MBA VS PDGM: Which one Should You Choose? / MBA or PDGM: Which one Should is Right For You?
Two of the most popular post-graduate courses available to students today are MBA and PDGM. MBA, which stands for Masters in Business Administration, is a two-year professional degree course offered by many premier institutes in our country. PDGM means Post Graduate Diploma in Management and is typically a two-year course. MBA and PDGM are sometimes used interchangeably. However, many students refuse to purse PDGM because it is a diploma course, and they fear that it wont be as valuable as an MBA degree. This article aims to dispel those myths and help students to make an informed choice about whether they should opt for MBA or PDGM.
MBA OR MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
A highly prestigious course, MBA degrees are offered by some of the best institutions in our country. MBA is a Masters degree course, only offered by colleges that have been recognized and are affiliated with such universities that have been allowed to offer the degree. All these universities follow a common curriculum and often offer other related degrees like BBA or Bachelors in Business Administration and even Doctorates.
PDGM OR POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ADMINISTATION
As the name suggests, PDGM is a diploma course that can be pursued after graduation. It is a diploma course because it is very often offered by universities and colleges that are not recognized and do not have the authority to offer degree courses. Many students are afraid to opt for PDGM due to this reason, as they fear that a diploma course is not equal to a degree course. However, they often miss out on the fact that many reputed autonomous and non-affiliated colleges like the IIMs and XLRI offer PDGM courses. A student studying in a non-affiliated college will have many advantages. This is due to the fact that, these colleges can regularly update their curriculum to meet the current industry demands as they are not affiliated with any university which would otherwise cause them to follow a strict curriculum. Universities do update their curriculum, but they only do it every 3-5 years and this makes it difficult for the students to keep up with the ever-changing industry.
MBA OR PDGM? WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
To understand this and make the correct career choice, the student must first decide whether he wants to work or pursue higher studies.
If the student wants to pursue higher studies like Ph.D. or double MBA, then it is true that preference is given to those who have an MBA degree, but even then PDGM students are not at a disadvantage. MBA students only have an edge because theirs is a degree course and not a diploma course. The one thing that PDGM students should keep in mind, however is that, should they pursue their diploma from a B-school then they will be considered at par with MBA students.
If the student wants to go into the professional field, then he should know that there is hardly any difference between an MBA and a PDGM if both are pursued from a reputed B- school. In India, almost all the B-schools offer PDGM and MBA. The student’s job placements will depend on various other factors like the brand name of his institute, alumni network, and the impression his institute has in the industry. The student should keep in mind that his performance and appraisals will not be based on his educational qualifications, but rather on his skills and abilities.
Thus, we can see that students should dispel their fear of PDGM, only because it is a diploma course, unlike MBA which is a degree course. There are several reputed B-schools that offer both courses. There is not a significant amount of difference between the two courses, and those happy with the "diploma" tag can definitely pursue the course. Others may insist on getting an MBA degree but should keep in mind, that it is very similar to a PDGM.
