Executive MBA/PGDM

Executive MBA/PGDM is a post graduate management programme exclusively meant for working professionals who wish to upgrade their managerial skills in their field of work or industry – to be able to adapt to the rapidly changing business environment and stay relevant in the job market.

There is not much difference in the course content of the regular MBA/PGDM programme and the Executive MBA/PGDM programme. However, both these courses are designed for different people with different needs.

Since Executive MBA/PGDM is designed for working professionals with considerable work experience, it is of shorter duration (15 months to 18 months) and often imparted in part-time mode. Although the fees of an Executive MBA programme (INR 10 lakh to INR 40 lakh) is more than the regular MBA programme, the benefit of pursuing the former is that the employer company often provides financial assistance by sponsoring its employees for the programme.

Over the years, Executive MBA has gained popularity across the globe. Now, more graduates prefer to work for a few years and pursue Executive MBA Iinstead of a Regular MBA, as it gives them a competitive edge. Previous work experience adds to their professional profile. Moreover, top B-schools like the IIMs provide campus placement to their Executive MBA students. The average salary offered after completion of Executive MBA programme is INR 13 lakh and above.

Also Read: Top Executive MBA Colleges in India

Eligibility criteria for Executive MBA is similar to Regular MBA. The only difference being work experience, which carries a lot of weight during selection process. Take a look at the basic eligibility criteria for Executive MBA/PGDM below:

• Any candidate who has completed bachelor’s degree with  minimum 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent from a recognised university. In many institutes, there is no minimum cut off marks for Executive MBA admission.

• The candidate must have at least two years of work experience at managerial or executive level. Work experience in part-time mode is not accepted by any MBA institute.

• The number of working years viz. the work experience varies from two to five years for every institute. The candidate must check the eligibility criteria of the preferred B-schools before applying.

Skills required to pursue an Executive MBA programme are same as skills required for any management courses. Check the list below:

Admission to most of the Executive MBA programmes in India is based on MBA entrance exam scores. Listed below are the top Executive MBA entrance exams:

List of all EMBA/ MBA entrance exams

CAT Mock Test will help you get an idea about the type of questions that will be asked, the exam pattern and marking scheme. After taking the test, you can immediately check your score. You can also download the Question Paper along with answers and their explanations for Free. Click below to start the free online test now.

CAT Mock Test will help you get an idea about the type of questions that will be asked, the exam pattern and marking scheme. After taking the test, you can immediately check your score. You can also download the Question Paper along with answers and their explanations for Free. Click below to start the free online test now.

Executive MBA programmes in India are available in various specialisations. Candidates can choose a specialisation as per their field of profession. Check below top 10 specialisations in Executive MBA:

The syllabus of Executive MBA course is almost same as that of a Regular MBA programme. The only difference is that in Executive MBA/PGDM, the topics are taught in a more focused manner. The programme includes core and elective subjects, allowing the candidate to opt for a specialisation if he/she wishes to.

Given below are some of the topics common to all Executive MBA syllabus:

Also Read:

• What is Executive MBA?
• Executive MBA programmes offered by top B-schools in India
• Top one-year MBA programmes offered in India

The demand for Executive MBA is on the rise. Placement numbers of EMBA programmes in top B-schools show that more recruiters are now interested in MBA graduates with work experience.

At IIMs and other top B-Schools, the average salary offered to graduates of executive education programmes is INR 13 lakh per annum and above. Executive MBA holders are best suited for senior-level managerial and consulting jobs and entrepreneurship. Such candidates are hired by all kind of companies and business houses for profiles in senior management in domains like Finance, Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, IT, Digital Marketing, Business Analysis, Operations, Banking, Insurance, Consulting, etc.

Some of the companies, which participate in the campus placement process to hire Executive MBAs are mentioned in the table below:

Q: Apart from cracking the entrance exam, what are the other admission or selection criteria for Executive MBA programs?

A: Each B-School offering an Executive MBA has its own set of selection criteria for the final admission process of the candidates shortlisted on the basis of entrance exam scores. Some of the common criteria include Personal Interview, Essay Writing, Statement of Purpose and Letters of Recommendation. Some institutes also conduct Group Discussion or Case Studies and Psychometric Test as a part of the final selection procedure. 

Q: The fee of Executive MBA is quite high. What are the different ways to manage it?

A: Yes, pursuing Executive MBA is indeed expensive. To meet the expenses, majority of the students rely on bank loans or their savings which they would have planned for years. Apart from that, there are several companies which sponsor their employees' Executive MBA programme. The organisations invest in their employees to reap the benefits later by taking the company towards newer heights. In this way, it is a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee. However, there is a caveat here. The fee for the sponsored category students is generally higher than that of the regular students. If you have decided to pursue an Executive MBA, you can take care of the financial aspects in one of these methods.

Q: Do the institutes offer scholarships for prospective Executive MBA students?

A: Yes, some institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad and international institutes like Imperial College London, INSEAD, Kellogg University and London Business etc. offer scholarships for their full-time Executive MBA programme. Each institute or university has own set of eligibility criteria for offering the scholarships.

Q: How is the syllabus of Executive MBA program different from that of regular MBA?

A: The course content or the syllabus of Executive MBA is not very different from that of the two-year Regular MBA. The core subjects are same, but the overall course content or the curriculum is designed in a more advanced manner which is suitable to cater to the knowledge needs of the Executives who are at the mid-senior level of an organisational hierarchy. The pace of class delivery is also higher since the duration of the course is one year. There are a fewer number of electives for the Executive MBA students and the pedagogy is more interactive. The case method of learning is majorly used in the classroom. The experience of the students is leveraged in the classroom through the case study and discussions.   

Q: Is there any internship or industry exposure provided during Executive MBA?

A: Since the students of Executive MBA already have work experience, they do require industry training. Rather, the class utilizes the students' diverse work experience through multiple discussions, case studies, etc. 

Q: Is it possible to continue working while pursuing the Executive MBA program?

A: When it comes to a one-year full-time Executive MBA, it is not possible to work alongside - simply due to the dedication it demands. The curriculum and course design along with other campus activities hardly leave enough bandwidth to continue with work. In case an Executive MBA aspirant wishes to continue with his/her job alongside the course, Part-Time MBA or Distance MBA would be a more suitable option. 

Q: Apart from regular studies and assignments, what are the other activities that take place during Executive MBA?

A: The B-schools are known to organize a host of activities during the programme, which includes students' festivals, competitions ranging from elocution, debate, cultural activities, sports, quizzes to name a few. Some of the institutes also organize student exchange programmes which enable them to mingle with fellow students from different parts of the world and engage in multiple activities. 

Q: Is placement process conducted at the end of the Executive MBA programme?

A: Yes, the placement process is conducted upon completion of the program where a host of companies participate to recruit for their mid-senior to higher-level management positions.  

Q: Is it mandatory to quit the current job to pursue an Executive MBA?

A: For a rigorous full time one-year Executive MBA programme, one needs to invest this one year completely to do justice to the rigorous curriculum. One can either quit the job or take a complete break or sabbatical for one year. Several companies allow their employees a study break which they can utilize. However, if a student is aiming to explore opportunities in a different role or sector, it is best to quit and then pursue the program.

Q: Would it be better to go back to the previous organization after program completion or look for newer avenues?

A: This would depend on the student's growth prospect in the organisation vis-a-vis the overall career aspiration he/she has. If the organisation has sponsored the programme and expects the employee to re-join after the course completion with higher responsibilities, it would be the best decision for both the employer and employee's interest to go back to the organization with new skillsets and learning post the program completion. In case the organisation has not sponsored the programme, yet the employer has a better growth opportunity in terms of learning as well as contributing, it would be an ideal scenario to resume services in the organisation from where he/she came. On the other hand, if one plans to take his/her career to another direction, by exploring a new sector or role - then appearing for the placement process and getting recruited to a company of the chosen sector/industry would be the best option. 

Q: Do MBA institutes provide accommodation for family members as well?

A: Since most of the students have a considerable amount of work experience, it would be quite natural for the students to have started their own families. Hence, several colleges offer family accommodation for the students. A lot of students stay and study on the campus in the company of their spouse and children. However, in scenarios where the family is unable to relocate, the students take single accommodation. In fact, some of the top colleges for Executive MBA in India have guest house provision for the students' family members. It may be noted that the hostel accommodation for the Executive MBA students is different from that of the two-year full-time MBA students.