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.

Part-time MBA Highlights 

Part-time MBA is a postgraduate management course offered for working professionals who wish to upgrade themselves without quitting their jobs. The duration of the course is generally 2-3 years and the eligibility is a graduation mark of a minimum of 50% with some courses asking for work experience too. The selection is through entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, SNAP and GMAT though merit-based selection is asked by some institutes. 

The most popular specialisations are Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Data Analytics and Digital Marketing. Major recruiters for Part-Time MBA students are Infosys, TCS, IBM, Reliance and KPMG. Top colleges providing this program in India are IIMs, IITs, FMS, NMIMS and Symbiosis with a fee of ₹2.32 Lakhs to ₹49.50 Lakhs. The key highlights of the program are given below: 

What is a Part-time MBA?

A Part-Time MBA is a management degree course for working professionals who wish to improve their business knowledge and move up the career ladder without leaving their jobs. In contrast to a full-time MBA where students have to study full-time for one or two years a Part-time MBA provides flexibility through evening classes, weekend classes or online classes. This enables students to work while studying.

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. A few of them include Career Growth, Flexibility, Industry-relevant learning, Networking Opportunities, Higher Salary potential, Skill Enhancement etc. 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 – Courses are offered in the late afternoon, during weekends or online balancing work and study together. 

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

• Networking Opportunities – Meet experienced managers, faculty members and industry specialists.

• Greater Salary Potential – A management degree can result in improved job prospects and higher incomes.

• 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 is 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 a 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 – Coordinates projects, assigns resources and completes within time and budget.

• Marketing Manager – Creates marketing plans, manages branding and increases customer interaction.

• Financial Analyst – Examines financial information, creates reports and makes investment recommendations.

• 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 – Offers business solutions and strategic guidance to corporations.

• Sales Manager – Creates sales strategy, manages employees and expands revenue.

These jobs present prospects for career progression, salary increase and administration in diverse sectors including IT, finance, health, retail and manufacturing.

Top Recruiters

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

Part-time 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 may be on the basis of entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP and GMAT although merit-based selection is also provided by some institutions. Some of the top institutes that provide this course in India are IIMs, IITs, FMS, NMIMS, SPJIMR, MDI and Symbiosis with fees between ₹2.32 lakh and ₹41.78 lakh.

Part-time 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 programs with flexible learning options through online, offline or hybrid channels. Tuition fees range between ₹9.50 Lakhs (IIM Nagpur) to ₹14.95 Lakhs (IIM Raipur). Top institutes include IIM Kozhikode, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Tiruchirappalli which offer industry-relevant learning, networking and career growth opportunities.

Part-time MBA From IITs

Some IITs provide Part-time MBA primarily Executive MBAs (EMBAs) for working professionals to develop leadership capabilities while on the job. These courses are 18 months to 5 years with fees from ₹6.00 Lakhs (IIT Dhanbad) to ₹42.00 Lakhs (IIT Bombay). Premier institutes are IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay offering flexible learning and career development opportunities.

Top Part-time MBA 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 a part-time MBA program are given below: