MBA Specialisations
An MBA is sought by working professionals looking to advance their careers, change industries or become leaders. The degree can be earned full-time, part-time, online or through executive formats for working professionals. Most MBA programs have specialisations in marketing, finance, human resources, entrepreneurship, international business or data analytics where students can integrate their studies with a specific role in an industry.
An MBA provides opportunities for individuals to pursue specialisations that target a particular domain of the MBA sectors in business, which is in line with their areas of interest and career aspirations. No matter whether they aim to manage people and money flow, execute marketing campaigns or work in a certain field, there is an MBA specialisation for them. The following is a brief guide to some of the best MBA course specialisations in demand in India, such as Human Resources, Health Management, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Aviation, Information Technology, Digital Marketing etc. This will allow the readers to select the specialisation based on their abilities and professional goals.
Highlights
Some valuable points need to be considered before applying for any specialisation or a general MBA like the duration of a course, entrance exams required and the admission procedure for admission into a specific program in any college.
What is a Specialisation in an MBA?
A specialisation in an MBA refers to a primary focused area of study. This allows students to gather the knowledge and abilities in a specific business field. While the core MBA curriculum covers general business and management topics like finance, marketing and strategy a specialisation in a particular field enables students to tailor their learning toward a particular career path or industry.
As part of one’s specialisation, students will take required MBA courses in their area of specialisation, which are designed to further enhance their knowledge and perspective about a particular field related to business.
In a conventional two-year MBA, one might dedicate their first year to studying their core modules before specialising in their second year with electives focused on a specific topic area. This might involve a summer internship based on one’s specialisation but they might also have the opportunity to specialise further in their last MBA dissertation. In a one-year, full-time MBA degree like in a two-year program, students only start specialising in the last part of their course, typically the last three to six months.
There are plenty of specialisations available to opt for, ranging from general management and finance to marketing and entrepreneurship. Most popular specialisations under MBA include finance, marketing, human resources, business analytics, entrepreneurship and many others. Some specialisations in MBA are more in demand than others like finance, technology, consulting, marketing and human resources as these offer strong career prospects and often high salaries. Yet, not all MBA colleges will have every specialisation.
MBA specialisations usually exist in two formats, either specifically as dedicated specialised MBA programs or as an MBA with a specialisation track. On a specialisation track, students probably have all of their courses with other students pursuing that MBA specialisation. On a specialisation program, their entire larger MBA class will typically subdivide into specialisations later on in the program.
Why opt for a specialisation in MBA?
Choosing the right specialisation is important for the student who aspires to take their career path in a specific direction according to their needs and interests. While choosing, one should consider the industry demand, career goals and future trends to maximise one’s investments. A general MBA offers broad business knowledge while a specialised MBA provides targeted expertise for specific industries.
Specialisations in MBA are especially useful for students who have a clear frame of mind and have an understanding of what they want to pursue in their career. Here, an MBA course specialisation can provide one with in-depth knowledge in a specific field and can help them find a proper job after graduation. Specialisations are also helpful in making one’s MBA journey more personalised according to their interests. Even if one has no idea where one wants to work afterwards, an MBA with specialisation can make their MBA experience more personalized and keep them engaged throughout the course.
How to Choose the Right MBA Specialisations
Research: The initial step should be to look at the numerous MBA specialisation course choices available from different universities. Researching the subjects covered in the scope and analysing the job opportunities available to them are the subsequent steps. Depending on the interest of the candidatethis will determine the best course of action.
Explore Industry Demand: To make a choice that will serve to further their career objectives, candidates need to look at the industries in which they would most prefer to be employed and look into MBA specialisations that appear to be in demand or are going to be great in the future and align with their passions.
Think about flexibility: Now, with an MBA field list, the student must select a specialty of choice at the time while offering the skills that can be transferred to other industries. It enables candidates to change careers if they see a better future opportunity in another industry.
Eligibility
The admission criteria for most of the specialisations offered by most of the deemed universities in India are discussed below: - Students should have a bachelor's degree. This degree can be in any discipline from any recognised university. A 50% or equivalent CGPA or more passing percentage is needed for admission.
For students under the reserved category ( OBC/SC/ST) 5% relaxation is offered from the required 50% percentage.
Students can apply in their final year after submitting a no-objection certificate from the principal of their college.
For top universities, a score of 60% or more is required for admission
A good score in the entrance exams is needed for those who wish to get admission to top colleges.
Admission Process
The steps for the admission process for most of the specialisations in MBA in almost all the colleges in India are as follows:-Students must fulfil the admission criteria mentioned above.
Few of the colleges/ universities have criteria that demand at least one year of relevant experience. Experience is important to understand management studies. The individuals can acquire the skills better for their advancement in the future.
Students aspiring to opt for and specialisation in MBA need to pass entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, GMAT and other private university-based examinations depending on the requirements of different universities. Depending upon the cut-off or the score admissions will be provided to different courses in different universities.
All invited candidates must complete the online or offline admission form and attach all required papers, including their Aadhar card number, proof of address, proof of residency, grade sheets 10 and 12 and graduation grade sheet.
After clearing the entrance exams needed by the respective universities students need to appear for the group discussion round and the personal interview round. These rounds are conducted to assess student’s communication skills and problem-solving abilities.
The final selection in the universities is based on the overall score, which is calculated based on the entrance exam score GD/PI performance and work experience.
Results of the entrance exam and interview are the basis of admission into the MBA program in entrepreneurship management.
Document verification can be done by the students before paying the costs and then they can enroll in the classes.
Some popular specialisations in MBA
- MBA in Human Resource- An MBA in HR or Human Resource Management is a postgraduate program with a duration of two years that is provided by the majority of universities. The main agenda of the program is to provide suggestions to the employees on the basic work culture of the company, where they are responsible for managing the workforce of the organisation and also recruiting new employees.
MBA in Marketing- This program is a two-year course that aims to train students to excel in a constantly changing and dynamic global market. Graduating students in this specialisation will possess higher knowledge in digital marketing as well as consumer behavior. Students will be responsible for increasing sales, contacting new clients. Building customer relationships and enhancing the overall growth and revenue of the company.
MBA in Finance- An MBA in Finance is a 2-year course with specialisation in financial management, investment planning and risk analysis. The main and prime focus of the program is to prepare students for leadership positions in finance, corporate banking and investment companies.
MBA in Digital Marketing- This specialisation is trending according to today’s dynamic and ever-changing market. This program educates professionals on how to utilise marketing tools and digital platforms to promote sales and boost the overall revenue of the company.
- MBA in Information Technology- This is a postgraduate course that takes two years to complete. This program blends knowledge of business administration and information technology. Students aspiring to be at the managerial or leadership level at the intersection of IT and business can opt for this specialisation.
MBA in Data Analytics- MBA in Data Analytics of MBA in Business Analytics is a two-year postgraduate course that will train the students to transform semi-structured, big data-structured or unstructured data into actionable information that provides operational and strategic decision-making.
MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain- This specialisation is for students interested in understanding how the storage and transportation of products work. It imparts knowledge about sourcing, procurement and distribution of goods.
MBA in Operations- This specialisation teaches how to ensure the efficiency of an organisation. It teaches from scratch about the flow of resources, which leads to production followed by the logistics of goods. It also teaches inventory management and how to ensure high-quality products.
Career Prospects
Completing an MBA with any one specialisation significantly enhances the career prospects for professionals by equipping graduates with both broad business knowledge and deep expertise in a specific area of study.Specialisations such as finance, marketing, human resources, business or data analytics, operations, entrepreneurship, information technology and many others open the door to targeted career paths. These specialisation degrees can offer leadership and management positions in various fields in the deemed industries across the globe.
For instance, an MBA in finance can lead to career roles in investment banking, corporate finance and financial consulting while a specialisation in marketing can lead to roles like brand manager, digital marketing specialist.
Specialised MBAs are highly valued by employers because of their focused skill sets and ability to solve complex industry-specific issues. Additionally, specialisation in MBA enhances the chances of higher salaries, fast promotions and better job stability. It also allows individuals to stand out in competitive job markets and pursue roles aligned with their interests and long-term goals.
Skill Development
An MBA specialisation helps students develop a broad skill set which are industry-specific and gives students a deep understanding of advanced business knowledge. The core business skills like leadership, strategic thinking, problem-solving and effective communication. These skills are developed in the students under all specialisations.Depending on the chosen specialisation students gain different abilities like after an MBA in finance, students gain financial analysis. After an MBA in data analytics, students gain data interpretation skills. Specialisation in MBA also helps strengthen decision-making, adaptability and project management skills, catering to different sectors.
Future Scope
Getting the correct MBA specialisation can dictate a person's career and create the job market open road to a bright future. Specialisations like Data Analytics and Technology Management are more sought after as organisations use data and technology more and more to make decisions and be innovative. This is complemented by the many opportunities in health management because the health industry is one of the most rapidly expanding industries, with the call for professional managers in managing hospitals, biotechnology firms and pharmaceuticals among others.
In the era of sustainability, Environmental Management is an expanding field. It enables firms to carry out and implement cleaner production. Students at International Business have been able to work within global markets and students at Entrepreneurship have learned to start up and build their own companies. Lastly, Human Resource Management remains relevant with businesses contributing to employees' welfare and diversity. Given the current and future developments in the industries, the best MBA specialisations are in line with the path of industry developments and therefore offer a secure career path for the next two years.
FAQs
Some of the most popular specialisations are Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Digital Marketing, Information Technology and Data Analytics.
Finance-related MBA specialisations like Investment Banking, Private Equity and Financial Consulting tend to offer job profiles with the highest salaries.
Yes, an MBA in Human Resources can be a good career option for professionals interested in people management, organisational development and maintaining a healthy work culture.
An MBA in Operations Management has a broad scope and its graduates are well equipped to manage and enhance business operations across a wide range of activities from manufacturing and supply chain to logistics and quality assurance. There are various career options available after an MBA in Operations Management such as Operations Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Production Manager and a range of other specialist jobs. Its scope also includes operating across different industries, for example, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and consulting.
An MBA in Digital Marketing differs from traditional marketing by applying social media strategies and technology in marketing the products and services of the company, while a traditional MBA equips students with a broader understanding of business principles and practices.
IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta offer the best MBA in Business Analytics.
Yes, in many colleges in India one can switch the specialisations after a year of study. Some colleges would want the students to fulfill some criteria or give prerequisites to take part in any other specialisations.
The prospects for an MBA in Healthcare Management are bright because there is a growing need for skilled workers in the fast-growing healthcare sector. The healthcare industry will create millions of jobs in the next few years in India as well as around the globe. That is why it is a field that is greatly sought after. People with an MBA in Healthcare Management can look forward to numerous career opportunities in hospital administration, healthcare consulting and pharmaceutical company management.
Human Resource Management (HRM), Marketing, and General Management are some of the specialisations that are easiest in an MBA.
