Though most of the work is done online, some programs require brief periods of campus visits for workshops or for the students to experience the campus culture. However, it is not necessary to visit the campus always to acquire an MBA degree online. The online MBA Syllabus is completed in more than 4 semesters and has been designed to enable students to gain a global business view. Its curriculum involves real-world case studies, industry expert mentorship and hands-on experience through a range of projects and internships. For the convenience of students to finish their studies according to their schedule, flexible learning modules are available in Online MBA courses. Students can attend live classes or watch record sessions as and when they like.

This course is of immense popularity in India and it is also offered by the top B-schools like Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Symbiosis Distance Learning, Amity University etc. Specialisations covered under this course include Digital Marketing, Human Resources, Marketing, Healthcare and Finance. The online MBA (as a field of study) graduate can get into any industry that they may be interested in to serve as management personnel.

The fees of an online MBA course range from ₹0.33 Lakhs to ₹20.00 Lakhs in India. Some entrance tests for admission into the online MBA course are CAT, XAT, SNAP and GMAT.

There are some colleges that hold their own entrance examinations and there are some colleges that prefer to accept the matriculation marks and eligibility criteria.

What is Online MBA?

An online MBA is a degree in Business Administration solely taken online. This course is specifically meant for students who desire to study from home and attend to work or other needs simultaneously. The course curriculum basically follows a conventional MBA curriculum with all finance, marketing, operations, strategy, leadership and all other lessons. The only difference is in the way it is delivered with virtual classes, recordings of lectures, assignments and online discussions.

Its course modules are presented through live sessions or recorded lectures and therefore it is a rather flexible option for busy learners. Sometimes the students may be called for a period of attendance to campus when needed for conducting workshops or participation in networking events. However, the majority of it will be done off campus on the Internet. Therefore, it is also suitable for people who are doing a job and cannot enrol into an MBA program from any traditional route.

Highlights of the Online MBA Programs

An online MBA is a postgraduate course for the person who wants to develop their business and management skills while being flexible in their way of learning. The length of the course varies between 1-2 years and for the students the minimum percentage of marks will be 50%. Some may even require working experience. 

Merit-based admissions can be accepted or some of them would even accept admission by entrance tests such as CAT, XAT, SNAP or GMAT. Major institutions that offer online MBAs include IIMs, NMIMS, Symbiosis or Amity University. Fees for the MBA online course as well as the average postgraduate salary can vary with the institution and specialisation. The highlights of the online MBA program are given below in the table: 

Why Candidates Should Pursue an Online MBA Program?

There are numerous reasons why a candidate wants to opt for an Online MBA Program. A few of them include Flexibility, Cost-effective, Global Networking, Career Advancement, Skill Development and Diverse Specialisation. These are as follows: 

• Flexibility- Balancing education with work or family is very easy through taking advantage of the online learning facilities, self-paced courses and pre-recorded lectures. The students can study according to their convenience.

• Cost-Effective - MBA in distance mode reduce the expenses to be paid for relocation and travelling. Thus it reduces the cost of education and makes it less expensive. Many institutions also offer flexible payment plans and financial aid.

• Global Networking - It offers the scope to connect with a number of international peer groups and industry people through virtual events thereby expanding your global business perspective as well as self-learners.

• Career Advancement - The online MBA degree allows getting effortlessly into jobs at senior management levels, leadership levels or jobs at similar levels.

• Learning through Technology - The use of digital platforms for lectures, case-study work and interactive sessions not only helps students get career-ready with Diverse Specialisation - Online MBAs have various specialisations like digital marketing, finance, health care management etc. These specialisations allow the students to tailor their education according to their future career goals.

• Access to top Institutions- Many prestigious business schools and universities now offer high-quality online MBA programs, giving students the chance to learn from known faculty and access valuable resources without having to relocate. Tech-pro-skills organisations look for in the commercial world but also improves the overall learning process along the program.

The eligibility for an online MBA from IIMs is as follows:

• A valid CAT score within 5 years up to May 1st, 2024 is mandatory for Indian students while a valid GRE/GMAT score within 5 years is required for international students.

• The marks of the GMAT focus edition will be accepted for admission to the IIMs.

• Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person which is part of the selection process.

Eligibility for Online MBA from IIMs

The eligibility for an online MBA from IIMs is as follows:

• A valid CAT score within 5 years up to May 1st, 2024 is mandatory for Indian students while a valid GRE/GMAT score within 5 years is required for international students.

• The marks of the GMAT focus edition will be accepted for admission to the IIMs.

• Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person which is part of the selection process.

Master of Business Administration (MBA):

• A postgraduate degree that can be fully completed in an online mode and is offered by many universities.

• UGC-approved institutions usually with 2-year full-time or 3-4 years part-time courses.

• The course covers all the essential subjects like marketing, finance, strategy and Operations management.

• A thesis or dissertation is also required and divided into semesters.

• The online diploma course is conducted by private institutes affiliated with AICTE.

• Similar in content to an MBA but technically it is not a degree program.

• Normally takes 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time.

• Stress Management skills for real life and normally does not have a thesis.

• Award postgraduate certificate/diploma in management.

• Is completed in a period of 1-2 years full-time or 3-4 years part-time study.

• It's like an MBA but not a master's at all times, offered by private institutions that are AICTE recognised and equips managers with required skills and knowledge.

• For executives who have prior experience in managing.

• The study duration is very short, only 1-2 years duration with a weekend/ evening study schedule.

• Concentrates more on leadership and strategy and overall management.

• Admission often requires 3-5 years of work experience.

• Each one is designed to suit different demands ranging from the advanced full-time student to the mid-career professional.

Online MBA programs in India provide a variety of specialisations such as HR, Project and Retail Management for business leadership. Emerging fields such as E-Commerce, Business Analytics and Data Science provide a focus on digital and data-driven strategies. 

Finance, International Business and General Management build up a solid business foundation. Entrepreneurship, HR Analytics and Business Intelligence improve the capabilities of the leader. Healthcare Management is also well-suited for professionals in the industry. The list of popular online MBA specialisations are given below:

Entrance Exam for Online MBA Program

Admission to most of the online MBA/PGDM programs in India is either merit-based or through specific entrance exams. These exams are a way of checking the aptitude, analytical abilities and suitability of the candidate for management education. The details of these entrance exams are given below: 

• Common Admission Test (CAT):  This entrance exam is carried out by IIMs making it the most popular MBA entrance examination in India. The CAT exams sees the aspirants management ability through Quantitative Ability (QA) section, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section (DILR) and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section(VARC). One needs to secure a high percentage in CAT to get into the IIMs and other premium colleges.

• Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT): XLRI Jamshedpur is the one that organises the XATexam which is accepted by XLRI and over 150 institutes for admission into the MBA program. It contains sections like Decision-Making in addition to QA, Verbal Ability and General Knowledge.

• Common Management Admission Test (CMAT): The CMAT exam is organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The CMAT exam is accepted by AICTE-approved institutions. It checks the abilities of the students through these sections. 

• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): It is an international exam accepted by top global and Indian business schools like SPJIMR.The GMAT exam scores are valid till five years. It sees the ability of the students through the Analytical Writing section, Integrated Reasoning section, Quantitative Skills and Verbal Skills section. Now the exam is known as GMAT Focus Edition. 

• Management Aptitude Test (MAT): For the mid-tier management colleges in India AIMA MAT organises the MAT exam. The sections include Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis, Reasoning and General Knowledge.

• SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): It is a popular entrance exam organised for admission into the MBA programs of Symbiosis International University (SIU). It is an examination that tests the candidate's General English, Quantitative Skills, Analytical Ability and General Awareness.

Admission Process of Online MBA Program

Online MBA admission in India is through entrance tests and merit-based admissions. Some colleges by adding graduation marks and work experience while other experience while other universities choose students based on the addition of graduation marks and an entrance examination score along with work experience. Standard entrance exams for admission to an online MBA program include CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SNAP etc. Unlike traditional MBA programs, the admission process for online MBAs usually does not involve group discussions or personal interview rounds.

XLRI and SPJIMR are some of the top institutes for online PGD and PGDM. IGNOU and Symbiosis provide affordable options for pursuing online MBA program. Amity, Manipal, Chandigarh and ICFAI are some of the universities that have flexible courses on specialisations in online mode. O.P. Jindal has a one-year online MBA. The fee ranges from ₹0.33 Lakhs to ₹13 lakhs and therefore the students can choose according to their needs. The list of the top online MBA colleges in India is given below