MBA in Retail Management Course: Admission 2025, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

MBA in Retail Management is offered by many top MBA institutes in India either in the form of specialisation or as an elective course in the second year of the degree program. 

Students pursuing an MBA Retail Management can work at various job profiles and enhance their career growth. MBA in Retail Management provides detailed knowledge to students about the retail industry, besides enhancing their entrepreneurship and leadership skills. MBA in Retail Management will offer a broader range of job opportunities in India and abroad, provided the candidate has the right attitude and skills for the service industry.

The MBA in Retail Management equips students with the management abilities necessary in the retail sector. It is a two-year postgraduate programme that provides instruction and knowledge of the critical managerial abilities needed to streamline the retail process.
Store management, commodities, sales markets, market segments, business diversification, advertising, campaigning, marketing research and even e-business are some of the sub-fields that fall under the umbrella of retail management. There are many multinational companies and Indian firms, including Lifestyle, Max, Reliance, Aditya Birla, Big Bazaar, Central, Shoppers Stop and Spencer’s that hire MBA Retail Management.

Depending on your interests, career ambitions, and unique circumstances you can decide if getting an MBA in retail management is worthwhile. Below mentioned are some of the factors to consider:

• Career Goals: If you aspire to work in the retail industry and want to climb the corporate ladder, an MBA in Retail Management can provide you with specialised knowledge and skills that may help you stand out in the job market. 
• Industry Relevance: An MBA in Retail Management can help you stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices within the sector, making you a more valuable asset to potential employers.
• Networking Opportunities: You can connect with professors, classmates, and industry professionals, which can open doors to job opportunities and partnerships in the retail sector.

The degree that is seen to be best for a career in retail management often depends on a number of variables including your professional objectives, your personal interests and the particular jobs you hope to fill in the sector. The table below includes some degrees in Retail Management:

One of the global sectors with the highest growth is the retail sector. People are now switching to online shopping because of technology which has increased competition in this market. Some of the retail courses are:

The eligibility criteria for MBA in Retail Management are as follows:

• A minimum of 50 percent aggregate or equivalent in bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
• For Reserved category students, the minimum aggregate required is 45 percent marks.
• Most of the institutes accept candidates on the basis of entrance exam scores like CAT,  MAT,  CMAT,  MAT,  SNAP, etc.

Hello Karthik!

Yes, as long as you are genuinely interested in pursuing a career in the field of retail management, you can definitely go ahead. Good luck!

The selection process for an MBA in Retail Management  admission includes an entrance test, Group Discussion/Written Ability Test (GD/WAT), and Personal Interview (PI). The final selection is based on the candidate's overall performance on various parameters.

Yes, any graduate with 50% + marks at the graduation degree exam can pursue MBA. One needs to appear for an entrance test to seek admission. The most common test is CAT.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) and CAT (Common Admission Test) are both popular management entrance exams in India. Both exams are known for their high level of difficulty and are considered challenging to crack. In terms of difficulty, it is difficult to compare XAT and CAT as both exams have their own unique characteristics.

However, XAT is considered to be more challenging than CAT in certain aspects such as:

1) Exam Pattern: XAT has a more varied exam pattern as compared to CAT. XAT has an additional section of General Knowledge, Essay Writing, and decision-making which requires a different skill set as compared to CAT.

2)Time Management: XAT has a higher number of questions as compared to CAT. And the time allotted for the exam is also relatively less. This makes time management a critical aspect for XAT aspirants.

3) Verbal Ability: XAT has a stronger focus on Verbal Ability as compared to CAT. The Reading Comprehension passages in XAT are usually longer and more complex than CAT. Which makes it more challenging. However, it is important to note that the level of difficulty of these exams varies from year to year, and it ultimately depends on the individuals preparation and skill set.

A well-balanced approach is essential for success in the CAT exam, aspirants must be aware. Six to eight hours of daily study time must be included in the CAT 2024 preparation schedule. Working professionals must set aside at least four hours each day and eight hours on weekends for preparation. You must concentrate on the most crucial subjects that will help you earn good marks during the last stage of exam preparation. See the generic CAT exam preparation technique listed below, which any applicant can use to create a comprehensive study schedule.

Step 1: Carefully review the CAT 2024 syllabus and comprehend the CAT exam pattern 2024.

Step 2: Obtain  CAT books and other suggested literature.

Step 3: Join online MBA study groups on sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, Quora, YouTube, and Telegram.

Step 4: Create a monthly schedule, a weekly schedule, and a daily schedule.

Step 5: For the best outcomes, follow the timetable and preparation plan for the CAT.

To Read More: How to prepare for CAT entrance exam?

No change has been announced in the XAT exam. The test will be administered just like yesterday. The duration of the exam will be 210 minutes and the questions will be in MCQ format. There will be a total of 100 questions on Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning and General Knowledge.

There will be one essay-based question too. XAT 2025 will have a sectional time limit which means candidates will have to complete a section of the test within the given time limit.

Marking scheme is also the same as last year. For each correct answer, candidates will get 1 mark and for each incorrect attempt, 0.25 marks will be deducted. The XAT result will be based on several correct and incorrect entries. The essay will be evaluated for PI selection process only.

If candidates have a strong passion for the retail industry and envision themselves working in retail management roles, an MBA in Retail Management is a suitable choice.

On the other hand, if candidates prefer a broader skill set that can be applied across industries, an Jaipuria in Operations Management is more versatile and can open doors to a wider range of career opportunities in operations and supply chain management.

Candidates can check the table below to see the comparison between the two.

The syllabus of Retail courses is designed by industry experts to teach the candidates detailed knowledge about the retail industry and its associated branches. Retail involves a range of activities including marketing, merchandising, inventory management, customer service and sales. Some of the main subjects taught in Retail courses are:

• Understanding Retailing
• Retail Marketing
• Retail Management Perspective
• Customer Service Management
• Buying Merchandising

Hi Shruti,

Top colleges offering Retail Management course are: -

• Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida (BIMTECH)
• Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research
• Amity Business School, Noida
• Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow
• GITAM Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam

You can refer the below link for more colleges: 

https://www.shiksha.com/mba/ranking/top-mba-retail-management-colleges-india/15-2-0-0-0

While selecting the best, you need to check some of the important parameters such as recognition, year of establishment, batch size, syllabus, faculty, fees, placements etc.

Hope it helps. Please feel free to revert. Click on the thumbs up or mark it as the best, if you found this useful. Wish You Luck!

Yes, Retail Management courses can be pursued online as well. There are a number of learning platforms that are offering these online courses. Interested candidates can see the table below to know these courses along with the course provider and fees.

Choosing an online MBA will not be good. If you are thinking of it as less fees or non attending classes. I would suggest you go for regular courses if you are fresher. If you are experienced go with Executive MBA with 1 year duration by choosing the specialization. as you have not provided the location of your area its difficult to provide the institution details. But many universities like ICFAI, AMITY, Symbosis, etc are providing subjects which you prefer. Their price is high, better you choose Govt universities where the fees are less compared to these universities like annamalai university, kuvempu university, IGNOU, the list is available on the website of DEB (distance education bureau) as their recognition list is there year wise & subject wise.

Hey retail management is basically different from basic management course but yet it is very interesting and has great scope for future career. So, yes it can be a great option to opt for. And you can have a look at the subjects of retail management i am giving below to get the idea of what actually there is in retail management course, It includes the following topics: Supply chain management. Marketing information. Finance management. Customer relationship. Business ethics. Retail brand management. Management and organizational behaviour. Quantitative methods in retailing.

With the retail industry in India growing at a quick pace there is a lot of potential for career progression in this field. India's retail industry has been steadily developing because to a number of causes including rising disposable incomes, shifting consumer preferences, urbanization and the country's middle class.

• Job Opportunities: As the retail industry continues to grow, there are numerous job opportunities for Retail Managers.
• Diverse Roles: Retail Managers can work in a range of roles including store management, district or regional management, category management, merchandising, supply chain management and more. 
• Competitive Salaries: Retail Managers in India can earn competitive salaries and their income often includes performance-based incentives.
• Career Progression: Retail managers have the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder and move into higher-level roles such as Area Managers, Regional Managers or even executive positions

Hi Shobha,

The retail industry has businesses such as departmental stores, shopping malls and brand outlets. Retail outlets are professionally managed and involve on-floor display, sales, inventory, storage and sales promotions of products. As per your query you want to be retail manager without doing MBA. So retail management can be pursued as a short term certificate or diploma course. Graduates from any subject stream can opt for retail management courses.

Hope it helps. Please feel free to revert. Click on the thumbs up if you found this useful. Wish You Luck!

Supply Chains Management is a part of Retail Management. Companies that have a huge network of goods and raw materials hire MBA graduates who specialise in Supply Chain Management. The course teaches the students to control and plan the inflow and outflow of products or raw materials to the consumers. Companies such as Snapdeal, Flipkart, Amazon, Reliance, etc. are few big giants who hire supply chain management graduates.

Also Read: Top MBA/PGDM in Supply Chain Management Colleges in India

Retail Manager is responsible to look after Team Management, Inventory Management, Visual Merchandising, Financial Management, etc. By efficiently managing all areas of the operation and ensuring that clients have a great shopping experience, the retail manager plays a crucial part in determining the success of a retail organization.

Read More: Career as Retail Manager

Some of the communications skills required to enter the Retail industry are:

Good Communication Skills: The candidates should be able to speak clearly both to the team and to the customers. They must first comprehend the client's issues before assisting them with their wants, which calls for a lot of patience.

Patience: This training will require a lot of patience to comprehend the wants and demands of the consumers. People today, especially students, lack patience and want things done immediately.

Good Listening Skills: The candidates must also have good listening skills. They must pay attention to fresh perspectives and ideas from the team and the customers. They would be able to provide the pupils with some excellent new advice.

Yes, for sure a students can pursue an MBA in Finance after completing a BBA in Retail Management. Many MBA programs do not require a specific undergraduate degree in a particular field and they accept candidates with diverse educational backgrounds. 

Some MBA courses may have prerequisite courses in subjects like Accounting, Economics or Finance. If their particular BBA course did not cover these topics, students might need to take additional courses before or during their MBA programme to meet the requirements.

After completing an MBA in Retail Management, candidates can either opt for any job profiles or opt for the following courses for further education:

• Digital Marketing Courses
• Supply Chain Management Courses
• Data Analytics and Business Intelligence Courses
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Courses
• E-commerce and Omnichannel Retailing Courses

MBA in Retail Management programme is tailored for individuals interested in the retail sector, including roles in store management, supply chain management, merchandising and marketing within retail organizations.

On the other hand, MBA in Hospital Management is designed for individuals interested in healthcare management and administration. It covers areas like hospital operations, healthcare policy, healthcare finance and healthcare quality management.

Candidates can check the table below to see the comparison between the two.

Hi, retail management is an important part of the banking sector. All transactions/banking that deal with individuals (and not companies) are called retail banking or consumer banking. This deals with raising funds from individuals (through investment products like FDs, bank accounts, mutual funds etc.) and also giving funds to individuals (through loans etc). 

With the huge customer base in India, this banking is very important. There are many banks in retail banking- nationalized banks like PNB, and State Bank of India, private banks like HDFC and ICICI bank and then foreign banks like Citibank and HSBC. SCOPE FOR RETAIL BANKING IN INDIA

• A round increase in economic activity.
• Increase in purchasing power. The rural areas have a large purchasing power at their disposal and this is an opportunity to market Retail Banking.
• India has 200 million households and 400 million middle-class population more than 90% of the savings come from the household sector. Falling interest rates have resulted in a shift. “Now People Want To Save Less And Spend More.”
• The nuclear family concept is gaining much importance which may lead to large savings, and large number of banking services to be provided is day-by-day increasing.
• Tax benefits are available for example in the case of housing loans the borrower can avail tax benefits for the loan repayment and the interest charged for the loan. You will earn not only money in this sector but also Name and fame with it. 

Hi,

After 12th, you can join a course offered by an institution that has a NSDC tie-up to offer retail courses. Becoming a Retail Manager is too early. You first need to get into the sector at an entry level. Retailing for you could mean store based retailing and could include front end sales or back end supply chain opportunities. Please share your current / preferred location so that we can advise you better.

Hi Shobha,

The retail industry has businesses such as departmental stores, shopping malls and brand outlets. Retail outlets are professionally managed and involve on-floor display, sales, inventory, storage and sales promotions of products. As per your query you want to be retail manager without doing MBA. So retail management can be pursued as a short term certificate or diploma course. Graduates from any subject stream can opt for retail management courses.

Hope it helps. Please feel free to revert. Click on the thumbs up if you found this useful. Wish You Luck!

Retail management is sub specialization of marketing. Normally, MBA colleges offer specializations like marketing, finance, HR and other areas. Retail management comes under marketing including selling of products, logistics and supply chain management, etc. There is no rule that marketing specialization should not come under retail sector. Therefore, be broad while opting for the specialization.

Hi Mohit,

The main difference between MBA and PGDM is that MBA is a degree and is offered by universities, whereas, PGDM is a post-graduate diploma offered by AICTE approved institutes. Indian universities come under the University Grants Commission (UGC) and can, therefore, award degrees like the MBA degree, also known as MMS in Mumbai. Universities follow the UGC format for course content. On the other hand, reputed management institutes design their courses based on industry feedback and business relevance. They are not covered under the UGC. Importantly, when it comes to job opportunities, institute reputation matters more than the name of the degree or diploma. You can refer the link for more best institutes: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/ranking/top-mba-retail-management-colleges-india/15-2-0-0-0

Hope it helps. Please feel free to revert. Click on the thumbs up if you found this useful. Wish You Luck!

Hi,

Retailing is a dynamic industry, comprising a vast variety of sectors and home to some of the world's the biggest companies. Candidates with the retail management can start a career in supervisory, client communication, merchandise shipment, sales, management and administrative services.

Retail management offers more than 2 million job opportunities across the globe. The following are the hon roles:-

• Retail manager
• Supply chain manager
• Store manager
• Customer care executive
• Merchandiser
• Warehousing manager
• Brand manager

The salary ranges from 3 lack per annum to 5 lack per annum depending on the company to company.

The following company hires the retail management graduate: -

• Reliance
• Retail Future group 
• V-Mart
• Vishal Megamart 
• Aditya Birla Group
• Tata Group

There are various institutes that are there to pursue the courses.