Top 9 Distance/Online MBA Colleges in West Bengal 2024 – Updated

The education system in India owes much of its evolution to Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, also known as the “city of joy”. This state is home to many well-known colleges and institutions, which have provided a platform for some of the brightest minds in Indian history, enabling them to enhance the country’s standing abroad.

The state has not stayed behind concerning online education. Obtaining a distance or online MBA course is becoming increasingly popular in the region. If you are an aspiring management candidate who is looking for a holistic academic experience at one of the best online MBA colleges in West Bengal, this blog is for you.

Here is a list of top distance/MBA colleges you can consider for your higher studies.

List of Distance/Online MBA Colleges in West Bengal

Although, there are many colleges/universities in West Bengal, only a few of them offer UGC recognised distance/online MBA programmes. But, that’s the best part of online education, doesn’t matter where you are located, you can study at a top university of your choice. So here is a list of institutions in and around West Bengal best for online/distance MBA programmes.

Let’s discuss these colleges in detail:

1. Centre For Distance and Online Education, University of Burdwan, Bardhaman, West Bengal

Burdwan University is a state institution located in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India. It was founded by the West Bengal government on June 15, 1960, as a teaching and affiliated university. In 1994, the Directorate of Distance Education was established, making it the first of its kind in West Bengal, following the Distance Education Council’s (now Distance Education Board) recommendation.

The Department of Business Administration offers a two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme through distance learning. The goal of the programme is to produce a cadre of future managers who are well-versed in both broad management concepts and the tools and procedures that are relevant to them.

To apply you have to qualify for MAT/CMAT/CAT/XAT or other management aptitude test. This is followed by a group discussion and a personal interview.

The course is provided in four different specialisations, which are mentioned below.

Specialisations: You can pursue a Master of Business Administration from the university under any of the following specialisations:

• Marketing Management

• Financial Management

• Human Resource Management

• Systems, Operations & Decision Sciences

2. Centre for Distance and Online Learning, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata, West Bengal

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was established in 1963 by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to support the development of skills for India’s external trade sector. The institute’s main objective is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted and intricate duties involved in international business.

Moreover, IIFT is committed to becoming an academic hub for international business and management training, research, & teaching. For its unwavering dedication to providing quality education, IIFT has received the prestigious AACSB Accreditation, which puts it among the top 900+ business schools worldwide. The institute provides a world-class online MBA programme the details of which have been mentioned below.

Specialisations:

• International Business

3. Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Kolkata, West Bengal

ISBM was established in 1992 with the aim of democratising higher education by providing access to top-notch instruction to anyone who seeks it, regardless of age, geography, or formal qualifications. The courses at ISBM are designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in business and management.

Furthermore, those interested in pursuing a career in management can enrol in ISBM’s flexible management courses like PGPM, enabling them to become qualified from the comfort of their home. ISBM is dedicated to providing world-class management education through distance learning, with the added advantage of being able to learn at any time and from any location.

4. Symbiosis School for Online and Digital Learning (SSODL)

Symbiosis School for Online and Digital Learning (SSODL) is a constituent of the prestigious Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU). SSODL offers online and digital programmes that are as rigorous and effective as traditional in-person courses offered by the institution. Their faculty is top-notch, and the academics are learner-centred with flexible, self-paced learning options.

You can expect to gain the same skills, knowledge, and expertise as you would from any physical offline programme. The course structure consists of 30% internal components and 70% external university exams. It provides online MBA in different specialisations including:

• Marketing

• Human Resource Management

• Finance

• Operations

• Logistics

• Supply Chain Management

• Agri Operations Management

• International Business

• Business Analytics

• Hospital and Healthcare Management

5. Amity University Online

Amity University ’s online MBA programme has been designed to prepare you for the corporate sector. Amity Online is among the most celebrated institutions in India which is recognised on a global level. It has integrated AMI, the AI professor with the aim to assist students without any hindrance. Amity also gives 24 months zero cost EMI of INR 8,292 per month as per the terms and conditions laid by the university.

During the course, you can work on real-time industry projects. You get the best learning experience as Amity Online provides industry-relevant coursework and refined career services to make you job-ready. There are different specialisations to choose from which include:

• International Finance

• Digital Marketing Management

• Digital Entrepreneurship

• Business Analytics

• Data Science

• HR Analytics

• Digital Marketing Management

6. Sikkim Manipal University

Sikkim Manipal University was established in 1992 via the Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical and Technological Sciences Act (Act No. 9 of 1995). All the Manipal institutions in India offer online programmes under the umbrella of Online Manipal which is recognised by UGC. The online MBA programme offered by Sikkim Manipal University is a dual specialisation programme. Moreover, Manipal has a vast alumni network giving you the opportunity to expand your connections. Online Manipal has a structured career services programme that will assist you in skill enhancement, profile building, interview preparation, job fairs, and offline networking events. Your online MBA programme at Sikkim Manipal University has the following specialisations:

• Finance

• Human Resource Management

• Systems

• Operations and Supply Chain Management

• Marketing

7. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

IGNOU is one of the best distance MBA colleges in India. When it comes to distance education, IGNOU is the first name that pops up. Back in the day, it started with only two diploma programmes in management and distance education. Its objective is to provide access to higher education to all segments of society and offer need-based programmes at different levels. IGNOU has regional centres in West Bengal.

The eligibility criteria for admission to MBA programmes would be as per the AICTE norms. Any graduate with 50% marks for the general category/45% for the reserved category as per government of India rules can apply.

The following are the specialisations available for distance MBA:

• Operations Management

• Human Resource Management

• Financial Management

• Marketing Management

• Banking and Finance

• Construction Management

• Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Agribusiness Management

• Health Care and Hospital Management

8. Netaji Subhash Open University

Netaji Subhas Open University is a distance-learning university that offers various graduate and postgraduate courses. It is a type of state-open university established in 1997 in memory of the great leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in West Bengal. The university now offers both online and offline courses across various disciplines. In fact, there is a dual specialisation option as well. The admission portals open twice a year that is in July and January every year. The programme has a semester-based examination in which home assignments carry 30% weightage while the term-end exams carry the rest 70% weightage. They provide specialisation in the following:

• Financial Management (FM)

• Marketing Management

• Human Resource Management (HRM)

9. ICFAI

ICFAI University was established in 1984 as a not-for-profit society with the aim of providing quality education to people. IBS has regional centres and offices in several cities in India with Kolkata being one among them. The main institution at Hyderabad offers online and distance MBA programmes designed for all freshers, working professionals and entrepreneurs who seek to upgrade their careers. There are multiple electives to choose from such as financial management, services marketing, strategic marketing, big data and analytics, etc.

Learn About Popular MBA Specialisations in India

Takeaway

As the demands of modern industry and society continue to evolve, people are beginning to realise the importance of lifelong learning. This has led to a shift in educational trends towards online and distance learning options. One such popular choice is pursuing an online or distance MBA programme, which has become increasingly popular among working professionals who want to advance their education without taking time off from work. Therefore, if you want to improve your professional journey, don’t hesitate to take advantage of this opportunity today.

FAQs

Q1. Is an online degree valid for an MBA?

If UGC-DEB recognises your chosen university to offer online programmes, then an online MBA degree will be completely valid.

Q2. Which online MBA has the highest placement?

Based on various statistics, XLRI School of Management, Online Manipal, and Amity Online are among the top universities with the highest placements.

Q3. Which is the best distance MBA college in West Bengal?

Sikkim Manipal, IGNOU, Netaji Subhas Open University, and Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning are some of the best distance MBA colleges in West Bengal.

Q4. Which MBA is highest in demand?

At present, MBAs in Business Analytics, Data Science, Finance, International Business and Information Technology are the most in-demand MBA specialisations.