Distance MBA , also called Correspondence MBA , is a postgraduate programme that offers flexible learning. It is designed for individuals who cannot attend regular classes due to work or financial limitations. This course is ideal for professionals seeking career growth without disrupting their current responsibilities or needing to relocate for education. The Distance MBA syllabus covers major business subjects like Management Principles, Business Statistics, and Legal Aspects of Business. It ensures a strong foundation in management . Universities such as IGNOU, NMIMS, and DU SOL offer this course. Common entrance exams include CAT, MAT, CMAT, and XAT , depending on the institution.
Key Attributes of the Distance MBA Course:
The Distance MBA is a flexible two-year postgraduate programme ideal for working professionals and students with time or financial constraints. It enables candidates to pursue management education remotely. Below are the highlights, including course duration, fees, salary, entrance exams, job roles, and top recruiters.
Course
Distance MBA
Distance MBA Full Form
Distance Master of Business Administration
Course Level
Postgraduate
Distance MBA Duration
2 years
Distance MBA Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor Degree
Distance MBA Entrance Exam
CAT, MAT, and CMAT, XAT, SNAP
Distance MBA Fees (for the entire duration)
Rs 20,000 to Rs 1.30 lakhs
Distance MBA Careers
Brand Manager, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, HR Manager
Distance MBA Salary
Rs. 7.2 LPA
Top Distance MBA Colleges
DDE Pondicherry, IGNOU, Karnataka State Open University, Mysore, Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota
Distance MBA Top Recruiters
Google, Deloitte, NTPC, Citibank, ITC, Vodafone, Larsen & Toubro, Nestle, Flipkart, Microsoft, Amazon, Wipro, PwC
The full form of a Distance MBA is a Distance Master of Business Administration. It is a postgraduate degree programme designed for students who are not able to attend regular classes. Candidates can prepare for a Distance MBA course by attending classes on weekends.
The course duration of a Distance MBA is similar to a traditional MBA degree. The course curriculum is divided into four semesters, imparting knowledge of finance , business, management, economics , and marketing. Students can also choose the specialisation of their choice in the last semester of the Distance MBA degree programme.
Applicants can pursue an MBA in different formats depending on their convenience and interests. In the table below, we have provided the different types of an MBA degree .
The fee structure of a Distance MBA course varies from one management college to another. The MBA correspondence fees depend on many factors such as the location of the institute, the type of institute, and the facilities available for the candidates.
The fees of a Distance MBA programme are lower compared to a traditional MBA. Candidates can check the fees on the official website of the course or on the programme brochure. However, the average fees for a Distance MBA range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1.30 Lakhs.
Pursuing a Distance MBA has a lot of benefits for the students. Aspirants having a full-time job can pursue a Distance MBA without having to quit their jobs. Students will be able to learn relevant skills which will help them professionally and academically.
Students can easily manage to complete their MBA distance education without any constraints. Distance MBA education helps them save money and time, as it is cheaper than regular MBA degree programmes. While the scope of a Distance MBA degree may not be as good as a regular MBA, students can still get decent salary packages at many multinational companies.
For admission to a Distance MBA education, candidates should have a good score in their undergraduate degree programme. However, many colleges provide admission to the distance MBA education based on merit. Listed below are the eligibility requirements for a Distance MBA degree programme.
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's degree (10+2+3) or equivalent qualification from a recognised institute in India
Entrance Exams
CAT, MAT, CMAT, MAT, SNAP. XAT
Minimum aggregate score
50-60 per cent from a recognised institute in India
Work Experience
1-2 years (optional)
After fulfilling the eligibility criteria, candidates can apply for admission to their desired institute. They should begin by filling out the application form available on the official website of the institute. Generally, business schools accept candidates on a first-come, first-served basis, and also take into consideration their exam performance.
To pursue a Distance MBA course, students should appear for the entrance examinations. They can check the entrance examination required by the college either in the programme brochure and also on the official website of the college. Some of the popular national-level entrance examinations are mentioned below alongside their details.
CAT
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow
CAT Exam Pattern
MAT
All India Management Association (AIMA)
MAT Exam Pattern
CMAT
National Testing Agency
CMAT Exam Pattern
XAT
Xavier School of Management
XAT Exam Pattern
NMAT
Graduate Management Admission Council
NMAT Exam Pattern
SNAP
Symbiosis International University
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Distance MBA cut-off depends on several factors, such as the difficulty level of the entrance examination and the number of students appearing for the entrance examination. Students who scored above the Distance MBA cut-off percentage are allowed to take admission.
CAT Cutoff
XAT Cutoff
MAT Cutoff
CMAT Cutoff
MBA courses have many specialisations that provide business insights, along with other managerial skills. Listed below are the top MBA specialisations, which the candidates can explore as per their interests and future goals and aspirations.
MBA in Marketing Management
MBA Capital Market
MBA FinTech
MBA in Data Analytics
MBA in Digital Marketing
MBA in International Business
MBA Retail Management
MBA in Banking & Finance Management
MBA Banking and Insurance
MBA Artificial Intelligence
The subjects of a Distance MBA depend on the specialisation the student chooses. In this section, we will discuss the yearly syllabus of the Distance MBA course.
First-year subjects in the Distance MBA course provide the students with introductory knowledge of various topics of management. Listed below is the first-year syllabus of a Distance MBA degree programme.
Management Principles and Business Ethics
Legal Systems in Business
Organisational Behaviour
Strategic Management
Managerial Economics
Applied Operations Research
Quantitative and Research Methods in Business
International Business
Accounting for Managers
The second year of a Distance MBA course includes more advanced subjects and focuses on research work, project work, and elective subjects. Students can choose the specialisation of their choice in the second year. In the table below, we have compiled the syllabus for the second year of the distance MBA education.
Human Resource Management
Elective - I
Operations Management
Elective - III
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Services Marketing
Marketing Management
Project Work
Financial Management
Elective - II
Elective - IV
Quality Management
Marketing (Elective)
Finance (Elective)
Sales and Distribution Management
Corporate Finance
Marketing Research and Consumer Behaviour
Tax Management
Advertising and Sales Promotion
Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
Brand Management
Merchant Banking & Financial Services
Human Resource
Systems
Human Resources Development
Database Management Systems
Performance Management
E-Business
Industrial and Labour Relations
Decision Support System
Organisational Development
System Analysis and Design
Logistics (Elective)
Hospital Management (Elective)
Principles & Practice of Logistics Management
Health Policy and Health Care Systems
Inventory & Warehousing Management
Hospital Records Management
Supply Chain Management
Hospital Planning and Administration
Domestic and International Logistics Management
Customer Relationship Management
The scope of Distance MBA is very similar as compared to the traditional MBA. Candidates will also have a lot of flexibility when pursuing a Distance MBA and can utilise the time to learn a skill or learn something new.
After completion of a Distance MBA, students can either work at a multinational company or start their own business. They can also opt for further education in degrees such as a PhD in disciplines similar to management and business administration.
Students can pursue various career options depending on their interests and preferences. Those who have pursued an MBA in a distance-learning manner can have various job profiles, and some of them are provided below.
HR Manager : An HR or Human Resource Manager is the head of the HR department. He or she is responsible for developing and implementing HR strategies aligned with the organisation's business strategies.
Brand Manager : A brand manager is responsible for building the brand value for the products and services of the organisation. He or she also develops brand strategies and promotes the growth of the brand by implementing brand plans.
Sales Manager : A sales manager is the head of the sales department, responsible for planning strategies and implementing them to improve the sales of the products and services of the company. He or she gives sales targets to members of the sales team and supervises them.
Marketing Manager : A marketing manager is the head of the marketing department. He or she is responsible for the management, promotion, and positioning of products and services of the organisation.
Distance and Online MBAs are very similar and serve the same purpose. While the curriculum of an Online MBA is completely remote-based, a distance MBA includes both online and offline sessions. In the table below, we have compared Online and Distance MBA.
Course Duration
Mode of study
Online
Classes on weekends
Fees (for the entire duration)
Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 20 Lakhs
Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh
Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor's degree from a recognised institute
Career Options
Manager, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager
HR Manager, Brand Manager, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager
The Distance MBA salary offered to graduates may vary depending on their skills, knowledge, and related work experience. We have provided below the salary details of various managerial roles offered after a Distance MBA degree programme.
HR Manager
Rs. 11.3 LPA
Brand Manager
Rs. 19.2 LPA
Sales Manager
Marketing Manager
Rs. 13 LPA
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
In India, several private colleges offer Distance MBA degrees. Private colleges are significantly more expensive than public universities. Some of the top private Distance MBA colleges and their fees are discussed below:
Directorate of Distance Education, JECRC University, Jaipur
Rs. 52,500
Directorate of Distance Education, The ICFAI University, Tripura
Rs. 65,000
Global Open University, Dimapur
Rs. 24,130
Institute of Distance and Online Learning, Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
Rs. 71,360
School of Distance Education and Learning, Jaipur National University, Jaipur
Rs. 24,500
Venkateshwara Open University, Papum Pare
Rs. 83,500
Directorate of Distance Education, LPU, Phagwara
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University School of Distance Education
Directorate of Distance Education, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
Attending a government-run college is less expensive than attending a private Distance MBA college. The following are some of the best government Distance MBA colleges and their fees:
DU SOL
Rs. 1.04 Lakhs
GJUST Hisar
Rs. 36,000
IGNOU
Rs. 64,000
KSOU Mysore
Rs. 80,000
UCDL Sirsa
Rs. 24,000
UPRTOU Allahabad
USOL Chandigarh
Rs. 99,370
VMOU Kota
Rs. 32,600
Centre for Distance Education, Mangalore University, Mangalore
Rs. 27,000
Centre for Distance Education, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur
Distance MBA courses include various online resources, including video lectures, virtual classrooms, and digital course materials, enabling students to study from their convenient location.
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