PGDHRM is a two-year postgraduate program designed for individuals seeking to gain expertise in human resource management (HRM). The course usually prepares the students to build strategic HR leadership capabilities to be able to contribute to the overall success of organizations. Anyone who holds a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks is eligible to apply for the course. Some of the institutes may also ask for at least 2 years of work experience.
Admission into the PGDHRM course is based on entrance examinations like CAT, XAT, NMAT, etc followed by a Written Ability Test and/ or Group Discussion and Personal Interview. The cutoff for most institutes is usually between 90 - 95 percentile. The final selection will be based on multiple parameters like exam scores, WAT scores, PI scores, academic records, work experience, gender diversity, academic diversity, etc.
After completion of the course, the graduates are eligible to apply for jobs in various industries. Some of the job roles open to them are HR Manager, HR Consultant, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Training & Development Manager, Employee Relations Manager, etc. The average package offered after completion of PGDHRM ranges between INR 18 - 30 LPA.
PGDHRM Highlights
Some of the basic details about the PGDHRM course are as follows:
| Course Name | Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks |
| Admission Process | Entrance Examination + WAT and/ or GD-PI |
| Entrance Examinations | CAT, XAT, NMAT |
| Top Universities | XLRI, MDI Gurgaon, IIM Indore, etc. |
| Average Course Fees | INR 17.5 - 30.6 Lakhs |
| Average Salary Package | INR 18 - 30 LPA |
| Job Options | HR Manager, HR Consultant, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Training & Development Manager, Employee Relations Manager, etc. |
What is PGDHRM?
PGDHRM is a 2-year postgraduate program that equips students with knowledge, skills, and expertise in the field of Human Resource Management.
- The course covers core areas like talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, organizational behavior, labor laws, strategic human resource management, etc.
- The course offers theoretical knowledge as well as practical learning through case studies, simulations, live projects, internships, etc and also prepares the students to address real-world HR challenges. Students may also learn modules on HR analytics and the applications of technology in HR processes.
- The course will help students build leadership, problem-solving and decision-making skills, ensuring that they are ready to manage human capital effectively in diverse industries.
- At the end, the course will provide campus placement with companies hiring for careers as HR managers, talent acquisition specialists, training and development managers, compensation and benefits analysts, or HR consultants across various sectors.
Why Pursue PGDHRM?
A PGDHRM is one of the ways to build a career in human resource management and open up opportunities for specialized knowledge and career growth.
- This course should be pursued by fresh graduates aspiring for a career in HR, working professionals looking to switch to HR, or HR executives aiming for career advancement.
- Knowledge & Skills - Individuals looking to build a career in human resources should pursue this as the course provides in-depth expertise in core HR functions. Also, the course will help to build leadership qualities and strategic thinking that will prepare them for senior management roles like HR Director or CHRO.
- Strong Career Opportunity - HR professionals are in demand across industries such as IT, healthcare, manufacturing, and consulting. According to LinkedIn, the HR outsourcing market in India is projected to reach USD 9.1 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 10% from 2018 to 2025.
- Lucrative Salary Package - HRM graduates from reputed B-schools often receive competitive packages. The average package offered by some of the top B-schools ranges between INR 18 - 30 LPA.
PGDHRM Admission Process
- Admission into PGDHRM courses is usually based on national-level entrance examinations like CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc followed by a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI).
- Institutes like NMIMS will conduct their own entrance examination i.e. NMAT.
- Some of the IIMs like IIM Ranchi and IIM Trichy will have a common interview through IIM CAP.
- The final selections are based on multiple factors like exam scores, WAT scores, GD-PI scores, academic records, work experience, diversity, etc. A composite score is calculated out of these parameters and the offer letter is sent based on the composite score.
- Candidates receiving the provisional offer letter are required to accept the offer within the given time and pay the first installment fees.
PGDHRM Eligibility
Candidates interested in applying to the PGDHRM course should fulfill the following eligibility criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. Also, 50% marks are required in classes Xth and XIIth.
- Candidates in the final year of their bachelor's degree are also eligible to apply.
- Some of the institutes like NMIMS Mumbai may ask for 2 years of work experience.
PGDHRM Entrance Examination
Some of the entrance examinations that are considered for admission into PGDHRM courses are as follows:
| National Level Examinations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exam Name | Registration Date | Exam Date |
| CAT 2025 | Aug 01 - Sept 20, 2025 (Tentative) | Nov 24, 2025 (Tentative) |
| XAT 2026 | July 16 - Nov 30, 2025 (Tentative) | Jan 05, 2026 (Tentative) |
| GMAT | At least 24 hours before the chosen date of the exam | Aug & Nov 2025 |
| Institute Level Examinations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exam Name | Registration Date | Exam Date |
| NMIMS 2025 | Aug 01 - Oct 10, 2025 (Tentative) | Nov 05 - Dec 20, 2025 (Tentative) |
PGDHRM Cutoff
The cutoff 2024 for some of the top institutes are as follows:
| Institute Name | Overall Cutoff (General) | Reference Link |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Indore | 70 Percentile | |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | Male: 96Female: 91 | |
| MDI Gurgaon | 95 (only if sectional cutoff is cleared) | |
| IIM Ranchi | 95 Percentile | |
| NMIMS Mumbai | 209 Marks | |
| IIM Trichy | 95 Percentile | |
| IMI New Delhi | 90 Percentile | |
| IIM Amritsar | 90 Percentile |
PGDHRM Syllabus
The syllabus for PGDHRM might be similar for most of the institutes. The table below shows the PGDHRM syllabus of XLRI Jamshedpur:
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| Accounting For Management | Employment Relations Law: Law of Industrial Relations |
| Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | Managerial Communication |
| Fundamentals of Industrial Relations | Managerial Ethics |
| Fundamentals of Labour Laws | Macroeconomic Theory and Policy |
| Human Resource Planning | OB – II: Group Behaviour in Organization |
| Managerial Economics | Performance Management and Appraisal |
| Management Information Systems | Production Management |
| OB – I: Individual Behaviour in Organization | Wage Determination and Administration |
| Quantitative Techniques for Human Resource Management | |
| Term 3 | Term 4, 5, 6 |
| Business and Sustainability | Electives |
| Basic Financial Management | |
| Employment Relations Law: Law of Social Security | |
| Management Information Systems | |
| Marketing Management | |
| OB - III: Organizational Structure, Design and Change | |
| Social Research Methods | |
| Strategic Management |
PGDHRM Top Colleges
Some of the top institutes, according to NIRF Ranking 2024, that offer PGDHRM or MBA HRM courses are as follows:
| NIRF Ranking | Institute Name | Examination Accepted | Course Fees | Reference Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | IIM Indore | CAT | INR 18,42,200 | |
| 9 | XLRI Jamshedpur | XAT | INR 30,60,000 | |
| 11 | MDI Gurgaon | CAT + WAT, GD-PI | INR 24,99,400 | |
| 17 | IIM Ranchi | CAT + PI through CAP | INR 17,50,000 | |
| 21 | NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT + PI | INR 25,00,000 | |
| 27 | IIM Trichy | CAT + PI through CAP | INR 19,50,000 | |
| 40 | IMI New Delhi | CAT/ XAT/ GMAT | INR 22,00,000 | |
| 47 | IIM Amritsar | CAT | INR 21,00,000 | |
| 58 | TAPMI | CAT/ XAT/ GMAT/ NMAT | INR 18,00,000 |
Apart from the ranking, if we are looking for institutes that offer HRM and is known for its ROI, then TISS Mumbai and JBIMS are the ones to be considered.
| Institute Name | Course Offered | Exam Intake | Course Fees | Average Package (2023) | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TISS Mumbai | MA HRM & LR | CUET-PG | INR 1.85 Lakhs | INR 19.62 LPA | 960.54%(10 times more than the initial investment) |
| JBIMS Mumbai | MHRD | MAH-CET/ CAT | INR 7 Lakhs | INR 16.5 LPA | 135.71%(1.36 times more than the initial investment) |
Reference link for TISS Mumbai Fees
Reference link for TISS Mumbai Placement
PGDHRM Comparison of XLRI Vs IIM Indore Vs NMIMS Mumbai
A comparison among the top 3 institutes that offer PGDHRM courses is as follows:
| Particulars | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Indore | NMIMS Mumbai |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF Ranking | 9 | 8 | 21 |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree | Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks | Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks + 2 years of work experience. |
| Admission Process | XAT + PI | CAT + PI | NMAT + PI |
| Cutoff | 91 - 96 Percentile | 70 Percentile | 209 marks |
| Course Intake | 240 | 33 - 39 | 120 |
| Total Course Fees | INR 30.6 Lakhs | INR 18.42 Lakhs | INR 25 Lakhs |
| Highest Package (2024) | INR 75 Lakhs | INR 33.6 LPA | INR 25.02 LPA |
| Average Package (2024) | INR 29.89 LPA | INR 22 LPA | INR 18.64 LPA |
| Reference link for Placements |
PGDHRM Career & Jobs
HR professionals play a critical role in the organization’s success as they deal with employee engagement, compliance, organizational development, etc. Let’s look at the employability landscape and market trends for HR graduates to understand their demands.
- According to the 2024 Wheebox Skills Report, the MBA graduates including the HR professionals exhibit an employability rate of 78 percent in India’s employability landscape.
- According to Ken Research, the Indian Human Resource market was valued at USD 1.02 billion. The growth of the Indian HR market is primarily driven by an increase in the demand for flexible staffing solutions, particularly in sectors like IT, healthcare, and e-commerce. There is an increasing need for workforce management services to address talent gaps and enhance productivity across industries.
The table below shows the average package of some of the job options available for PGDHRM graduates. The data below is according to Payscale.
| Job Roles | <1 year | 1 - 4 years | 5 - 9 years | 10 - 19 years | 20+ years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR Manager | INR 3.9 LPA | INR 4.92 LPA | INR 7.83 LPA | INR 10.85 LPA | INR 11.81 LPA |
| Talent Acquisition Specialist | INR 2.9 LPA | INR 4.79 LPA | INR 7.38 LPA | INR 10.15 LPA | - |
| Training & Development Manager | INR 4.2 LPA | INR 5.39 LPA | INR 9.56 LPA | INR 13.24 LPA | INR 19.35 LPA |
| Employee Relations Manager | - | INR 4.37 LPA | INR 9 LPA | INR 11.15 LPA | INR 13.5 LPA |
| HR Consultant | INR 2.44 LPA | INR 3.71 LPA | INR 8.24 LPA | INR 12.04 LPA | INR 26 LPA |
PGDHRM Future Scope
After completion of PGDHRM, the graduates can apply for jobs in multiple industries or can go for higher studies.
- Campus Placement - All the B-schools have associations with companies in various industries and around 50 - 100 recruiters join every year to hire fresh graduates for multiple roles. PGDHRM graduates can get a job through campus placement with an average package ranging between INR 18 - 30 LPA.
- Career Progression - The graduates can apply for different levels of job roles based on the amount of work experience they hold. The freshers can apply for entry-level jobs like HR Executives, Talent Acquisition Specialists, HR Analysts, etc. Those who have a work experience of 3-5 years can apply for mid-level roles like HR Managers, Learning and Development Managers, Employee Relations Managers, etc.
- Industry Scope - The PGDHRM course opens up job opportunities in multiple industries as there is a need for effective people management in every industry. Some of the industries where HR professionals are required are IT & Technology, E-Commerce & Retail, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing & Logistics, and Consulting & Advisory.
- Higher Studies & Certification - The graduates looking for a career in research and academia can go for a PhD in HRM. Also, graduates can enhance their skills with specific certifications available for HR professionals for global HR expertise
PGDHRM FAQs
What are the qualifications required for PGDHRM?
The candidates planning to pursue the PGDHRM program should have atleast 3 years of Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. Some institutes may also look at the academic records therefore they should have atleast 50% marks in both Xth and XIIth. Some institutes may also ask for atleast 2 years of work experience.
What is the average salary one can expect after PGDHRM?
PGDHRM usually opens up entry-level job opportunities, but if one holds some amount of work experience in a relevant field then they can apply for mid-level job roles. According to the campus placement data of most of the institutes the average package ranges between INR 18 - 30 LPA.
What are the entrance examinations that are considered for PGDHRM admission?
Some of the major exams considered for admission into the PGDHRM course are CAT and XAT. Some institutes like NMIMS also conduct their own examination like NMAT.
What are the job roles available after PGDHRM?
PGDHRM graduates can get jobs in multiple industries in careers like HR Executives, Talent Acquisition Specialists, HR Analysts, HR Managers, Learning and Development Managers, Employee Relations Managers, etc.
What is the admission process for PGDHRM?
The admission into the PGDHRM course is based on national-level entrance examinations like CAT, XAT, etc or institute-level exams like NMAT. The candidates are shortlisted based on the exam scores and are called for a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). The final selection will be based on multiple factors like exam scores, WAT scores, GD-PI scores, academic records, work experience, diversity, etc. A composite score is calculated out of these parameters and the offer letter is sent based on the composite score.
