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