WHICH IS BETTER: MBA OR PGDM

MBA degree and PGDM diploma course is one of the burning question which often complicates the decision-making power of the candidates. This happens because candidates are not conscious about the similarities and differences between the two courses.Considering the two courses on the basis of:
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Management education in India offers two basic types of management courses i.e. MBA and PDGM. While these two terms are often used by students and even by B-schools, still there is a vast difference among them as far as the certificate they offer. MBA translates to Master in Business Administration, which is a degree course, whereas PDGM stands for Post Graduate Diploma in Management, which is a diploma programme.
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TYPE OF INSTITUTE
Most vital point, every time students have this question in their mind that courses are concerned with management education, then why is there a difference in their names. It is because, under the present education system, only university or institutions affiliated with universities have the power to honour Degree certificates. Therefore, MBA Degrees can only be awarded by affiliated universities or colleges. On the other hand, PGDM which is a diploma course can be awarded by autonomous institutions that are registered by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), New Delhi
COURSE DURATION
MBA is of 2 years programme where is PDGM is also of 2 years programme.
ACADEMIC ORIENTATION
Another interesting difference between MBA degree and PGDM diploma programme is its academic orientation. This means that the syllabus is not that easily progressed and even the academic orientation is more hypothetical in nature.On the other hand, independent B- Schools set their own syllabus for the programme offered i.e. PGDM. PDGM programmes are more practical and modern in nature, whereas MBA degrees are more hypothetical and focus on traditional business practices.
AFFORDABILITY
Another major difference between the two of the programs is,
- Most of the MBA colleges are operated by government. Universities which are functioned by government have lower academic fees in comparison to private universities.
- On the other hand, the academic fees are higher for PDGM programme as it is run by autonomous colleges like IIMs, NMIMS and many more.
ENTRANCE EXAMS
CAT is one of the important entrance exams the student must apply in order to get enrolled into good MBA colleges. Usually different colleges or universities have their own entrance examination for getting the admission into MBA programme and also have different selection process for shortlisting the names of the candidates. Candidates must stay in touch with the exam pattern which may or may not change every year for different universities. For example: Xavier’s Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) has their own entrance examination which is XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test). Candidate scoring well in other entrance exams other that XAT cannot apply for XIMB to get enrolled into the Institution. Same goes for XAT, candidates who have appeared XAT examination can’t get admission into IIM’s.
CONCLUDE
These are the merits and demerits of MBA and PGDM. When it comes to choose the right course, it depends on the priorities of the candidates based on their future perspective.