PGDM vs MBA: Which One Should You Pursue?

More often than not, MBA and PGDM are uttered under the same breath. Not many students understand the differences between the two and neither the corporate sector gives them any reason to. The popularity of both has surpassed any other master’s degree and currently, job opportunities line up equally for both the MBA and PGDM holders. Yet, matters tend to shift off course from the normal path down the line when these post-graduates seek to venture out to find new opportunities or target higher goals.

Thus, it is primary, as an aspirant, that you clearly understand the differences between the two courses before scanning the list of MBA colleges in Greater Noida and taking your pick. Take note of what MBA and PGDM mean to your present and future prospects and then decide which one you need. Let’s get started with the explanations then.

PGDM vs MBA – What are they?

Break down the popular short forms into their true terms and you will get the first obvious difference between the two courses. PGDM stands for Post Graduate Diploma in Management while MBA translates into Masters of Business Administration. Hence, PGDM is actually a diploma course while MBA is a degree course. Naturally, not all colleges can offer you an MBA but many can give you a PGDM. Only universities or colleges affiliated to universities have MBA courses in their curriculum. The institutes who offer PGDM are generally autonomous, not affiliated to any university and approved by the Indian body called AICTE.

Now, being a degree and diploma, their course structure tends to vary. As PGDMs are offered by autonomous institutes, two courses from two colleges may not have the same curriculum. However, the MBA syllabus is monitored by a particular university. Every college affiliated to this university will have to follow a particular curriculum. And how does this matter to you? An autonomous college tends to teach on the lines of companies that visit their campus for recruitment. Their freedom allows them to structure their course specific to the ultimate needs. Although this may seem logical from a job point of view, matters may not seem merry when a broader picture is taken into account.

MBA is more management-oriented. Universities have to focus on the academic side as well. Thus, when you are pursuing an MBA, you get a perfect blend of theory and practical, skills that you can take anywhere and not just to a few companies. And amidst all these, there is the vital catch from the corporate side of things. If you complete your degree from one of the top MBA colleges in Greater Noida, the companies out there will not see any difference between your skillset and that of a PGDM. So, isn’t it always better to get a degree that works to diversify your knowledge?

Which one to pursue?

Apart from the difference in curriculum, there are few other differences between the two worth noting.

1. Fees for MBA is comparatively lower

As an MBA is offered by non-autonomous colleges, their fees structure is also regulated by their governing universities. Hence, your course expenses do not reach the sky-high limits of most PGDM programs out there. As the companies do not differentiate between an MBA holder and a PGDM holder, it might make sense to you to pursue a degree that costs you less.

2. MBA is universally accepted

PGDM losses out if you are inclined to shift base and settle abroad. Being a diploma, it will not make you a manager with a valid degree. But the MBA has no such issues. If you pursue it in India, you can use it anywhere in the world to land a job at a managerial level. As a matter of fact, the top international B-schools offer MBA and do not have any scope for PGDM.

3. Chances for higher studies remain open with MBA

Here again, MBA being a degree, offers you the chance to amp up your academic qualification. PGDM does not do that. You cannot go for a Ph.D. later with a PGDM but you can most certainly pursue a doctorate with an MBA. This again is a difference you need to keep in mind and make your choice based on your future ambitions.

Go for the right choice, not the popular choice. An MBA program from one of the best management institutes in Greater Noida will place you in the same line as any PGDM holder and your job opportunities will never be any less. Greater Noida Institute of Technology is one such college that offers its students an MBA and not PGDM. Here, you get to learn under the best of faculties, get exposure similar to any top PGDM and have placement offers from the top companies. MBA diversifies your options. Get a degree done while you are at it.