A Part Time MBA is a management programme designed for working professionals who want to improve their skills and rise up the career ladder without leaving their jobs. Unlike a traditional full-time MBA which involves a study break, Part time MBA courses in India allows students to work and study at weekends or during evenings (for example through power or distance learning). This flexibility has led to it becoming an attractive option for those looking to gain management wisdom, build leadership skills and, expand your professional network – all without disrupting your financial stability.

Part-time MBAs are becoming incredibly popular in India, particularly for mid-career professionals and managers seeking career advancement, promotions or a career shift to the leadership level. With industries developing at a fast pace today companies place huge importance on people who can complement and balance work experience with sophisticated business trends. As a result, most of the leading business schools such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other well-known institutes have offered structured MBA Part-time courses. These courses address industry professionals working across different fields of business such as IT, finance, health, manufacturing and consulting to obtain specialised relevant skills specific to their sectors.

Also, Part-Time MBAs offer a chance for networking with working peers, industry professionals and faculty members to build useful professional contacts. Eligibility for admission includes a 50% graduation mark from a reputed university for a candidate. Common entry tests for admission include XAT, CAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMAT, MAT, GMAT etc whereas there are merit-based admissions in certain colleges. Some executive MBA programs can also call for previous years of work experience for selection to their part-time MBA program. The course fee varies from ₹2.32 Lakhs - ₹41.78 Lakhs.

What is a Part-time MBA?

In India Part-Time MBA is gaining popularity because it assists professionals to develop new skills, get promotions and hike their salary while working. The curriculum is made professional so that the students are able to implement what they have learned straight away at their workplace. The program also enables the students to manage their job, studies and personal life simultaneously and effectively making it a suitable option for those seeking career advancement without a career break.

Why Candidates Should Pursue a Part-Time MBA Program?

There are numerous reasons why a candidate wants to opt for a part-time MBA program. The reasons are as follows: 

• Career Advancement – Facilitates professionals to become eligible for promotion, salary increment and positions of leadership.

• No Career Pause – Enables working individuals to simultaneously work and learn.

• Flexibility – Late afternoon, weekend or online courses mean you can work and mix study with other activities.

• Industry-Linked Learning – Employable curriculum that can be readily applied on the job.

• Industry-Aligned Learning – Relevant curriculum easily usable in the workplace.

• Networking – The opportunity to network with seasoned executives, academics and industry leaders.

• Higher Earning Potential – You may find better job opportunities and increase your pay with a management degree.

• Skill Improvement – Improves leadership, decision-making and business management capabilities.

• Specialisation Opportunities – Provides professionals with opportunities to specialise in fields such as finance, marketing, HR or operations.

• Employer Assistance – Certain employers sponsor Part-time MBA programs for their employees.

• Entrepreneurial Benefit – Provides business owners and entrepreneurs with superior business knowledge to expand their businesses.

Part-time MBA Program Eligibility

A Part-Time MBA is the ideal choice for working professionals who wish to improve their managerial skills without quitting their profession. It is particularly useful for those seeking to initiate their own business as it builds strong entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

• The program is designed to be completed within three years with on-campus sessions being organised in the evenings or weekends so that professionals are able to balance work, studies and other responsibilities.

• To be considered for admission, the candidates should hold a graduation degree in any subject from a reputed Indian or international university normally with at least 50% aggregate marks. But there is no strict requirement for marks for some institutes. 

• Most colleges also prefer candidates who have at least three years of work experience in business, service, manufacturing or government sectors.

• Admission to a Part-Time MBA is typically through scores of the national-level entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, SNAP and ATMA followed by group discussions and personal interviews. 

• Some private colleges grant direct admission through entrance exam scores but can also hold interviews or discussions for the final shortlisting.

Part-time MBA Syllabus

Part-time MBA is a professional management program aimed at improving one's skills and career progression without quitting work. It is not a full-time MBA. Part-time MBA classes are held in the evening, on weekends or online enabling students to balance work, studies and personal life. It is an excellent choice for those seeking promotion, salary increases or even those who want to start their own company. Many reputed business schools provide Part-time MBAs enabling working professionals to acquire practical expertise and leadership skills while still employed.

Part-time Executive MBA Syllabus (Year-wise) 

The list of subjects that are taught during the first year of the part-time executive MBA program include HRM, Organisational Behaviour, Marketing Management, Operations Management etc. The list of subjects are given below:  

The list of electives that the candidates choose in the second year of their part-time MBA program is given below: 

Note: The syllabus given above is of the FMS Delhi Part-time/weekend EMBA program. 

Part-time MBA Popular Specialisations 

Some of the popular part-time MBA specialisations that are available for the candidates are given below: 

Note: The table given above contains the list of tentative specialisations of the IIFT Delhi MBA (International Business) – Weekend MBA Program 

Admission Process

Below are the simple steps to take admission into a Part-time PGDM course:

• Check Course Details – To apply, the candidate should go through vital information such as eligibility, placements, career prospects and fees.

• Meet Eligibility Criteria – The candidates must make sure that they satisfy all the criteria of admission as only eligible students get a chance to apply.

• Fill out the Application Form – Fill out the application form which is mostly available on the website of the institute or program brochure.

• Appear for the Entrance Exam – The Majority of the colleges select students based on their score in the entrance exams of management. Merit-based admissions are also done by some colleges.

• Check Cutoff Scores – Institutes use cutoff scores to shortlist the most deserving candidates for admission.

• Pay Fees & Submit Documents – After selection, candidates are required to pay the course fees and submit the necessary documents according to the institute's instructions.

Career Prospects After Part-time MBA in India 

Job Roles for Part-Time MBA Graduates

Part-time MBA graduates can apply for diverse managerial and leadership positions across different industries. Some of the typical job positions are:

• Business Manager – Manages business operations, increases efficiency and promotes business development.

• Project Manager -- Manages projects, resources and delivered time and cost.

• Marketing Manager – Develops marketing strategy, manages branding, and elevates customer engagement.

• Analyst – Analyzes and reports on financial data; performs investment analysis.

• HR Manager – Manages staff training, office procedures and recruitment.

• Operations Manager – Manages supply chain, logistics and business operations.

• Product Manager – Manages product development, marketing and customer specifications.

• Entrepreneur – Establishes and runs a business using MBA skills and management.

• Consultant – Provides business advice and strategic direction to companies.

• Sales Manager- Formulates sales strategy, deals with employees, and broadens revenue base.

These roles provide the opportunity of career advancement, uplift in salary and leadership roles across domains such as IT, finance, health, retail and manufacturing.

Top Recruiters

The following is the list of the top part-time MBA recruiters:

Part-time Executive MBA Colleges in India 

Part-time MBA is a postgraduate management program.  The course duration is typically 2-3 years and there is a minimum of 50% marks in graduation with some courses also requiring work experience. Admission can be secured on the basis of entrance tests such as CAT, XAT, SNAP and GMAT while a few colleges do offer merit-based selection. Some of the top colleges that offer this course in India are IIMs, IITs, FMS, NMIMS, SPJIMR, MDI and Symbiosis charging fee in the range of ₹2.32 lakh and ₹41.78 lakh.

Part-time Executive MBA From IIMs 

Several IIMs provide Part-time MBA courses like Executive MBA (EMBA) and PGPBM for working professionals to gain leadership skills without quitting their employment. These are two-year courses with options for varying combinations of online or offline mode of learning. Fees:The fees vary from ₹9.50 Lakhs (IIM Nagpur) to ₹14.95 Lakhs (IIM Raipur). IIM Kozhikode, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Tiruchirappalli are among top b-schools that provide industry specific learning, networking and career growth opportunities.

Part-time Executive MBA From IITs

Some of the IITs offer Part-time MBAs mostly 1-year courses designed for executives and full-time working professionals parallel to their jobs to assist individuals sidestep their career or aim higher job advice. Fee structure for these courses is 18 months to 5 years and fee range from ₹6.00 Lakhs (IIT Dhanbad) to ₹42.00 Lakhs (IIT Bombay). IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay are some of the premier institutes which offers learning at ease with agile career growth.

Top Part-time ExecutiveMBA Colleges in India

Leading Indian institutes provide Part-time MBA courses for working professionals to improve their careers while working. These part-time courses take one to three years and include multiple management disciplines. The leading institutes are ISB, FMS Delhi, IIFT, SIBM Pune, NMIMS, MDI Gurugram, Great Lakes, Welingkar and SPJIMR with costs between ₹2.32 Lakhs and ₹49.50 Lakhs. The top colleges offering part-time MBA program are given below: 

Note:- Anna University Chennai also offers a part-time program to management aspirants. The Duration of the part-time MBA is 3 years and the fees for the program is ₹1.17 Lakhs.