Distance MBA from IGNOU vs Distance MBA Annamalai University

A comparison is made between Distance MBA IGNOU and Distance MBA Annamalai University. The article gives an idea of differences between the two institutes and the type of degree they provide.

A lot of top B-schools and management institutes which used to offer only full-time MBA courses have now developed distance MBA courses for the working professionals. Professionals, who are unable to pursue a full-time course due to their job or cannot afford the high fees, can now opt for these courses. Distance MBA is the one of the best ways to study further even while you are working. All this without attending daily classes and lectures in college.

One of the top post-graduate degrees among the ones taught in India, at present, is MBA. Starting from lawmakers, biotechnology, engineers and to entrepreneurs, wherever there is an opportunity for enterprise and business build-up, MBA becomes useful in managing it. Every year more than five lakh students pass out as MBA graduates from various universities. But all of them are not full-time MBA students as the process of imparting MBA through distance education has been crucial in giving degrees to so many students. This article is written about two such universities in India that provide exemplary distance courses in MBA. It provides an overview of the factors like that of ranking, course curriculum, pedagogy, admission process, fees, recognition and placements.

Both, the courses of Distance MBA programme at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and at Annamalai University are well-known. This article will help an aspirant to choose their course based on the specialisations each of the two universities offers.  

Annamalai University

Established in 1920, Annamalai University is one of the oldest and well-known universities in India. Situated in Tamil Nadu’s Chidambaram, the university started with a seven departments, a number that today stand at 49. Annamalai University has been accredited with grade ‘A’ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and has more than 500 courses in its list of distance learning programs offered to students. It is known that it has the largest number of enrollments of candidates under its distance education programmes when compared to other universities or institutes offering distance education in the country. The value of distance education under Annamalai University is prestigious and regarded as coveted all over the country. The course of distance MBA at Annamalai University is generally a two-year course and can be stretched up to seven years.

IGNOU

IGNOU is one of the largest distance education providers. The distance MBA programme at IGNOU not only to students in India but from all over the world. The correspondence MBA school of IGNOU had become operational in 1987, which offered only one course of diploma in distance learning MBA education. However, at present, it offers more than 10 programs in MBA and more than 50 specialisations to its students under the Distance MBA IGNOU programme. It not only has a huge presence in India but globally. It is a Central university under the direct jurisdiction of the Central government.

Table of Comparison between the IGNOU and Annamalai University

The comparison between the courses has been provided below based on some essential factors:

Selection and admission process

There are certain criteria and eligibility for the admission to the courses of Distance MBA at IGNOU and Distance MBA at Annamalai.

Annamalai

• There are two options for admission in Distance MBA course, one is appearing personally and other is by post.
• The eligibility for the candidate is to have passed any degree or equivalent examination except 10+2+2 pattern.
• The applicants can approach any Directorate, study center or information center of the Annamalai University and collect prospectus at the cost of Rs 500.
• The students can obtain the prospectus through post by sending a demand draft addressed to ‘The Director, DDE, Annamalai University’ of Rs 590. The program and the specialisation they want to choose to have to be specified in a letter along with the demand draft and send to the address of the university.
• The applicant should have cleared the cutoff in OPENMAT exams or CAT exams to apply for Distance MBA IGNOU course.
• The applicant should also have a professional graduation degree with minimum 50 per cent marks for General candidates and 45 per cent for Reserved category candidates with three years of professional experience.
• The applicant then needs to pay an application fee of Rs 1,050 for the prospectus in favor of ‘IGNOU payable at New Delhi’ through the post.
• They can also be collected personally from Regional Centers or Study Centers of IGNOU Headquarters at the price of Rs 1,000.
• Then after obtaining prospectus one has to apply for the OPENMAT exam and then if cut off is cleared one can get admission in the distance MBA course.
• The applicant should have cleared the cutoff in OPENMAT exams or CAT exams to apply for Distance MBA IGNOU course.
• The applicant should also have a professional graduation degree with minimum 50 per cent marks for General candidates and 45 per cent for Reserved category candidates with three years of professional experience.
• The applicant then needs to pay an application fee of Rs 1,050 for the prospectus in favor of ‘IGNOU payable at New Delhi’ through the post.
• They can also be collected personally from Regional Centers or Study Centers of IGNOU Headquarters at the price of Rs 1,000.
• Then after obtaining prospectus one has to apply for the OPENMAT exam and then if cut off is cleared one can get admission in the distance MBA course.

IGNOU

• The applicant should have cleared the cutoff in OPENMAT exams or CAT exams to apply for Distance MBA IGNOU course.
• The applicant should also have a professional graduation degree with minimum 50 per cent marks for General candidates and 45 per cent for Reserved category candidates with three years of professional experience.
• The applicant then needs to pay an application fee of Rs 1,050 for the prospectus in favor of ‘IGNOU payable at New Delhi’ through the post.
• They can also be collected personally from Regional Centers or Study Centers of IGNOU Headquarters at the price of Rs 1,000.
• Then after obtaining prospectus one has to apply for the OPENMAT exam and then if cut off is cleared one can get admission in the distance MBA course.