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Manavta
31 March, 2025
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The full form of PGDM is ‘Post Graduate Diploma in Management’. It is a 2-year course where you can learn about managing various business operations within an organisation. It is a professional programme similar to an MBA but with some key differences. MBA is a degree programme, while PGDM is a diploma programme.
You can pursue PGDM after completing your undergraduate degree, regardless of what subject you studied before. It may help you to develop skills such as leadership and an understanding of how businesses work. As per India Today, the PGDM course has become popular in recent years. The demand for this course has surged by more than 120% in recent years. This growth reflects the growing job market and the numerous career opportunities it offers.
Anyone who has a graduation degree and meets eligibility criteria can pursue a career with PGDM courses. Read the blog further to know in detail about the PGDM programme scope, specialisations, top institutions, modes of learning and more.
According to a recent survey done by India Today, PGDM candidates have an employability rate of 54 percent, the highest amongst other professional courses. He emphasised the importance of these programmes to prepare students for success in the fast-paced world of business. Somani highlighted the need to update the curriculum to meet the evolving needs of industries. This ensures that graduates are well-prepared to excel in their careers.
PGDM programmes offer diverse specialisations and courses, including:
| Specialisation | Description |
|---|---|
| Marketing Management | It is focused on developing skills in market research, consumer behaviour analysis, branding, and promotional strategies. |
| Finance Management | It covers areas such as financial analysis, investment management, risk assessment, and corporate finance strategies. |
| Human Resource Management | It concentrates on recruitment, training, performance management, employee relations, and organisational development. |
| Operations Management | It deals with supply chain management, logistics, quality control, production planning, and process optimization. |
| Information Technology Management | This may help you understand IT infrastructure, systems analysis, project management, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. |
| International Business | It is focused on global markets, cross-cultural management, international trade, foreign exchange management, and global strategy. |
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation | It helps you understand the startup ecosystem, business planning, venture capital, innovation management, and new product development. |
| Business Analytics | It involves data analysis, statistical modelling, predictive analytics, data visualisation, and business intelligence. |
When you are pursuing this programme, you should have an understanding of the core & elective subjects that forms the foundation of your business education. The specific subjects may differ based on individual interests and the curriculum offered by different universities.
Here you can see the list of core subjects with their detailed description.
| Subject | Description |
|---|---|
| Managerial Communication | It is focused on enhancing communication skills for effective managerial interactions and presentations. |
| Quantitative Techniques I | It may introduce you to fundamental mathematical and statistical tools used in business decision-making. |
| Quantitative Techniques II | It provides you with an understanding of the advanced application of mathematical and statistical methods for analysing business data. |
| Financial Accounting | It covers the principles and practices of recording, summarising, and interpreting financial transactions. |
| Information Technology for Decision-Making | You may understand the role of IT systems in aiding managerial decision-making processes. |
| Managerial Economics | It helps you in the application of economic concepts and theories to analyse business decision-making and market behaviour. |
| Operations Management | You study principles and practices related to managing production processes and operations efficiency. |
| Organisational Behaviour | You may learn about individual and group behaviour within organisational settings and its impact on performance. |
| Data Pre-processing for Analytics | You learn about techniques for cleaning, transforming, and preparing data for analysis in analytics applications. |
| Financial Management | It covers financial decision-making, capital budgeting, risk management, and financial performance analysis. |
| Macro-Economic Theory & Policy | You get an understanding of macroeconomic principles and policies influencing business environments and markets. |
| Business Strategic & Competitive Advantage | You may learn about the analysis of business strategies and gain competitive advantage in dynamic market landscapes. |
| Marketing Management | It is focused on the study of marketing principles, market analysis, consumer behaviour, and strategic marketing planning. |
| Legal Aspects of Business | It introduces you to legal frameworks and regulations impacting business operations and decision-making. |
| Cost & Management Accounting | It is focused on cost concepts, budgeting, variance analysis, and strategic cost management techniques. |
In the table below, you can see the list of core elective subjects.
| Elective | Description |
|---|---|
| Marketing Management | It is about further studies of advanced marketing strategies, consumer behaviour analysis, branding, and promotion. |
| Financial Management | You may learn about specialised topics in financial decision-making, investment analysis, corporate finance, and risk management. |
| Corporate Strategy | It is focused on strategic management principles, competitive analysis, strategic planning, and business development. |
| Operations Management | You learn about advanced concepts in supply chain management, logistics optimisation, quality control, and process improvement. |
| Analytics | You may learn about advanced analytics techniques, predictive modelling, data visualisation, and business intelligence. |
Here is a simple breakdown of the admission process:
You may find out that most of the universities offer PGDM programmes in three main formats: full-time, distance and executive, catering to the diverse needs of students.
You can definitely go for full-time PGDM programmes. These are mainly for fresh graduates who want to kickstart their careers as management trainees. If you want to secure job offers from reputable organisations, this mode is ideal for you. It may provide you with a comprehensive learning experience within a structured academic environment.
You can choose a distance PGDM programme if you are a working professional. This mode is popular because of its flexibility, which makes it suitable for working professionals with 1-3 years of experience or even for freshers residing in remote areas. Women, including housewives or those on a career break, can go for it as this mode of learning provides accessibility and convenience.
You can ace the work-life balance with the Executive PGDM programme. The Executive PGDM programme caters to working managers, government/public sector officials, and ex-defence personnel. It is mainly designed for professionals with some work experience who are seeking career growth opportunities. This programme allows you to take care of your home & work commitments while pursuing higher education.
Here, you can see a list of colleges offering PGDM with their fee structure.
| Institution | Fee |
|---|---|
| Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool) | INR 7,00,000 Per Annum |
| Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) (PGDBA) | INR 65,000 Total Fee |
| S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) | INR 1,000,000 (Programme fees) |
| IMT CDL | INR 40,000 per semester |
Whenever you are choosing the right PGDM programme, just remember that it is not simply about picking a specialisation. It is about picking an academic path that matches with your dream. You may be exploring the ocean of business knowledge and eventually reaching a satisfying career destination.
You can consider below factors to ensure your PGDM journey is both rewarding and successful. When you are selecting the right PGDM programme, you need to think about the following:
You can consider these factors to ensure your PGDM journey is both rewarding and successful.
Upon completing your PGDM programme, you get various opportunities that suit you well. Here are some promising job roles, along with their approximate salary ranges, to consider.
| Job Role | Avg. Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | INR 4.6 LPA – 23.5 LPA |
| Financial Analyst | INR 5.7 LPA – 21.5 LPA |
| Human Resources Manager | INR 4.7 LPA – 22.4 LPA |
| Operations Manager | INR 6.7 LPA – 26.7 LPA |
| Business Development Manager | INR 4 LPA – 27 LPA |
| Project Manager | INR 5 LPA – 31 LPA |
| Supply Chain Manager | INR 6.8 LPA – 29 LPA |
| Management Consultant | INR 7 LPA – 26.8 LPA |
| Data Analyst | INR 10 LPA – 33 LPA |
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
PGDM courses can be your next step to advance your career. If you have the right skills and knowledge, you can get your chosen job role along with a good salary package. Moreover, it depends on many factors as well, such as experience, industry, and the location of the job. So, you can definitely consider PGDM courses if you want to pursue a course for career advancement without worrying about your current job or work.
Good Luck!
Top colleges that offer the best PGDM courses are Symbiosis, S.P. Jain, and IMT CDL. You can choose a specialization that suits you well and start your PGDM journey.
There are various specializations, such as marketing management, finance management, human resource management, operations management, and more. However, you can choose any specialization that helps you achieve your career goals.
The PGDM course fees depend on the course terms and conditions. Symbiosis and IMT CDL fees are INR 65,000 and INR 40,000 per semester, respectively.
On average, after completing a PGDM, you can expect a salary between 6 LPA to 28 LPA. However, this may vary depending on factors such as organization, experience, and location.
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