PGDM

PGDM or Post Graduate Diploma in Management is a two-year business management programme pursued after completion of graduation. It is a popular management course that can be pursued either full-time or part-time. In India, as well as overseas, both MBA and PGDM courses have equal value when it comes to career prospects. The PGDM admissions process and fees vary in different colleges. Several colleges conduct entrance examinations like CAT, GMAT, CMAT, ATMA, XAT, MAT, and NMAT for admissions, whereas others offer admission based on a 10+2 merit-based system.

XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, NMIMS Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and SIBM Pune are some of the top PGDM colleges in India. PGDM caters to industry requirements and helps management aspirants develop relevant skills to transform into industry-ready professionals. PGDM course adds value beyond the regular MBA curriculum and is industry oriented, unlike MBA, which is more theoretical. PGDM focuses more on grooming programs, mentorship, and industry exposure. Also, the placement services are more rigorous with PGDM programs. Hence, a PGDM course from a recognized institute is usually a great option to pursue. The PGDM course fee ranges from INR 1,00,000 to 20,00,000.

PGDM is a diploma course in management offered by autonomous institutes. The most significant highlights of the PGDM course have been tabulated below:

The two-year PGDM course must be pursued when individuals have the following objectives:

• They want to pursue a management career where there is endless learning and professional growth.

• They want to study International Business that will equip them with all the information, knowledge, and skills to help them run an export-import business efficiently.

• They seek a better approach to learning that includes hands-on corporate experience, which will help them polish their communication abilities, and numerous engaging workshops, activities that will enhance their interpersonal skills while surrounded by their peers.

It is imperative for the following students to study a PGDM course:

• Students who wish to develop leadership skills, and improve their decision-making skills, critical reasoning skills, and form their personalities through classroom lectures, role plays, guest lectures, business trips, and personality development programs must pursue a PGDM course.

• Students who wish to study interdisciplinary courses must opt for a PGDM course. This course was developed by combining different disciplines such as economics, management, and accounting. Since today's students need a broad range of experience, the PGDM course equips students with the skills they need to compete in the global marketplace.

• Students interested in internship programs and live project opportunities must pursue a PGDM course to get to work on real-life business problems under the mentorship of experienced industry professionals, understand business processes, and apply and implement management concepts and models.

Pursuing PGDM is extremely beneficial for the following reasons:

• The PGDM course has an industry-oriented curriculum that encompasses Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Business Analytics, and Design Thinking. To stay ahead in the competitive and agile business environment, any management professional must have a fair amount of knowledge in these areas.

• Studying PGDM can significantly improve a candidate’s employability. Pursuing PGDM makes a candidate eligible for managerial positions which were otherwise not possible with a bachelor’s degree. 

• Students pursuing PGDM can get very high remuneration. Some PGDM graduates will earn annual packages of more than Rs 20 lakh even at the entry-level.

• A PGDM course will increase networking opportunities. In the PGDM program, candidates will realise how important it is to develop connections and networks with fellow professionals from various verticals, sectors, and industries.

Some of the PGDM specialisations are as follows:

• PGDM in Human Resource Management

• PGDM in Information Technology

• PGDM in Sales and Marketing

• PGDM in Business Analytics

• PGDM in International Business

• PGDM in Entrepreneurship

• PGDM in Digital Marketing

• PGDM in Supply Chain Management

• PGDM in Hospitality Management

• PGDM in Banking and Finance Management

The most popular PGDM specialisations have been mentioned below:

PGDM in Supply Chain Management: This post-graduate management program covers topics like Marketing Management, Production Management, Principles of Logistics, Managerial Economics, Shipping and Maritime Law, and many more. MBA in Supply Chain Management offers an annual compensation between Rs 12-13 lakh per annum. The average annual salary starts from Rs 7,00,000.

PGDM in Business Analytics: QU (Quality Analysis) is considered an important part of any business. Business Analytics specialization trains the candidates in the fields of business analysis practices, tools, and techniques to deliver relevant insights from the data collected, extracted, and analyzed. The average salary of PGDM Business Analytics ranges between INR 5- 12 lakh per annum.

PGDM in Entrepreneurship: It is a 2-year, full-time Diploma program designed to provide in-depth understanding about enterprise creation, enterprise growth and management, encouraging participants' thinking, ambitions and applied learning experiences. The average annual salary stands at INR 5.8 LPA.

PGDM in Finance: PGDM in Finance is a course designed for qualified candidates to broaden their knowledge of financial management topics such as working capital management, international finance, and merger acquisition, among others. The course trains eligible students to become experts in the subjects of finance and financial management. The average annual salary is as high as INR 15 LPA.

PGDM in Human Resource Management: It is a two-year postgraduate course designed to provide eligibility, suitability, and competent HR professionals with sufficient knowledge of business to all industrial sectors. This course includes subjects like Strategic Management, Managerial Economics, Employee Legislation, Performance Management, etc. The average annual salary ranges from INR 2-15 LPA. 

Participants for the PGDM program may be from any discipline such as Engineering, Humanities, Commerce, Economics, Medicine or any other branch of education. Fresh graduates, as well as candidates with relevant work experience, are welcome to apply. The eligibility criteria for PGDM courses slightly vary in different institutes, keeping the main requirements the same:

• To be eligible for admission to the PGDM Program, the participants must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent in any discipline, recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) for admission to postgraduate programs. 

• At premier universities such as IIM, a minimum of 60% or 6.5 CGPA on a scale of 10 should have been achieved at the graduation level. 

• There is no set age limit for taking the PGDM course.

• The bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification obtained by the candidate must entail a minimum of three years education after completing higher secondary schooling under the 10+2 system or equivalent. 

• The applicants to the PGDM programme are selected based on the past academic performance in 10th, 12th, and graduation; CAT/XAT/GMAT/CMAT score; written test; essay writing; group discussion; extempore, and personal interview. Appropriate weightage is given to work experience of the applicants.

Different types and modes of PGDM courses are available that are directed to specific sections of students or working professionals:

The key differences between PGDBA and PGDM have been tabulated below:

Admission to PGDM can be done in two ways: 

1. direct admission, and 

2. securing valid scores in PGDM Entrance Exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, SNAP, CMAT, ATMA

Once the results are out, institutes will release their cut-off. Candidates securing the cut-off scores become eligible for Group Discussion/Personal Interview/Written Ability Test. 

Direct Admission/Merit-based Admission

• Several universities provide admissions to students on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Candidates need to submit the application to the colleges or universities based on their preference and interest in which they want to get admission. 

• Students should score at least 50% in their graduation from any discipline.

• Individuals having some work experience between 1-3 years will be preferred.

• Students can also take admission from the management quota or Institute level quota seats into private MBA colleges with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in their bachelor’s. 

Cut-off scores for entrance exams like that of the CAT, XAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT, SNAP, etc, govern the admission process to PGDM courses. 

National-Level Entrance Exams for PGDM

To pursue PGDM courses, national-level common entrance tests like those mentioned below are considered:

CAT: CAT (Common Admission Test) is a qualifying exam for admission to MBA, PGDM, and other PG level management courses in India. The eligibility for taking the CAT exam is 50% marks in graduation, for reserved categories the qualifying marks are relaxed up to 5%. The test consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam is taken online over a period of three hours, with one hour per section. 

XAT: The Xavier Aptitude Test is a national level aptitude test conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission in MBA/PGDM programs in XLRI and other top MBA colleges like XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI Manipal, etc. The exam duration is 3 hours. The syllabus encompasses Verbal and Logical Ability, General Knowledge, Decision Making, and Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation.

NMAT: NMAT by GMAC is a national level entrance test conducted for MBA/PGDM admissions at NMIMS University and other reputed B-Schools in India as well as abroad. It is a computer-based exam and has three sections - Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning. NMAT 2022 exam scores will be accepted by some of the top MBA colleges in India for MBA admission 2023-25 batch like NMIMS Mumbai; SPJIMR Mumbai (PGMPW); ISB (Certificate programme); VIT Vellore; K J Somaiya Mumbai; XIM Bhubaneswar and many other MBA colleges in India. 

SNAP: Symbiosis National Aptitude Test or SNAP Test is a common aptitude test conducted by the Symbiosis International (Deemed) University for admission to the MBA/PGDM programs. The exam is conducted once a year. The duration of the exam is 60 minutes or 1 hour. 

OPENMAT: Students seeking admission to IGNOU's MBA Operations Management programme are required to take the OPENMAT. OPENMAT is a national-level entrance examination for IGNOU's MBA and PGDM programs. The OPENMAT exam is conducted twice a year, in January and July. It is mandatory for aspiring students to qualify for the OPENMAT exam in order to be considered for admission to any MBA or PGDM program under IGNOU.

State-Level Entrance Exams for PGDM

The most renowned colleges in India offering PGDM have been tabulated below:

Top Distance PGDM Colleges

An international PGDM is a sought-after credential by many individuals for the following reasons:

• The average annual compensation for individuals graduating with PGDM from distinguished foreign institutions is significantly higher than those graduating from Indian universities. 

• Students get an opportunity to learn from industry experts abroad. Their teaching team and guest lecturers have a wealth of knowledge to keep the students engaged and learning.

• Students get the privilege to study in world-leading business centers. An individual pursuing a PGDM program abroad can build an international network of professionals. 

• Pursuing an international PGDM helps to impress the recruiters by proving the candidate’s ability to take on challenges and handle change. Hence, it increases one’s employability.

In order to get selected for pursuing a PGDM in the best colleges abroad, it is mandatory for the candidates to qualify for GMAT and some language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL. The most eminent institutes abroad offering PGDM courses include:

• University of Pennsylvania

• London School of Business

• Harvard Business School

• Columbia Business School

• MIT Sloan

• IE Business School

• Said Business School

• Stanford Graduate School

• National University of Singapore

• The University of Chicago

• The Fuqua School of Business

• Ivey Business School

Here is a list of 5 top B-schools and the PGDM courses offered by them:

Different states have set different eligibility standards for admission to PGDM courses that have been mentioned below:

PGDM Admissions in Maharashtra

Maharashtra is home to the most eminent institutes for PGDM admissions that include WESCHOOL Mumbai, NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, Symbiosis Institute of Management and Human Resource Management Pune,  etc. Candidates seeking admission to the top MBA colleges in Maharashtra must qualify for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test or MAH CET which is a management entrance test. Candidates must also take nationalised entrance tests like CAT/ XAT/ SNAP/ GMAT, etc. 

PGDM Admissions in Telangana

Candidates aspiring to pursue PGDM in Telangana must qualify for the Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test (TSICET), that is a state-level entrance exam conducted for admission to MBA/PGDM and MCA programmes. Preference will be given to candidates with work experience. Top colleges in Telangana offering PGDM courses include National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management Hyderabad, IPE Hyderabad, NMIMS Hyderabad, etc. 

PGDM Admissions in Delhi/NCR

Top institutes in the Delhi/NCR region offering PGDM courses include the FMS, IIFT Delhi school of Business, among others. Candidates must obtain a UG Degree in any stream with an aggregate of 50% marks. Qualification in entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, or CMAT is required. 

PGDM Admissions in Gujarat

The most recognised institutes offering PGDM courses in Gujarat are Unitedworld School of Business, Gandhinagar; Som-Lalit Institute of Management Studies(Slims), Ahmedabad; Institute of Rural Management Anand, Anand, etc. The Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET) is an annual common entrance exam for MBA/PGDM and MCA studies in Gujarat, India, since 2002. Candidates also need to qualify for nationalised entrance exams like CAT, MAT, ATMA, SNAP, AIMAT, etc. for seeking admission to the top PGDM colleges in Gujarat. Apart from these, some universities in Gujarat also organize entrance exams individually such as IBSAT, MICAT, and IRMA for admission to the PGDM program.

PGDM Admissions in Karnataka 

Bangalore is the abode of the most recognised institutes for PGDM courses in India such as IIM Bangalore, Alliance University, NMIMS Bangalore, Kristu Jayanti College, etc. Most MBA colleges in Bangalore provide admissions to PGDM programs on the basis of state-level MBA entrance exams like KMAT, Karnataka PGCET, and national-level entrance exams like CAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, SNAP, and XAT.

PGDM course fees range from INR 95,000 to INR 15,00,000 in India. The most renowned colleges in India offering PGDM along with their course fees and NIRF rankings have been tabulated below:

The subjects offered in various specialisations under the purview of PGDM are listed below: 

Apart from Business Knowledge, Strategic thinking, Brand Awareness, etc. candidates aspiring to pursue PGDM must be equipped with the following important hard and soft skills:

• Cross-Cultural Competency: Respecting the cultural differences and working with these differences is the key to opening up opportunities in a global economy. If a candidate possesses knowledge of foreign languages and an orientation toward working across national boundaries, it can be a major advantage in business.

• Communication skills: An individual must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to convince others. 

• Problem-solving skills: For possessing a managerial role in marketing, candidates need to develop the skills of analysing certain situations, applying proper logical thinking, breaking any complex problem into simpler parts, and then providing solutions for them.

• Teamwork: Possessing teamwork skills is mandatory to excel as a manager because while working for greater interests, it is important that all have to cast their differences aside and work together to achieve good results. 

• Leadership skills: Candidates must be equipped with strong leadership skills. Individuals with great leadership skills empower teams to achieve their full potential, make decisions, and strategize well to help organisations thrive.

The curriculum for PGDM has been segregated into six trimesters and encompasses both core subjects and elective subjects:

Core Subjects

• Macro Economics

• Business Statistics

• Business Law

• Marketing Research

• Marketing Management

• Productions and Ops Management

• Management Information System

• Financial Accounting for Decision Making

Elective Subjects

• Digital Marketing

• Financial Statement Analysis

• Web and Social Media Analytics

• Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Strategy Execution including Economics of Strategy

Individuals can avail themselves of ample options when it comes to specialisations offered by PGDM. Given below is the semester-wise syllabus for PGDM:

Core Subjects

Elective Subjects

There are several job opportunities that you can opt for after completing a PGDM course. PGDM course, trains and polishes the leadership and management skills, which are most essential in the business management industry. The average PGDM salary in India is INR 7.73 lakh per year.
PGDM graduates can apply for job roles in finance, IT, Human resources, Business Research, Business Marketing departments, depending on their specialization.

They also stand a chance in research organisations in job roles like analytical experts, business analysts, etc. In Business Consulting, PGDM graduates can be a financial advisor at banking or financial institutions, or an IT advisor at a technology company. PGDM graduates can also start their own business and become successful entrepreneurs.

The average salary offered to a fresher after pursuing PGDM is Rs 1,60,000 annually. The average PGDM salary in India is INR 7.73 lakh per year. A Finance Manager earns an average salary of INR 9.91 lakh per annum in India. The average pay of a Product Manager in India is INR 17 lakh per annum. Their average income in India ranges from INR 7 lakh per annum and goes up to INR 30 lakh per annum, depending on their experience, skills, and employer. PGDM job profiles along with their salary packages have been tabulated below:

The following eminent organisations hire graduates in Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM):

• Philips-India
• Ogilvy & Mather
• Aditya Birla Money
• HSBC Bank Ltd
• Hero MotoCorp
• Apollo Health & lifestyle
• Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd
• Asian Paints India Ltd
• Colgate -Palmolive India Ltd
• HDFC Standard Life Insurance Co.

The different PGDM Career Options that are available have been listed below: