Many students want a successful career in the corporate world. So pursuing an MBA or a PGDM seems like a natural choice to them. However, most aspirants’ dilemma is whether they should opt for a Masters in Business Administration or a PostGraduate Diploma in Business Management.Students from diverse academic backgrounds choose to pursue an MBA; MBA after engineering is also a popular choice. For one to arrive at the right decision, one should be well aware of all the differences and similarities that exist between both of them. Both of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Let us have a look at a few of the differences that exist between them.
What is the difference between MBA and PGDM?
MBA is an internationally recognized two-year master’s program that colleges are generally awarded by colleges affiliated to a university. On the other hand, a PGDM is generally a one-year program conducted by autonomous institutes recognized by AICTE. Most items offer a PGDM, while universities like Christ University, Bangalore offer MBA courses.
There also exists a slight difference in terms of curriculum and the overall academic approach followed by both the courses. While MBA focuses too much on the technical and theoretical aspects of business management, on the other hand, PGDM follows a more practical approach towards business management. MBA focuses a lot on broadening the skill set of individuals while focusing on the overall holistic growth of the individuals, while a PGDM teaches to develop an approach that focuses on real-world application of business management principle
The curriculum of MBA is governed by Universities that award the MBA degree, which is generally revised every three to four years. Institutes offering PGDM are at much more liberty to experiment with their course structure and teaching methodology,
The admission process for both MBA and PGDM is also quite different. As mentioned earlier, MBA is awarded by colleges that are affiliated to Universities. Admission to MBA is generally made through state level entrance tests. However, a few MBA colleges recognize scores of national level entrance tests like CAT, MAT, etc.
Let us have a look at a few of the entrance tests through which one secure a seat in an MBA and PGDM colleges-
| NAME OF EXAMINATION | CONDUCTING
BODY |
MODE OF EXAMINATION | FREQUENCY |
|
CAT |
IIM’S ON A ROTATIONAL BASIS |
ONLINE |
ANNUAL |
|
IIFT(Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) |
NTA(National Testing Agency) |
ONLINE |
ANNUAL |
|
MAT(Management Aptitude Test) |
AIMA(All India Management Association) |
Both ONLINE and OFFLINE |
FOUR TIMES EACH YEAR-
FEBRUARY, MAY SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER |
|
SNAP(Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) |
SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY |
ONLINE |
ANNUAL |
| GMAT( Graduate Management Aptitude Test) | GMAC( Graduate Management Aptitude Council) |
ONLINE |
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR |
| CMAT | AICTE( All India Council Of Technical Education) | ONLINE | ANNUAL |
| XAT(XAVIER APTITUDE TEST) |
XAVIER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
(XLRI) |
ONLINE | ANNUAL |
COLLEGES OFFERING MBA AND PGDM
As mentioned above, most colleges offering PGDM are autonomous institutes recognized by AICTE However, MBA is offered by colleges that are affiliated to a university . Let us have a look at few of the colleges that offer PGDM Course-
| NAME OF INSTITUTE | LOCATION | EXAM ACCEPTED |
| IIM (Indian Institute of Management) | Kolkata | CAT/GMAT |
| NMIMS( Narsee Institute of Management Studies) | Mumbai | NMAT |
| IMI (International Management Institute) | New Delhi | CAT / GMAT |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management) | Chennai | CAT/XAT/GMAT |
| IIM (Indian Institute of Management) | Indore | CAT/GMAT |
| FMS | New Delhi | CAT/GMAT |
| IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) | New Delhi | IIFT/GMAT |
| IIT | Kharagpur | CAT/GMAT |
MBA Vs PGDM- What To Choose?
After considering the differences between both MBA and PGDM, students might still find it confusing to choose between the two. Aspirants must keep in mind that the courses are quite similar in curriculum, scope, and career opportunities. The only differences that exist are only minimal. Aspirants must assess their situation and make the right decision based on their situation.
PGDM is an expensive course compared to an MBA degree, as most colleges offering MBA get generously funded by the government. So students who have financial constraints will be more inclined to pursue an MBA. On the other hand, some students will prefer not to devote the extra year to a postgraduate degree and consider it wise to choose a one year PGDM course. MBA is also an Internationally recognized degree because some students must find themselves more inclined to pursue it. Students must objectively analyze all the pros and cons of both courses before making the right decision
