Are you a student in need who wishes to complete their studies without having to empty their pockets Or maybe you are a recent graduate who wishes to keep your job while pursuing a master's
In any of such scenarios, Distance MBA can be your saviour. In such types of distance programs, generally, the university sends the study materials and assignments via post, and tests are taken at designated centres, ensuring a smooth progression in the degree. Moreover, since students are not expected to attend lectures on campus or consume live content, pursuing a distance MBA can be pocket-friendly and time-saving. Even students from far-fetched areas can pursue a Distance MBA.
Are you worried about the validity of a Distance MBA Well, in that case, no worries since all central educational authorities of India, such as UGC and AICTE, recognize distance programs as equivalent to traditional ones. Furthermore, students who fare well in Distance MBA are further offered good salaries by companies both in India and abroad. As per recent statistics, Indian MBA graduates make, on average, 6-8 lakhs per annum, with the highest mark of 10.5 lakhs per annum.
Furthermore, taking up Distance MBA also provides great flexibility in choosing a domain or a specialization. Paired with optimum skills and impressive work profiles, a Distance MBA can do wonders for a student's career and can give impressive returns to the resource investments made earlier in the program.
What is a Distance MBA
As per the definition used by major educational groups worldwide, including UGC, AICTE, etc., a distance MBA is a program that allows students to complete their education and earn an authentic degree from the comfort of their homes, and that too without attending any classes whatsoever.
Furthermore, distance MBA programs are majorly characterized by requiring few resources and minimal interactions for course completion. Students enrolled in distance MBAs are just expected to turn in their assignments on time and take the tests after studying the material provided by the university. In contrast to the procedures followed earlier, universities nowadays also provide guided placement sessions and mentorship from the faculty to students via online platforms. This is more of the reason why distance MBAs are being prioritized over more traditional courses by students.
Advantages of Doing Distance MBA
Like other programs, the distance MBA has pros and cons that should be conveyed to mentees earlier. Students considering a distance MBA should consider their needs and plans before finalizing a distance education program.
Regardless of the minor tweaks that different universities make in their distance MBA programs, a few standard features of such courses that make them lucrative for students are:
Students wishing to be employed while studying an MBA program should go for a distance MBA as it allows them to obtain a degree with minimal time investment. Furthermore, they reap the benefits of being associated with a renowned management institution.
Also, housewives who wish to complete their education from the comfort of their homes without attending classes should go for a distance MBA. They will be saved from the hassle of daily travelling to the campus.
Furthermore, students from marginalized backgrounds who cannot afford to pay for expensive traditional management programs can also apply for a distance MBA. Distance programs generally require very few resources and thus can be a saviour for students in need who want to complete their education on a minimum budget.
Lastly, the universities offering distance MBAs ensure they send the materials and assignments to students via post, mail, etc. This ensures that students can access the material without an internet connection and participate in the program wholeheartedly.
Universities Offering Distance MBA Programs
Now that we have discussed a distance MBA and its benefits, it is time to discuss the prestigious universities or colleges offering these courses. Due to the ever-growing popularity of distance MBA, many educational institutions have now started offering this program.
As a cherry on the cake, the distance MBA is also recognized and validated by UGC (University Grants Commission) and AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), thus enabling graduates to sit for various government exams. Also, the industry is encouraging top employees to go for distance MBAs. This is a testament to the difference between a distance MBA and a traditional full-time MBA is diminishing.
So, here is a list of those universities that are approved to offer distance MBA courses:
Jobs Available for Distance MBA Students
Once done with the distance MBA, graduates become eligible for several reputable roles and positions in private and government sectors. As per their interest and the domain of their opted discipline in the distance MBA, students can apply for any one of these positions:
Human Resources Manager: As an HR in a company, you will be expected to regulate and overlook the company's relationship with its employees and that of employees among themselves. Generally, you will be tasked with analyzing an employee's performance and overall dedication towards their role in the company.
Investment Management Officer: People who are employed as an investment
Management officers must manage the company's investments and ensure the firm profits from all its venture and investment rendezvous. Studying and finalizing the destinations for investments and related portfolio work is expected in this role.
Logistics and Supply Chain Manager: As the name suggests, the MBA graduates who take the Logistics and Supply Chain Manager position will have to overlook the supply chain side of significant firms. They must ensure that materials are sourced within the deadlines and transported to the manufacturing facilities on time.
Like such roles, many other disciplines come under the full-time distance MBA program students can take up per their interests. These jobs also offer interesting work profiles and satisfying salaries. Some of such specializations are given below:
|
Specializations That Distance MBA Graduates Can Take Up |
|
General Management, Marketing Management, Human Resources Management, Finance Management, Banking, Retail Management, Materials Management, Services Management, International Business Management, Information Technology Management, Project Management, Telecom Management, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Hospital Management, Pharma Management, Investment Management, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Shipping & Port Management, Tourism & Travel Management, Education Management, Safety Management, Export & Import Management, Event Management, Oil and Gas Management, Airline & Airport Management, Investment Management, Environmental Management, Aviation Management, Disaster Management, Shipping, and Air-Cargo Logistics Management, Information System Management |
Salaries of Distance MBA Graduates
One thing that makes any job lucrative is its monetary compensation; the same goes for the distance MBA. Students who have passed out with a distance MBA are generally offered a very decent annual salary package. However, an employee's salary depends on their degrees, competence, and skills. So, students must also enhance that through the course of the program.
As per the surveys done by Glassdoor and PayScale, the highest package offered to MBA graduates in India is 10.5 LPA, and the average salary is around 5.5 LPA. Also, the corporate-based roles offer salary as per these statistics:
|
Name of the MBA roles |
Salary offered in Rupees and Lakhs Per Annum |
|
Marketing Manager |
8.9 lakhs |
|
Business Development Manager |
6.9 lakhs |
|
Area Sales Manager |
8.3 lakhs |
|
Marketing Executive |
3.4 lakhs |
|
Regional Sales Manager |
10 lakhs |
|
Digital Marketing Manager |
6.6 lakhs |
|
Relationship Manager |
5.2 lakhs |
The salaries for jobs that are offered in foreign locations are given below:
|
Name of the Job Profile |
Salary offered in USD each year |
|
Business Development Executive |
63,520 |
|
Management Trainee |
45,000 |
|
Business Analyst |
82,000 |
|
Associate |
23,700 |
|
Consultant |
17,000 |
|
Associate Business Development |
32,000 |
|
Medical Coder |
57,100 |
Journey After Distance MBA
If you have completed your distance MBA and still don't wish to enter the corporate or government world, do not worry. Since you have earned a degree as prestigious as a distance MBA, you can sit for various exams that further open up glamorous job roles.
Fortunately, the curriculum taught in the distance MBA is somewhat similar to what's asked in these exams, especially the quantitative and qualitative aptitude, general affairs, management, finances, etc. So, choose your further exam journey wisely per the domain you took during the MBA program. Don't forget to look for syllabus similarities and career prospects later on. Some of these entrance cum eligibility tests are:
CA (Chartered Accountancy)
UPSC (Union Public Services Commission Exam)
CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
Ph. D. in Management
Global Prospects for Distance MBA Students
Some of the MNCs that hire MBA graduates, irrespective of the fact whether they possess a distance MBA degree or a traditional one, are:
McKinsey and Corporation
Boston Consulting Group
HDFC Bank
ICICI Bank
Microsoft
Tower Research
Sprinklr
Amazon
Adobe
D. E. Shaw Corporation
RBI
Blackrock
Alphabet
Mercedez
Accenture
Deloitte
Famous People Who Pursued Distance MBAs
Students who are still not able to make up their minds about whether they wish to take up a distance MBA or not should read through this section. The list below includes names of all those great personalities from every corporate and policy world sphere who achieved great success simply with their distance MBAs.
Their journeys again prove that graduates from distance courses can also achieve great laurels and excel in their careers like traditional MBA-based graduates do. Some of these people are:
Raghuram Rajan
Chetan Bhagat
Ajay Banga
Deep Kalra
Indira Nooyi
Chanda Kochhar
Harit Nagpal
Prasoon Joshi
Avani Davda
Rakesh Kapoor
Conclusion
Hence, it can be said that students should go for a distance MBA as it allows them to complete their education and earn their degrees with significantly less time and resource investment. Also, a distance MBA can be a boon for people from far-selected areas and those with little time for such stuff. Since content is provided to students via post and email, it also removes the need for solid network conditions, which can benefit people living in remote areas.
Apart from all these pointers, distance MBA can fundamentally change the career trajectories of students in need who wish to complete their education at meager costs. Also, as per several surveys, the average annual package of graduates from a distance MBA is 6-8 lakhs. This is a good enough offer for students on the verge of kick-starting their careers. Sometimes, the maximum salary can go as high as 10 lakhs per annum. In the case of international firms or foreign work locations, students are offered up to 6 000 dollars a year for management roles. So, students must not hesitate while taking up distance MBA courses.
