Best MBA Course For Working Professionals In India

Anyone can pursue an MBA degree. It's a prevalent business and management degree most working professionals like to include in their portfolios to boost their employability and show off their managerial skills to prospective employers. 

Generally, a full-time MBA for working professionals is commonly known as an Executive MBA. It's a 1-year postgraduate degree available only for candidates with a minimum number of years of work experience. 

[Also Read: Top Executive MBA Colleges In India]

Why Pursue An MBA Course?

In today's job market, both students and working professionals must have additional degrees and certifications to prove their mettle and worth. A master of business administration course is one popular option. It combines generic and specialised courses to develop a student's technical and soft skills. One of the most popular MBA options for working professionals is an Executive MBA or EMBA. 

So, what is an Executive MBA? It's a type of MBA degree that lasts only a year, compared to a regular full-time MBA course that lasts 2 years. This is because an Executive MBA is a rigorous and streamlined course that builds upon a person's previous work experience to enhance their current skill set. As a result, it's considered the best MBA for working professionals.

Like an ordinary 2-year MBA program, the eligibility criteria remain more or less the same. Working professionals must have a minimum of 50% aggregate score on their bachelor’s/undergraduate degree from a recognised institution. Additionally, depending on the college or institution they’re applying to, they may take a state/national-level or college-specific entrance exam to qualify for admissions.

Overview Of The Types Of MBA Degrees For Working Professionals

Parameters	Details
Course Name(s)	Master Of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA or EMBA
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Duration	Part-Time MBA: 2 - 3 years Online/Distance MBA: 2 years Executive MBA: 1 Year
Eligibility Criteria	Merit-Based: Minimum 50% aggregate score (45% for reserved categories) on graduation. Valid undergraduate/bachelor's degree from a recognised college or institution.   Entrance Exams: CAT, XAT, EMAT, NMAT, GMAT, CMAT, etc. Work Experience:  Required for an executive MBA. Generally, candidates need a minimum of 2 - 5 years or 10+ years.
Course Fees	₹4 Lakhs To ₹15 Lakhs
Average Salary	₹8 Lakhs To ₹15 Lakhs
Top MBA Colleges	ISB PGP Pro IIM Ahmedabad ePGP IIM Calcutta Executive Education ISB PGP Max Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning

Types Of MBAs For Working Professionals

Of the MBA courses listed here, the best MBA courses for working professionals are often Executive MBAs. This is because one significant benefit of them is peer-to-peer learning. In addition, HR at most companies prefer candidates with an EMBA degree over those with a Distance MBA.

Here are some popular types of MBA degrees for working professionals:

• Part-Time MBA Program

A part-time MBA program is like a regular MBA for working professionals. This is the most popular type of MBA program most working professionals choose. Top colleges and universities that offer the best MBA programs for working professionals also provide their full-time courses in a part-time format. 

This is so that students/candidates can choose the best mode of education to suit their daily lives and career goals. Classes are usually held on weekends or after business hours, and most part-time courses have an overall duration of 2 to 3 years. 

• Distance/ Online MBA Program

This is the most similar to a regular 2-year MBA program. The key difference is that classes are conducted entirely online. People can opt for this course to avoid taking a break in their careers to pursue an on-campus course. They have the advantage of being able to work and study simultaneously and a benefit of a more flexible curriculum.   

The only downside to this course is that candidates don’t have a peer-to-peer learning environment. Which is one of the most prominent advantages most on-campus MBA programs provide. This can be especially important for working professionals who want to network with people from other fields. 

• Executive MBA 

This is a specialised MBA course specifically aimed at working professionals. It usually lasts 12 - 18 months and is commonly available as a part-time course. These courses are meant for professionals holding mid to senior-level positions with an average of 10+ years of experience. 

Like any part-time course, candidates can attend classes on weekends or after business hours. Therefore, this program ensures the candidates develop their managerial skills without taking a career break to pursue a full-time degree. 

Advantages of Pursuing An MBA For Working Professionals

Working professionals holding mid to senior-level positions stand to benefit from them the most from pursuing an MBA. An MBA is one of the few degrees that can help you develop both your soft skills and technical capabilities. Here are some significant benefits working professionals have when pursuing an MBA.

• No Career Break Or Loss Or Salary 

Candidates pursuing MBA courses for working professionals have the added advantage of not having to take a career break or suffer the loss of a consistent paycheck for a year or two. This is because most MBA courses aimed at working professionals take into account their work hours or schedules and offer courses either during the weekends or after business hours. 

Overall, you get to grow your career while still pursuing an education that will benefit you in the long run. 

• Cost Efficient  

This ties into the previous advantage. Not having to take a career break when pursuing an MBA means it will have a lesser impact on your savings. Compared to a full-time 2-year MBA student, you can recover your costs while studying. 

Furthermore, some candidates also have their MBA tuitions sponsored by their employers. This can eliminate the need to take out any loans. 

• Flexible Courses

An MBA degree for working professionals offers flexible course schedules. Especially when pursuing a distance or online MBA program. Students can choose when they take their classes so it doesn't conflict with their busy work schedules during the week.

• Functional Development Of Skills

Studying an MBA course while you work allows you to implement what you study as you progress in your career. This allows you to learn on the job. Furthermore, the soft skills most candidates develop during the courses improve their leadership and negotiation skills, patience and tactfulness. These will invariably help anyone holding a senior potion in their organisation by making them better leaders. 

Conclusion 

While pursuing an MBA course with a full-time job can be challenging for most people, the benefits far outweigh the demanding schedule. One major benefit would be the significant salary hikes professionals gain access to after adding an MBA degree to their resume. 

Anyone looking to pursue a MBA degree should consider colleges powered by Sunstone. Colleges with Sunstone benefits offer industry-relevant course modules and courses focusing on soft skill development. This gives you a broader skill set which can increase your employability and help you get better-paying jobs.