International Business
• PGDM in International Finance

Difference Between MBA and PGDM Course Eligibility

There is no such difference in the MBA eligibility criteria and PGDM Eligibility Criteria that are required to be fulfilled by the candidates to get admission to any of these courses.

So here we are mentioning the basic eligibility criteria required to be fulfilled by the candidate to pursue an MBA or PGDM course:

• Students who have completed their Graduation (Bachelor's degree in any relevant subject) in any discipline are eligible for both courses.
• The minimum required percentage in Graduation Courses as per the University’s or Institute’s norms. Most of the universities and institutes ask for at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in Graduation.
• Some of the Universities/Institutes also ask for 1 to 2 years of working experience as an eligibility requirement to pursue these courses.
• Most reputed Universities and Schools grant MBA and PGDM admissions based on entrance examinations such as CAT/XAT/MAT/ATMA and state-level entrance examinations such as TSICET, and MAH-CET mostly followed by a Group Discussion or Personal Interview Round. However, some private universities and institutes also provide merit-based admission to admission seekers.

Difference Between MBA and PGDM Course: Highlights

Parameters	MBA	PGDM
Full-Form of the Course	Master of Business Administration	Post Graduate Diploma in Management
Course Duration	2 Years	1 or 2 Years
Course Level	Master’s Degree	PG Diploma
Eligibility	Graduation in any stream with at least 50% of marks in UG from a recognized university	Graduation in any UG course from a recognized university/college/institution.
Admission Criteria	Entrance Exam	Entrance Exams as well as Direct Admission in some institutions
Course Fees	Rs. 2-20 LPA	Rs. 5-24 LPA
Subjects	Business planning, Marketing, Finance Management, HR Management, Principles of Management, Business Laws, Entrepreneurship, Communication Skills, Entrepreneurship, Business Communication, Project work, Organizational behavior, Retail Management, Economics, Computer Application, Taxation, Business Environment.	Information Technology Management, Accounting for Management, Business Communication, Managerial Economics, Decision Sciences, Management Process & Organizational Behaviour, Management and Technology, Innovation and Change, Marketing Management, Financial Management
Salary After Course	Rs. 4 LPA to Rs 10 LPA	Rs. 7 LPA to Rs 15 LPA
Entrance Exams	CAT, MAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, ATMA, CMAT	MAT, CAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT
Examinations	Conducted by the University	Approved by AICTE to conduct examinations.
Higher Study Scope	To pursue higher studies or apply for a job overseas after completing your Post-Graduation, An MBA degree is much more suitable	The candidates who have done a PGDM course might have to face some obstacles while applying for higher studies or a job Abroad
Job Positions	Sales Manager, Finance Advisor, HR Manager, Marketing Manager, Business Analyst, Business Development Manager, Investment Banker, Chief Technology Officer, Project Manager, Business Consultant.	Business Transformation Consultant Finance Analyst, Product Quantity Officer, PR Officer, Brand Manager, International Sales Manager, Business Consultant, HR Manager, Strategic Manager, and Finance Manager. etc.

Top Colleges for MBA and PGDM Courses:

In India, there are thousands of Colleges that offer MBA and PGDM Courses to students. But to propel in your career, every individual must pursue the course from a reputed Business School. Below we have mentioned a list of Top MBA Colleges in India along with MBA Course Fee:

MBA Colleges & Fee

Top MBA Colleges in India	MBA Course Fee
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), New Delhi	Rs 1.92 Lacs
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi	Rs 18.25 Lacs
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)	Rs 20.84 Lacs
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi	Rs 9.6 Lacs
Symbiosis Centre For Management And Human Resource Development, Pune	Rs 18.80 Lacs
Symbiosis Institute Of Business Management Pune	Rs 19.40 Lacs
Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB)	Rs 15.40 Lacs
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai	Rs 16.29 Lacs
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bangalore	Rs 16.20 Lacs
KIIT School of Management - KSOM Bhubaneswar	Rs 9.20 Lacs

Here is the list of Top PGDM Colleges in India along with the PGDM Course Fee:

PGDM Course & Fee

Top PGDM Colleges in Inda	PGDM Course Fee
IIM Kolkata	Rs 23 Lacs
XLRI Jamshedpur	Rs 23.60 Lacs
MDI Gurgaon	Rs 26.37 Lacs
Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE), Hyderabad	Rs 8.15 Lacs
Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad	Rs 37.48 Lacs
Narsee Monjee Institute Of Management Studies ( NMIMS), Mumbai	Rs 20.84 Lacs
IIM, Shillong	Rs 1.46 Lacs
S.P. Jain Institute Of Management And Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai	Rs 17.5 Lacs
IMT Ghaziabad	Rs 17.50 Lacs

As you can conclude, The PGDM Course Fee is higher than the MBA Course Fee. Due to the equivalency of these two courses in Industry, there will be no such impact on your future career prospects. So We advise you to plan your Post-graduation Budget accordingly and choose a suitable Management program as per your budget. Hence yes there’s a difference between MBA and PGDM courses considering their Course Fees.

Career Scope After MBA Course v/s Career Scope After PGDM Course

As already discussed, MBA and PGDM courses are equivalent courses and hold equal significance in the job market. Being a Diploma course doesn't make a PGDM program any less of it. A PGDM Holder is likely to get the same salary, same job profiles, and even the same job positions as an MBA graduate. However, it also depends on the skills and knowledge of an individual. Hence there is no such Difference between MBA and PGDM courses in terms of Career Prospects.

Job Profiles after MBA/PGDM Course	Average Salary After PGDM/MBA
Territory Sales Manager	Rs 5.83 Lacs
Area Marketing Head	Rs 20.51 L.P.A
Assistant Manager	Rs 6 LPA
Operation Manager	Rs 7.65 L.P.A
Plant Manager	Rs 13.15 L.P.A
Area Operation Manager	Rs 10 L.P.A
Supply Chain Programme Manager	Rs 15.80 L.P.A
Administrative Assistant	Rs 2.99 L.P.A
Business Manager	Rs 8.64 L.P.A
Investment Banker	Rs 8 L.P.A
Financial Manager	Rs 9.93 Lacs
Financial Advisor	Rs 3.78 L.P.A
Bank Manager	Rs 8 L.P.A
HR Manager	Rs 6.50 L.P.A
Business Consultant	Rs 4.36 L.P.A

Job opportunities and Salary Packages depend on an individual’s knowledge and skills. A candidate who has done his/her MBA or PGDM stream from a reputed B-School or University is likely to get better opportunities and a good salary package as compared to other Graduates.

Which stream is better, the MBA Course or the PGDM Course?

We have already discussed the similarities and differences between MBA and PGDM courses. As stated, The syllabus and objectives of a PGDM and MBA Course are exactly the same  which raises the question “MBA or PGDM, Which one is better?” Let’s talk about it!

• The career prospects and scope for both PGDM and MBA are equal. Despite a few differences both of these programs hold the same value in the Corporate World, the major influencing factor here is the institute or University offering these courses. Most of the time, the industry recruiters are not concerned that you have acquired an MBA degree or a PGDM diploma, they quantify your education based on your skills, knowledge, and the reputation of the institution from which you get your degree. Pursuing an MBA Course or PGDM Course from a low-ranked college will definitely give you an MBA Degree or PGDM Diploma but it may not help you to improve your skills and knowledge than a High-ranked College or Institution will.
• We suggest you figure out your goals and expectations from your post-graduation course and set some parameters (such as budget, college ranking, practical/theoretical knowledge, plan for higher studies, etc.) accordingly and then make a choice based on those parameters. To make it easier for you, below we have mentioned the Reasons for a PGDM Course as well as the Reasons to do an MBA Course.

Please read, understand, and choose wisely:

Reasons to do a PGDM Course:

• PGDM is a much more industry-oriented course than MBA as it is offered by autonomous institutes so its curriculum is frequently updated as per Industry's changing trends and demands. While pursuing a PGDM Diploma you will learn about the latest management trends and skills.
• A PGDM program allows you to choose your field of interest, eg- If you decide to do PGDM in Marketing specialization, then you can choose minor subjects such as Finance/IT Project/Management/Business, etc.
• A PGDM Programme is a job-oriented program, a PGDM diploma gives you easy access to fair career opportunities, and you can get a well-paying corporate job right after completing your PGDM course. Most of the corporate companies prefer a PGDM diploma-holding candidate over an MBA degree-holding candidate.
• This course provides you with the practical knowledge to deal with real-time industry problems and provides you with the latest industry insights, hence making you more eligible than an MBA graduate.
• MBA is more about theoretical Knowledge whereas, in a PGDM Course, you get more practical learning opportunities, various seminars, workshops, and industry visits are conducted to give you more extensive knowledge and to update your industry-oriented skills.

Reasons to do an MBA Course:

• An MBA degree is globally accepted by companies, an MBA graduate is more likely to get better career opportunities overseas, Most International Business Schools offer an MBA degree instead of a PGDM Course.
• Pursuing an MBA degree will be a better choice if the candidate is thinking of applying for higher education abroad. A PGDM Diploma holder might face some difficulty while applying for a higher education program such as a doctoral program offered by International Universities. An MBA program is a globally recognized program and is accepted by Universities Globally.
• MBA degrees are offered by UGC-recognized Universities or colleges only and they follow University norms and can easily get approval from AICTE, so there is no risk of Fraudulence, whereas some private PGDM Institutes do not follow AICTE norms meticulously and hence can be fooled by the institutes.
• An MBA Program costs less than a PGDM Program, the University or University-affiliated Colleges offer an MBA Course at a lower Fee structure than a PGDM Diploma course. Most Government-approved Universities offer an MBA Degree at a very low fee because they receive financial aid from the state or central government, whereas Private Universities and colleges have their own fee structure, so they might have a high fee for MBA degrees.