Best Distance MBA in India

A distance education MBA program is one of the most popular post-graduate programs in India among working professionals.  The distance MBA is considered an ideal choice for working professionals and people who cannot attend regular on-campus classes.

There are many institutes and universities in India offers distance MBA or correspondence MBA courses but finding out which one is the best for you could be a challenging task.

If you’re planning to enrol yourself in a distance MBA program, we have shortlisted the top 10 distance MBA universities in India for you.

All of these universities are UGC and AICTE-approved and offer a distance education MBA program that is well accepted for government and private jobs, and higher education in India.

Distance MBA is acquiring management education through the mode of distance learning. It is often known as an online MBA or correspondence MBA.

The online MBA is usually a two (2) year UGC-approved management degree program that is designed for students who cannot attend regular classrooms.

Many Universities are also offering Diploma courses which are equally important and helpful in the management field.

With the wave of high-quality online learning technologies, many institutes are now offering instructor-led distance MBA courses that you can complete at your own pace.

Distance MBA has redefined the very notion of distance learning as recruiters claim that the only difference between a regular full-time MBA and a distance MBA is ‘the element of distance’.

The versatile nature of MBA courses helps attract graduates from all streams of education, be it commerce, science, or arts.

Distance MBAs are designed for people who are not able to take out time for a dedicated MBA program.

This is a perfect fit for professionals who are looking to advance their careers in the increasingly interconnected, rapidly-changing, global ecosystem of the digital age, housewives, those’ who are facing any constraint in attending campus classes, entrepreneurs and businessmen, etc.

It shall inculcate you with social and ethical values coupled with professional competence which are the skills necessary to achieve quick growth and success in corporate and personal life.

The minimum criteria to join the MBA program is graduation from a recognized University.

Many Universities conduct an entrance exam for the course and in some, a minimum percentage of marks in graduation results is a must. 

In the online MBA learning method, you can take classes via the internet as opposed to the classroom setting. Instead of physical interactions, you must participate in virtual interactions. Among the numerous advantages brought by distance education, this modality is being increasingly used to acquire knowledge and learning due to the following reasons namely:

•  Flexibility:

The motto of distance learning is “learning on the go”, you will have the flexibility to study from anywhere and anytime. You will not be constrained by any means.

•  Low cost:

The fee of a distance education degree is much more affordable than the fee of a regular on-campus degree.

• Earn While You Learn

You can earn while improving your qualification as a distance MBA will accommodate both learning as well as earning while gaining a managerial understanding of the business scenarios.

• Networking:

Instead of being limited to local networking, distance learning will give you a platform to interact with a more diverse range of people all over.

Below are the 10 best universities in India that offer a distance education MBA program.

1. Narsee Monjee Institute Of Management Studies (NMIMS)
2. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
3. Institute Of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (IMT)
4. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL)
5. Sikkim Manipal University
6. Amity University
7. Suresh Gyan Vihar University
8. Lovely Professional University
9. Annamalai University
10. Welingkar Institute of Management

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) had opened its doors for students seeking distance education with the establishment and development of the NMIMS Global Access School for Continuing Education in 1994.

Since its establishment, it has been offering quality education in the field of management education.

It offers specializations in 10 different subjects to choose from according to your interest area. It has transformed the outlook toward distance education by using a blend of innovation, technology, and smart investments to create academic excellence.

NMIMS Distance MBA program is approved by the Joint Committee of UGC-AICTE- DEC.

You must have a Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized university or an equivalent degree recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in any discipline to be eligible for admission.

Specializations offered:

1. Supply Chain Management
2. Business Management
3. Operations Management
4. International Trade Management
5. Information Technology and Systems Management
6. Human Resource Management
7. Retail Management
8. Financial Management
9. Banking and Finance Management
10. Marketing Management

Facilities

There are many services designed for students to realize their full potential and soar into the corporate world. These include;

• Career Services & Placement Assistance: This is a new feature offered by the NMIMS distance education portal to boost your career graph and help you get placed.
• NMIMS Student Zone: This dynamic and robust Student portal is a junction of all learning and program delivery at NMIMS.
• Digital Library: You can access e-books, summaries, case studies, journals & databases like JSTOR and others at your fingertip 24/7.
•  NMIMS Distance Desktop & Mobile App: You shall access all the study materials and other information via the app on your smartphone as well.
• NMIMS ALUMNI Network: The Alumni Portal has been formed for the alumni of NMIMS Global Access School for Continuing Education to create alumni groups.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is the largest online distance institute in the country.

IGNOU was established back in 1985 to make higher education accessible to disadvantaged segments of society.

IGNOU MBA course is delivered through self-instructional printed course material and multimedia.

The university offers a general MBA and a specialized MBA program in Banking and Finance.

The online course requires you to study 21 subjects. It includes eleven core subjects, five specialization subjects, two compulsory projects, one elective, and one final project.

IGNOU is recognized as a Central University by the University Grants Commission of India (UGC) and Distance Education Council (DEC).

There is no age bar for admission. You must have a Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized university or an equivalent degree recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in any discipline to be eligible for admission.

There will be a personalized OPENMAT aptitude test to determine qualification for the program.

Facilities

• Conducts weekend classes for the students
• The University has started providing placement assistance and has tied with various well-reputed companies

Headquartered in the NCR region of the national capital, the Indian Institute of Management Technology was established in the year 1980 and since then has been a haven for some of the best managers in the Indian corporate world.

It has garnered wide appreciation for its academic excellence through the emergence of its new and transnational education platform that provides professional courses.

The duration of the MBA program is Twenty-four (24) months. However, the program can be completed within Forty-Eight (48) months from the time of admission.

IMT Ghaziabad Distance MBA Program is duly recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Board (DEB).

You must have a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university to be eligible for admission.

IMT Ghaziabad offers the following MBA specialization to choose from:

• Marketing
• Finance
• Human Resource
• Operations
• Business Analytics

Facilities

• Student Information System (SIS): SIS acts as a one-stop solution for all the information needs of IMT CDL learners.
• Applied Case Studies (ACS): Real Life Case Studies provide a rich basis for developing problem-solving and decision-making skills in a real work environment.
• Placement Assistance: The University has started providing placement assistance and has tied with various well-reputed companies.

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) is located in the heart of India’s premier educational center, the city of Pune.

Since its inception in 2001, SCDL has students from all over India as well as 63 countries, representing varied educational and cultural backgrounds. SCDL’s 2 years PGDBA (MBA) is one of the most popular management programs in India.

The major attraction of the PGDBA course of SCDL is you can choose a dual specialization.

Moreover, the Symbiosis distance MBA program is approved by the Joint Committee of UGC-DEC.

Specializations offered are as follows:

• Marketing
• Finance
• Human Resource
• Operations
• Customer relationship

Facilities

There are many services designed by SCDL for students to realize their full potential and soar into the corporate world. These include:

• E-Mentoring: SCDL provides an extremely fast and effective e-Mentoring system for academic support to all its students.
• Virtual Classroom Sessions: In a Virtual Classroom environment, you will be able to attend a live online classroom and interact with an expert faculty via the internet.
• Placement Assistance: The University has started providing placement assistance and has tied with various well-reputed companies.

Sikkim Manipal University-Distance Education (SMU-DE) was set up in 2001 to provide professional distance learning programs.

Sikkim Manipal University distance MBA degree shall ensure that you pursue your career while you study, thereby giving you a distinctive edge for career development.

The MBA curriculum at SMU-DE is a perfect blend of core management and elective modules which is designed to enhance your analytical abilities.

The MBA Program provided by SMU-DE is duly recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Board (DEB). SMU-DE conducts a personalized SMAT aptitude test to determine qualification for the program.

The distance learning MBA program under SMU provides the following specializations for you to choose from:

• Marketing
• Finance
• Human Resource
• Information System

Facilities

• EduNxt: It is an online student services portal of SMU-DE.
• EduNxt Mobile App: It is a mobile app for students to stay connected with the university and study material.
• SMU-DE has a placement assistance program which helps students secure a job after completing their distance education MBA degree program. The University conducts job fairs where top companies from different sectors participate.

Amity University Online was established in 2005 to provide holistic education to students to prepare them for a dynamic future.

Amity DDOE is providing high-quality distance education in management and other professional fields under the guidance of corporate leaders and academicians.

Amity university online MBA Programme is a two-year course designed to infuse high-quality education with a global focus ensuring that you have the confidence to take the first steps in understanding the basics of management, leadership, marketing, and finance.

The course covers the main business concepts in conjunction with practical implementation to develop knowledge and skills in real-time management and business decision-making.

The MBA Program provided by Amity is duly recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Board (DEB).

Specializations in the following fields are available under the MBA program of Amity university distance learning:

• Finance and Accounting
• Marketing and Sales
• Human Resource 
• Entrepreneurship & Leadership
• International Business
• Retail 
• Information Technology
• Operations 
• Banking Services
• Global Financial Market
• Petroleum & Natural Gas 
• Hospital & Health Care 
• Insurance 
• Hospitality 

Facilities

• Virtual Job Fair: Amity Virtual Job Fair is an all-in-one digital career platform where Amity’s alumni connect with top recruiters to virtually attend a live video chat interview.
• Amity ThinkTalks: ThinkTalks is a unique talk show that keeps you updated on the current trends and topics the world is buzzing with.

Established in 2008, with a mission to transform students into world-class leaders, managers, change-makers, and entrepreneurs, Suresh GyanVihar University has bridged the gap between academia & the industry by guiding the students through the topsy-turvy world of business management.

The 2 year course is industry-relevant and designed to help the learners to become employable.

The course will equip you with various soft skills, professional communication expertise, and logical and analytical skills.

Suresh Gyan Vihar University distance MBA Program is duly recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Distance Education Board (DEB)

Suresh Gyan Vihar University offers the under mentioned specializations for MBA program:

• Digital Marketing 
• Ecommerce Marketing & Management 
• International Marketing 
• Investment Banking and Wealth Management 
• Strategic Management 
• Business Leadership 
• Entrepreneurship 
• Foreign Trade and Global Business Management 
• Operation & Production Management 
• Financial Planning & Analysis  
• Insurance and Risk Management 
• Banking Management 
• Branding & Advertising  
• Project Leadership and Management 
• Business Analytics and Intelligence 
• Media and Entertainment Management 
• Mass Communication
• Healthcare Management 
• Marketing Management 
• Finance Management 
• Management  of Human Resource
• Information Technology

Facilities

• Instant Student Support: This portal is dedicated to addressing student concerns. 
• Live Online Learning Sessions: These are conducted by faculty to facilitate learning.
• Career Advisory: It is a highly interactive portal that offers advice, guidance, and counseling on career-related issues.

Established in 2005, to create and establish a versatile and competent Open & Distance Learning system to cater to the educational aspirations of the society, Lovely Professional University has become one of the big names in distance education.

LPU Distance MBA Programme is designed for students who aspire to be business leaders and managers of the future.

The program aims to impart the necessary knowledge, skills, and self-confidence to assist in effective and successful management, within the constantly changing and highly competitive national and international business environments.

The duration of the program is Twenty-four (24) months. You will have to complete the program within a period of 5 years from the year of admission.

The MBA Program is duly recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Board (DEB).

Specializations offered:

• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing
• Information Technology
• International Business
• Operations Management
• Retail Management

Facilities

• LPU e-Connect: It is a user-friendly online platform that automates various administrative and academic processes of Distance Education.
• Virtual Classroom Sessions: In a Virtual Classroom environment, you will be able to attend a live online classroom and interact with an expert faculty via the internet.
• Placement Assistance: The University has started providing placement assistance and has tied with various well-reputed companies.

Established in 1980, Annamalai University has been breaking ground in providing quality education in the last few decades.

Over the years, Annamalai University has turned into a dream destination for students like yourself who want to pursue a distance learning course.

The duration of the program is Twenty-four (24) months.

You will have to complete the program within a period of 7 years from the year of admission.

Annamalai university’s distance education MBA Program is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Board (DEB).

The special feature of the MBA program offered by Annamalai University is that the medium of instruction is available both in Tamil and English.

Specializations in the following areas can be chosen:

• General
• E-Business
• International Business
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing Management
• Financial Management
• Information System
• Hospital Management

Facilities

• Study Centres: There are fifty(50) plus study centers located all across Southern India to serve the distance learners enrolled with the DDE.
• Grievance Redressal Cell: It is a dedicated portal set up for students to get in touch with any problem that they might face.
• Message Alert Service (MAS): You will receive automated communications in message format on your cell phones about admission confirmation, dispatch of study materials, PCP schedule, project proposals, etc.
• Placement Assistance: The University has started providing placement assistance and has tied with various well-reputed companies.

WeSchool or Welingkar Institute of Management Development was established in 1977 to transform students and professionals into industry-ready leaders.

Welingkar Distance MBA (Hybrid PGDM) programs have been one of the most popular programs in India.

The duration of the courses offered by the Welingkar Institute of Management distance learning is 2 years.

It has been recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Distance Education Board (DEB).

Specializations offered:

• Marketing Management
• Banking, Investment And Insurance
• Finance Management
• Services Excellence
• Human Resource Management
• Rural and Agribusiness
• Retail Management
• Media and Advertising
• Operations Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Supply Chain Management
• Healthcare Management
• Business Administration
• Hospitality Management
• E-Business
• E-Commerce
• International Business
• IT Projects Management

Facilities

• WeLectures: These are specialized lectures conducted by faculty that are available online which you can access anywhere anytime.
• Virtual Classroom Facility: WeSchool provides you with Virtual Classroom which is live interactive online sessions with one on one interaction with the lecturer.
• E-learning Toolkit: E-Learning Toolkit provides subject-wise resources such as summary, PP presentations, and skill-building modules for every chapter.
• Placement Assistance: The University has started providing placement assistance and has tied with various well-reputed companies.

Top 10 distance education MBA colleges with courses, fee structure, specializations, and entrance exam details.

S.NO.	NAME OF UNIVERSITY	APPROVAL	COURSE OFFERED AND ITS DURATION	COURSE FEES (Rs.)	MBA SPECIALISATIONS	ENTRANCE EXAM
1	Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)	UGC UGC-DEB	POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMS (2 Years)	86,000	Supply Chain, Business  Operations, International Trade,  Information Technology and Systems,  Human Resource,  Retail,  Finance,  Banking and Finance,  Marketing	NO
2	IGNOU	UGC AITEC	ONLINE MBA (2 Years)	3,600/-	General Banking and administration	Yes
3	IMT Ghaziabad	UGC AITEC	Post Graduate Diploma in Management (2 Years)	111000	Marketing; Finance; Human Resource; Operations and; Business Analytics	NO
4	Symbiosis University		Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (2 Years)	37,000	Marketing; Finance; Human Resource; Operations; Customer relationship	NO
5	Sikkim Manipal University	UGC UGC-DEB	MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (2 Years)	21,250	Marketing; Finance; Human Resource; Information System	YES
6	Amity University	UGC UGC-DEB	MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (2 Years)	1,51,800	Finance and Accounting Marketing and Sales Human Resource  Entrepreneurship & Leadership International Business Retail  Information Technology Operations  Banking Services Global Financial Market Petroleum & Natural Gas  Hospital & Health Care  Insurance  Hospitality	NO
7	Suresh Gyan Vihar University	UGC UGC-DEB	POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT (2 Years)	84,500	Digital Marketing  Ecommerce Marketing & Management  International Marketing  Investment Banking and Wealth Management  Strategic Management  Business Leadership  Entrepreneurship  Foreign Trade and Global Business Management  Operation & Production Management  Financial Planning & Analysis   Insurance and Risk Management  Banking Management  Branding & Advertising  Project Leadership and Management  Business Analytics and Intelligence  Media and Entertainment Management  Mass Communication Healthcare Management  Marketing Management  Finance Management  Human Resource Management  Information Technology	NO
8	Lovely Professional University	UGC UGC-DEB	MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (2 Years)	41600	Finance Human Resource Management Marketing Information Technology International Business Operations Management Retail Management	NO
9	Annamalai University	UGC UGC-DEB	MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (2 Years)	14050	General (Tamil & English Medium) E-Business International Business Human Resource Management Marketing Management Financial Management Information System Hospital Management	NO
10	Welingkar Institute of Management	UGC AITEC	HYBRID POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENET (2 Years)	86000	Marketing Banking, Investment And Insurance Finance  Services Excellence Human Resource Rural and Agribusiness Retail Management Media and Advertising Operations Travel and Tourism Supply Chain Healthcare Management Business Administration Hospitality E-Business E-Commerce International Business IT Projects

In light of all this information, you might think that applying for a distance MBA program is an uphill task. This is further from the truth. You should follow the five-step procedure to get admission to the college of your dreams.

• Eligibility:

Firstly, you must check the eligibility criteria of your desired university. Each institute and university has different eligibility criteria for admission. Some require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum percentage, while others require a minimum work experience for you to be eligible. Some universities also have an entrance exam that you must clear with the requisite percentage. It is highly advisable to check the eligibility criteria thoroughly before you apply for admission.

• Registration Form:

After you have checked your eligibility, you can proceed to take part in the admission procedure. With distance MBA courses, almost all the Universities have an online registration form that you must fill. The registration form is available on the university’s official website. If you are unable to fill the online version, universities also have the option of sending the application forms to their address via courier. Alternatively, if the university offers spot admission, you can also visit the University’s campus or information center for admission.

• Documents You Must keep in Hand:

Though the documents that you might need at this stage may differ from university to university, however, generally, here are the documents you’ll need to include with the application form or attach it to the form in case of online submission.

• One recent passport size photographs
• Photocopy of the Degree or the final year mark sheet
• Photocopy of class 10^th and 12^th passing certificate
• Photocopy of the Transfer Certificate/ Migration Certificate
• ID Proof – Photocopy of Aadhar Card/Driving License/Passport

• Entrance Examination(If Any):

In such a case, you must register yourself for the examination by filling a form and paying the necessary fees. You will be only allowed to take admission, once you clear the entrance exam.

• Fee:

After submitting the registration form or getting the desired score in the examination, you can pay the program fee. Depending upon the fee structures of the institute, you can make the complete payment in one go or you can pay in installments or semester-wise. Many universities also offer fee concessions and scholarships to economically weaker students. You can choose to pay the fees via Demand Draft, cheques, postal orders, money orders, online banking, or even EMIs.

• Confirmation:

After making the fee payment, you will receive a confirmation from the university regarding your admission to the university. You will receive your enrollment number or ID from the university.

In the online MBA learning method, you can take classes via the internet as opposed to the classroom setting.

Instead of physical interactions, you must participate in virtual interactions. Among the numerous advantages brought by distance education, this modality is being increasingly used to acquire knowledge and learning due to the following reasons namely:

•  Flexibility: The motto of distance learning is “learning on the go”, you will have the flexibility to study from anywhere and anytime. You will not be constrained by any means.
•  Low cost: The fee of a distance education degree is much more affordable than the fee of a regular on-campus degree.
• Earn While You Learn: You can earn while improving your qualification as distance MBA will accommodate both learning as well as earning while gaining a managerial understanding of the business scenarios.
• Networking: Instead of being limited to local networking, distance learning will give you a platform to interact with a more diverse range of people all over.

Despite the numerous merits related to distance education and the effectiveness of this type of education, it is also interesting to note that distance education is not immune to faults.

• Limited Networking Opportunity: An on-campus course enables you to meet new people, professors, entrepreneurs, and recruiters and keep yourself up to date with the latest trend in the market.
• You must have discipline: Excessive flexibility is a disadvantage as you might not have enough discipline to be able to meet the required activities without the presence of a teacher to guide and supervise often.
• Limited Interaction with Students and Faculty: The scope of interaction that you face through an online learning course is far less.
• Traditional Recruiters may not respect your degree: Such concerns over the value of your degree can limit your chances of being hired

Which University is Best For Distance Education?

In this article, we have mentioned the top 10 universities for distance education MBA. Generally, universities that are approved by UGC and DEB for offering distance education courses are considered good universities. While choosing a university, you must check how the program will be delivered, what specializations they offer, and the examination patterns.

What is the difference between MBA and PGDM?

MBA refers to a Masters in Management degree issued by a University and PGDM refers to Post Graduate Diploma in Management offered by a private college or university, affiliated by AICTE. Apart from this, there is no major difference between MBA and PGDM. Moreover, an MBA program takes 2 years of minimum time whereas PGDM is for 1 year only.

Is CAT or MAT Required for Distance MBA?

No, there is no special requirement of appearing in CAT or MAT for doing a distance MBA since most universities conduct their entrance exams.

What is the scope of higher education after completing an MBA and PGDM?

After completing an MBA, students can pursue a Ph.D. in Management. Since Ph.D. is a doctorate which can be opted for after completing a master’s degree, PGDM students will not be eligible for Ph.D.

Is distance MBA valid for state government / central government jobs?

Yes, distance education degrees are valid for getting employment in state government and central government jobs. Your university must have been approved by the distance education bureau (DEB) and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Which Specialization is Best in MBA?

The answer to this question is subjective. It will depend upon you completely as all the specializations are good if you choose them based on past education and interest. For example, if you’re a commerce student and have an interest in accounting and investment, a specialization in Finance or Banking will be a good fit for you. You must choose a specialization based on your interest so that you can enjoy your job.

What is The Salary of an MBA?

The salary of an MBA depends upon many factors like experience, type of job, location of the job, and company. If you’re a fresher and searching for a job in a metro city, you can accept a salary from INR 15000 to INR 25000. Although, the average salary of an experienced MBA professional in India is INR 50000.