What does Distance MBA (MBA Distance Education) mean?

A: Listed below are some of the top colleges for Distance MBA in India.

NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS),
Global Access School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)
Institute of Management Technology, Centre for Distance Learning
Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning
Sikkim Manipal University Directorate of Distance Education
IGNOU
Prin LN Welingkar Institute of Management
ICFAI University
MIT School of Distance Education

Know more about Distance MBA colleges in India

A:  Four types of institutes have been identified by Ministry of HRD, Government of India, for offering distance MBA – Distance Education Institutions at stand-alone Institutions (Professional Associations, Government Institutions and Private institutions), Distance Education Institutions (DEIs) at Institutions of National Importance (Central Universities, State Universities, Deemed to be Universities and State Private Universities), National Open University or IGNOU, State Open Universities.

A. IIMs do not offer distance MBA courses. 

A: Most of the classes are held virtually, in the form of online classrooms. The lectures are streamed live and the students can watch them from the convenience of their homes or offices. The books or study materials are usually sent by post or can be referred to online in the form of e-books or PDF. Students also have to submit regular assignments which are evaluated periodically or at the time of examinations. To take the term exams or viva, the candidate has to go to the test centre allotted. Upon successful completion of the course, the degrees are handed over to each student.  

A:There are a number of specializations in Finance, Marketing, HR, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Media & Communication, Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail, among others.

A: The average fee can be anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. The fees are largely dependent on the institute chosen, specialization, etc.

A: The selection process is based on the institute. The common methods include evaluating the candidates’ profile, work experience, Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) sessions. However, not all institutes conduct GD, PI rounds.

A: For your distance MBA degree to be valid in the work industry, your program should be recognized by Distance Education Bureau along with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or University Grants Commission (UGC). Therefore, it is important to check if the program selected by you is a recognized one.

A: There are both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include ease of accessibility as the classes are conducted online and most of the study materials are available online. The fee structure is also much lower than a regular full-time MBA programs. The flexibility of the program duration is another advantage, as there is a minimum and maximum window period.
One major disadvantage is the absence of adequate industry exposure and networking opportunities. Also placement opportunities are generally not provided by the institutes. Maintaining a proper balance between work and study can also be a challenge.

A: Yes, advancements in technology has made mutual interaction a possibility. Queries and doubts can be clarified during the online classes, or after via telephone, messaging services, voice or video calls.

A:Most institutes do not provide placement support as most of the students are already working professionals. With the help of a Distance MBA, you will be eligible for a higher position. You can also switch industries based on your eligibility.