MBA distance education is a 2 years post-graduate degree that specializes in business strategy, entrepreneurship, management, and leadership and is conducted in a distance and flexible learning format. The program has the approval of AICTE or UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau). Distance learning MBA is suitable to working professionals and students who do not want to quit their jobs yet wish to undergo professional studies.
The course curriculum covers Marketing Management, Financial Accounting, Human Resource Management, Business Laws, Strategic Management, and Operations Management. A specialization can be in Finance, Marketing, HR, International Business, Operation, IT Management, and others.
To pursue Distance MBA courses in India, an applicant should fulfill the eligibility requirements and take the entrance exam (if one is offered) or simply apply directly, depending on the university. There are institutes that have entrance examinations, and others provide direct admission depending on merit or work experience. The Best colleges for distance MBA include IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, Symbiosis Institute of Management, etc.
Distance MBA Admission Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to admission in MBA distance education in India the applicants have to fulfill the following requirements:
- The candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in any field of a recognized university with no less than 50 percent marks (45 percent assured group in certain universities).
- The admission to distance learning MBA programs does not have an age barrier.
- Depending on the universities, there may be a minimum of 1-2 years of work experience required (particularly with executive MBA programs), though this is not always the case.
- The candidates should qualify for the selection criteria at the particular university. Others may also ask applicants to pass an entrance examination, whereas there are those who will just allow direct admission by merit or based on academic performance.
Distance MBA Admission Entrance Exams
Admission to the Distance MBA in India is on the basis of various national, university-level and state-level examinations. Some institutes have their entrance examination, and some others admit direct entry or based on previous CAT/MAT/CMAT.
National Level
The national-level entrance exams for Distance MBA admission in India are listed below:
University Level
The university-level entrance exams for Distance MBA admission in India are listed below:
Admission Process for Distance MBA Courses in India
The corresponding model of admission to the Distance MBA programs is soft and partially online. Indian reputed distance learning institutes and open universities like IIM Bangalore or Symbiosis, follow a straightforward and knit procedure.
Step 1: Go to the official site of the university that provides the Distance MBA course and look at the eligibility and the course structure.
Step 2: Visit the site and sign up online through account registration and the distance learning MBA admission form. Attach required certificates such as mark sheet of your Bachelor degree, photo, signature, identity proof and work experience certificate (when needed).
Step 3: In case it is mandatory, attend the entrance exam of the university, present national-level examination scores (eg. CAT/MAT/CMAT) in the event they are accommodated.
Step 4: Await the announcement of the merit list or result at the university. In case of shortlisting, you will be offered an email confirmation or an offer to join.
Step 5: The Admission fee should be paid online to book a seat. It is possible that you will have the choice to pay annually or semester-wise.
Step 6: The university will make sure that your documents and payment information are reviewed.
Step 7: Once the verification is done successfully, a student ID will be issued and a username and password for the Learning Management System (LMS).
Step 8: Be oriented online (to the extent it is present), and start your coursework. The delivery of study material will be either through LMS, email, or courier.
Documents Required
- Class 10th and 12th marksheet
- Graduation Marksheet
- Entrance exam scorecard
- Photograph
- Signature
- Admission Form
- Allotment Letter.
FAQs
Are there installment or EMI options available for Distance MBA fees?
Most universities such as DU SOL also provide the EMI or installment payment plans to pay the fee and others so that payment is manageable. This enables the students to pay their tuition in smaller installments each month instead of all at once which makes them more accessible to other students who are already in the workforce or have limited financial ability.
What additional costs should students consider apart from tuition fees in a Distance MBA program?
In addition to tuition the student might require registration fee, exam fee (which is normally between 500 (rupees) to 2000 (rupees) per semester), study material or online access fee. There are additional fees that each institution charges which may raise the total cost by a few thousands of rupees.
Does the specialization chosen in a Distance MBA affect the overall fee?
Yes, there are some specializations that will have a little bit of variation in the fees as it can be in Banking & Finance, Marketing, or Human Resource Management. Nevertheless, the majority of universities offer a fixed price regardless of the specialization with insignificant changes influenced by the source materials or practicum.
What is the correlation between Distance MBA fees and employment or salary prospects after graduation?
Although increased fees do not necessarily correlate with quality infrastructure, faculty, and placement network as the final success depends on skills and experience of the graduates coupled with his or her specialization. Distance MBA graduates are usually paid 4 to 16 lakh/annum based on an institution and industry. A degree in a well known university enhances the chances of employment, although it is not the only determinant of success in the career.
Can I opt for the IIM distance MBA course?
Yes, IIM offers Online MBA or Executive MBA degrees that take the form of blended education-a mix of online education and campus programs every now and then. These are mainly meant to suit working professionals.
What is the general range of MBA distance education fees?
The fees vary between INR 15,500 (semester-wise) to more than INR 2.1 lakh in total, depending on the prestige, location, and the mode of delivery of the university. The best quoted university options, such as IGNOU, are the most affordable, with other options in the higher range of fees, such as the managed-private-IIM, executive programs.
How is a distance/ online MBA different as compared to the regular MBA?
An distance MBA degree from a highly reputable organization will add value in terms of career growth and progress in general among working professionals and executives. The candidates will be able to move to more advanced and higher positions.
