PGDM: Full Form, Course Details, Eligibility, Courses, Fees, Admission

PGDM or Post Graduate Diploma in Management is a 2-year postgraduate management course, designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of various management concepts like Planning, Organizing, Leading, Group Dynamics, etc. A Post Graduate Diploma in Management course equips students with the skills required to succeed in the business world.

To be eligible for PGDM admissions, candidates must complete a bachelor's degree in any stream with a minimum of 50% marks and qualify for PGDM entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, etc as per college requirements. PGDM syllabus is skill-oriented and typically covers a wide range of subjects, including Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Ethics, Marketing, Operations, and HRM, etc.

PGDM course equips with job-relevant expertise to become successful managers, leaders, and executives in specialized business units. The average salary package for PGDM graduates is around INR 4 Lakhs - 24 Lakhs Per Annum. Top PGDM institutes have a 100% placement record with leading recruiters like Deloitte, EY, Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Aditya Birla, Accenture etc.

What is PGDM Course?

PGDM full form stands for Post Graduate Diploma in Management, a skill-oriented course that mainly focuses on providing knowledge and expertise based on practical approaches to several core areas of management and its functions. The PGDM course is equivalent to an MBA degree and is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). PGDM specializations are available in different disciplines such as Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, IT, etc to cater to the diverse career aspirations of students.

The average PGDM course fees ranges from INR 3 Lakhs - 12 Lakhs Per Annum, depending on the government and private entity, specialization, location, etc. Top colleges in Delhi such as IMI Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, etc., have average fees between INR 8-9.50 LPA, whereas, colleges in Bangalore like IIM Bangalore, Welingkar Institute of Management and Research have average fees between INR 7-12 LPA.

Table of Contents

• PGDM Eligibility Criteria
• PGDM Admission 2023
• PGDM Entrance Exams
• PGDM Specializations
• Top PGDM Colleges In India with Fee Details
• PGDM vs MBA
• PGDM Syllabus and Subjects
• Career Options after PGDM

PGDM Eligibility Criteria 

While PGDM course eligibility criteria may vary with different colleges, the most common prerequisite for a PGDM course is pre-set marks in bachelor's degree, entrance examination scores and work experience. A detailed overview of PGDM eligibility requirements is listed below for clarity:

• Candidate should have a bachelor's degree in BCom/BBA/BA, etc., with a minimum of 50% marks for unreserved category and 45% marks for reserved category students. Qualifying cut-off marks in the entrance exams such as MAT and CAT are required for admission.
• At elite institutions like IIM, candidates should have scored a minimum of 60% or 6.5 CGPA on a scale of 10 in their undergraduate studies.
• There is no age restriction for enrolling in the course.

Why Choose a PGDM Course?

PGDM course or Post Graduate Diploma in Management is one of the most sought-after management programs for a myriad of reasons as it aids management aspirants in acquiring in-depth knowledge in business administration.

Here are some specific reasons why one should enroll in a Post Graduate Diploma in Management program in 2023:

• Exposure: A management degree allows you to see the practical business environment through internships, professional interactions, corporate meetings, and industrial workshops.
• Further studies: After completing the PGDM course, aspirants can pursue a doctorate program, which is available in different specialization disciplines.
• Demand: The Bureau of Labour Statistics predicts that employment in management jobs will rise by 8% between 2021 and 2031.
• Opportunities: A management degree is one of the most important criteria that companies consider when hiring. In addition, a management degree would be a good choice for those seeking higher positions in their career.
• Job role: PGDM course aspirants can pursue various career paths, such as Operations Manager, Project Manager, HR Manager, and Operations Consultant, depending on the type of specialization they pursue.
• Lucrative Compensation: The job scope after PGDM course includes a good starting salary and adequate compensation benefits for freshers and experienced graduates as well. 

Compare PGDM with PGPM Course

PGDM Admission 2023

PGDM Admissions for Tier I and Tier II colleges are mostly based on entrance exam merit scores, followed by GD/PI assessment rounds and Written Aptitude Tests (WAT). Students may also be admitted to private colleges through management quota, seats of which are limited in numbers. The step-by-step PGDM admissions process of top institutions and universities is mentioned below.

• Step 1: The online portal/offline network must be used to get the PGDM application form first after reviewing the PGDM course details
• Step 2: The aspirant must upload/attach the required documents as per the guidelines and specifications mentioned. Pay the admission fees for the PGDM course registration. 
• Step 3: The selection is based on the eligibility criteria and the cut-off scores acquired in the entrance exams. 
• Step 4: Aspirants are called to write a written test, participate in group discussions, and have a personal interview after passing these exams.
• Step 5: Students must provide the required paperwork and pay the appropriate PGDM course fee after being selected.

Read More: PGDM Admission

PGDM Entrance Exams

Most admissions for PGDM course are conducted through University, institution and state-level management entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, etc. These exams include subject areas such as financial management, computer applications for business, personal & professional Skills, etc.

The PGDM entrance exams along with their tentative registration dates are as follows:

PGDM Entrance Exams	Entrance Examination Date	Accepting Colleges
CAT	Nov 26, 2023	IIMA, IIMB, SPJIMR and more
MAT	Feb 25- Dec 17, 2023	ABS, BIMTECH, Goa Institute of Management, and more
ATMA	Feb 24, 2024	MDI, IPE, SIBM, IMS, and more
NMAT	Oct 10- Dec 19, 2023	SPJIMR, KJ Somaiya, ITM and more
XAT	Jan 7, 2024	XLRI, IMI, GLIM, IMT, and more
CMAT	February 2024  (Tentative)	GLIM, Welingkar College, Fore School of Management and more
GMAT	-	XLRI, SPJIMR, GLIM, IMT and more

Also, Check: CAT vs CMAT vs NMAT vs MAT

PGDM Specializations

PGDM course offers various specializations that students can opt for based on their career objectives and future goals. Students can choose the specializations based on their choice in various domains such as Finance, HR, Marketing, International Business, Operations, etc.

Given below is the information on various specializations in Post Graduate Diploma in Management courses.

PGDM Courses List
PGDM in Finance	PGDM in Business Analytics
PGDM in Marketing	PGDM in International Business
PGDM in HR	PGDM in Supply Chain Management
PGDM in Operations Management	PGDM in Information Technology
PGDM in Entrepreneurship	PGDM Insurance Management
PGDM Retail Management	PGDM Healthcare Management

Read More: PGDM Specializations

Top PGDM Colleges In India with Fees

PGDM course is the most renowned course in India, provided by several institutions across the country. Private institutions such as XLRI, SPJIMR, and GLIM offer PGDM courses. Reputed government institutions such as IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, IIM Raipur also offer extensively designed PGDM courses. The average PGDM course fee is in the range of INR 3-12 LPA.

Top IIMs Offering PGDM In India Based on NIRF Rankings 2023

Admission to PGDM course in IIMs is subject to high performance in entrance exams. The management-based courses provided at IIM are mostly known as PGP but are equivalent to MBA, PGDM, and Executive MBA. The table below lists the top IIM colleges in India along with the average IIM Post Graduate Diploma in Management fees:

NIRF Management Rankings 2023	College Name	Average Tuition Fees	Admission Fees	Miscellaneous Fees
1	IIM Ahmedabad	INR 10.50 LPA	-	INR 85,500 PA
2	IIM Bangalore	INR 12.25 LPA	INR 20,000	-
3	IIM Kozhikode	INR 11.25 LPA	-	INR 2.50 LPA
6	IIM Lucknow	INR 5.7 LPA	INR 70,000	INR 4.15 PA
8	IIM Indore	INR 10 LPA	INR 50,000	INR 54,000 PA
11	IIM Raipur	INR 7.87 LPA	INR 30,000	-
12	IIM Rohtak	INR 8.95 LPA	-	INR 95,000 PA
22	IIM Tiruchirappalli	INR 9.75 PA	INR 30,000	INR 60,000 PA
43	IIM Nagpur	INR 9.45 LPA	INR 50,000	-
51	IIM Amritsar	INR 6.25 LPA	-	INR 3.60 LPA
53	IIM Bodh Gaya	INR 4.8 LPA	INR 15,000	INR 3.55 PA

Top Non-IIMs Offering PGDM In India Based on NIRF Rankings 2023 

In India, PGDM courses are top-rated and very demanding. All the top PGDM colleges in India are usually placed in the cities in India such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, etc. The best PGDM colleges in India according to NIRF Ranking 2023 are given below along with the PGDM course fees in India:

NIRF Ranking 2023	Name	Average Tuition Fees	Admission Fees	Miscellaneous Fees
9	XLRI Jamshedpur	INR 8 LPA	INR 2,00,000	INR 3.50 LPA
13	MDI Gurgaon	INR 9.06 LPA	INR 14,300	INR 3.08 LPA
18	SPJIMR	INR 6.5 LPA	INR 1,00,000	INR 2.50 LPA
23	GLIM	INR 7.05 LPA	INR 15,000	INR 5.70 LPA
28	IMI Delhi	INR 8.5 LPA	INR 15,000	INR 1.35 LPA
33	Goa Institute of Management	INR 5.89 LPA	INR 25,000	-
38	IMT Ghaziabad	INR 9.30 LPA	INR 50,000	-
42	TAPMI Manipal	INR 6.50 LPA	-	INR 1.35 LPA
48	BIMTECH	INR 7 LPA	-	INR 2.07 LPA
63	Fore School of Management	INR 9.13 LPA	-	INR 46,000 PA
73	Welingkar Mumbai	INR 7 LPA	INR 14,000	INR 1.60-2.20 LPA

Top City Wise PGDM Colleges in India

Below listed are location-wise PGDM course colleges in India with the average annual fees:

PGDM Cutoff 2023

Admission to PGDM courses depends on qualifying entrance exam with required cut-off marks. The cut-off marks can change every year depending on demand, institution rank, academic structure, etc. The following is detailed information on two important PGDM entrance exams and their expected cut-off marks.

PGDM CAT Cutoff 2023

Every college publishes its required cutoffs following the PGDM entrance examinations. Admission to the IIMs for PGDM is based on the CAT entrance exam. Although, the CAT cutoff for 2023 is yet to be released. Below is the list of the best PGDM colleges in India along with their cut-off marks in CAT 2022 for admission:

College Name	CAT Cutoff 2022
IIM Bangalore	85 percentile
IIM Ahmedabad	95 percentile
IIM Lucknow	90 percentile
IIM Calcutta	80 percentile
IIM Kozhikode	85 percentile
IIT Kharagpur	90 percentile
IIT Delhi	90 percentile
IIM Indore	90 percentile

PGDM MAT Cutoff 2023

Management Admission Test, or MAT, is an important PGDM entrance exam in which candidates can apply for admission to the country's most renowned PGDM programs. The MAT test is usually held in September. The MAT cutoff score for 2023 has not yet been announced. The best PGDM colleges and predicted MAT cut-off scores for 2023 are shown below. 

College Name	MAT Expected Cutoff 2023
GLIM	95
NMIMS Mumbai	99
Chandigarh University	80
IMT Ghaziabad	85
IIHMR, Bangalore	60

PGDM vs MBA

PGDM is a post-graduation course based on management. The courses of MBA and PGDM are not the same but a few core subjects are similar to each other. It seems that AIU accreditation put together an institution PGDM program equivalent to MBA.

Listed below are the differences between MBA and PGDM courses:

Parameters	PGDM	MBA
Full-Form	Postgraduate Diploma in Management	Masters of Business Administration
Overview	PGDM focuses primarily on an industry-specific practical approach to business management practices. A diploma can be awarded by any autonomous body/institution.	Prime focus of an MBA is an in-depth insight into theoretical concepts around managerial practices. Course degrees can only be awarded by Universities or affiliated colleges.
Qualification	Diploma Course	Degree Course
Duration	2 Years	2 years
Eligibility	Graduate from any stream from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% marks	Graduate from any stream with a minimum of 50% of marks in any UG-recognized university
Specialization Offered	Insurance Management, Retail Management, Operations, etc.	HR, Marketing, Finance, IT, etc.
Average Fees	INR 3-12 LPA	INR 3-15 LPA
Average Salary	INR 4-24 LPA	INR 4-30 LPA

Read More: PGDM vs MBA

PGDM Syllabus and Subjects

The PGDM course is a 2-year program consisting of 4 semesters. PGDM syllabus for first-year consists of core managerial concepts and theories. PGDM syllabus for second-year focuses on taking a theoretical deep-dive into specialization-specific elective subjects. The PGDM syllabus for 1st year is given below: 

PGDM 1st Semester Syllabus	PGDM 2nd Semester Syllabus
Organizational Behavior	Business Information System
Accounting for Managers	Business Research Methods
Managerial Economics	Project Management
Macro Economics	Cost & Management Accounting
Marketing Management	Human Resource Management
Quantitative Techniques	Financial Reporting
Business Communication	Operations Management
Financial Management	Soft Skills

Read More: PGDM Syllabus and Subjects

Types of PGDM Courses

There are different types of PGDM courses offered with different options available such that a professional can opt for PGDM online and distance learning courses which will directly help to move forward in their professional career. Listed below is the PGDM courses list along with different types:

Types	Eligibility	Colleges Offering	Duration
Full-Time	50-55% marks in bachelor's degree + 45-50% marks for reserved category + Qualifying Entrance Exam + GD/PI/WAT scores	IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Lucknow, SPJMIR	2 Years
Part-Time	50% marks in bachelor's degree + 2 Years work experience	XLRI, IMT, LBSIM, IFIM	2-3 years
Online	50% marks in bachelor's degree + No reservation	GLIM, MDI, IMI, Lloyd Business School	2 Years
Distance	50% marks in bachelor's degree + No Reservation	NMIMS, IMT, Sikkim Manipal, IGNOU	2 Years

Part-Time Post Graduate Diploma in Management

Part-time PGDM course is ideal for working professionals as it provides additional value for career growth. Listed below are some of the important notes for Full-Time PGDM:

• The course duration is 2-3 years
• A Part-time PGDM course fee starts from INR 1.75-5.36 LPA depending upon the institution
• Some of the major entrance exams are CAT, MAT, XAT, and NMAT.
• Candidates are required 2 years of work experience. 
• XLRI Jamshedpur, IMT Ghaziabad, LBSIM New Delhi, and IFIM Bangalore provide part-time PGDM courses.

Online Post Graduate Diploma in Management

Online courses are designed to be an accessible job-ready curriculum. Listed below are some of the important notes for Online PGDM course:

• Candidates are introduced to an industry-oriented curriculum that involves certifications through critical evaluations. 
• The PGDM course duration for part-time mode is two-three years.
• The course is  easily accessible in the form of webinars, pre-recorded videos, and online study materials which allow students to learn at their own pace.
• GLIM, MDI, Goa Institute of Management, JIM, IMI, and Lloyd Business School provide online PGDM courses. 

Distance Post Graduate Diploma in Management

Distance PGDM course is a distance learning process away from the source of the teacher. Students who want to pursue a PGDM course remotely can opt for the Distance PGDM program. Several institutes offer PGDM distance courses.

Listed below are some of the key points of Distance PGDM course:

• It helps professionals to work as well as learn and also helps them to be updated with subjects while working
• Students get a lot of admission opportunities in various colleges in Distance PGDM
• Several Business schools offer Distance PGDM courses based on marks scored in the examinations such as CAT, MAT, and XAT
• Many institutes conduct their entrance test as a part of PGDM distance learning admission procedures
• Graduates from any stream can apply.
• Aspirants have to secure 50% marks in 10+2 and graduation
• Aspirants are required to achieve the qualifying marks in the entrance test
• NMIMS, IMT, Sikkim Manipal University, IGNOU, and ICFAI offer distance learning courses for PGDM. 

Read More: Distance PGDM

Courses after Post Graduate Diploma in Management

PGDM course opens up a wide range of career options. It is even possible to study further after completing the course. The most commonly followed path in this aspect is the Doctorate, which can be obtained in different specialization domains like Management Studies, Business Administration, and others. A few of the courses are given below:

• Ph.D
• DBA
• DMS
• Doctoral Programme in Management

PGDM Salary in India

The starting salary of a PGDM course graduate would be around INR 4 - 24 LPA, depending on whether it's in the private or public sector. As skills and experience increase, so will the salary increment. Candidates can grab rewarding job roles in esteemed organizations such as Goldman Sachs, Apple, IBM, Amazon, etc. The following table comprises PGDM job roles and their respective salaries. 

Job Role	Average Entry-level Salary (INR)	Average Salary (INR) with 5+ years of Experience
Business Consultant	INR 5.40 LPA	INR 12-17 LPA
Corporate Trainer	INR 4-7 LPA	INR 9-14 LPA
Investment Analyst	INR 5-6 LPA	INR 13-23 LPA
Risk Manager	INR 5-7 LPA	INR 12-18 LPA

[Source: Glassdoor & Ambition Box]

Read More: PGDM Salary in India

Career Options After PGDM Course

After completing a Post Graduate Diploma In Management course, the aspirant can work in public and private sectors depending on the type of work or the skills they have. They even have further specialization by doing a postgraduate degree like a doctorate or even a further extension by doing an interior MBA or other full-time courses.

Some of the best job designations for graduates after the course of Post Graduate Diploma In Management are as follows:

Job Designation	Hiring Companies	Average Entry-Level Salary Range
Digital Marketing Executive	Accenture, HDFC Bank, Myntra, Flipkart, etc.	INR 5.50 LPA
Finance Analyst	Accenture, Wells Fargo, Deloitte, Wipro, etc.	INR 6.32 LPA
Retail Manager	Cars 24, Decathlon, Bata India, Reliance Industries, etc.	INR 6-7 LPA
Operations Associate	Rivigo, Trav Clan, Paytm, Share Chat, etc.	INR 4.50 LPA
Associate Project Manager	HCL Tech, HSBC Group, KPMG, E&Y, etc.	INR 6.80 LPA

Top Recruiters for PGDM Course Graduates

PGDM course graduates are sought-after for their pragmatic skills and hands-on approach by top companies such as Goldman Sachs, Accenture, KPMG, IBM, etc. These organizations are known for providing promising career advancement opportunities and lucrative salary slabs to PGDM course graduates. Some of the top recruiters that hire PGDM course graduates are given below:

Top Recruiters	Average Salary
Goldman Sachs	INR 5.2 - 22 LPA
Apple	INR 6 - 30 LPA
Accenture	INR 5 - 15 LPA
Deloitte	INR 6 - 20 LPA
Wipro	INR 6 - 19 LPA
Microsoft	INR 7 - 35 LPA
KPMG	INR 5 - 25 LPA
IBM	INR 9 - 30 LPA
Amazon	INR 7 - 28 LPA
Cognizant	INR 5 - 20 LPA

[Source: Glassdoor & Payscale]

PGDM Scholarships

PGDM course scholarships are extremely beneficial as they provide financial assistance to students who are unable to pay their tuition and other expenses. Some of these scholarships are subject to high performance in previous academics. Listed below are a few MBA scholarship opportunities:

Scholarship	Eligibility	Scholarship Amount
SJIM Scholarships	70% - 80% marks in the CAT entrance exam	INR 50,00 - 2 Lakhs
IMT EWS Scholarship	70% - 90% marks in the CAT and CMAT entrance exams 80% - 90% marks in the MAT entrance exam	10-20% on the course fee
JK Business School Scholarship	70% - 90% marks in the CAT/XAT/GMAT entrance exams 80% - 95% marks in the MAT/CMAT entrance exam	INR 10,000 - 30,000
VES Business School Scholarship	Excellent Performance in Bachelor’s studies  Female Students and Physically Challenged Candidates	INR 25,000
Shriyut B K Birla Admission Scholarship	A minimum of 85% marks in the CAT/XAT/MAT	INR 2 Lakhs
JIMS Scholarship	A minimum of 80% marks in the CAT entrance exam 70% marks in undergraduate studies	INR 50,000
LBSIM Scholarship	High academic performance in 1st and 2nd semester	INR 2 Lakhs
FIIB Scholarship Program	75% marks in the CAT/XAT/GMAT entrance exam 80% marks in the MAT/CMAT/ATMA entrance exam 75% marks in undergraduate studies from an accredited university	50% Tuition Fees
GIBS Scholarship	60-80% marks in the CAT/XAT/GMAT entrance exam 70-85% marks in the MAT/CMAT/ATMA entrance exam	INR 50,000

Skills to Excel as a PGDM Course Graduate

The PGDM course upgrades the skills and meets the industry's requirements by imparting practical approaches. It is an excellent choice for working professionals who want to broaden their knowledge of management and learn skills applicable to their field. It is recommended that students possess hard and soft skills for better course outcomes. Some of the skills required for the Post Graduate Diploma In Management graduates are as follows:

• Versatility and flexibility - Graduates should be able to manage their time effectively and manage diverse responsibilities. It is important to be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines. 
• Critical thinking - Critical thinkers may prepare for the future by staying on top of trends and gaining the requisite foresight.
• Strong communication - Good communication skill is required for handling client and customer relationships along with additional career growth. 
• Project management- Students should develop skills for handling projects which includes planning, forecasting along with successful execution of tasks. 
• Leadership - PGDM course graduates can acquire job opportunities in a managerial position which requires entrepreneurial and leadership abilities.

Preparation Tips for PGDM Course

Aspirants have to ensure that they crack the required entrance exams to get admission into the PGDM course. Additionally, they will also have to update their knowledge of the business world and stay up-to-date with major events and developments. Below are some preparation tips made by experts for aspirants who want to pursue PGDM course:

• Time Management: The aspirant should be capable of answering 180-200 questions in about two hours, which means about a minute should be given to answer each question.
• Reading Newspapers: General knowledge and current affairs questions are often asked in entrance exams and sometimes in personal interviews and group discussion rounds.
• Skills: Trying to focus more on analytical skills, data interpretation skills, verbal skills, general knowledge, etc., which are all included in the questions
• Planning: To prepare well in advance, aspirants should practice with sample question papers, mock tests, and quizzes. By analyzing their errors, aspirants can develop a more effective strategy to attempt entrance exams.

Top PGDM [Post Graduate Diploma in Management] Colleges

Top Management Entrance Exams

PGDM Fee Structure

See Various PGDM Colleges in India