The difference between MBA and PGDM: Which one should you choose?

Life is full of crossroads. From a trivial decision to taking important steps regarding career choices, every person encounters dilemma, doubts and crossroads where you need to make a wise decision. One such dilemma that you might face in life is when choosing PGDM or MBA. But before you get into the course and tread ahead, you need to know the difference between MBA and PGDM on the basis of various parameters.

Here we are going to clear all the confusion by judiciously weighing the pros and cons of both the Management courses at the Master’s level.

The difference between an MBA and PGDM

Parameters	MBA	PGDM
Degree v/s Diploma	MBA is a degree course which is offered by both Private and Government Colleges and Universities.	PGDM is offered by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) affiliated colleges and institutes
Curriculum structure	MBA courses are designed keeping in mind a broader student audience such as Universities and therefore they are comparatively rigid. Affiliated institutes are required to keep a check on the access to resources and technical expertise. The curriculum of an MBA program is updated periodically during a few years.	PGDM curriculum differs from institute to institute. The difference between MBA and PGDM is that they keep on updating the syllabus within a shorter span of time. Therefore the curriculum of PGDM is flexible and adapts to changes quickly.
Eligibility	A student needs to possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent in any discipline, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) affiliated universities.	A student must possess a graduate degree with at least 50% marks in aggregate, from a recognized university.
Specialisations	The scope for specialisations in MBA is too wide ranging from Marketing and Finance to IT, Pharma and Data Analytics.	The scope of PGDM is narrow in comparison to MBA. There are mainly 3 three specialization options, namely, Marketing, Finance, and Human Resource (HR)
Suitability	MBA is a suitable course for candidates interested in earning a Degree for higher studies, career in Academics, PhD or corporate career.	Students looking to enhance their employability skills to have a better corporate career, job or to have their own start-up enterprise.

Benefits of MBA

Global Financial Acceptability - An MBA is widely accepted all around the world. The key difference between an MBA and PGDM is that top Global Institutes of the world offer an MBA but not PGDM. An MBA degree is well recognized for receiving global employment opportunities.
Requirement for higher education abroad - MBA is usually required by various universities to pursue higher studies abroad. The major difference between MBA and PGDM is that foreign institutes don’t look for diplomas, they look for degrees. An MBA degree makes a better impression and impact on foreign universities.
Legacy - MBA has an unprecedented legacy. A few top B-schools like FMS - Delhi University (60 years old) and JBIMS - the University of Mumbai (50 years old) are known for their excellent placements and faculty. Their huge alumni base also gives a tough competition to PGDM.
Economical fee structure - Private universities have exorbitant fees structures but the ones that are government-affiliated have economical fees structure. For eg - FMS Delhi is among the top 10 B-schools of the nation but offers an MBA at INR 1.2 lakh only.

Benefits of PGDM

Industry oriented course structure - This is one major difference between MBA and PGDM. PGDM is more industry oriented than MBA. Autonomous institutes offer PGDM courses, therefore they keep the curriculum as per the latest developments.
Real-time Business World Experience - PGDM offers a pragmatic approach towards learnings and gives students great insights into the corporate world. PGDM gives the students exposure and opportunity to connect with industry experts.
Job-Related Skills - PGDM helps students develop job-oriented skills so that they can excel in career opportunities they are aspiring for. The difference between PGDM and MBA is that PGDM focuses on core skills to excel in a particular area while the MBA focuses on the overall comprehensive development of the candidate.
Learning Opportunities - There are ample learning opportunities offered by PGDM courses. Seminars and workshops are arranged. Top industry managers are invited as guests for giving sessions and speeches to motivate students by providing them with a bag full of opportunities.

The difference between MBA and PGDM along with their respective benefits have been analysed here for you. There are numerous top institutes that offer MBA and PGDM. Both have their own benefits and shortcomings and they need to be weighed rightfully before making an informed decision. You must choose as per your own requirements and future prospects.

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