Further enlightenment

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) A difference in the focus of the 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 the 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) A 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

hope this answer all your questions

Hi, Tushar

PGDM

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.

MBA

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.

Further enlightenment

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

1) Only universities can offer

Hi, Tushar

PGDM

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 that 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 that 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.

MBA

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

Further enlightenment

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 affil

Hi Tushar,

MBA: Stands for Master in Business Administration.

PGDM: Stands for Post Graduate Diploma in Management.

Why are they pursued?

MBA: A Master in Business Administration (MBA) is a degree course offered by the colleges affiliated to the universities. So, only universities can offer MBA programmes.

PGDM: A Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is a diploma course offered by the institutes that are recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and which are autonomous and not affiliated to any university. However, accreditation by Association of Indian Universities (AIU) makes an institute's PGDM course equivalent to an MBA.

PIBM Pune Provides both MBA and PGDM Courses, PGDM Course is AICTE Approved whereas MBA degree affliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Dear Tushar, PGDM is a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Institutions given by All India Council for Technical Education. They are not affliated to any University. MBA from Pune Institute of Business Management (PIBM) is a Post Graduation degree affliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University. In short, any MBA college is affliated with a particular University. Any non autonomous college has to affliate itself to a University for their curriculum and syllabus. Affliations are important when you are trying for jobs in India or abroad. Some companies emphasize on the University status. AICTE is an individual body and doesn't need an affliation. It's has its own syllabus and curriculum and hence its not affliated.