“We need to bring learning to people, instead of people to learning.”– Elliot Massie

Businesses today require well-qualified, competent, and self-motivated individuals to take over various operational activities in a company and ensure the success of the organisation in the dynamic global workplace. Therefore, there is an increasing need for professionals to continuously refine their skill sets by opting for courses such as Distance PGDM or other online management courses. 

A distance PGDM perfectly caters to the needs of working professionals who are looking to upgrade their skill sets or elevate their careers. The ease of attending classes from any part of the world with flexible study schedules and technology-enabled curriculum helps you to gain a competitive edge over your competitors. 

Let us now take a closer look at what a Distance PGDM course is. 

What is a Distance PGDM?

A Distance PGDM or a Post Graduate Diploma in Management is a two-year post-graduate management programme that makes an ideal choice for students who wish to seek a career in Business and Management. The course is delivered through the correspondence mode of study. It is an affordable and convenient option for those students who are unable to pursue education because of certain geographical, family, or financial constraints. 

The various subjects included in a PGDM course include Principles & Practices of Management, Management Accounting, Managerial Economics, Business Law, Financial Management, Management Information Systems, and other related subjects that provide you with an in-depth understanding of various business-related activities. 

Programme Highlights

The Distance PGDM programme has become one of the top choices among students who want to enter the dynamic corporate workplace. The various salient features of the programme can be listed below: 

• The programme has been accredited by UGC/ AICTE, thus ensuring large acceptance. It is accepted by most regulatory bodies worldwide.

• Certain eminent institutions conduct entrance exams for admission into their PGDM programmes. There are also other national-level competitive exams such as CAT, XAT, MAH, and CET, that are conducted for admission into PGDM programmes. 

• The course has a duration of around 2 years. 

• The various prominent institutions delivering a Distance PGDM course are IMT Ghaziabad, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, etc. 

Benefits of Distance PGDM

A distance PGDM degree makes for a great opportunity to acquaint yourself with the various managerial principles and business concepts. It helps you gain valuable insights from the business world. It also provides many opportunities for students to acquire relevant skill sets in the form of project work, seminars, etc. The various other benefits provided by a Distance PGDM course can be mentioned below: 

• Industry-Centric Course:

  The curriculum of the Distance PGDM course is designed keeping in mind the new and emerging needs of the industrial world. The course is devised by working in close association with industry experts to make sure that it is at par with global standards. Furthermore, while delivering the course, the students are provided with hands-on experience in the real-time business world. 

• Networking Opportunities:

  One of the biggest benefits of pursuing a distance PGDM course is that it will help you build a strong professional network. During the course, you will get to interact with seasoned academic and industrial experts who will provide you with valuable information about the business world. Furthermore, you will also get access to the various Alumni Associations of the university. You can interact with various alumni members, seek their guidance and even get employment opportunities. 

• Learn while you Earn:

  If you are worried that you will need to discontinue learning because of financial constraints, then distance PGDM is the perfect course for you. The course will facilitate learning while earning as it offers flexible schedules as well as recorded lectures. Thus, you can study at your own pace without the hassle of having to maintain proper attendance. 

• Lucrative Career Options:

  A Management degree opens up multiple job avenues for you such as Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Sales, etc. Furthermore, you can also pick a career based on the specialisation in your PGDM. Not just this, but a PGDM degree also provides you with opportunities to diversify your knowledge domain as well as skill set, thus fetching a higher salary for you.

• Cost Effectiveness:

  A Distance PGDM programme is an affordable option for students as it eliminates many costs such as hostel fees, boarding costs, accommodation & transportation costs, etc. It is even less expensive than a distance MBA programme. 

PGDM Course duration

• A Post Graduate Diploma Programme in Management has a duration of around 2 years. However, in some institutes, the duration of the course is around 1 year. 

• The course has a total of four semesters, that is, two semesters each year. 

List of Specialisations

A Distance PGDM Course offers a myriad of specialisations to the aspirants. These specialisations help students to strengthen their knowledge and help them acquire specialised and key managerial positions in the organisation. The various specialisations that you can opt for during a PGDM can be listed as follows- 

1. Business Administration
2. Human Resources Management
3. International Business
4. Business and Corporate Laws
5. Supply Chain Management 
6. Data Science
7. Project Management
8. Technical Writing in Business Management
9. Educational Administration
10. School Counselling
11. Agribusiness Management
12. Strategic  Management
13. Banking & Financial Services 
14. Personnel & Human Resource Management
15. Export & Import Management
16. Customer Relationship Management 
17. Retail Management
18. Information Technology
19. Energy Management
20. Insurance Business Management
21. Instructional Design
22. Pre Primary Teachers Training
23. Journalism and Mass Communication
24. Psychological Counselling

Eligibility Criteria & Entrance Exams

In order to pursue a Distance PGDM programme, the candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria- 

1.  The candidates should have acquired a graduation degree with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised university. 

2. In case the candidate has given any entrance exam, he/ she must have scored the qualifying percentile in the examination. 

In order to pursue a Distance PGDM course, mostly there are no entrance exams that are conducted. But there are certain institutions that conduct entrance exams for admission to management courses. 

Admission Process

In order to secure a seat in the top UGC-approved B-schools of the country, you need to follow a specific admission procedure which can be mentioned as follows- 

• You have to register yourself on the admission portal of the college website. 

• After registration, you need to log in to the website with your credentials and fill in the application form and pay the registration fee. 

• After filling in the application form, you need to upload all the required documents such as Passport-size Photograph, Signature, Government Photo Identity Proof, and Academic Records.

• The final step of registration involves the payment of the application fee you can pay through both online as well as offline methods. 

PGDM Course Fee Structure

Different prominent institutions have different fee structures for pursuing a Distance PGDM programme. The course fee for various institutions can be mentioned below: 

College/ University Name	Course Fee
Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (varies as per specialisation)	INR 40,000- 58,000/-
Welingkar Institute of Management, Development, and Research	INR 1,01,000/-
Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad<	INR 1,25,000/-
MIT School Of Distance Education	INR 65,000/-
Xavier Institute Of Business Management Studies (XIBMS), Hyderabad	INR 28,900/-

Subjects & Syllabus

Numerous institutes and universities offer Distance PGDM programmes. Their syllabus varies as per the specialisation opted for by the candidates. Mentioned below is the syllabus and subjects for the Distance PGDM programme in Business Administration. However, the subjects vary as per the specialisation. 

Semester I	Semester II
1. Principles and Practices of Management	6. Production or Operations Management
2. Organizational Behaviour	7. Financial Management
3. Management Accounting	8. Human Resource Management
4. Managerial Economics	9. Marketing Management
5. Business Law	10. Management Information Systems

 

Semester III: Specialisation	Semester IV
1. Compulsory Subject 1	5. Compulsory Subject 1
2. Compulsory Subject 2	6. Compulsory Subject 2
3. Compulsory Subject 3	7. Compulsory Subject 3 (choice of 1 elective)
4. Compulsory Subject 4 (choice of 1 elective)

Top Universities for Distance PGDM

Many renowned B-schools and universities provide Distance PGDM courses. These universities impart quality education and the requisite skill set to the aspirants to make them ready to tackle the challenges of the complex business world. 

The various institutes that offer Distance PGDM courses can be listed as follows: 

• Centre for Distance Learning, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad
• Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai
• Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune
• MIT School of Distance Education (MITSDE)
• Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi
• Directorate of Distance Education, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
• Directorate of Distance Education (DDE), Jayoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University, Jaipur
• Xavier Institute of Business Management Studies (XIBMS), Hyderabad

PGDM Job Opportunities & Salaries

Job Role	Salary
Business Consultant	INR 9.5 LPA
Marketing Manager	INR 7.0 LPA
Human Resource Manager	INR 5.2 LPA
PR officer	INR 2.5 LPA
Brand Manager	INR 12.0 LPA
Procurement Manager	INR 11.3 LPA

*Ambition Box

Summary

Course name	Distance Post Graduate Diploma in Management ( Distance PGDM)
Course Type	Distance
Mode of Learning	Online/ Distance
Duration	1 or 2 years (varies for different institutes)
Fee Structure	Varies for different institutes
Average Salary	INR 6.0 LPA
Job Roles	Senior Finance Analyst, Procurement Manager, Human Resource Manager, Marketing Manager, Brand Manager, PR Officer

FAQ’s

Q1. Is Distance PGDM Valid?

Distance PGDM is approved and accredited by UGC- DEB. Therefore, the course is valid and enjoys wide recognition across the globe. 

Q2. Does Online PGDM Have a Scope?

An Online PGDM has a broad and varied scope. It provides various job opportunities across multiple domains which can be listed as follows:

• HR Executive
• Marketing Manager
• Business Analyst Trainee
• Relationship Manager
• PR officer
• Business Consultant
• Department Manager

Q3. Is distance PGDM equivalent to distance MBA?

Both courses vary in terms of course structure and curriculum. However, if you talk about industrial exposure and practical experience, then both courses offer similar opportunities.

Q4.  Is PGDM or Distance MBA Better?

Both MBA and PGDM have their own benefits. While MBA caters more to entrepreneurial and administrative concepts, PGDM provides essential knowledge about various management principles and is perfect for individuals who are looking to advance in their careers. 

Q5. Is distance PGDM a 1-year course?

Distance PGDM programme has a duration of around 2 years. However, some institutes also provide a one-year Distance PGDM degree. 

Q6. Which field is best for PGDM?

A distance PGDM provides you with numerous specialisations. You should choose the specialisation that best fits your interests and ambitions. Various specialisations offered in the course include Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Business Analytics, International Business, Retail Management, etc. 

Q7. Is PGDM valid for government jobs?

After getting a PGDM degree, you can pursue government jobs under various designations such as Bank Sales Officer, Probationary Officer, Operations Manager, etc. 

Q8. Is PGDM valuable in India?

Distance PGDM holds great value in the country. It is approved by UGC- DEB and is widely accepted at various top companies across the nation. 

Q9. Does distance PGDM have the same value as regular PGDM?

There is no change in the curriculum of a Distance and Regular PGDM. Moreover, now UGC has put both the distance and regular degrees at par with each other.

Q10. Is Distance PGDM considered by recruiters?

A Distance PGDM degree enjoys recognition from UGC and AICTE, meaning that it is widely accepted by recruiters both in India as well as abroad.

Q11. Is pursuing a Distance PGDM tough?

The curriculum of a Distance PGDM course is advanced, catering to the continuously evolving needs of the industrial world. However, by strategically approaching the studies, it is not very difficult to sail through the course. 

Tags: distance pgdm, online pgdm, pgdm, pgdm colleges