PGDM vs. MBA Dilemma of Choices

Parameters	PGDM	MBA
Approving Authority	AICTE, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India	AICTE, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, UGC Approval is needed at the university level
Validity	Valid  and equivalent to Post Graduate Degree	Valid Post Graduate Degree
Eligibility for PhD. and Lecturer ship	PGDM with a minimum of 55% Marks are eligible to enrol for PhD. From Indian Universities. Also PGDMs  eligible to teach PG students	MBA with a minimum of 55% Marks are eligible to enrol for PhD. From Indian Universities. Also MBAs  eligible to teach PG students
Placements	Completely depends upon the institution. Most of the PGDM institutions have better placement records than MBA institutions	Completely depends upon the institution. Comparatively, Some of the MBA institutions like FMS, JBIMS have better placement records
Course Syllabus	Dynamic, Gets updated as per needs of industry. Syllabus is approved by AICTE	Syllabus is prepared by universities and gets updated less frequently.
Innovative Practices	Teaching and training is multi dimensional. Cases, simulations, presentations, short term trainings are part of pedagogy	Limited scope for innovation as practices are defined by syllabus prepared by central body i.e. University
Ranking in general (by business magazines and student centric websites)	90% of top 100 are PGDM institutions. All thanks to better teaching, training, exposure and placements. IIMs, XLRI, MDI, IMT, GIM, and many more.	Approximately 10 out of top 100 are MBA institutions. Likes of FMS, NMIMS, KJSIMS, SCMHRD etc.
Equivalence	Equivalent to MBA from any Indian University.  For PhD, Teaching (UGC NET) and all other purposes	MBA a post graduate degree
Entrance Process	Thorough  CAT/ MAT/XAT/ATMA and some state level examinations like MPMET, MHCET etc.	Thorough State level Entrance Examinations like MPMET, MHCET etc.
Examinations	PGDM institutions are authorised by approving body,  AICTE, to conduct the  Examinations	Examinations are conducted by University

However, one should remember that it is not important whether a student pursues PGDM or MBA. The institution, where he is studying, is of supreme importance. At the end, quality of teaching, training, exposure and placements will matter for any student.

 

Source: Mr. Kapil Joshi Core Business School Indore

Date: 7^th October, 2011