PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) is a two-year diploma program in management. It is equivalent to an MBA course but is more industry-related and offered by autonomous institutes. People choose the PGDM courses because these are more industry-oriented and focus on skills development and practical learning. PGDM courses unlock the way for flexible career options. PGDM courses cover finance, human resources, marketing, operations management, and strategy, which is essential in today’s business world.
Many top PGDM colleges in India offer PGDM courses. Finding the best college is essential for a person’s career development. Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) Kolkata stands out as the best college in India for its outstanding academic achievements and industry-oriented curriculum.Â
How is the PGDM course different from the MBA course?
Both MBA courses and PGDM courses give vast opportunities in today’s business world. You can choose PGDM programs if you want more industry-relevant and skill-oriented learning with more placement opportunities. If you prefer theoretical learning with a university-affiliated degree, choose MBA courses. Here are some differences between these two courses:
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PGDM courses |
MBA courses |
|
Offered by autonomous institutes |
Offered by universities |
|
AICTE approved |
UGC approved |
|
Follow industry-oriented syllabus |
Follow the university syllabus |
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More flexible curriculum |
Less flexible curriculum |
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Focus on practical learning, industry exposure, practical learning |
Focus more on theoretical concepts and academic knowledge |
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Provide high placement opportunities and industry tie-ups |
Provides good placement opportunities but depends on the university’s reputation |
Why PGDM courses given by top PGDM colleges are Special from other business courses?
PGDM programmes are more industry-focused than other courses. These give more flexibility to choose a specialisation subject with a person’s interest. provides high career opportunities due to its practical-based and technology-integrated content. Below are some key points of PGDM courses provided by top PGDM colleges:
- Curriculum: These colleges replace the traditional method approaches by integrating evolving trends like AI in business, digital marketing, fintech, etc., into their syllabus.
- Specialisation: PGDM courses offer popular specialisations like Marketing Management, Finance & Banking, Business Analytics, Human Resource Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management.
- Application-based learning: focus on case studies, practical learning, internships, group discussion, etc.
- Industry exposure: Industry visits, guest lectures, conferences, and alumni networks help students to get more job opportunities.
- High salary package and placement: Due to more practical knowledge with problem-solving skills, graduates get more placement with a high salary package.
- Overall skills development: These courses provide graduates with not only academic-based skills but also help in overall skills like critical thinking and leadership quality development by encouraging research, innovations, entrepreneurship, etc.
How to find the best PGDM college?
Finding the best PGDM college is very crucial for one’s career advancement in business. Below are some step-by-step guides to searching for the best PGDM colleges based on your preferences and budget.
- Before selecting the college, search for the specialisation according to your interest.
- Search for top PGDM colleges online by using trusted portals, websites, alumni reviews, student testimonials, etc.
- Check for affiliation and approval of PGDM colleges by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Board of Accreditation (NBA), Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
and other global accreditations like AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. - Do compare the curriculum and teaching methods of different PGDM colleges, which include industry-oriented curriculum, internships, project studies, research, experienced lectures, and updated syllabi with trending courses like AI, Fintech, and digital marketing.  Â
- See the reputation of PGDM colleges by searching the Placement Record, top recruiters & Salary Packages.
- Know about the industry networks and experienced faculty.
- Visit the official websites of colleges for the availability of good infrastructure and facilities like smart classrooms, libraries, research centers, etc.
- Search the fee structure of PGDM colleges to determine if it is budget-friendly or not.
- Participate in virtual webinars hosted by colleges and visit campus, if possible, to understand the environment. Â
At last, finalise your choices and apply to multiple PGDM colleges to secure your chance of admission.Â
List of Some Top PGDM Colleges and the Courses They Offer
Here are some top PGDM colleges that have great infrastructure facilities, academic excellence, technologically advanced curricula, the best placement record, and experienced faculties, with industry tie-ups:
|
College name |
Specialisations offered |
Fees(approx)(in Lakh) |
Top recruiters |
|
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore |
Finance, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, and Information Systems. |
INR23-INR25 |
McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, and Amazon. |
|
Institute of Engineering and Management, Kolkata |
Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and Systems Management. |
INR6-INR7 |
TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Deloitte and PwC. |
|
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad |
Finance, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, and more. |
INR22-INR23 |
McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Tata Administrative Services, Reliance Industries, Amazon. |
|
Globsyn Business School, Kolkata |
Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Information System, International Business |
INR7-INR8 |
PWC, MRF, PhonePe and Deloitte |
|
Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata |
Finance, Marketing, Operations, Systems, and Human Resource Management. |
INR21-INR23 |
McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft. |
|
Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur |
Business Management, Human Resource Management, and General Management. |
INR19-INR20 |
Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, Amazon, ITC. |
|
Praxis Business School, Kolkata |
Finance, Marketing, Operations, Systems, and Human Resource Management. |
INR11-INR13 |
ICICI Bank, EY, PWC, Tata Metaliks. |
Conclusion
Choosing the best PGDM college is crucial for achieving a good career opportunity in business. Consider criteria like academic excellence, practical learning approach, industry-relevant curriculum, experienced faculty, technology-based syllabi, global opportunities, good infrastructure facility, strong placement record, and alumni status, which will suit today’s business criteria. IEM Kolkata stands out as the best choice among top PGDM colleges as per its outstanding academic excellence and affordable fees with a good return on investment.