The basics of One year full time MBA in India #7 – One year MBA vs two year pgp

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Appeared first in Business Standard, Rediff.com, Indian Management

The key benefit offered by the one-year full time MBA, we believe, is that the course gives you time to discover yourself before you manage others. In Indian society the pressure to rise above the neighbour’s kid is a constant one. The one-year full time MBA at business schools in India such as XLRI, SP Jain, MDI, IIMs, ISB, IMT and IMI, by adhering to the original mission statement of an MBA as defined by the Association of MBAs – to “enhance and develop previous relevant experience” – gives you on an average five years to pursue what your heart desires and will accept you with open arms whether you chose to spend those years becoming a Ranji cricket player or a DJ at a club. Diversity and experience is respected and encouraged in a one-year full time MBA.

The basics of One year full time MBA in India #7 - One year MBA vs two year pgp

Secondly, as discussed earlier in the series, the learning environment offered by the course is incredible. The class pursuing a one year MBA is full of people who have seen work life inside out. With close to 1000 years of collective corporate wisdom available in a typical class of 100 candidates in a batch of a one year MBA, the peer learning that the course offers is amazing.

full time executive mba in india iim great lakes

Students at Great lakes institute of management, Chennai

Third, from a pure economics view, the opportunity cost of a one-year full time MBA is half that of a two-year PGP programme. You save one year’s post qualification salary and join work faster.

Fourth, the one-year full time MBA’s placement process is better equipped to place experienced professionals as opposed to the placement process of the two-year PGP at business schools in India. Since the bulk of the two-year PGP students, on an average, have less than one-year of work experience and almost forty percent of the students have zero work experience, most of the companies that come to recruit two-years PGP students offer them management trainee profiles – an entry level position. Many two-year PGP candidates with 4-5 years experience struggle to find suitable profiles.

Such candidates with greater than three year’s experience may be better of pursuing the one-year course after gaining some more work experience.

Fifth, candidates pursuing a one-year MBA receive a qualification that is recognized globally as an MBA as opposed to the qualification earned through the two-year PGP course which is recognized as a Masters in Management internationally – a course for candidates without work-experience.

As discussed in depth in earlier articles in the series, at certain business schools, the one-year course offers global exposure for the entire batch through an international immersion, a higher salary and senior roles after graduation as opposed to those gained from a two-year PGP course and the academic rigour of a global two-year MBA in a year’s time.

However, in case you are interested in pursuing management education right after college, without gathering any work experience, the two year course will probably serve you better as the extra year will give you more time to absorb concepts.

Also, because the one year course crunches a significant portion of the two year syllabus into a year, it becomes a bit heavy. Extra-curricular activities take a hit and students find it difficult to participate in festivals on campus or indulge in sports. I hope that going ahead the contact hours for the one-year course are reduced in line with those of its counterparts in Europe so as to give students more time to appreciate the nuances of their subjects.

full time executive mba PGPM SP Jain One year mba executive mba

A clear advantage the two-year course enjoys over the one-year course in India is that it has been in existence far longer. The industry in India has well established frameworks such as the Management Trainee programme to induct the graduates of the two year course into the workplace – this makes the placement process smoother.

As opposed to this, many companies here are still figuring out how to best utilize the experienced talent coming out of the one-year full time MBA at the IIMs and are establishing new frameworks for absorbing MBAs at senior positions. These frameworks have existed in companies abroad from the day the MBA degree was created. A student at an international B-school is simply not awarded an MBA degree unless he has substantial work experience – HR processes at companies abroad therefore have well developed processes to induct these senior hires.

The cost of the course is also a factor to consider when deciding which MBA to go for. The fees for the one-year course at the IIMs, for instance, ranges between Rs 14 lakh and Rs 21.5 lakh. The two-year course is subsidized by the government and the average fee across the IIMs ranges between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 14.5 lakh.

Lastly, in case you are planning to pursue an MBA at an IIM, be informed that there is no reservation in the one-year full time MBA as the course is wholly financed by the candidates. The two year course on the other hand reserves approximately 50% of the seats for OBCs, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. In case a candidate is applying under a reserved category he should keep this in mind when planning his applications.

Click Here to read the original article in Business Standard

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The basics of One year full time MBA in India #7 - One year MBA vs two year pgp
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The basics of One year full time MBA in India #7 - One year MBA vs two year pgp
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The key benefit offered by the one-year full time MBA, we believe, is that the course gives you time to discover yourself before you manage others. In Indian society the pressure to rise above the neighbour’s kid is a constant one. The one-year full time MBA at business schools in India such as XLRI, SP Jain, MDI, IIMs, ISB, IMT and IMI, by adhering to the original mission statement of an MBA as defined by the Association of MBAs – to “enhance and develop previous relevant experience” – gives you on an average five years to pursue what your heart desires and will accept you with open arms whether you chose to spend those years becoming a Ranji cricket player or a DJ at a club.
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One Year MBA
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56 Comments

    • Hi Sky,

      In India Some premier B-schools besides IIMs you can look at are:

      1. ISB
      2. SP Jain, Mumbai
      3. XLRI

      You can also consider Great Lakes, SOIL, IMT, MDI. Have a look at a comprehensive list at MENU > B-schools.

      Also just in case you might not be aware- IIM Udaipur and IIM Shillong also offer a One Year MBA.

  1. Hi admin can you please send me the list of best b schools for 1 year mba program, alongwith their admission procedure and fee detail.

  2. Hello admin, i wanted to ask is it ok if i want to change my field, do a one year mba and then go ahead in that area. I am currently working in the field of supply chain and want to change to marketing. Im 26 now so doing the regular two year mba is a little frightening. As you mentioned that the one year program is opted by those who have years of experience in their field and need a boost in their career, do you think it would be wise to change the field now. I am more of a marketing person rather than supply chain.

    • Hi vinay,

      changing your field drastically is a challenge for anyone with 5-6 years work experience. This will not change whether you pursue a one year MBA or two year PGP/ PGDM programme. It is advisable to have an overlap between the old role you tackled and the new role you are seeking post MBA.

      So shifting from supply chain to marketing will be difficult. That said, it is not impossible: one way to do it is to rejoin supply chain heavy companies and slowly transition to marketing roles within the company over time.

  3. Hai, I have over all 6+ years experience in sale, marketing etc in Dubai and now working as a CRM in Trivandrum. Settled back in India now. I have BBA & MBA through distant education. I want to reach higher. Many times, I get sidelined when considered for a better job or for promotion as I have taken PG through distant education. I want to have a valuable PG in my hand, need a career growth. Please guide me of the various options of one year MBA. I’am now 31 and wants to reach a good position in a few years.

  4. I was inclined for 1 year MBA program in some top Indian colleges.

    What i want to know is that whether working at a MLM organization for 7 years will be considered as work experience by these colleges?

    • Hi aniket,

      By MLM, we assume you are reffering to multi-level marketing companies such as Amway and Herbalife etc.
      Depends completely on the kind of profile you held – if this was a full time position, there is absolutely no issue. In case this was part-time work,
      most B-schools will not accept it.

      Sample this section from IIM A’s FAQ’s for PGPX-

      What about the Work Experience requirement?

      Adhering to a minimum age of 27 years at the start of the
      programme, a normal graduate should have 6 to 7 years of post-qualification, full time work
      experience. Similarly, a post graduate should have 5 to 6 years of experience. A PhD/MPhil can
      be evaluated on case to case basis. We do not consider any part-time work experience.
      However, since the PGPX is a ‘get-ready-for-top-management’ programme the Admissions
      Committee looks for relevant work experience in the candidates who would be a good fit for
      top management roles.

    • Hi, I am presently looking to shift from manual testing in IT to some other field. Would business analytics course to become a business analyst be a better option for me? Kindly suggest good colleges providing one year MBA for the same in Chennai and also good placement post completion. Distance mode is also preferred.

  5. Hi Admin,
    I am not sure if this is the correct post to ask this question but anyway:
    Is it true that all B – schools demand that the candidate should have had given the GMAT in the same year as the year of application? Or anytime during the validity period is fine?
    If yes, then which schools have this demand and which do not?

    Thanks in advance!

    • Hi Yugandhar,

      Different B-schools have different policies for how fresh your GMAT score needs to be – some accept scores that are 5 years old (Stanford, Wharton, Harvard) while some others will only accept scores that are at max 3 years old. Which schools are you targeting? Our team can help you with information on specific schools.

  6. Hi Admin,

    I’m currently working in IT sector and possess around 4 years of experience in development. I want to get into HR profile but the thought of appearing for CAT and getting into 2 year MBA frightens me. I can go for 1 year MBA, considered SOIL for the same but the fee structure is too much. Please suggest. Thanks!

    • Hi Jess,

      There are a host of one-year MBA options in India that you can consider and you’ll find most of them listed under B-Schools in India in the main menu. If you share your GMAT score, we can advise you on courses that will be suitable for you. As far as fee is concerned, unfortunately most One-year MBA courses in India cost upwards of what SOIL charges for its one-year Business Leadership programme. Have you explored SOIL’s need based & merit based scholarships?

  7. Hi Admin,
    I have 4.9 years of experience in IT, working as a technical consultant. I have done my M.Tech in Computers. But i found that the masters does’nt give any benefit in IT. So to enhance my skills, i am targeting 1 yr full time MBA. If i do a MBA, will i be able to change my area or work? Also what are the specializations that 1 yr MBA’s provide ? is there a preference for engineers/masters in tech, in certain colleges?

    • Hi Rohan what quantum of change are you looking for? Do you want to move from a technical role to a managerial one or do you want to shift your line altogether?

      • I want to shift my line of work.. but to get the admission, I had asked for any specific area that I can move to, given my experience.. Even if that does not count, then will the colleges, which prefer diversity in students, give a slight edge for my education as well?

        • Hi Rohan shifting to allied fields is certainly possible. For instance IT consulting could be a potential area for you. As far as advantage goes at admission stage, given your IT background you would infact face substantial competition from your peers as IT professionals form the biggest applicant pool for mba courses.

  8. Hii Admin,

    I am a Engineer Officer working in a Ship Management Company, professionally in Merchant Navy.
    I am working in this field since 2008 end, but, as a normal practice in merchant navy, I work in contracts of 4 months duration approximately and then I get 3 months of vacation although I am on a continuous payroll in company records. I want to ask you, whether the full time work experience as required by B-schools would count my experience till now as continuous work experience?

    Further, since my work profile is quite different from a normal MBA aspirant, if you were to evaluate my job prospects taking in to account a field change from merchant navy, which MBA would suit me- a 1 year Executive MBA or a 2 year full time MBA?

  9. I am a hospitality sales and marketing professional with 14 years of work experience. Is it OK if I go for a full time one year programme ? Please guide me.

    • Dear MK,

      Yup it is perfectly OK! 🙂 Share more details on the potential issues you are worried about and we will try and help you.

  10. Hi Admin,
    I am an engineering graduate with 5 years of exp and I want to join one year MBA in next year starting itself.so which are good colleges where I can still apply,Also I have one major confusion why different colleges have different academic cycle?like for two year MBA or for that matter for any course they start from June July or August while I have seen one year MBAs srarting from January,may June till October November,why so much difference,n how does it affect placement and job prospects?

    • Hi Prashant, sure – some B-School’s you can consider are IIM A, B, C, and given your 15+ years of experience, to some extent IIM I, IIM L and ISB.

  11. Hiii, Admin…I have arnd 6 yrs of experience in Marketing & sales….i hv done my masters in Marketing & finance from pune….Can you tell me is it worth to do Executive MBA……
    my hometown is Ahmedabad….i found top b-schools fees are very expensive….is it worth doing executive mba part time from IIM Kozikode or frm Nirma university…..

    • Nirav, the ‘worth’ of an executive MBA depends on your expectation from the course. What change in your career do you want to accomplish through this programme?

  12. Dear Admin

    I’m working as sales executive in industrial sales from last 8 years i have a graduation degree in commerce
    now i planning to do one year full time MBA in marketing to boost up my career Growth which is now at some level fixed . Is there any chance me to get admission in good b- school in India.
    If Yes Please suggest me some good option i can effort up to 8.00L fees

    Regards
    Abhimanyu

  13. Akshay Sharma on

    Hi Admin,

    At 4 years of experience in I.T with 1 year international experience, do you think it is feasible to go for 2 years MBA programme in top colleges or should I stick to 1 year programme ?

    Because IIMs and other top institutes ask for minimum 5-7 years of experience.

    • Its not about the time period but about the difference in programmes – one is a globally accredited MBA (one-year courses in India) programme since it recruits experienced folk, the other is an MBM level programme for freshers – as far as learning goes, you’ll definitely be better off in the one-year MBA. From a placements angle too, you will find that placements are in accordance with a MBM programme and at a fresher level. All IIMs need 5 years work experience (IIM A specifies age of 27), while ISB is happy with 2+ years of work ex. Do read this for more on the differences between the MBA (one-year course) and PGP courses in India – http://www.oneyearmba.co.in/mim-vs-mba-pgdm-vs-mba-pgp-vs-mba-pgp-vs-pgdm-pgp-vs-pgpx-difference-which-is-better/

  14. Hello all,

    Its a great opportunity for all those professionals in different fields and with experiences in various fields to opt for this type of course which they probably desired in their initial years of work or after completing their graduation but could not go for it due to financial or other reasons.

    I welcome this course and am keen to explore the benefits from this course.

    Great thought.

    Mansoor Sarguroh

  15. HI,
    I am 32 years old with 5.5 years of job experience ,with ordinary performance in graduation with 50% marks. Bsc being my highest qualification .Presently working as a Manager In a Rural Bank(RRB). Can I expect to get into a good 1 year MBA college with a good GMAT score( I am planning to take the GMAT exam in NOV.2015).

  16. Hi, I am 32 years old management graduate with close to 10 years of unique and diversified sales experience with building material and banking industries. Currently working with a start up as the National Sales Head, with a package approx. 20 L / annum. I have already done MBA, reason of doing MBA at that time was just to get a decent job after graduation. But, in due course the prospective has changed from just a job to networking, branding, high income opportunity, international exposure and entrepreneurship. For sure I want to do one year executive program form IIMs – A, B, C, I and L. On the other hand I do not have great academic track record;

    10th – 60%; 12th – 54%; BCA – 69% and MBA – 6.5 CGPA

    I am working hard to do well in GMAT.

    1. Am I a desired profile for these B Schools,
    2. If yes then, what could be a decent GMAT score considering my past academic track record,
    3. How these B School will treat my profile since I have already done an MBA degree
    4. Is it better to consider foreign B School
    5. Please share your personal advise

    Waiting to hear from you soon.

  17. Dear Admin
    I am mamata..aged 27,having 6 years of work ex in retail banking sector,have done my BA in Economis from Odisha.As i am just a graduate,want to go for a MBA degree which will help change my sector from retail banking to HRM.Request you to sugeest whether a 2 year or 1 year degree will help me.

    Thanks in advance.

  18. Hey Admin,

    Thanks for this awesome site. I am planning for MBA and have 3 years of IT exp. Can you please let me know the process as which all exams I should appear. I have not yet decided for 1 yr/2 yr MBA. Kindly suggest any resource where I can get all the details.

    • Hi Ashutosh, thanks, glad you like the site. For a One Year Full Time and Two Year Full Time MBA most schools in USA, Europe accept GMAT or GRE. For One Year MBA, some schools in India like IIM I also accept CAT – check details in the B-Schools section in the main menu. For two-year PGP (MBM) courses in India, most schools accept CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, etc depending on their requirements and you will have to research this by visiting the school websites.

  19. Hello Sir,
    Desperately looking for some one’s guidance.
    Basically, I am a commerce graduate and got a MBA through Distance education.
    I am working in BPO sector (with two domains – Order management & Payroll process) as Assistance Manager.
    Looking and more interested in doing one year MBA course in some prestigious B school. Would like to know whether it will help me to get in to different industry from BPO?

  20. I WORK IN CEMENT INDUSTRY. I HAVE MORE THAN 8 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I AM PREPARING TO APPEAR TO GMAT IN MAR’16…..I WANT TO EAVE THE CEMENT INDUSTRY AND WANT TO EXCEL IN ANOTHER FIELD. IS IT POSSIBLE THROUGH EXECUTIVE MBA

  21. Dear sir, I have an 5.6 yrs of experience and working as a deputy manager in Essar steel ltd. I want to know one thing that whether I should go for one year PGPX or 2 yrs of PGP? As I have heard that people with more than 4 yrs of experience finds difficulty in getting placements in top premier institutes like IIMs…Please guide me.

    • Yes, people with substantial work ex. do face problems in pre-experience courses since the hiring managers come for freshers. The reality is that pre-experience courses in India (largely two-year) are not accredited as MBA courses at all outside of India. At four years work ex. you would be better off looking at a MBA (which just happens to be a one-year course in India).

  22. Hello Sir ,

    Thank you so much for your time to answer our queries. I have 7 years of work exp as an sap technical consultant. my career is stagnated. I want to do mba to progress to career and shift towards a managerial role or a different domain in IT. Does executive MBA helps ? if so which stream should we choose.

    • are you referring to a part time programme (which is what an exec mba is) or one year full time mba for students with work ex?

    • Hi dinesh, Please clarify of you are looking for a one year Full time MBA or Part-time MBA (which is what an executive MBA is)

      • I need to know if one year full time MBA can really boost my career. I want to shift towards a managerial role or a different domain in IT. Does full time executive MBA helps ? if so which stream should we choose. Does part time MBA also helps to achieve my goals , so that I can do part time and avoid quitting my job. Else is it really worth to executive full time MBA ?

        • Hi Dinesh, there is no course called ‘full time executive MBA’. If you read series 1 to 8, we have clarified the bump your career can get with a one year MBA.

  23. HI,
    With 33 months work Ex (till March 16) in IT, I want to go for Finance domain.
    Which one Is better Great lake,chennai OR KJsomiaya and why,considering I am changing my domain?
    What kind of job profiles can I expect?
    Please suggest.

  24. Hi, I do not see much mention of Great Lakes Chennai in any of your suggestions/comments. Although, from what I hear, it’s a considerably good option for someone wanting to pursue a 1 year MBA course at an affordable fee. In fact, XLRI-GM is apparently overrated and students leave the campus dissatisfied. What’s your take?

    • Hi Anupama, our recommendation of the course depends on the profile of the aspirant and his specific query. Great Lakes’ PGPM could be suitable for some students, however on a standalone basis, the salaries reported for the graduates of the programme are lower than those reported for 1 Year MBA programmes at top schools in India. While on the one hand, the fee for 2019 is touching the Rs 19 lakh lakh range (Rs 18.92 lakh all inclusive) , placement numbers haven’t really moved the needle over the past many years and are stuck at INR 12-13 Lakh range.

  25. hi admin, I have 9 yrs of work exp in Engineering( Supply chain) FMCG manufacturing units. I won’t to switch my role from technical to management in supply chain. Request your opinion as how to proceed with one year MBA and what are the options for such switch.

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