How to choose the right specialisation in Distance MBA

Pursuing a full-time MBA is often beyond the pursuit of many individuals. But, thanks to correspondence education, pursuing a management degree is no more a distant dream. Today, almost all the top Business Schools in India are offering correspondence or distance programmes.

But, what is the right course or the right fit for you? According to various experts, selecting a specialisation stream in Distance or Correspondence MBA is not that different from regular MBA.  

According to Shiksha expert Vikas Naidu, “It depends upon one’s basic qualifications as well as interest in a particular field.” For instance, if a candidate is pursuing a commerce degree, MBA in Finance will be the most viable option. Similarly, if a candidate has relevant experience in sales and marketing, MBA in Marketing will be the best option.

“With the changing dynamics of the job-scenario, the onus is on job-ready skills, which can be acquired only when learning is streamlined with relevant and optimum work –experience,” says a spokesperson from Sikkim Manipal University. The interested person should focus on how the business degree would help in real-time work. There is no point in pursuing a degree that will make no difference in the person’s career.

Some of the common Correspondence/Distance MBA specialisations are:

• General Management
• Marketing
• Finance
• Operations
• Human Resource
• International Business
• Retail
• Material, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Customer Relationship Management
• IT and Computers
• Healthcare
• Telecom
• Business Administration
• Insurance Management
• NGO Management
• Energy, Oil and Gas

However, there are some downsides. Distance MBA offers limited specialisation choices. So if you want to pursue a management degree in Aviation or Biotechnology, you'll hardly find any institute offering these courses in distance mode.

And that is not all.

“If you are looking to change track or field in your career or a huge pay hike, go for a full-time MBA,” says Sonia (name changed), a senior recruiting personnel from Head Hunters India.