Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) or Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) or Masters in Business Administration (MBA) are both management courses at Master’s level. Both the courses have a commercial orientation and it’s difficult to differentiate between the two.

While both the courses have same outcomes in terms of employment prospective, there are some subtle differences.

M.B.A refers to Master of Business Administration. It is a degree that is conferred on completion of a two to three year management program. It is granted by a University or an institution that is affiliated to the University. On the other hand, P.G.D.M. stands for a Post Graduate Diploma in Management. It is a diploma course of one to two years and is granted by an autonomous institution.

Many people do not understand the difference between an M.B.A. programme and a P.G.D.M. programme. People often relate the difference with the values associated with both and conclude that a degree is always better than a diploma. However, the main difference between them lies in the affiliation of the institutions offering these programmes.

M.B.A. is a degree that is provided by the colleges that are affiliated to a University and these Universities are controlled by the University Grants Commissions. P.G.D.M is a diploma that is provided by the colleges that are not affiliated to any University and the institution functions as an autonomous body.

PGDM expands to Post Graduate Diploma in Management, the confusion starts when you see the term Diploma. Many students are of the view that it is a Diploma course and not a Degree; you are right to an extent that it is a Diploma. The main reason why postgraduate courses are named as PGDM is because when an Institute is an autonomous body (meaning it is not affiliated to any University) and conducts management courses then such Institutes cannot offer MBA degree. Even IIMs, XLRI’s doesn’t offer MBA degrees they only give PGP Diploma or PGDM since they are autonomous and independent bodies.

When an Institute secures autonomy they design their own curriculum to be taught instead of following outdated University syllabus. The reason why they chose to do is because the curriculum can be updated regularly depending on the need in Industry. Hence one can say that PGDM courses are more Industry relevant as compared to MBA courses.

Colleges which offer AICTE approved courses will also offer PGDM not MBA, for example XYZ College is affiliated to ABC University they offer MBA course affiliated to that University, the same college is offering AICTE approved course it means they are offering PGDM which is not linked to ABC University.

Typically if any PGDM is to be equivalent to MBA then the course duration should be 2 years, a 1 year PGDM will not be equal to MBA course.

A two year management degree expands to Master of Business Administration, only Universities can grant MBA degrees. It could be foreign university or Indian University.

Let us help you understand the basic difference between the two in India-:

1) Only universities can offer MBA: In India only those management institutes which are affiliated to a university can offer an MBA degree. For this reason institutes like NIMT Institute of Hospital & Pharma Management  and NIMT Institute of Management can offer MBA degree, as they are affiliated with Mahamaya Technical University and Rajasthan Technical University respectively. Also IIMs, though being the best of the lot, can’t offer MBAs as they are not affiliated with any university. Institutes which are not affiliated to university are autonomous and can offer PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) degree. However, these programmes are approved by regulatory bodies such as AICTE.

2) Difference in focus of curriculum: While there are huge similarities in the curriculum of both MBA and PGDM, there are finer points of difference. While MBA focuses more on theoretical aspects of management and is more exam-oriented, PGDM has a focus on building soft skills and is industry-oriented. It prepares you for the job market.

3) Curriculum of PGDM is flexible: Since an autonomous institute does not have to follow university standards, it is free to change its curriculum according to industry standards and change in business environment. Also a PGDM gives you an industry exposure. Whereas it will take time to change the curriculum for MBAs as it is affiliated with a university and it will essentially follow the university guidelines and changing this curriculum is a very slow process.

4) MBAs are more affordable: In compared to PGDM, generally MBAs are more affordable as the fees is almost similar to university standard.

5) Difference in focus: An MBA will help in developing technical skills and business knowledge whereas a PGDM will prepare graduates for senior level positions in industry and paves the way for a strong corporate career. Hence, if you’re looking for a career in the challenging area of management, you should go for PGDM.

Executive Master (EM) or Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) is an advanced level of master’s degree designed especially for mid-career executive professionals. Common titles of the degree are executive master of arts, executive master of science or area specific titles like executive master of business administration, executive master of communication or Executive Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Logistics and Management (MASHLM), etc.

Executive master’s programs are usually attended by full time working professionals, therefore the programs are scheduled to match this condition. Most executive master’s programs run several full days (not more than a week) per month for the period of two or three years. However, some options have similarly adapted schedules, offering classes nights or weekends only. The most condensed of such programs can be completed in as little as a year. According to the Bologna system, program participants are required to gain 60 ECTS to complete the degree. In other systems, the duration of the program is dependent on the total number of academic credits and the number of course credits it is possible to complete in a given semester.

Executive Master of Science in Communication

Executive Master of Science in Communication (EMScom, MScom) is designed for corporate communication professionals with a significant experience in the sphere. EMScom programs run on the same level as EMBA and usually consist of short learning sessions, evenly distributed throughout the total number of years required (for example: 7-day-sessions every two months during two years). Courses: Typically, one third of the program will cover general management topics (as in general EMBA). The other two thirds deal with the whole bandwidth of themes specific to corporate communication.

Executive Master in Marketing & Sales

SDA Bocconi School of Management – Bocconi University (Milan, Italy) and ESADE Business School (Barcelona, Spain) offers a conjoint Executive Master Degree in Marketing & Sales Program.  Executive Master in Marketing & Sales (EMMS) is designed for Marketing & Sales professionals with a significant experience and who wants to sharpen their skills. EMMS program run on the same level as EMBA and consist of 7 rigorous modules (each module has 7 days) in 14 months.

Executive Master of Science in Health Systems

Binghamton University offers an Executive Master of Science in Health Systems. The program is available in two tracks: Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) with Health Systems Concentration; Master of Science in Systems Science (SS) with Health Systems Concentration. An engineering background (or completion of fitting prerequisites) is required for conferral of the ISE degree, while the SS degree is open to all academic majors.

Due to increasing competition in the workplace, working professionals are now forced to expand their learning horizons via online or distance learning. Many universities are now leaving their rigid regular education methods and introducing new innovative distance/online education courses especially designed for young working professionals. Some distance courses like Distance MBA are now very popular among the masses due to its professional value specially if done from well known universities.

Distance education or distance learning is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school. Traditionally, this usually involved correspondence courses wherein the student corresponded with the school via post. Today it involves online education. Courses that are conducted (51 percent or more) are either hybrid, blended or 100% whole instruction. Massive open online courses (MOOCs), offering large-scale interactive participation and open access through the World Wide Web or other network technologies, are recent developments in distance education. A number of other terms (distributed learning, e-learning, online learning, etc.) are used roughly synonymously with distance education.

Definition of distance MBA:
An MBA program in which the course content can be imparted without your physical presence in a class falls under the category of a distance MBA program.

Why would someone choose a distance MBA program?

For experienced senior professionals considering an MBA education in another geographical location, the option of a full-time or part-time MBA program may be ruled out considering that at this point, they’d be well-settled with a family and taking a break from work or relocating to a new place for year or two would bring about several disruptions.

Executive MBA programs come with a steep price tag. You must also take into account the additional costs involved for travel to attend the sessions. This may not be a viable option for many.

Considering that most other options are ruled out, the most practical as well as economical alternative for such folks would be a distance MBA program.

What are the other advantages of a distance MBA program?

1. Such a program would save you the opportunity cost that you’d bear if you were unemployed for the one/two years you’d spend doing your full-time MBA.

2. If case of international MBA program, the cost of a distance MBA program would be way lesser compared to a full-time MBA. The tuition fees would be lower; you’d also be saving on the cost of living in an international location and other associated costs.

3. These programs usually have a flexible schedule. It allows you the convenience of completing the course requirements while you continue with your professional commitments. If you need a break due to your work pressure or on account of any personal reason, usually your program should allow you that. For example, at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, you may complete the program in as little as 18 or as many as 36 months.

4. Even if you were to change your location or you have travel involved, it’s possible to continue with your program.

5. You can apply the business concepts that you learn at your workplace.

Dan Bursch, director of the online MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School is of the opinion that the number of online MBA program would continue to take a grip and evolve and it won’t be long before you see half of the top 20 business schools having their online MBA programs.

What are the various types of distance MBA programs?

Before the onset of online MBA programs, correspondence courses were popular where the printed material would be delivered to you. This would require a lot of dedication on your part as self-study would be involved. In addition to the course material, there may be some audio/video learning aids to assist the learning process. At the end, you’d be evaluated through assignments and exams. This mode of delivery is still in use in India.

Technology has revolutionised the delivery methods of distance education. Distance MBA in the form of online MBA and hybrid MBA is gaining popularity with reputed international b schools offering these programs. Hybrid MBA programs differs from an online MBA as it would have some on-campus element (multiple immersion experiences) in addition to the online delivery of content used by online MBA programs.

What methods of online delivery do these programs make use of?

Usually, the online MBA component comprises of a blend of asynchronous as well as synchronous course work.

Synchronous courses are the live sessions where you’ll be able to interact with your professors and peers thus simulating a real classroom. For this, the professors and the student participants need to be online at the same time. Through video conferencing, live class sessions can be held with the professor and multiple students who can participate and engage in discussions. The class sizes are usually kept small to ensure a better learning environment.

Such sessions are held at periodic intervals, usually once (or more) a week covering the coursework for that period. The only requirement for taking such sessions is an internet connection and a webcam. Such interactive sessions may also be recorded so that you can watch them at a later date.

There may also be one-on-one interactions with your instructor or feedback sessions.

Synchronous chat rooms allow multiple users to log in and have a text chat.

Asynchronous learning comprises the reading material, videos, presentations, case studies, assignments, tests that you can access as per your convenience and complete at your own pace.

Depending on your preferences, there may be students who’d vote for the synchronous sessions considering the active participation and learning derived by sharing thoughts and experiences and the chance to know your classmates better.

Some may not be able to attend these live sessions owing to their hectic work schedule.

On the other hand, there may be others who’d vouch for the asynchronous courses as you’re able to take it without much pressure and these sessions are more relaxed and offer more time to think, grasp various concepts, and form your opinion or arrive at any answer.

Even an online MBA program may have a residency component. These sessions may be held on-campus or elsewhere so that students can mingle with their batch-mates and form long-lasting relationships.  So you need to check where these sessions are held. A lot of students look forward to this chance of being able to network with the faculty, staff, classmates, and possibly alumni during these visits.
What are the admission requirements of international distance MBA program?

International programs may offer multiple intakes (either a fall and spring intake or rolling admissions) for the distance MBA program.

The admission requirements is not standardised and would vary depending upon the school.

Though there’s a perception that for an online MBA, no GMAT or GRE score is required, this may not apply to all schools. A GMAT/GRE score is required for reputed US b schools for candidates with lesser work experience. However, this requirement may be waived off for professionals with greater work experience. In addition, the rest of the components: MBA essays, letters of recommendation and interviews may also be required as part of the application process. International candidates may also need to take the IELTS or TOEFL.

However, there are good distance MBA programs that have a compulsory minimum experience requirement where no GMAT score needs to be submitted.

An online degree is an academic degree (usually a college degree, but sometimes the term includes high school diplomas and non-degree certificate programs) that can be earned primarily or entirely through the use of an Internet-connected computer, rather than attending college in a traditional campus setting. Improvements in technology, the increasing use of the Internet worldwide, and the need for people to have flexible school schedules while they are working have led to a proliferation of online colleges that award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees

Online MBA programs offer a unique learning experience that can often be customized to meet personal preferences, schedules or goals. This type of programs can be a great choice for independent learners who prefer self-directed study in which they set the pace for course completion.

Online MBA education has come a long way in recent years, both in terms of the quality of provision and the format’s reputation. Advances in learning technology, increased connectivity and the entrance of bigger and bigger players into the market all add up to mean that an online program can no longer be considered a poor relation to its full-time equivalents.

The distance Online MBA is a part-time MBA format, and one that is largely undertaken by students who wish to remain in their current role while they study. Employer-funded candidates will make up a certain proportion of each class. However, the majority of students will be self-funded candidates who have taken the initiative to pursue an MBA, but who cannot afford to forego their salary or to relocate – or simply do not wish to.

Yet, this is where the real appeal of an MBA online becomes apparent. While traditionally, a part-time MBA candidate would be limited to schools in their local area, they can now choose to study at any one of a solid selection of highly-respected international business schools, enjoying the benefits of the school’s network, access to world-class faculty and – of course – the ability to put a prestigious, globally-recognized school on their resume.

Technological advances have, of course, allowed for great progress and innovation in delivery. As recently as 15 years ago, schools would still have had to largely send out physical copies of textbooks and contact would have been relatively slow paced. Today, the paradigm is very different. Video content, podcasts, e-books, instantaneous 24 hour contact, social media and apps – all second nature to the digital native – mean that the experience today is a very different proposition, with a combination of freely available and bespoke platforms utilized. Indeed, much of the technology that once would have been associated solely with online provision is now also used in full-time MBA provision.

Partially as a consequence of the huge leaps made in provision (other factors are also at play – see ‘career benefits’), the distance online MBA has grown hugely in popularity. QS applicant research shows that as many as 18.3% of applicants consider online MBA study, and 8.7% distance learning (respondents are, however, not limited to choosing just one format, so there is overlap here). This represents a huge increase on the 4.4% who were open to studying by distance in 2008.

The distance online MBA, it seems, is due to play a key role in the future of both the full-time and the part-time MBA, as a more and more diverse applicant pool seeks high-quality MBA provision.

Part-time MBA programs normally hold classes on weekday evenings after normal working hours, or on weekends. Part-time programs normally last three years or more. The students in these programs typically consist of working professionals, who take a light course load for a longer period of time until the graduation requirements are met.

Post Graduate Programme in Management (Part Time) is a rigorous, demanding and relevant programme for the working executives who have no prior exposure to formal management education. It attracts participants with “entrepreneurial orientation’’ from the corporate world in the National Capital Region. It is approved by AICTE, Government of India. It is also accredited by Association of MBAs (AMBA), UK.

The Programme is targeted at working executives and entrepreneurs who have not had an opportunity to get exposed to the latest managerial tools and techniques through formal in-class interaction. Apart from filling this gap, it also equips managers for assuming higher responsibilities and enables them to perform more efficiently and effectively in the context of the changed domestic and international business environment.

The programme is aimed at imparting the competencies in the following areas:

• Value Based Education
• Global Perspective
• Entrepreneurial and Leadership Orientation
• Functional Competencies
• Action Centric Mindset

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Duration

Three-year (spread over nine terms) Post Graduate Programme in Management (Part Time) is at par with the regular PGPM programme in its coverage and rigour. Each year is split into four terms (of 3-months each). Each term is of 12-weeks duration which includes two weeks for examinations (mid-term & end-term). In order to provide flexibility to the students, they are permitted to drop a term(s) and may also opt to complete the programme on fast track basis in subject to prior intimation/ approval. However, they would be required to complete all the remaining courses/dissertation work within a maximum time limit of five years from the date of joining (subject to their having paid all the fee installments as applicable). In such cases, the fee payable subsequent to their re-joining/joining back will be that applicable to the batch with which they are joining the term. Re-registration fee will also be levied in such cases.

Pedagogy

The pedagogy is a balanced mix of lectures, group discussions, presentations, case analyses, simulation exercises, business games, field visits and project work. The primary emphasis would be on interactive and participative methods of learning. In line with the recent advances in training methodology, the programme also integrates the use of technology with the learning of basic principles in different functional areas of management. The participants get the opportunity of interacting with eminent academics, policy makers and industry leaders who delve into the current business and policy issues.

Course Work*

The programme comprises of 36 courses of thirty contact hours each, of which eighteen are core courses and eighteen are elective courses. The core courses are compulsory for all students. Students are required to complete 18 elective courses out of a larger list. The students are free to choose elective courses of their choice. The elective courses are offered in the following functional areas: Finance, Operations Management, Marketing, Information Management, HRM/ OB and Strategy.

The scheme of course work is as follows: in the first year (initial four terms) 16 core courses are offered, comprising of four core courses in each term, in the second year (fifth term only), there are two core courses and two electives. Electives start from fifth term onwards. From the second term of the second year (sixth term onwards) only elective courses are offered. During the ninth term of course work students work on the compulsory dissertation / project.

Specialization

In order to do specialization in a functional area, a minimum of five electives must be taken from that area. Dual specialization is also permitted; in which case additional minimum five electives must be chosen in the second area of specialization. Thus out of 18 elective courses, 10 must be from the two areas in which students wish to specialize. Remaining elective courses can be taken from any functional area or from the pool of stand-alone electives which may or may not have inter-linkages with other courses. If a student has not taken 5 or more elective courses in any functional area, he will not be considered as having specialized in any functional area and will be given a General Management specialization. The elective courses offered in a term shall be announced towards the end of the previous term to enable pre-registration for courses as also to decide which electives will be offered and which shall not be offered on account of inadequate number of students wanting to enroll/opt for the same.

Dissertation/ Project Work

In addition to core and elective courses, each student is required to complete dissertation/ project work, equivalent to two credit loads. In this dissertation he/she will address a clearly defined live problem of an organization/ business. Normally this dissertation/ project work requires one-term equivalent effort and can be started earliest in the ninth term. A faculty member from MDI will have to be chosen to provide guidance for the project work. Students also have to choose one guide from the industry for their project work. The students submit copies of their typed dissertation report and will defend their work before a panel of examiners.

The dissertation work is evaluated and the grade obtained is counted for the final CGPA.