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Manavta
20 November, 2024
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In the global workforce of over 3.5 billion, online education has become crucial in bridging skill gaps and enhancing career prospects. Founded in 2015, the edtech platform upGrad has emerged as a highly successful initiative, empowering over 10 million global learners and helping them advance their careers. It offers a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate, short-term, and certification courses for working professionals, students, career changers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.
upGrad also boasts an impressive MBA placement record, with an 85% success rate for enrolled students. With upGrad, MBA graduates experience an average salary hike of nearly 58% in their next job role. The platform offers over 1,000 professional tutorial videos on trending topics and provides expert career counselors to assist students and working professionals.
That’s not all. Here, you can also refer a programme and earn up to ₹80,000 for each friend who successfully enrolls! Additionally, you can gift online educational programmes to friends and loved ones, adding value to their learning journeys. This blog highlights the standout features of upGrad that set it apart from traditional university degrees.
upGrad is an online learning platform, an open-source giant for global learners. It was founded in 2015 by Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar, Ravijot Chugh, and Phalgun Kompalli. Since its inception, upGrad has grown into a leading learning platform dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality, and in-demand courses.
It is South Asia’s premier higher edtech platform, aiming to bridge the skills gap and deliver the latest study material and industry-focused courses for students and professionals. upGrad offers a diverse range of courses tailored to meet job-market demands across various industries.
upGrad is one of the most reputed learning platforms in the market, offering over 200 certified programmes across various domains and industries. Let’s compare upGrad with traditional university degrees and explore why it’s the choice of over 10 million learners:
We all know how traditional university programmes operate, right? Students attend on-campus lectures daily, with rigid, full-time schedules and fixed class timings. upGrad, on the other hand, offers flexible, online learning options that cater to working professionals, students, and entrepreneurs seeking to upskill without disrupting their current commitments.
The only good thing about classroom study is the direct interactions and engagement with professors. This approach allows students to resolve their doubts on the spot and receive immediate clarification, enhancing their understanding of the subject.
However, with upGrad, we gain complete flexibility in learning. The courses offered are entirely online, eliminating geographical barriers.
upGrad welcomes candidates from all parts of the world.
You learn from the comfort of your home.
Offers LIVE lectures and doubt sessions from the best faculty team.
Real-time interaction and mentorship.
You can schedule the classes at your convenience.
Stay pre-informed about the course with the online curriculum list.
Get a proper academic calendar shared by the university.
Provide feedback about the course.
Traditional university degrees often cater to a specific age group, primarily focusing on younger demographics like fresh graduates or early-career individuals. These programs typically have strict admission criteria, including age limits and qualifications, which can exclude those who wish to continue their education later in life or switch careers. upGrad addresses this gap effectively. Here’s how:
The main focus of upGrad courses is upskilling and reskilling.
Courses are open to working professionals, students, and career changers.
No strict age limit or qualification barrier.
Students can choose programs that align with their interests or career goals.
Programs are targeted, industry-focused, and career-oriented.
Focuses on scalable learning with no restrictions due to limited seats.
Collaboration with leading universities and industry experts.
Traditional university programs often come with hefty tuition fees, making higher education inaccessible to many. For instance, an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad costs approximately INR 34 lakhs, which not everyone can afford. Additionally, there are extra costs such as accommodation, transportation, textbooks, and personal expenses, particularly for non-local students. upGrad provides a more affordable alternative. Here’s why:
With upGrad, you earn a globally recognized degree.
Boost your professional credibility with a prestigious college name.
High-quality education is offered at pocket-friendly prices.
Eliminates additional expenses like hostel, travel, and food.
Flexible payment options, scholarships, and financial plans are available.
Most degree programs have lifetime validity, providing long-term value.
Also Read: Top 10 Benefits of upGrad’s Online MBA Programmes
Getting admission to a prestigious college typically involves multiple stages, including cracking standardized entrance exams, group discussions, personal interviews, and subsequent counseling. These processes can be highly competitive and stressful for aspirants. However, upGrad simplifies the admission process significantly. Here’s how:
No mandatory entrance exams or complex admission procedures.
Simple and user-friendly application process.
Quick response and confirmation of admission status.
Flexible selection criteria cater to a wide range of students.
Streamlined enrollment process ensures quicker start to classes.
Support from admission advisors throughout the process.
Not all universities offer the same level of career support. While some prestigious colleges have strong networks, others may provide limited resources, leading to inconsistent job placements. Traditional universities often lack tailored career development opportunities, leaving students without proper placement drives or counseling. In contrast, upGrad offers personalized and robust career support for each online degree program.
Here’s what upGrad provides:
Career support and counseling.
Personalized job placement assistance.
Resume building workshops.
Mock interview preparation.
Access to job fairs and career webinars.
Comprehensive job portal assistance.
Also Read: YCMOU vs. Traditional Universities: A Comparative Analysis of Distance Education
Traditional universities provide face-to-face interactions with peers, faculty, and guest lecturers, fostering strong industry relationships and corporate connections through seminars, alumni meets, and job fairs. In contrast, upGrad offers global networking opportunities that may surprise you. Here’s how:
Global networking opportunities with peers.
Exclusive access to industry experts.
Online communities and discussion forums.
Personalized networking events.
Alumni networks.
Career-focused webinars and workshops.
Campus life plays a significant role in a student’s learning experience, fostering personal growth, leadership, and collaboration. Students have the chance to engage in extracurricular activities, cultural events, and networking events that complement their academic journey. However, with online learning, upGrad misses out on providing this rich campus life, even though its programs are immersive and engaging.
Both traditional universities and upGrad offer curricula relevant to current industry needs. While upGrad’s courses are designed in collaboration with top universities, the key difference lies in practical exposure. Traditional universities provide hands-on opportunities, while upGrad offers campus immersion options. Here are the benefits you can enjoy with upGrad courses:
Industry-relevant and up-to-date courses.
Practical, hands-on projects for real-world application.
Focus on job readiness and employability.
Regular updates to align with market trends.
Expert-led live sessions and interactive content.
Incorporation of emerging technologies and tools.
upGrad offers over 200+ industry-specific and career-led courses that match your career goals. This includes postgraduate degree courses, postgraduate diplomas, executive certification courses, and short-term (or boot camp) courses. The best part is, that you get career-led courses in diverse industries under the same roof, including marketing, data science, management, software and tech, law, and more. It includes newly launched in-demand courses and globally trending courses that equip learners to stay competitive and relevant. Most of the degree courses are paid, although it is quite affordable. However, upGrad also provides many free certification courses for learners.
The other highlighted offerings that give upGrad an edge are as follows:
Live classes and step-by-step real-world examples for engagement and understanding.
250+ industry experts for valuable insights and mentorship.
200+ Course options to match your career goals and preferences.
500+ career counselling experts for career advice to pick the right course.
300+ industry problems and mock tests to become job-ready.
1000+ tutorials on trending topics to upgrade your skill level.
1400+ hiring partners to discover your dream job at leading global companies.
upGrad offline learning centres in 7+ metro cities of India.
Student support assistants are also available to help with queries and guidance.
upGrad is a global online platform, open to learners around the globe. It caters to a broad domain of learners, including working professionals, college students, business leaders, entrepreneurs, housewives, and anyone looking to upskill their career path.
No matter what your career goal is, upGrad can help you:
Get a promotion in your job.
Study for industry certifications.
Get a recognised postgraduate degree.
Move to a different career path.
Prepare for your first job.
Get an international degree.
Ace trending job skills.
Crack job interviews.
Study abroad.
Get an international degree.
upGrad is the right platform to work towards your career goals.
Registering with upGrad is completely free. Signing up doesn’t charge you anything. Remember, upGrad has tie-ups with many of the world’s premium universities and thus provides you with the most demanding degree courses as well as executive courses on the platform. These are the paid courses with suitable EMI and scholarship options.
However, there are many free upGrad courses available on the platform, which help to learn new job skills and grab on-demand opportunities for career advancement.
The free courses cover a variety of different industry domains, including:
Data Science
Technology
Management
Marketing
Career Planning
Law
ChatGPT and AI
Soft skills
Yes, upGrad offers valid degrees, diplomas, and certificates in collaboration with reputed universities and institutions. These programmes are recognised and accredited by government regulatory bodies and hold academic value similar to traditional on-campus degrees.
The collaboration includes partnerships with leading global institutions such as Deakin University, Liverpool John Moores University, and IIIT-Bangalore.
The validation of the degrees obtained through upGrad varies depending on the specific programme and the accrediting university. Typical graduate and postgraduate degrees are valid for a lifetime similar to traditional degrees; however, in some cases, it might differ, depending on the course.
Now, that we have done a full-fledged comparative study between upGrad’s programmes with traditional university degrees. Let’s count the upvotes for both of them. Out of 8 solid reasons, upGrad has got maximum upvotes. One thing is clear: both upGrad and traditional universities are good in their own ways. It depends on your career goals, needs, and expectations from the programme. Therefore, do a thorough research based on your interests and then make a choice.
