What does Distance MBA (MBA Distance Education) mean?

Distance MBA is mainly suitable for students who are unable to pursue a full-time MBA course due to several reasons including affordability, work commitments, etc.  These courses follow a flexible schedule and are quite affordable.

These distance education programs are recognized by UG/AICTE and there are a couple of universities and institutes in India that offers them. Most of the universities that offer distance MBA courses also have established placements cells for the benefit of the students. Portfolio Manager, Finance Analyst, Corporate Associate, Executive, Senior Executive, Credit Risk Manager etc. are some of the profiles of the candidates placed.

Distance MBA Eligibility & Entrance Exams

Any graduate having a minimum of three years of work experience can apply for Distance MBA.

While some institutes conduct their own exams for admission, others do not have any exams for selection. For e.g. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) accepts CAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, etc. scores. NMIMS Global Access School for Continuing Education offers admission based on a fixed eligibility criterion(Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from arecognized university with 50% marks aggregate along with two years of work experience).

IGNOU conducts the IGNOU OPENMAT examination, twice a year for the selection of candidates.

 

Required Key Skills
Good communication skillsManagement skills
Leadership qualitiesAnalytical skills

 

Distance MBA Courses

A Post Graduate degree will be awarded for candidates who choose a Distance MBA. However, this depends on the institute selected. For instance, IMT, Global Access School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE), NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning offers Post Graduate Diploma (PGD).IGNOU courses include MBA, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and PGD degrees.  Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Learning also has both MBA and PGD degrees. Welingkar Institute of Management offers PGDM degree.

Popular Colleges for Distance MBA in India

  • Symbiosis Distance Learning MBA
  • Ignou Distance MBA
  • ICFAI Distance MBA

Popular MBA Specializations

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Distance MBA Fees 

Average fees for Distance MBA and degrees offered are mentioned below: 

 

Distance MBA Colleges

Average Fees

Degrees offered

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Global Access School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)Rs 83,000PGD
Institute of Management Technology, Centre for Distance LearningRs 88,000PGDP/PGD
Symbiosis Center for Distance LearningRs 30,000 to Rs 37,000PGD
Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance EducationRs 80,000MBA
IGNOURs 31,500MBA/PGDM/PGD
Prin LN Welingkar Institute of ManagementRs 61,000PGDM
Amity University, (Distance Learning)Rs. 1,51,800MBA, Master of Financial Management and PGD
ICFAI UniversityRs 65,000 to Rs 75,000MBA/PGD
Suresh GyanVihar University Distance Education -Talentedge, JaipurRs 74,000MBA
Annamalai UniversityRs 57,050MBA

 

Distance MBA Specializations

Though the specializations are dependent on the institutes, the main ones include finance, accounting, marketing, retail, human resource, global or international business etc. The following are some of the popular Distance MBA specializations.

 

Human ResourceFinance
Sales and MarketingInternational Business
IT and SystemsRetail
OperationsImport and Export
Healthcare and HospitalGeneral Management
Logistics and Supply Chain ManagementCorporate Management
Hospital ManagementAgriculture Business Management

 

Distance MBA Subjects

The entire course is spread across four semesters and comprises of core subjects and specializations. The first two semesters focus on the core subject while the next two semestersare based on the chosen specializations. Refer the table below to get an idea of the subjects taught in distance MBA.  

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Semester I

Principles and Practice of ManagementManagement Economics
Organizational BehaviorBusiness Law
Management Accounting

 

Semester II

Production/Operation ManagementFinancial Management
Human Resource ManagementMarketing Management
Marketing ManagementManagement Information system

 

Semester III

Required Specialisation 1Required Specialisation 2
Required Specialisation 3Elective 1
Elective 2Elective 3

 

Semester IV

Required Specialisation 4Required Specialisation 5
ProjectElective 4
Elective 5Elective 6

 

Distance MBA Scope, Top Companies & Salary

After pursuing distance MBA, there are plenty of career opportunities in both public and private sectors.

Domains

Finance 

Banks, Insurance companies, Credit Rating Agencies, Trading and Brokerage Firms etc.

Marketing 

Advertising agencies, Sales and Marketing departments, event management companies etc.

Human Resource Management (HRM) 

Job Placements in HR departments of national and multinational companies, recruitment and training agencies, counseling and career development firms etc.

Operations Management 

Production, Distribution and Logistics Departments etc.

 

Top Companies
WiproVodafone
Axis BankIBM
Hindustan UnileverHindustan Unilever
CapgeminiTCS
HDFC BankBosch Ltd
Tata SkyJindal Steel and Power
HCLAccenture

                                                                           

Job role & average salary *
Corporate AssociateRs. 2, 67,451 to Rs. 1,071,953
Portfolio ManagerRs. 3,49,077 to Rs. 3,031,68
Financial AnalystRs. 2,06,686 to Rs. 935,173
Credit Risk ManagerRs. 4,95,851 to Rs. 2,769,011
ExecutiveRs. 1,43,624 to Rs. 469,402
Senior ExecutiveRs. 162,566 to Rs. 605,959

 

*Source: Payscale

Distance MBA FAQs

Q. Which Distance MBA?

A: Listed below are some of the top colleges for Distance MBA in India.

NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS),
Global Access School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)
Institute of Management Technology, Centre for Distance Learning
Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning
Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Education
IGNOU
Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management
ICFAI University
MIT School of Distance Education

Know more about Distance MBA colleges in India

Q: Which are all the types of colleges authorized to offer distance MBA in India?

A:  Four types of institutes have been identified by Ministry of HRD, Government of India, for offering distance MBA – Distance Education Institutions at stand-alone Institutions (Professional Associations, Government Institutions and Private institutions), Distance Education Institutions (DEIs) at Institutions of National Importance (Central Universities, State Universities, Deemed to be Universities and State Private Universities), National Open University or IGNOU, State Open Universities.

Q: Is the distance MBA programs offered by IIMs too?

A. IIMs do not offer distance MBA courses. 

Q: How are the classes held in Distance MBA?

A: Most of the classes are held virtually, in the form of online classrooms. The lectures are streamed live and the students can watch them from the convenience of their homes or offices. The books or study materials are usually sent by post or can be referred to online in the form of e-books or PDF. Students also have to submit regular assignments which are evaluated periodically or at the time of examinations. To take the term exams or viva, the candidate has to go to the test centre allotted. Upon successful completion of the course, the degrees are handed over to each student.  

Q: What are the specializations I can opt for in Distance MBA?

A:There are a number of specializations in Finance, Marketing, HR, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Media & Communication, Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail, among others.

Q: What is the fee structure followed for a Distance MBA program?

A: The average fee can be anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. The fees are largely dependent on the institute chosen, specialization, etc.

Q: What other admission process is followed for Distance MBA apart from the entrance tests?

A: The selection process is based on the institute. The common methods include evaluating the candidates’ profile, work experience, Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) sessions. However, not all institutes conduct GD, PI rounds.

Q: What are the factors to keep in mind while selecting an institute for Distance MBA?

A: For your distance MBA degree to be valid in the work industry, your program should be recognized by Distance Education Bureau along with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or University Grants Commission (UGC). Therefore, it is important to check if the program selected by you is a recognized one.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing a Distance MBA?

A: There are both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include ease of accessibility as the classes are conducted online and most of the study materials are available online. The fee structure is also much lower than a regular full-time MBA programs. The flexibility of the program duration is another advantage, as there is a minimum and maximum window period.
One major disadvantage is the absence of adequate industry exposure and networking opportunities. Also placement opportunities are generally not provided by the institutes. Maintaining a proper balance between work and study can also be a challenge.

Q: Will it be possible to interact with my professor or other classmates in a distance MBA program?

A: Yes, advancements in technology has made mutual interaction a possibility. Queries and doubts can be clarified during the online classes, or after via telephone, messaging services, voice or video calls.

Q: What are the placement opportunities available after completing a Distance MBA?

A:Most institutes do not provide placement support as most of the students are already working professionals. With the help of a Distance MBA, you will be eligible for a higher position. You can also switch industries based on your eligibility.