MBA - Full Form, Courses, Top Colleges, Syllabus, Admission, Fees, Exams, Jobs
What is an MBA?
MBA or Master of Business Administration is a two-year full-time degree programme that deals with various general management and business practices based on real-world issues. An MBA degree is one of the most popular and sought-after higher management education options, especially for those who want to get into a managerial role. Those who complete their MBA programme are some of the top earners in the management sector. Having a management degree also paves way for those who are interested in rising to the topmost position in the company. MBA admission in India is based on a student's academic and professional profile in addition to MBA entrance exams and GD-PI rounds.

Although not compulsory, a majority of students who pursue MBA course have done BBA in under graduation. Candidates who have completed their bachelor’s degree or are in their final year of it are also eligible to apply for MBA degree admission in India. However, foreign universities require at least three to five years of experience when it comes to an MBA degree admission. MBA degree graduates are welcomed across private as well as public sectors. There are various types of MBA specialisations available for students belonging to different fields.
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What is the full form of MBA?
The full form of MBA in English is Master of Business Administration. There are various types of MBA courses such as part-time MBA, online MBA, distance MBA, and executive MBA. In addition to this, an MBA degree also offers various specializations such as Human Resource Management, Sales and Marketing, Business Analytics, IT Management, and more.
MBA Full Form in Hindi:
The full form of MBA in Hindi is मास्टर ऑफ बिजनेस एडमिनिस्ट्रेशन । हिंदी में इसका मीनिंग व्यवसाय प्रबंधन में स्नातकोत्तर भी होता है।
Fee Structure of MBA degree
The MBA fee structure varies for every MBA college in India. Generally, private MBA colleges in India charge more fees than government MBA colleges. The fee structure of an MBA degree is decided on the basis of resources being invested during the MBA course duration such as hostel facilities, mess, study material, student exchange programmes, and industrial visits.
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However, the average fee structure of an MBA degree for top MBA colleges such as IIMs, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon is around Rs 20 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh for the entire course. Additionally, other government MBA colleges in India charge minimal average fees of around Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh per annum.
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Why choose MBA?
MBA degree is a popular master's degree programmes in the field of commerce, business, and management. The MBA degree offers various specialisations that are flexible and can be pursued by freshers as well as working professionals. The average MBA salary of graduates in India from tier-1 MBA colleges such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, MDI Gurgaon, and FMS Delhi is around Rs 20 lakh per annum. Corporate and business organisations have a huge vacancy for MBA jobs. Pursuing an MBA degree in India is a gateway to a plethora of employment opportunities.
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Eligibility Criteria for MBA
The MBA eligibility criteria vary for every MBA college in India and depend on the type of MBA courses one chooses to pursue. However, some of the common eligibility criteria for all types of MBA courses are mentioned below:
Candidates must have completed their bachelor’s degree or be in their final year of bachelor’s degree from any stream constituting a minimum duration of three years.
Some of the popular bachelor's degree programmes are B.Tech, B.Sc, BA, BBA, B.Com.
Candidates must have scored at least 50 percent aggregate throughout their bachelor’s degree. (60 per cent in case of IIMs).
Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 60 percent score in their class 12 final exams from a recognised board of India.
Candidates must clear the entrance examination with the required MBA cutoff as specified by the MBA colleges.
Skills required for MBA
After completing an MBA degree, a candidate is expected to work as a manager for companies. In order to be successful, the candidate should have the necessary skills and qualities to be a leader. Some of the essential skills required by MBA candidates are discussed below:
Managerial skills: A candidate with an MBA course should have the necessary managerial skills to handle multiple assignments and responsibilities. Good managerial skills are necessary for successful management as the person is required to undertake several tasks in a leadership role.
Learning Skills: MBA is a degree programme that requires students to keep up to date with the latest business developments. The MBA degree requires students to maintain a level of learning and remain up-to-date with the latest business developments.
Analytical Skills: Aside from business, an MBA course also includes analytical skills. In order to make sense of the huge amounts of data that are being collected by businesses, candidates should have the necessary data interpretation skills.
Communication skills: Aside from being able to communicate clearly and confidently, candidates also need to possess a good understanding of rules and regulations in order to perform their duties effectively. MBA degree requires students to have clear and concise verbal, written communication skills.
Decision-making skills: A successful MBA candidate must be able to make decisions according to the business's best interests. An MBA candidate must be able to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
Difference between MBA and PGDM
For a layman, the difference between MBA and PGDM can be a little difficult to understand. At first glance both might look the same as well in terms of curriculum and value addition, however, there are certain differences between the two. The primary distinction is that MBA is a degree and a PGDM is a Diploma course. Secondly, PGDM programme is offered by stand-alone institutions or autonomous bodies, whereas MBA is offered by universities or colleges affiliated to universities. If we discuss the duration, an MBA programme is for two years divided into four semesters, whereas a PGDM programme can be anything between one year to two and a half years. These are the primary differences between MBA and PGDM. To know the differences in detail you can read Career360’s article on the difference between PGDM and MBA.
MBA Admission Process
Most of the time, admission to MBA is provided to business schools in India on the basis of entrance exams. However, some of these schools prefer to conduct their own entrance exams and offer admission on the basis of scores.
MBA Admission on the basis of merit
The admission to MBA programs in private and public universities is based on the level of examination held by the relevant state or national organizations. This MBA admission process is carried out entirely on the basis of entrance exams.
MBA Admission on the basis of entrance examination
All the eligible candidates who are interested in pursuing MBA courses and programmes in India need to qualify for the entrance exams depending on the institute they are applying to. They also have to go through various screening and interview procedures before they are selected.
National Entrance Test: There are many entrance exams that are conducted at the National level for MBA admission. Some of the top national-level MBA entrance exams are CAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT, IIFT.
University Entrance Test: Some of the reputed MBA colleges conduct various tests at the university level for the admission of their students. Such University level tests are NMAT/NMIMS, CUSAT, SNAP, IPU CET, and more.
MBA Entrance Exams
Common Admission Test (CAT):
The Common Admissions Test or CAT is one of the largest management entrance examinations conducted in India by one of the IIM(s) for MBA admission. The top MBA colleges in India require students to appear in the CAT examination in order to take admission to their institutions. Best colleges for MBA generally ask for a CAT score at the time of admission. Candidates can find below relevant CAT details mentioned in the table below:
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NMAT (Narsee Monjee Admission Test):
The NMAT examination is a university-level management entrance test conducted by GMAC on behalf of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. Candidates who clear the NMAT exam, followed by group discussion and personal interview are offered MBA admission to NMIMS. The relevant NMAT details are mentioned below in the table:
XAT (Xavier’s Aptitude Test)
XAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance examinations accepted by almost 170 institutions for MBA admission. Some of the best colleges in India accept XAT scores. The XAT exam is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur in order to provide MBA admission to various types of MBA courses. The relevant XAT details are mentioned below in the table:
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)
SNAP or Symbiosis National Aptitude Online Test is a national-level online examination conducted by Symbiosis University. Candidates who qualify the entrance examination along with group discussion and personal interviews are offered MBA admission to one of the 16 symbiosis colleges. The relevant SNAP details are mentioned below in the table:
IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade is considered one of the best colleges for MBA and conducts a national level yearly entrance examination for admission to three specializations offered by the institute. Candidates who qualify for the examination along with group discussion and personal interviews are offered admission to IIFT, New Delhi. The relevant IIFT details are mentioned below in the table:
MBA Cutoff
The MBA cut-offs are released for every MBA college after the admission process is over. The details of the cut-offs are also mentioned in the batch profile and the category and specialisation wise rankings. The batch profile of MBA degree programmes includes various factors such as students' academic background, average age, and more. Below is the list of top MBA colleges in India. You can also see their cut-off details.
Name of Institute | Cutoff (CAT, XAT) |
80 percentile | |
85 percentile | |
80 percentile | |
90 percentile | |
90 percentile | |
85 percentile | |
90 percentile | |
90 percentile | |
94 percentile | |
95 percentile |
State-level MBA Admission
In addition to national-level entrance examinations, various states also conduct their own management entrance test for MBA admission. Qualifying candidates can take admission in any of the participating colleges across the state. Some of the top State-level exams include MAH MBA CET, OJEE MBA, TANCET, APICET, KMAT, and more.
Top MBA colleges with Popular MBA Exams:
Various MBA colleges in India conduct multiple entrance examinations for their students. Several MBA colleges in India accept multiple entrance examinations depending on the eligibility criteria and entrance requirement.
Institutions | MBA Exam |
IIM Ahmedabad | CAT |
XLRI Jamshedpur | XAT |
Symbiosis University | SNAP |
NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT |
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade | IIFT |
IIM Bangalore | CAT |
UPES Dehradun | CAT |
IBS Hyderabad | CAT |
FMS Delhi | CAT |
Woxsen School of Business | XAT |
Browse Best MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Location-Wise
Browse Top MBA Colleges By Location:
There are various best colleges for MBA in India which offer quality education and top specialisations according to the candidate’s interest. Some of these colleges are popular due to their prime location and close proximity to industrial and business corporations. You may browse these colleges by locations as mentioned below:
MBA Syllabus
The regular MBA course is basically of two-year duration which is divided into four semesters that includes an internship as well. Listed below are semester-wise MBA subjects for a regular MBA programme:
Semester 1
Business Communication | |
Organisational Behaviour | Human Resource Management |
Computer Applications & Management Information System | Quantitative Methods |
Financial Accounting |
Semester 2
Business Research Methods | |
Management Science | Management Accounting |
Economic Environment of Business | Production Operations and SCM |
Organization Effectiveness and Change | Legal Aspects of Business |
Semester 3
Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility | Strategic Analysis |
Elective Course II | Elective Course I |
Legal Environment of Business | |
Elective Course III | Elective Course IV |
Semester 4
Corporate Governance | Entrepreneurship Development |
Elective 1 | |
Elective 2 | Elective 3 |
Elective 4 | Elective 5 |
Top MBA Specializations
The MBA degree is designed to give exposure to students in various fields of study. It is typically divided into two batches, the first one having specialization and the second one having a general management or business administration background. Usually, students are given the option to select both core and elective subjects in the first and second year respectively.
MBA in Computer Application | ||
MBA in Agriculture & Food Business | MBA in Disaster Management |
What after MBA?
After securing an MBA degree, candidates can either start working as a full-time professional or pursue their own startup or higher studies. There are various companies that offer MBA jobs to candidates with appropriate skills and experience.
Option 1: After completing an MBA degree programme, candidates can start working as full-time employees in the corporate sector with an average salary of around Rs 12 lakh per annum.
Option 2: Candidates can also choose to pursue a Ph.D programme in management or a related field.
Career Options after MBA
Many students take up MBA degrees in order to get a job after completing their studies. After getting an MBA, many of them find MBA job opportunities in various industries such as Human Resources, Finance, and Operations.
Manager: A manager is responsible for the management of a team, department, or organization. He or she works as a leader of a team and supervises the work of its members.
Sales Manager: A sales manager is responsible for the management of all the tasks involved in the sales process. This professional is also responsible for ensuring that the targets are met and that profits are maximized.
Marketing Manager: A marketing manager is responsible for various tasks and responsibilities related to marketing such as campaigns, sales tasks, client proposals and marketing of different products.
HR Manager: A human resource manager is responsible for the management of the human resources function of an organization. His or her responsibilities include the recruitment process, employee relations, and professional dispute resolution.
Top Recruiters
After graduating from an MBA programme, many recruiters hire MBA freshers to fill various job openings in various sectors. MBA freshers can find the best recruiters across various industries through various channels.
Deloitte | |
NTPC | Citibank |
ITC | Vodafone |
Larsen & Toubro | Nestle |
Flipkart | Microsoft |
Amazon | Wipro |
Salary after MBA
MBA salary depends on the specialization chosen by the candidate. After MBA in India, the average salary for the highest-earning job candidates is around Rs 4,00,000 to Rs. 32,00,000 per annum. Your MBA specialization will determine the types of jobs that you will be able to secure in the future. Having the right one can help boost your resume and improve your chances of landing a job. Most of the time, the students are selected from the marketing specialization. Some of the crucial factors determining the salary are MBA specialization opted by the candidate, experience of the candidate, industry, institute/college from which a candidate has passed, and designation.
MBA Specialization | Average MBA Salary |
MBA in Finance | Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 14,70,000 |
MBA in Information Technology | Rs 10,000 to Rs 6,00,000 |
MBA in Human Resource Management | Rs 4,50,000 to Rs 15,50,000 |
MBA in Marketing | Rs 14,25,000 to Rs 20,43,000 |
MBA in Logistics Management | Rs 6,25,000 to Rs 8,50,000 |
Employment areas
Before a candidate decides to take up an MBA, it is essential that they thoroughly understand the programme's scope and the various benefits that it has to offer. Several candidates from various domains are planning on taking up the MBA Programme to boost their career path. This is because having an MBA degree is very important for a successful career. There are a plethora of MBA jobs available in the industry with handsome MBA salaries.
Top Private MBA Colleges in India
There are various private MBA colleges in India that offer MBA degree programmes. These MBA colleges are known for their quality and reputation. Candidates can check the top private MBA colleges in India mentioned in the table below:
Top Government MBA Colleges in India
The government MBA colleges in India are the most popular among students and are considered the best in terms of ROI and placements. Candidates can find the list of top government MBA colleges in India mentioned below in the table:
For more Government MBA colleges in India, please visit here.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - MBA - Full Form, Courses, Top Colleges, Syllabus, Admission, Fees, Exams, Jobs
Question: What is an MBA?
Answer:
MBA is a management related postgraduate degree programme that offers students a gateway to managerial roles in their career.
Question: What is the duration of an MBA?
Answer:
The total duration of a full time MBA degree programme is two years equally segregated into 4 equal semesters.
Question: What is the eligibility criteria for an MBA?
Answer:
Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree from any background be it commerce, science, arts, can choose for taking a postgraduate degree in MBA.
Question: What is the admission process for an MBA degree programme?
Answer:
The admission to MBA degree programmes in private and government colleges is provided on the basis of national, state or university level entrance examination.
Question: What are some of the top MBA entrance examinations?
Question: What is the fee structure for an MBA degree programme?
Answer:
The average fee structure for MBA degree programmes lies between Rs 4 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for the entire course duration.
Question: What is the scope of an MBA degree programme?
Answer:
MBA is a degree programme that opens various employment opportunities at higher job positions for students from different backgrounds.
Question: What are some of the popular job profiles for MBA candidates?
Answer:
Sales Manager, Executive Manager, Operations Manager, Human Resource Manager, Supply chain manager are some of the popular job profiles for MBA candidates.
Question: What is the average salary for an MBA graduate?
Answer:
An MBA graduate with a tier-1 school and appropriate skills can easily earn between Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh per annum.