Top 10 Distance MBA Colleges in India: Admission Criteria, Fees & Course Duration
Distance MBA is ideal for working professionals or those who cannot pursue regular courses due to lack of time or resources. More and more individuals are opting for Distance MBA pr correspondence MBA to further their career goals. Looking at the increasing number queries related to distance MBA and online MBA on Shiksha, we have compiled a list of top 10 Distance MBA colleges in India.
Distance MBA or Correspondence MBA is a popular option among working professionals, because it is flexible and economical. In today's competitive world, an MBA degree is a necessity not only to kickstart a career but also to climb up the ladder in career. Working professionals need to keep up with the ever-changing demand in the job market. After pursuing an MBA programme in distance or correspondence mode, individuals can look for upward movement within their company or opt for better job roles outside.
While a regular MBA programme is of two years and taught in a daily classroom mode, distance/correspondence and online MBA programmes do not require candidates to attend classes on a regular basis, which makes it a desirable option for a large number of working professionals. But what you need to know is where to pursue distance MBA from? Or which distance MBA course will help you ascend in career?
There are many institutes in India that offer Correspondence or Distance MBA. If you are planning to pursue an MBA programme in distance mode, you should first understand what is it about, what is the eligibility criteria, what are the benefits and which are the best Distance MBA colleges in India. Read this article to know all about it.
- What is Correspondence MBA or Distance MBA?
- Who Should Pursue Distance MBA?
- Distance MBA Eligibility Criteria
- Benefits of Distance MBA
- Top 10 Colleges for Distance/Correspondence MBA
- *Subject to change
- Study Material for Distance MBA
What is Correspondence MBA or Distance MBA?
As the name suggests, Distance MBA programme is pursued via correspondence, i.e., remote communication between two parties. Education in this format focuses on imparting lessons to students, who are not physically present in a classroom.
Also Read: Top Online MBA Courses in India
Who Should Pursue Distance MBA?
Correspondence MBA or Distance MBA is mainly meant for people with limited time and resources. A working professional, fresh graduate, specially abled or stay-at-home mother – anyone interested in pursuing an MBA course can opt for it. All that one requires is a bachelor’s degree. The cost of a Distance MBA is much less than a regular MBA programme, so it is a good option for individuals from financially weak background to upskill themselves.
MBA is now a necessary degree in most of the domains and industries. But, it is difficult to juggle work, family and study. Hence, a flexible but quality management degree becomes essential. Supporting the need for distance education, Anuradha Manjul, public relations officer, IIM Lucknow. says, “Qualitative education is crucial. Correspondence courses are convenient for working executives. There is no financial instability for the candidate or the requirement for geographical relocation.”
However, Distance MBA requires dedication and discipline. The absence of regular classes can lead to distraction and students not taking up lessons properly.
Distance MBA Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for Distance MBA or Correspondence MBA varies from institute to institute. Normally, a Distance MBA course is for two years but can be completed in four years. Here are the common Distance MBA eligibility criteria:
- The candidate must have completed Graduation from a recognised university
- Work Experience is desired but not an essential requirement
- Some institutes offer admission to Distance MBA on the basis of MBA entrance exam scores such as CAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, XAT, etc.
- Some institutes conduct their own entrance test for Distance MBA admission
Also Read: Online MBA from IIMs
Benefits of Distance MBA
- Anyone can pursue Distance MBA: Unlike Full Time MBA, Distance MBA can be pursued by anyone, whether they are students, working professionals or stay at home mothers.
- Skill enhancement: As mentioned earlier, an MBA degree has become a necessity in today’s competitive world, Distance MBA can equip you with the latest tools, technology, methods etc. for present and future.
- Time management: Distance MBA allows a candidate to study without having to let go of their other important responsibilities. Since there is no classroom teaching, this mode of education is flexible allows the participant to use their time for studying according to their needs and convenience.
- Cost-effective: Distance MBA or Correspondence MBA is much cheaper as it does not involve classroom teaching. This mode of MBA is suitable for candidates from all strata of society.
- Industry-relevant curriculum: Distance MBA courses offered by recognised colleges and universities offer course curriculum the same as that of regular MBA and are modified according to the industry need.
- Recognised by regulatory body: Distance MBA courses of all recognized MBA institutes are approved by UGC’s Distance Education Bureau (DEB). Check for UGC recognition before taking up a Distance MBA course.
- No loss of employment: Distance MBA courses are often taken up by working professionals because it allows them to improve their managerial skills, acquire a degree while continuing their jobs.
Also Read: How to choose a Distance MBA college
Top 10 Colleges for Distance/Correspondence MBA
Distance MBA is a popular choice among working professionals as well as freshers. Take a look at the table below, indicating best Distance MBA colleges in india.
| Distance MBA Colleges |
Course (Duration) |
Total Fees* |
|---|---|---|
| PGD-Business Management PGD-Marketing Management (2 yrs) PGD-Financial Management (2 yrs) PGD-Human Resource Management (2 yrs) PGD-International Trade Management (2 yrs) PGD-Banking And Finance (2 yrs) PGD-Supply Chain Management (2 yrs) |
INR 62,000 to INR 1.44 lakh |
|
| Institute of Management Technology, Centre for Distance Learning |
PGDM (2 yrs) |
INR 1.60 lakh |
| Executive MBA |
INR 60,000 |
|
| Certificate courses |
INR 50,000 to 1.45 lakh |
|
| MBA/PGD-Business Administration (2 yrs), Specialisations – Finance; Marketing; Operations; HR; Customer Relationship Management; Management Accounting (Dual specialisation option available) PGD-International Business (2 yrs) PGD Banking and Finance (2 yrs) |
INR 18,000-36,000 Rs 30,000-37,000 |
|
| PGD Human Resource Management (1 yr) PGD Insurance Management (1 yr) PGD Retail Management (1 yr) PGD Customer Relationship Management (1 yr) PGD Supply Chain Management (1 yr) PGD Export and Import Management (1 yr) PGD-Information Technology (2 yrs) |
||
| MBA PGDM (1 yr) PGD-HRM (1 yr) PGD-Financial Management (1 yr) PGD-Operations Management (1 yr) PGD-Marketing Management (1 yr) PGD-Financial Markets Practice(1 yr) |
INR 6300 to 2.12 lakh |
|
| Hybrid PGDM programmes in 18 specialisations |
INR 1 lakh to INR 2.5 lakh |
|
| MBA |
INR 1.27 lakh |
|
| Master of Financial Management (2 yrs) |
INR 1.13 lakh |
|
| PGD-Business Management (1 yr) PGD-Material Management (1 yr) PGD-Marketing Management (1 yr) PGD-Financial Management (1 yr) PGD-Export Management (1 yr) PGD-Production Operation Management (1 yr) PGD-Insurance Management (1 yr) PGD-NGO Management (1 yr) PGD-Retail Management (1 yr) PGD-Logistics & Supply Chain Management (1 yr) PGD-Human Resource Management (1 yr) |
INR 64,700 |
|
| Diploma in Investment Management (1 yr) (IU Tripura) Diploma in Derivatives & Risk Management (1 yr) (IU Tripura) Diploma in Global Financial Markets (1 yr) (IU Tripura) Diploma in Talent Management (1 yr) (IU Tripura) Diploma in Innovation Management (1 yr) (IU Tripura) Diploma in Retail Management (1 yr) Diploma in International Business (1 yr) (IU Tripura) |
INR 18,500 |
|
| MBA (2 yrs) MBA (E-Business) MBA (International Business) MBA (Human Resource Management) MBA (Marketing Management) |
INR 57,050 |
|
| PGD Business Administration (2 Years) PGD Energy Management (1 Year) |
INR 17,000 to INR 27,000 |
|
| MBA in Marketing Management MBA in Hospital Management MBA in Operation and Production Management MBA in International Marketing |
INR 98, 500 |
|
| MBA |
INR 54,000 |
*Subject to change
Study Material for Distance MBA
In Correspondence MBA or Distance MBA, students are provided with study material (manually or online) and assignments, which need to be submitted within a specified time period. This is followed by semester-wise, bi-annual or annual exams.
“Distance-learning business education is a resounding success story. In America, specialist universities, such as the University of Phoenix, have hundreds of thousands of postgraduate business students enrolled. In India the total is probably in the millions,” states a leading world magazine The Economist.
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Yes, aspirants can get direct admission at IMT Ghaziabad. Thus, candidates who do not get admission through the institute admission process can take admission. The direct admission is granted under the management quota. Aspirants are advised to reach out to the admission office for complete details regarding the same.
Yes, Amity Mumbai offers direct admission to candidates with at least 70 percentile in CAT/ MAT. Such aspirants stand exempted from the entrance test. Only GD & PI will be conducted for eligible candidates. Besides, admission to MBA course is based on CAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT, XAT, GMAT, GRE or AMCAT score followed by an interview round.
Additionally, aspirants must also fulfil the eligibility requirements for admission to MBA course. A pass in graduation with at least 50% aggregate is required to apply for MBA course. The minimum aggregate is not specified for MBA International.
SBM NMIMS shortlists candidates for the interview process for MBA based on their NMAT scores. Candidates seeking admission in Part-time MBA or PG Diploma need to pass an essay test to get shortlisted for the interview process. Once the candidates pass all the rounds of selection, they are offered seat in the institute.
Annamalai University offers two BPharm courses, one General and another Lateral Entry. To get a seat in either of the courses, students must start by applying for the choice of course. After completion of the application stage. The university allocates seats based on students' merit in the qualifying examination. Those offered a seat must report to the university for verification of documents. Lastly, students must pay for admission to secure their seats.
Candidates can apply for Annamalai University admission in online mode through its official website. Interested applicants also need to pay a course-specific application fee to conclude the application process. The university is ranked among the top three Universities in India for best distance education providers. The University has educated over 4.5 Lacs students in the past and continues to teach over thousands more. Hence, it is a good university for candidates wanting to study a distance course.
IGNOU registrations are closed for July Session. The university will conduct the PhD entrance test on Jan 5, 2026. The admissions for next session are likely to open soon.