Online MBA courses in India are recognized by the University Grants Commission /AICTE. The average duration of the program is 2 years. It is the best option for working professionals who wish to pursue an MBA degree without quitting their job. It is gaining popularity ever since the pandemic hit the country, as people find it difficult to attend physical classes.
There are around 200 colleges in India that offer online MBA courses, of which 9% are government institutes and the remaining are public/private colleges.
The advantages of an Online MBA are as follows:- It is a recognized course
- The course fee is lower than the regular program
- The syllabus is at par with the regular MBA
- Suitable for working professionals
- Flexible learning
Online Vs Distance MBAIn distance education, a huge part of the learning takes place online, however, there are certain things that are conducted through the physical mode. On the other hand, online MBA courses are carried out entirely in the virtual mode.
Eligibility CriteriaFor pursuing an online MBA course, the eligibility criteria are as follows:
- Graduation in any discipline or equivalent from a recognized university
- A minimum score of 50% in graduation (this may vary depending on the college/institute)
- People with CA/CS/ICWAI and other professional degrees can also apply
- Work experience is not mandatory, however, some institutes might include certain work experience requirements in their eligibility criteria
- A valid score in any of the MBA entrance exams like CAT/ CMAT/ CET/ MAT/ ATMA/ XAT. Some colleges may conduct their own entrance exam.
- There is no age limit to applying for this course
Top 5 colleges for online MBA in IndiaThe following colleges are considered to be the top 5 for an online MBA course:
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)The institute has over four decades of experience in this field and has been granted Autonomy Category I by UGC. It also has a NAAC Grade A+ accreditation. NMIMS offers a wide range of MBA programs. These include the following specializations:
- Information Technology & Systems Management
- Financial Management
- Retail Management
- Marketing Management
- Banking and Finance Management
- Operations Management
- Human Resource Management
- International Trade Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Business Management
The online MBA program is UGC-DEB-approved. It is 100% online and delivered through 800+ hours of live lectures. The fees for the program range from INR 1.2 - 4 Lakh. There is no entrance exam required for admission to this course, however, candidates must have their graduation degree with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)Established in 1985, IGNOU is the largest Open University in the world. It offers a 2 year online MBA program that is recognized by UGC and Distance Education Bureau. The eligible candidates are required to clear OPENMAT, the entrance test of IGNOU conducted by the
National Testing Agency.
IGNOU offers an online MBA program with the following specializations:
- Marketing
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Production & Operation Management
- Service Management
The fee for the program is INR 37,800 making it one of the cheapest options. Their MBA program is widely accepted as it is a government-run university.
Amity UniversityAmity University is a popular private university in Noida,
Uttar Pradesh. It is UGC approved and accredited by NAAC with an A+ grade. The online courses offered by the university are also WES accredited in US and Canada. The online MBA program (general) offers the following specializations:
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing & Sales Management
- Retail Management
- Information Technology Management
- Finance and Accounting Management
- Global Finance Market
- International Business Management
- Hospitality Management
- Insurance Management
- Entrepreneurship and Leadership Management
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Management
- Production and Operations Management
If you wish to pursue the specialized online MBA program, then you can choose from the following options:
- Digital Marketing Management
- Data Science
- Digital Entrepreneurship
- HR Analytics
- Business Analytics
The university holds daily live classes, scheduled from 11 am to 9.45 pm. They have exclusive virtual job fairs to provide career assistance to their students. They have collaborations with Ivy League Universities. Students who have scored a minimum of 40% aggregate marks in their 10+2 exam/graduation/ 4-year degree course are eligible for this program. The course fee is around INR 2.8 Lakh.
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU)Symbiosis is one of the top institutions for management education. SSPU offers a variety of online courses under the Symbiosis Center for Online Learning (SCOL). Their Online MBA program offers the following specializations:
- Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- Finance
- Healthcare Management
The center provides LIVE classes, on-demand examinations as well as placement assistance to the students. The duration of the program can range from one to two years and the average course fee is INR 50,000. The applicant must be a graduate of any recognized university or an international graduate from an accredited university. Students appearing for their final year graduation exam may also apply for this course. Even Diploma students are eligible provided they have 5 years of supervisory experience.
Jain UniversityThe Jain university is accredited by NAAC with a Grade of‘ A’. It offers various online courses. The online MBA is a two-year degree program offered with 30+ specializations, some of them are mentioned below:
- Advertising & Branding
- Banking & Finance (Benchmarked to IIBF, India)
- Business Intelligence & Analytics (Integrated with IoA, UK)
- Digital Marketing & E-commerce
- Finance
- General Management
- Healthcare Management
- Human Resource Management
- International Finance (Accredited by ACCA, UK)
- Investment Banking & Equity Research
- Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Candidates applying for the online MBA course should have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks. Additionally, they should appear for any of the following exams: CAT/ MAT/ CMAT/ XAT/ NMAT/ GMAT. Those who have appeared for these exams are exempted from the written test and are directly sent to the personal interview round. Other candidates must appear for and clear the JAIN Entrance Test (JET). This includes Written tests and Personal Interviews (PI). The course fee is around INR 2 Lakh.
Career Prospects after online MBAThe job opportunities available to an online MBA graduate are similar to those available to regular graduates, depending on the specialization the student opts for. The job profiles include, but are not limited to:
- Project Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Advertising Manager
- Finance Manager
- Financial Advisor
Overall, online MBA is extremely helpful for those who cannot pursue the regular course due to time, money or other constraints.