Distance MBA (MBA Distance Education)

What is Distance MBA?

Distance MBA degree is a postgraduate course pursued by students who have completed their bachelors in business administration or any other specialization. A lot of open universities like Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), NMIMS and School of Open Learning, Delhi University (SOL DU) amongst others are offering students the opportunity to study MBA (Masters of Business Administration) in a distant manner. Distance MBA degree is for students who are working or have a busy schedule, who are financially constrained, cannot obtain a valid score in entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT. or cannot pursue a full-time MBA programme.

One big advantage to pursue MBA via correspondence is that the students will not have to alter their professional timings or have their professional lives affected by the programme. Both of them can be managed simultaneously and the aspirants do not have to divide their time in pursuing the programme. In this article by Careers360, we will be discussing the types of MBA programme specializations that are offered by various institutes, the eligibility criteria, admissions, syllabus, salary, careers opportunities, and frequently asked questions related to distance MBA degree.
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Distance MBA Highlights

Students who have completed their graduation in any discipline and in any specialization. Distance MBA degree is a two-year programme which is conducted via online sessions, video conferencing and other such ways. Following is a table wherein more information is given.

Advantages of Distance MBA Degree

One big advantage to pursue MBA via correspondence is that the students will not have to alter their professional timings or have their professional lives affected by the programme. Both of them can be managed simultaneously and the aspirants do not have to divide their time in pursuing the programme. In this article by Careers360, we will be discussing the types of MBA programme specializations that are offered by various institutes, the eligibility criteria, admissions, syllabus, salary, careers opportunities, and frequently asked questions related to distance MBA.

Benefits of Distance MBA Degree

Distance education MBA is less popular than a regular MBA. There are a lot of benefits of pursuing an MBA in a distanced manner.

Time Management: There is a flexibility of time in distance MBA as compared to a regular MBA. People who are working can easily manage to pursue their MBA too, with the help of distance MBA.

Saves Time and Money: Through distance MBA, the students will not have to travel from one place to another which eventually helps them to save money and time. The time saved can be used in practising more or to prepare for the semester exams. In case a student finds any doubt, then it can easily be cleared out by calling the professors or by dropping them a message.

Less Expensive: The distance MBA degree programme is less expensive than the regular MBA programmes because of which the students can easily pursue the programme without having to think too much about the fees.

Technological Studying: Students need not carry heavy books and other such items to study. Instead, all the necessary study materials and other books are available on the official website or are sent to the students via email. The study materials are kept in an organised and systematic manner so that the students will not have to jump through every other book to find the current and on-going topic/page.

Do not have to Quit Job: One of the biggest advantages of distance MBA degree is that the students will not have to quit their job in order to MBA. they can study and at the same time, earn money. After they have completed their MBA course, they can find another job or can be placed by the institute or university, itself.

What type of degree is Distance MBA

Distance MBA degree is a postgraduate distance-education programme offered to students who have completed their bachelors in any discipline. There are different types of distance learning for the MBA programme. Each of them has its own advantages. Check below to know about the types of MBA distance learning.

• Video Conferencing: This is the type of distance learning wherein the students attend classes in a video call way. These calls can be in groups or in an individual manner. On one side of the video call, there will be the educators/professors, and on the other the side of the video call, the students will be there. Video conferencing is like attending the classes in digital mode.

• Hybrid Distance Education: This type of education means that the students have to follow a specific deadline to complete their work. Students are permitted to complete assignments on their own time and submit those assignments online.

Distance MBA Degree Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are admitted to the distance MBA degree programme based on their performance in graduation, wherein in regular and full-time MBA programme’s eligibility criteria, the candidates should have a valid score in XAT, CAT, MAT, CMAT. But in some institutions, an entrance exam is conducted at an institute level. Let us look at the eligibility criteria of various institutes/universities that provide distance education for MBA programme.

The common eligibility criteria for the distance MBA degree programme is that the candidates should be holding a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

IGNOU:

• The candidates must be a graduate and should have scored at least 50 per cent marks in their graduation (45 per cent marks for reserved category candidates).

• Candidates should have passed the OPENMAT examination (which is conducted by the National Testing Agency).

• There is no age limit for admission to the MBA programme offered by IGNOU

SOL DU:

• Candidates must be holding a bachelor’s degree with at least 50 per cent marks from any recognized university.

• The candidates must also have a valid CAT score.

• Candidates who are in their final year are also eligible to apply for the programme.

Amity University:

• Candidates seeking admission in the distance MBA programme at Amity University must be holding a bachelor’s degree in a discipline and from a recognised university/institute.

Distance MBA Admission

The admission to the distance MBA programme is done on the basis of the respective candidates’ performance in their graduation and in entrance examinations (in some institutes or universities). To get admission to the distance MBA programme, the candidates must note that they have read the eligibility criteria before filling up the application form because candidates who do not fulfil the eligibility criteria may lose their candidature.

Candidates must also note that they have to submit the application form within the stipulated period of time otherwise their application form will not be taken into consideration and/or will be cancelled.

After checking the eligibility criteria, the candidates have to fill the application form and have to thoroughly check it before submitting it so that no mistakes are found.

Candidates must also pay the requisite amount of application fee which is important as candidates who do not pay the fee will not be eligible for admission to the distance MBA programme.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview (if any) or will be given direct admission.

Top Distance MBA Exams

Since it is a distance education MBA programme there are no entrance examinations conducted. The admission is granted based on the student’s performance in his or her graduation programme. Some distance MBA courses available are:

Top Distance MBA Courses

• Corporate management

• General management

• E-Business

• Family business management

• Retail Management

• Logistics and supply chain management

• Technology management

• Health care management

• Agriculture Business Management

• Operations management

• Banking and finance

• Information system management

Distance MBA Specializations

Most of the universities/institutes offer various specializations like financial management, retail management, marketing management, baking and finance. Check the list below to know specializations offered by the universities and institutes.

• Financial management: In this specialization, the students learn about planning, organizing, directing and controlling the financial activities of an enterprise.

• Human resource management: Also known as HRM is preferred by students as it strives for a strategic approach to the effective management of people in a company to gain advantages.

• Marketing management: In this subject, the students are taught about “planning, organising, controlling and implementing marketing programmes, policies, strategies and tactics designed to create and satisfy the demand for the firms' product offerings or services as a means of generating an acceptable profit”.

• Education Management: In this field, the students learn about the operation of educational organizations and the process of planning, organizing and directing activities in a school.

• Hospital management: This is a field wherein the students learn about leadership, management, and administration of public health systems, health care systems in all three sectors.

Some other specializations offered in distance MBA are:

• Marketing
• Finance
• General Management
• Human Resources
• Operations
• Retail
• International Business
• Customer Relationship Management
• Material, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Healthcare
• Telecom
• Insurance Management
• Business Administration
• Insurance Management

Distance MBA Programme Fees

The fees of the MBA distance education of various universities/institutes are mentioned below in the table.

Distance MBA Syllabus

The syllabus of MBA distance education is not very different from the regular, full-time MBA programme. In the following list, the aspirants can check the syllabus of distance MBA programme. The syllabus is common in all universities/institutes.

• Principles and Practice of Management

• Management Economics

• Organisational Behaviour

• Business Law

• Management Accounting

• Production/Operation Management

• Financial Management

• Human Resource Management

• Marketing Management

• Marketing Management

• Management Information system

• Required Specialisations

• Electives

Distance MBA Scope

The scope of having a distance MBA qualification is no less than having a regular MBA degree. If candidates have put in the right efforts to gain the distance MBA degree then they have gathered all the necessary managerial skills. Apart from the managerial skills, the candidates also get a decent salary package that starts from Rs 1.6 lakhs a year. There is upliftment in career growth as the MBA degree will boost career opportunities. Candidates will incorporate a managerial attitude and will know how to manage time. An innovative viewpoint will also be assimilated in a candidate.

Careers Opportunities after Distance MBA

There are a lot of career opportunities that can be grabbed by the candidates after they have completed their distance MBA degree. the candidates get job opportunities from huge companies like Accenture, HDFC Bank, KPMG, Capgemini and other such companies. Not only job opportunities, candidates can also start their own business as they have gained all the necessary knowledge and skills to start an enterprise. Students who have pursued MBA in distance manner can have job profiles like human resources (HR) manager, marketing manager, operations manager, business development manager, human resources (HR) generalist, senior business analyst.

Distance MBA from IIMs in India: Fees

Check the fee structure of distance learning MBA from IIM