Complete Guide to Regular and Executive MBA in India

Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is the most popular management program both in India and Abroad. An MBA can be pursued as a full-time, part-time, Executive or Distance Learning Programme. Some of the core subjects of an MBA program include Accounting, Statistics, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Organizational Behaviour, Business Communication, Marketing, Corporate Law, Entrepreneurship, Business Policy, Business Economics, Human Resource Management among many others. The students who can choose the mode of study which suits them the best. 

REGULAR MBA

A Regular MBA is of two years, divided into four semesters. A Regular MBA is widely known as a Full-time MBA. In this program, the students have to attend a regular college, take theory classes, project submissions as well as Internship.

Eligibility criteria:

The eligibility criteria for a full-time MBA is to hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university or college. One should have scored a minimum aggregate of 50% or more for the general category while the score should be at least 45% aggregate for the reserved category students. The students who are in the last year of their graduation can also give the exam, on the condition that they provide the certificate of completion of their graduation within a specified time. 

Advantages:

The major advantages of pursuing a full-time on-campus MBA are:

– Complete exposure to the choice of your specialization

– The student gets to engage with people and make networks and connections

– It provides the necessary leadership and specialized skills that give you an edge over others

– The full-time gives a complete intensive student experience

Disadvantages:

The major disadvantages of pursuing a full-time MBA are as follows:

• It is a huge financial commitment as pursuing an MBA can cost lakhs of rupees
• The MBA is a two-year program and over the two years, you will not find the time to do a job
• Having an MBA is not a guarantee for a successful career

Some of the top universities conduct entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, NMAT OR MAH CET, among many others. Some of the top MBA colleges in India are:

– Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), New Delhi

– Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi

– Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA)

– IBS Business School, Hyderabad

– Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai

– Symbiosis Centre for Management, Pune

The majority of MBA Institutes provide campus placement after the completion of the course.

EXECUTIVE MBA

An executive MBA is for a person who has some professional experience and can modify the program to suit his requirements. It is specifically for people with work experience of 2 or more years so that they can enhance their management skills to look for better job opportunities. This mode of MBA has a flexible schedule that is preferred by the working persons, who cannot attend regular classes and are not willing to give up their work.

It is also known as the EMBA program.

Eligibility Criteria:

The eligibility criteria for an Executive MBA is the same as a Regular MBA with the only other requirement being a few years of work experience, that plays a major role in the selection of candidates for this mode of MBA. Work experience of at least two years is mandatory to apply for the Executive MBA.

Advantages:

The major advantages of pursuing an Executive MBA is:

– The candidate can study from their homes without attending a class for a every single day

– They have the flexibility to customize their MBA, to suit their career needs

– This MBA is much more affordable than the regular MBA course

Disadvantages:

The major disadvantages of pursuing an Executive MBA are as follows:

• After having worked for a few years, it is difficult to get back to studying every day
• An MBA is an extensive course and requires a commitment, therefore it may clash with your personal life and routine
• Although an executive MBA is much affordable than a full-time MBA but still happens to be a huge financial commitment.

Some of the top business schools in India that offer Executive MBA programs are:

– MDI Gurgaon: Management Development Institute, Gurgaon offers a National Management Program of the duration of 15 months

– ISB: The Indian School of Business offers a PGP max executive MBA program of the duration of 12 months

– IIM Calcutta: The Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta offers a PGPEX executive MBA program of the duration of 12 months

– IIM Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore offers an EPGP executive program of the duration of 12 months

– IIM Ahmedabad: The Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad offers a PGPX executive MBA program of the duration of 12 months

– IIM Kozhikode: The Indian Institute of Management in Kozhikode offers an EEPGM executive MBA program of the duration of 12 months

– SP JIMR: S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research offers a PGEMP executive MBA program of the duration of 21 months

– NMIMS: Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies offers an EMBA executive MBA program of the duration of 15-24 months 

Both the Regular MBA and the Executive MBA have their pros and cons and one should make a rational decision while deciding which model to choose. You can find that people with work experience prefer to choose the Executive MBA that is a one-year program. Though the young students, fresh out of college prefer to choose to do a full-time MBA as they can devote a lot of time to it. You should make a proper choice based on your circumstances as well as career needs.