Top 10 Online/Distance Post-Graduation Courses For Career Boost!

Online and distance learning are the talk of the town, for all the good reasons. Distance education has been around for a long time but witnessed a sudden spike after the pandemic. Now more than ever, graduates and working professionals choose online/distance education to uplift their careers. Initially, students chose only a few courses online and in distance mode, such as management and PG diploma programmes. Over recent years, many other courses have seen an increase in enrollment. Seeing the increasing number of students shifting towards remote learning, we prepared a list of India’s top 10 online/distance PG courses.

The Indian EdTech market is projected to reach $10.4 billion by 2025, driven largely by online learning platforms. As of 2022, over 70 million students in India were enrolled in online education platforms, showing exponential growth since 2020. Nearly 45% of the students enrolling in online courses are from tier 2 and tier 3 cities, showing increasing accessibility to education. Therefore, the sector promises reliable growth. In this blog, we’ll cover the best online and distance PG courses like MBA, MCom, and MSC, along with the career options and the top colleges offering these programmes

1. Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA is the most popular postgraduate degree, focusing on theoretical and practical training in business principles and management. It is generally two years long and specifically designed for professionals with industry standards in mind. MBA degrees are delivered in various formats, including online, distance, and offline. Online MBA classes and exams are held online, whereas distance mode has a self-paced learning pattern with exams held at designated centres. You can tailor your degree with various specialisations per your niche.

Top Career Opportunities after an Online MBA and their salaries:

• Business Development Manager (INR 2.6 LPA to INR 16.6 LPA)

• Marketing Manager (INR 2.4 LPA to INR 25.0 LPA)

• Financial Analyst (INR 2.6 LPA to INR 20.0 LPA)

• Operations Manager ( INR 3.0 LPA to INR 21.6 LPA)

• Human Resources Manager ( INR 12 LPA to INR 20.0 LPA)

Colleges Providing Online MBA:

2. Master of Computer Applications (MCA)

Distance or online MCA is a PG course usually pursued by computer science and tech graduates to enhance their credentials further. This two-year online/distance course provides an in-depth understanding of cloud computing, web technologies, programming, and others. This programme offers flexibility, a skill-enhancing curriculum, and networking opportunities. A student with a BCA/BSc (IT) or computer science degree or someone from a mathematics/statistics background is eligible for the programme.

Top Career Opportunities after an Online MCA and their salaries:

• Software Developer (INR 2.0 LPA to INR 15.9 LPA)

• System Analyst (INR 3.0 LPA to INR 20.0 LPA)

• Database Administrator (INR 4.5 LPA to INR 24.0 LPA)

• IT Project Manager (INR 5.4 LPA to INR 30.9 LPA)

• Web Developer (INR 1.5 LPA to INR 10.5 LPA)

Colleges Providing Online MCA:

3. Master of Commerce (MCom)

This two-year online MCom is crafted for those students who wish to improve their knowledge of the field. Financial management, accounting, economics, taxation, strategic management, and business law, among others, are topics covered in this programme. The curriculum of this online/distance PG course includes case studies, projects, and other experiential learning models. One of the key benefits of the online/distance MCom is the opportunity to meet like-minded peers and professionals in various industries.

Top Career Opportunities after an Online MCOM and their salaries:

• Chartered Accountant (INR 6 LPA – 10 LPA)

• Cost Accountant (INR 6 LPA – 10 LPA)

• Financial Analyst (INR 6 LPA – 10 LPA)

• Internal Auditor (INR 6 LPA – 10 LPA)

• Investment Banker (INR 8 LPA – 12 LPA)

Colleges Providing Online MCom:

4. Master of Arts (MA)

An online/distance MA programme degree gives you a unique chance to continue your higher education in a subject of your choice. English, Political Science, History, and Public Administration are the common combinations in online/distance MA degrees. It is a flexible and affordable way of learning compared to the regular offline course. To enrol in this programme, a student must have completed his/her bachelor’s degree and should meet the minimum mark criteria.

Top Career Opportunities after an Online MA and their salaries:

• Content Writer/Editor ( INR 1.5 LPA to INR 7.3 LPA )

• Public Relations Specialist(INR 3.0 LPA to INR 11.5 LPA)

• Marketing Manager ( 2.4 LPA to INR 25.0 LPA)

• Human Resources Manager (INR 1.0 LPA to INR 8.5 LPA )

• Social Media Manager (INR 1.3 LPA to INR 13.5 LPA)

Colleges Providing Online MA:

5. Master of Science (MSc)

A Master of Science degree is the most commonly chosen PG course for students with a science background. It enables you to upgrade your knowledge via a flexible learning pathway within an affordable range. This online/distance PG course is offered in various specialisations. The core subjects covered in this course are research methodology and any language, among other subjects related to your specialisation. Though there are no particular admission criteria, a student of the relevant background is preferred.

Top Career Opportunities after an Online MSc and Their Salaries:

• Research Scientist ( INR 3.0 LPA to INR 18.0 LPA)

• Data Analyst ( INR 1.0 LPA to INR 11.7 LPA)

• Lecturer/Professor (INR 1.5 LPA to INR 33.2 LPA)

• Laboratory Technician (INR 0.2 LPA to INR 4.8 LPA)

• Biotechnologist (INR 0.2 LPA to INR 7.0 LPA )

Colleges Providing Online MSc:

Colleges Providing Distance MSc:

6. Master of Library Science (MLIS)

The Master of Library Science course focusses on handling and accessing information in all forms. This degree covers topics like information organisation, library management, and emerging technologies in library science. It is a one-year course offered by limited universities in India. It is a popular PG course among the online/distance programmes. You can either decide to pursue a doctorate in the same field or continue his/her professional journey. An aspiring student must have completed a bachelor’s in the same or equivalent field.

Top Career Opportunities after an MLIS and Their Salaries:

• Library Assistant (INR  0.2 to INR  4.5 LPA)

• Digital Librarian (INR  0.4 to INR  6.4 LPA)

• Information analyst (INR  1.8 to INR  10.5)

Colleges Providing Distance MLIS:

7. Master of Education (MEd)

Online/distance MEd is a two-year course designed to train future educators. The curriculum follows modern educational practices and trains teachers to bear future responsibilities. Generally, admission to MEd courses is done directly online and in distance mode. Although the syllabus and curriculum will differ in every university, the core areas will remain the same. Subjects like Educational Psychology, Research Methodology in Education, Teacher Education,, and others are covered in this degree.

Top Career Opportunities after an distance MEd and their salaries:

• Teacher (INR 20,000 to INR 60,000)

• Education Coordinator (INR 75,000 to INR 1 LPA)

• Educational Counselor (INR 6 LPA  to INR 8 LPA)

• Primary Teacher (INR 2 LPA to INR 4 LPA)

• Secondary Teacher (INR 3 LPA to INR 6 LPA)

Colleges Providing Distance MEd:

8. MA/MSc in Psychology

Psychology is a popular study area, and an increasing number of individuals are enrolling in this programme. It is a two-year PG course that holds either MA or MSc credentials, depending upon the nature of the course and your major. The online/distance format lets you improve your knowledge about the theoretical concepts and dive into the research side of this field. You will study the normal and abnormal aspects of the human brain in the MSc degree and theories and psychology models in the MA course.

Top Career Opportunities after an Online MA/MSc In psychology  and their salaries:

• Clinical Psychologist (INR  0.5 LPA to INR  9.0 LPA)

• Industrial and organisational psychologist (INR  5 LPA to INR  9.0 LPA)

• Neuropsychologist (INR  4 LPA to INR  8.0 LPA)

• Space Psychologist (INR 0.1 LPA to INR 5.0 LPA )

Colleges Providing Online MA/MSc in Psychology:

9. PG Diploma in Data Science

Data science professionals are in high demand. The online/distance PG diploma course offers remote access to quality education and the opportunity to hone your skills. This PG course encompasses scientific processes, methods, and systems that turn raw data into useful information. It is tailored to the industry’s current standards and usually lasts two years with a minimal fee structure.

Top Career Opportunities after PG Diploma in Data Science and their salaries:

• Data Analyst (INR 6 LPA to INR 8 LPA)

• Statistical Analyst (INR 9 LPA to INR 11 LPA)

• Computer Systems Analyst (INR 9 LPA to INR 12 LPA)

• Database Administrator (INR 8 LPA to INR 10 LPA)

Colleges providing Distance PG Diploma in Data Science:

10. PG Diploma in IT

We all know that the technology sector is growing at an unimaginable speed. The two-year distance PG Diploma in Information Technology equips students with advanced IT skills and fills the knowledge gaps in their profiles. This online/distance programme includes the finer areas of database management, web development, programming languages, etc. Anyone with a bachelor’s degree can enrol in this programme; however, prior programming knowledge is preferred.

Top Career Opportunities after a PG Diploma in IT and their salaries:

•  IT Manager (INR  3.0 LPA  to INR  26.3 LPA )

• Chief Information Officer (INR  17.2 LPA  to INR  105.0 LPA )

• Information Director ( INR  14.0 LPA  to INR  99.0 LPA )

• Network Administrator (INR  1.8 LPA  to INR  10.0 LPA  )

• Database manager (INR  1.3 LPA  to INR  35.1 LPA )

Colleges Distance PG Diploma in IT:

Eligibility for Online/Distance PG Courses

Every course is unique, and so is its eligibility. Given below are the general parameters considered to enrol in an online/distance PG course:

•  Your bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or awaiting final year results.

• Optional: Relevant experience/educational background is required for some courses.

• He/she should have achieved 50% marks in the last qualifying exam.

• Age is no bar.

• Merit-based admission is available in many distance/online universities.

• Recognition: The course should be UGC and DEC-recognised.

• Academic value: Online degrees from accredited universities hold the same value as on-campus degrees.

How to Select the Right Course: The Big Decision

Selecting the right course is important in determining your career’s direction and success. The opportunities you get largely depend on the course you choose and the knowledge you gain. Make sure you decide carefully.

1. Note down your top three career preferences.

2. Calculate the return on investment.

3. Note down the top recruiters and salaries in the field.

4. Match your expectations with the chosen career choice to see if they fulfil all your parameters before finalising.

Bottom Line

The list of online/distance PG courses is enormous. Picking up the right online/distance postgraduate course is essential in your career. It can significantly help you boost your career. Additionally, the programme is also helpful for working professionals. This blog highlighted the top 10 PG courses many graduates opted for in India. Each course has a separate set of specialisations, so you can learn precisely what you want. Apart from the conventional courses, there are multiple opportunities in online/distance post-graduation courses. Find the right pick for you, and enjoy learning.