Distance MBA or Regular MBA: Making the Best Choice

Master of Business Administration or MBA is one of the most reputed and in-demand postgraduate courses. With over 2 lakh students taking admissions in an MBA every year, it is one of the first choices of every postgraduate student. There are several MBA colleges across India, and some of them are quite reputed for their quality education, training, and placement offers. These colleges provide specialization courses in MBA for students from different streams.  

However, colleges don’t just offer the option to choose specialization courses, but they also provide the option to choose the mode of education. It means students can choose whether they want to do a regular MBA or a distance MBA.  

Now you must be wondering, what is a distance learning MBA?  How is it different from a regular MBA? And why should one choose this distance learning programme? 

All your questions related to the distance MBA programme will be answered in the article. So, if you are considering doing an MBA after graduation, you have landed in the right place!

What is a Distance MBA?

A distance MBA program, also known as an online MBA, is a master’s degree in business administration that differs from a regular MBA. In a distance education MBA, you don’t need to attend classes physically but you can attend classes online. The program is recognized by UGC-DEB/AICTE, and many universities in India offer these courses. It is as valid as a full-time course, with students receiving a degree certificate upon completing the 2-year program. 

Distance MBA Eligibility Criteria

Many universities conduct entrance exams to gain admission to distance MBA. However, colleges also take admission based on scores obtained by students in CAT, MAT, XAT, and ATMA.  Also, you must complete your bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognised university with 50% marks in aggregate. Some of the best distance colleges, also prefer some work experience in a similar field in which they are doing an MBA programme.

Difference between Regular MBA and Distance MBA

No.	Characteristics	Regular MBA	Distance MBA
1	Delivery of Program	Offline classes are held, with a fixed timetable and attendance is mandatory for students in classes and offline exams.	Course books are sent to students via post, from which they study. Exams are conducted offline.
2	Curriculum	Theoretical knowledge is given, along with practical exposure.	The curriculum of distance learning MBA is concise.
3	Teaching Principles	Regular MBA follows strict guidelines for teaching, submitting assignments, exams etc.	Flexible teaching principle for classes. However, offline exams and assignments follow strict guidelines.
4	Time Duration	2 years of fixed time duration, with no flexibility.	Minimum 2 years of course duration, with the option of completing it in 3-5 years.
5	Fee Structure	Private Institutions- 15-20 lakhs (or more) Government Institutions- 3-7 lakhs approx.	The fee structure ranges from 30000- 2 lakh rupees.
6	Intake Process	Strict intake process, because of limited seats and tough competition.	No fixed period for admission.
7	Admission Process	Complex and detailed admission process with steps like entrance exams, group discussions and personal interviews.	Simple and swift admission process without many steps.
8	Practical Exposure	Industrial visits, field visits and factory visits are conducted	No such practical exposure is provided.
9	Placement Assistance	Campus Placement drives are conducted at the end of the final year	Students are responsible for their placement and job.
10	Networking Opportunity	Great networking opportunities are provided through practical exposure and guest lectures	Less to no interaction between students and faculty. Thus, no networking exposure.

Who does a Distance MBA?

There are no restrictions on who should opt for a distance MBA programme and who should not. However, this distance learning programme is majorly opted by working professionals, who have some years of work experience. People opt for distance learning MBA for several reasons. 

• Because of lack of time for attending regular offline classes.
• Family and job responsibilities.
• Lack of institutes providing MBA courses. 
• The extra cost of the course and travelling experience. 

Top Distance MBA Colleges in India

These are the various colleges across India that offer distance MBA courses.  

1. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management (NMIMS)  

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a top-tier Distance learning MBA college with an A+ grade from NAAC, offers exceptional distance learning MBA programs. Known for its quality education and student support, NMIMS provides both offline and distance learning MBA options in various specializations, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.  

2. Symbiosis College of Distance Learning 

Symbiosis College of Distance Learning is an excellent choice for a distance learning education MBA program. Approved by AICTE, SCDL is one of the largest institutions for distance learning, offering UG, PG, PGDM, and various certificate and diploma programs. Known for its quality education, SCDL supports its distance-learning students with top placements and networking opportunities with industry experts and recruiters. 

3. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) 

Indira Gandhi National Open University or IGNOU is one of the oldest and most reputed universities in India. The Institute is known for specialised in offering distance learning courses to students. It provides brilliant and student-friendly solutions to every problem. You can positively opt for their distance education MBA course. 

4. Lovely Professional University (LPU) 

Lovely Professional University (LPU) is one of the most reputed private universities in India. It has been approved by the University Grant Commission, Distance Education Bureau, AIU etc. LPU provides a great learning experience to its distance learners, as the university has its eLearning portal named LPU e-connect using which students can connect with teachers anytime. LPU provides placement assistance to its students, through guidance and networking with top recruiters and companies. 

5. Amity University 

Another name in the list of the finest private institutes for distance learning MBA programmes is Amity University. This institute offers 14 MBA specialisation courses to students. Its distance education programs are as good as its offline courses. Amity University is accredited by NAAC as an A-grade institute, and in the past few years, Amity University has segregated itself from other private institutes by uplifting its education standard and excellent student learning experience. 

6. Institute of Management Technology Centre for Distance Learning (IMT CDL) 

IMT Ghaziabad is one of the best B-schools offering distance learning MBA in India. The university is by the DEB University Grant Commission and has gained a great reputation in the education sector, for providing the best distance learning programmes. IMT CDL offers 2 years of Post Graduate Diploma in Management which is equivalent to an MBA programme by many top colleges. IMT CDL offers specialization in 5 courses, namely Marketing, Operations, Finance, Business Analyst and Human Resource Management. 

7. Jaipur National University 

Jaipur National University is a self-funded private institute which has received approval from the DEC, the Distance Education Board (DEB), and the University Grants Commission, and it has NAAC accreditation too. The institute provides equal attention to other curricular activities like organising webinars, sports activities, cultural fests etc. along with studies. 

8. Chandigarh University 

Chandigarh University is one of the best universities offering distance education MBA. This institute is known for its good reputation and impeccable track record in providing quality education to its regular as well as distance learners. The institute offers 4 different MBA specialisations to the students. 

9. Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre (JECRC) 

JECRC is a private university that offers distance and regular learning programs. JECRC is accredited by NAAC and affiliated with UGC-DEB, making it a great choice for pursuing a distance MBA in India. You can choose from any of the 3 specialisation MBA programs, these are specialisation in Finance Management, Human Resource Management, and Marketing Management. 

10.Sri Venkateswara University 

Sri Venkateswara University recognised by the Distance Education Bureau and University Grants Commission is another great choice for distance learning in the MBA programme. Being recognised and accredited makes its distance learning MBA valid and accepted.    

Career Opportunities after Distance MBA

Management Consultant  

After completing an MBA from distance learning, one can become a Management Consultant in companies. As a consultant, your job will be to inform the company about finance and the company’s growth. You have to give better-consulting ideas for the company’s growth.  It is a lucrative career option as one can earn up to Rs 26.8 lakh per annum as a management consultant. 

Teaching /Subject Matter Expert with Chegg

There are several other career options that you can opt for after a distance education MBA. If you are interested in teaching, you can bag the opportunity as a Chegg Q/A Expert! Here you can earn online by answering questions asked by students. It means earning while learning, as you can choose the subject you want to solve questions for and can test your knowledge too.  

Human Resource Management 

Human Resource managers are responsible for searching for and hiring desired employees for the organisation. They take charge of talent recognition and the recruitment process; it is a great career option to opt for after a distance learning MBA course. If you choose this career option then, your average salary will be 12.1 lakhs per annum.   

Business Development

Business development managers are also an important part of a company, they help in identifying new work channels, market strategy, forming new partnerships, customer reviews, etc. This is also one of the good-paying jobs with an average salary of 7.0 lakh per annum. 

Data Scientists

A data scientist in a company is responsible for analysing and checking data. There is a quite high demand for skilled and knowledgeable data scientists. if you have a higher degree like an MBA in Computer Science or the IT field, then you can make a great career as a data scientist. As you will be earning an average salary of 12.7 lakhs per annum. 

Investment Bankers

It is one of the good-paying jobs worldwide. Investment banker helps their clients in spending money wisely for better benefit. Nowadays many students prefer this job as this has a high salary and a good position in a company. If you want to become an investment banker, you must have a bachelor’s degree or post-graduation degree like MBA in Finance or Economics. And after you become an investment banker you can earn an average salary of 7.1lakhs per annum in India. 

Is a Distance MBA worth it?

Distance MBA programs offer flexibility and convenience for today’s students, with the same accredited curriculum as full-time MBAs. Both are recognised by universities and government authorities. Distance MBA is a cost-effective choice, with fees ranging from Rs 2-3 lakh compared to Rs 5-8 lakh for full-time programs. This economical option provides course materials, teacher support, and the convenience of earning an MBA from home, opening up diverse career opportunities upon completion.

Pursue your distance MBA programme

Students, often find themselves in this dilemma of whether they should choose a regular full-time MBA programme or go with the distance learning MBA. The reason is the misinformation and unreliable reviews about distance courses, which inform students that distance courses are not worth it and there is no scope after it. This is incorrect. 

Frequently Asked Questions