PGDM Syllabus 2025: Entrance Exams, Specialisations, Semester Wise Syllabus

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Gauri Mittal

Education Content Specialist | Updated on - Apr 29, 2025

PGDM General Latest Updates

03 Jun, 2025 ATMA 2025 July Session registration open @atmaaims.com; the last date to register is July 15, 2025 and the exam is scheduled on July 27. Apply Here 

19 May, 2025 COAP 2025 counselling schedule has been revised; GATE Counselling 2025 ongoing @gate.iisc.ac.in/coap2025. Check Dates Here

17 May, 2025 KMAT registration 2025 is open @kmatindia.com; register by June 30, 2025. Apply Here

01 May, 2025 GMAC has scheduled the NMAT exam date 2025 from November 5 to December 20, 2025; registration starts from August 1, 2025 @mba.com/exams/nmat. Read News Here

29 Apr, 2025 IBSAT registration for MBA/PGDM 2026-28 session is scheduled to start on July 1, 2025; the regsitration link will be out @ibsindia.org. Check Here

PGDM is a two-year professional training course that includes hands-on education, fieldwork, and credit requirements. The course is evenly split over a two-year duration, with a division into either four semesters or six trimesters.

In a PGDM program, students can expect to encounter a diverse range of core subjects integral to the curriculum covering areas like Business Environment and policy, Marketing Management, Financial Management, Managerial Economics, Management of IT and data Visualization, Managerial Communication, and Strategic Marketing.

In addition to the core subjects, PGDM programs often offer a selection of elective subjects which can encompass a broad spectrum of topics, including Digital Marketing, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Quantitative Models for Logistics and Transportation Management, Advance Marketing Research, Services Operations, Advanced Operations Research, and Advanced Data Analysis.

PGDM Course Details

The PGDM programme offers a diverse array of options, including General, Executive, Part-time, and more. Admission is rigorous, involving entrance exams, group discussions, interviews, and academic performance assessment. Fees vary by institute and program. Specialisations encompass Marketing, Finance, HR, Business Analytics, and more. Below, find a compact overview in the table:

PGDM Full Form Post Graduate Diploma in Management
Types of PGDM General PGDM, Executive PGDM, Part-time PGDM, Distance Learning PGDM, Online PGDM, Dual Specialization
Course Level Post Graduation Diploma Course
MBA Admission Process Entrance Exam (CAT, MAT, XAT, etc.,), Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Academic Performance
PGDM Fees Varies based on Institute
Top PGDM Specialisations Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Business Analytics, Information Technology, International Business, Supply Chain Management, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management, etc.

PGDM Syllabus 2025: Specialisations-Wise

The best PGDM colleges in India offer a variety of PGDM Specialisations to help students advance in a particular area and deepen their understanding of the subject. Any Specialisation's PGDM syllabus will typically include general PGDM subjects in the first year, followed by instruction in the PGDM subjects specific to those fields.

Finance Syllabus

For students who want to learn about the various facets of finance studies and their applications in the context of business and management, there is a specialized PGDM course called PGDM Finance. The comprehensive PGDM Finance syllabus and the PGDM subjects in Finance are provided here.

PGDM Finance Subjects Topics Covered
Financial Report Financial Accounting, Auditing, Business Strategy, Budget Analysis, etc.
Accounting Management Absorption costing vs. variable costing, Pricing of individual products and services, Job order costing, Understanding cost behavior and cost-volume-profit analysis, Process costing, Operational budgeting, etc.
Project Management Options, Fixed income, structured finance, Analysis of individual factors/risk premia, International Investing, Behavioral Finance Theory, Derivatives, Long-term/retirement investing, Factors, risk premia, etc.
Financial Risk Management Captive Insurance, Disaster Preparedness, Crisis Management, Legal Risks, Cyber Risk, Claims Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Reinsurance, Business Interruption, Climate Change, etc.

Marketing Syllabus

One of the most popular and established areas of management study in India is the PGDM in marketing. Students love it because there are so many job opportunities available in the market.

PGDM Marketing Subjects Topics Covered
Human Resource or Organizational Behavior Managing People, Managing Organizations, Performance in an Organization, etc.
Business Environment Concept, Significance, and Nature of Business Environment, Industrial Policy Liberalization, Broad profile of Indian Economy, Industrial Policy - its historical perspective, etc.
Marketing Management Communication Process, Pricing policies and strategies, Factors affecting price determination; Concept, nature, scope, and importance of marketing, etc.
Consumer Behavior Environmental Influences on CB, Introduction to Consumer Behaviour (CB), Individual Determinants of CB, etc.

Economics Syllabus

For students aspiring to delve into the intricate realms of economic studies and their practical applications in business and management, there exists a specialized PGDM program known as PGDM in Economics. The comprehensive PGDM in Economics syllabus along with the specialized subjects are detailed below.

PGDM Economics Subjects Topics Covered
Applied Microeconomics Mechanisms of Consumers, Market equilibrium, Competitive Goods, Factor Markets, Making Decisions, Market Failure
Advanced Macroeconomics Macroeconomic fundamentals, Solow Growth model, IS-LM, National income, Macroeconomic concepts, Fiscal, Monetary Policies Banking, Money, Credit, Exchange Rate regimes, and Conceptual Frameworks
Econometrics Multivariate and Bi-variate Regression, Assumption under Linear Regression, Failure in Linear Regression, Extension to linear Regression Framework, Log-Log Models, Logistic and Probabilistic Regression Models
Data Management Programming Logic View of Computer, Data Types and Variables, Arithmetic Operators, Relational Operators, Boolean Operators, Binary and Identity Operators, For Loops, While Loops, Nested Loops, If-elif-else, Object-oriented programming

Human Resource Syllabus

One of the most sought-after PGDM specialisations in India, HR attracts thousands of applicants each year. Fundamentals of HR Management, HRM in the Service Sector, and other HR-related topics are among the core PGDM subjects. Here is more information about it.

PGDM HR Subjects Topics Covered
HR Management Human Resource Development, Concepts and Challenges, HR Policies and Practices, Line Management in HR, etc.
HRM in the Service Sector Compensation and Reward Structure, Training and Empowerment for Customer Satisfaction, Manufacturing and Service Sector, Differences in HR Practices, etc.
Managing Redundancy Impact of Redundancy on Organization, Employees, and Society, Managing Redundancy, Definition of Redundancy, etc.
Performance Management Methods of Performance and Appraisal, Appraisal Communication, Appraisal Forms and Formats, Objectives of Performance and Appraisal, etc.

Information Technology Syllabus

One of India's top technical PGDM degrees is in information technology. It covers various facets of managing IT systems, and team members and acquiring abilities that aid in this process. The PGDM Syllabus for IT includes a number of popular PGDM subjects, such as IT entrepreneurship, bio design data, big data and data mining, new energy technology, etc.

PGDM IT Subjects Topics Covered
Computer Applications in Management Office Management: IT in Business, Computer Programs Software, etc.
Data Mining and Big Data Anomaly Detection, Information Extraction, Parallel Distributed Processing, Large Scale Visualization, etc.

PGDM Semester Syllabus in India 2025

The curriculum and syllabus for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) are based on required subjects and electives, which students can select based on their interests and the industries they want to work in (finance, human resources, operations, marketing, and more). The list of common subjects that many colleges include in their course offerings is organised by academic year. This could be regarded as a PGDM course's model curriculum.

PGDM Subjects in 1st Semester PGDM Subjects in 2nd Semester
Organisational Behavior - 1 Financial Management - I
Managerial Accounting and Control Macroeconomics
Business Communication Managerial Accounting and Control - II
Microeconomics Quantitative Techniques - II
Quantitative Techniques - 1 Marketing Management - I
Operational Management - 1 Organisational Behavior - II
PGDM Subject in 3rd Semester PGDM Subject in 4th Semester
Financial Management - II International Business Environment
Human Resource Management Business Policy Ethics
Marketing Management - II CSR and Sustainability
Management Information System Electives
Operation Management - II Corporate Personality Development
Research Method Project Work

PGDM Entrance Exam Syllabus 2025

The PGDM syllabus is pretty much the same in most business schools. It covers lots of different topics to teach students important business stuff. There are 11 main subjects everyone studies, and you can choose from 35 other subjects based on what you like. Also, if you want to specialise in something like finance, HR, marketing, or IT, the syllabus is adjusted to focus more on that.

PGDM CAT Entrance Exam Syllabus 2025

The esteemed Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, conducts the prestigious Common Admission Test (CAT), a national entrance exam. The computer-based CAT exam has three key components: a Quantitative Aptitude section, a Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, and a Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation section.

Sections Topics Included
Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension Odd Sentence Out, Sentence Correction, Word Usage, Para Summary, Para Jumbles, Reading Comprehension
Quantitative Aptitude Number System, Geometry Mensuration, Algebra, Modern Math, Arithmetic
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Games Tournament, Logical Sequence, Blood Relations, Seating Arrangement, Order Ranking, Data Tables, Caselets, Charts Graphs

PGDM ATMA Entrance Exam Syllabus 2025

The ATMA is a nationally recognized PGDM entrance exam, and it is administered by the Association of Indian Management Schools. The official ATMA PGDM entrance exam syllabus is available on the organisation's website for prospective applicants. The three main components of this syllabus are analytical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and quantitative aptitude.

Sections Topics Included
Quantitative Aptitude Set theory, Ratio and Proportions, Time Speed and Distance, Algebra, Surds and Indices, Profit and Loss, Discounts, Logarithms, Problems of ages, Permutation and Combination, Average, Mensuration, Binomial Theorem, Geometry, Quadratic equation.
Analytical Reasoning Statement and Conclusion, Syllogisms, Coding and Decoding, Weak and Strong Arguments, Critical Reasoning, Course of Action, Arrangements, Data Sufficiency, Statement and Inference
Verbal Reasoning Jumbled up sentences, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Sentence completion, Grammar

XLRI XAT PGDM Entrance Syllabus 2025

The XAT syllabus is readily available for download on the official website. This exam spans 180 minutes and comprises a total of 100 questions. The PGDM Entrance Paper for XAT encompasses four key sections: Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, and General Knowledge.

Sections Topics Included
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation Bar Diagrams, Tables, Geometry, Arithmetic, Algebra, Percentage, Number System, Surds and Indices, Pie charts, Mensuration.
Verbal and Logical Ability Logical reasoning, Analogy, Vocabulary, Fill in the blanks, Error Detection, Para jumbles, Verbal Reasoning, Reading comprehension.
Decision-Making Arrangement of Data, Premises, Caselets, Assumptions, Business Decision Making, Complex Arrangements, Conclusions, Ethical Dilemma
General Knowledge Prizes and Awards, Constitution of India, Politics, Management, History, Economy, Science and Technology, Important Personalities, Sports.

PGDM Syllabus 2025: FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between an MBA and a PGDM?

Ans. Post Graduate Diploma in Management is what PGDM stands for. It is a curriculum created to give students a thorough understanding of many management-related topics. Although the content covered by PGDM and MBA is similar, the autonomy of the institutions offering PGDM is the main distinction.

Ques. What are the requirements for admission to the PGDM program?

Ans. Typically, a recognized bachelor's degree with a predetermined minimum percentage (usually around 50%) is required for admission to the PGDM program. Candidates might also need to pass entrance exams like the CAT, MAT, XAT, etc.

Ques. What are the best entrance exams in India for PGDM admissions?

Ans. CAT, MAT, NMAT, CMAT, XAT, and SNAP are a few of the most popular entrance exams for PGDM admissions in India. Both federal and state governments administer these tests.

Ques. What main topics are covered in PGDM?

Ans. Organizational Behavior, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Marketing Management, and Information Technology Management are just a few of the topics covered in the PGDM curriculum.

Post Graduate Diploma in Management [PGDM] : 544 answered questions

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Ques. Is it worthwhile doing an MBA in UPES Dehradun?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 03 Aug 23

Ans. Every B-school has its unique strengths and so does UPES Dehradun which is famous for its domain-specific MBA. If you are willing to pursue an MBA in oil and gas, power management, or energy trading, choosing UPES Dehradun will be the right decision. It offers a plethora of opportunities in these domains and the ROI is also great. There are some industry-specific courses too but their placements are just average. The best part about UPES is the diversity of the crowd. You will get the chance to interact with people from various backgrounds such as law, management, engineering, and design thus enhancing the learning experience manifolds.  Ultimately, I will suggest you go for UPES Dehradun only if you are planning to pursue a domain-specific MBA, else you can go for better B Schools.Read more
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Ques. Should I go to IBS Hyderabad (ICFAI) for an MBA? Why or why not?

● Top Answer By Harshita Sinha on 30 Apr 22

Ans. IBS Hyderabad isn’t a good option for MBA. The placement record of the institute isn’t good. You won’t get a good ROI. The course fee for an MBA at IBS Hyderabad is INR 16.02 lakhs. While the average CTC offered to the students according to IBS Hyderabad placement highlights for 2022 is INR 7.97 LPA.  The student intake is huge. Batch strength for MBA is 1300. So, students don’t get equal opportunities in terms of academics and placements. Read more
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Ques. I joined SBI as a PO in 2015 and currently a scale 2 officer. Is it wise to leave SBI for an MBA from NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune or MDI Gurgaon? Also, I do not want to continue in SBI.

● Top Answer By Rahul Pandey on 17 Aug 20

Ans. Since you do not want to continue with SBI due to whatever reasons, so it would be a better option to follow what you want to and don’t continue in your job. Now, you have three options to choose what you want to do:- You can resign your current job and search for a job in a private bank. This option might not be a feasible one as the entry-level pay at SBI is much more lucrative than other banks. Your experience might not be valued in case you do not have much of it. You can go for an MBA from NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune, or MDI Gurgaon. In this case, your experience will be valued during the placement process and you will be an eligible contender for middle management jobs in private banks and you may also explore new fields like corporate finance or trade finance. The other option is to wait for two more years of experience and pursue a one-year MBA provided you are ready to continue in SBI for two more years. Furthermore, there are other factors as well like GMAT score you get after two years.Read more
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Ques. What is MBA salary in India?

● Top Answer By Disha Sinha on 27 May 22

Ans. MBA salary of a B-Schol graduate in India is proportional to their qualification and experience. It also depends on other factors like Almameter of the candidate, MBA specialization, industry, designation, etc. The MBA average salary for the topmost B-School in the country is as follows. Name of the institute  MBA salary(in INR) IIM Ahmedabad  26.13 LPA IIM Bangalore  33.8 LPA IIM Calcutta 26.24 LPA IIM Lucknow 26 LPA FMS Delhi  32.4 LPA XLRI Jamshedpur 30.73 LPA MDI Gurgaon 26.07 LPA SPJIMR Mumbai 23.6 LPA  IIFT Delhi  25.16 LPA.  MBA salary depends a lot on specialization as well. Among the specialization, Marketing and Finance offers better placements. Read more
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Ques. How good is KJ Somaiya (SIMSR) for doing an MBA in India?

● Top Answer By Aditya Shah on 25 Apr 22

Ans. As a B-School, KJ Somaiya has certain factors which are advantageous, such as location, ROI, alumni base. Since Mumbai is the corporate hub of India, the college easily attracts many companies. SIMSR has a huge alumni base with people working at imminent positions in the corporate world.  However, it doesn’t come under the top B-Schools in India. SIMSR brand doesn’t have much recognition. Although it attracts many companies, the placement average isn’t at the same level as top B-Schools. KJ Somaiya placements 2022 had an average CTC of INR 10.95 LPA. Read more
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Ques. Is NMIMS a good college for an MBA?

● Top Answer By Akriti Gupta on 12 Sept 23

Ans. Yes, NMIMS is considered to be the MBA college in Mumbai city and its MBA program is highly regarded among aspirants. Here are a few pros and cons of the institute that might help you  Pros The college is well-known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure. The classrooms have all modern facilities and the library too is well-stocked. Its location gives it leverage in establishing healthy industrial relations. The parity of the faculty cannot be doubted as they deliver excellent lectures. The academics are much more than just bookish language as students are made to solve Case-based studies. The food served in the canteen is quite good. Students get the chance to participate in lots of competitions and earn well, or get PPI. Cons : NMIMS fees are exorbitantly high. The first-year fee is INR 11.95 Lakhs. You also need to consider the expenses of living in Mumbai. Hostel faculties for only limited students  A few faculties have no interest in teaching.  The placement stats are inflated and thus misleading.  The MBA batch of NMIMS has a huge batch of around 600 students affecting the quality of education. There is a huge gap between the administration and the students.  Easy entrance exam affects the quality of the crowd. So, NMIMS was once a great B School but the increasing batch size has affected its reputation largely. You can go for colleges with a smaller batch size and similar fees to get better job opportunities.Read more
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Ques. I completed my BBA two years back and now I have 2 years of work experience. I did a distant PGDM from NMIMS. If I clear the CAT this year, should I go for a regular MBA?

● Top Answer By Varsha Roy on 27 Jun 21

Ans. Since you already have a work experience of 2 years you should go for an executive program from a reputed institute rather than doing any regular program. You should never hold your career because of continuing with a regular MBA program rather than you should choose an executive program. For the executive program, you can choose a 1-year global MBA degree in collaboration with 3 B schools. They are Cardiff School of Management, UK, IIM-Indore, and Universal Business School, Mumbai. In this program, you will be able to learn from these big institutions, especially IIM’s. You will also be getting good global exposure. The curriculum of the college will be the British curriculum and all these programs will develop your skills and will help you in your career development. The executive program of IBS Hyderabad is also very good. There are several other institutes offering executive MBA programs where you can research and choose the best option.Read more
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Ques. How is the NMIMS distance learning program in MBA?

● Top Answer By Namrata Das on 22 Jul 22

Ans. NMIMS Global MBA program is better than other distance MBA programs available. The course is designed as per the requirements of working professionals. Students get the required support from the university and the centers.  They have student portals and Whatsapp groups to keep students updated regarding course-related information. The year-wise examination is taken in an online mode at students’ convenience.Read more
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Ques. Which is best course in MBA?

● Top Answer By Advait Joshi on 15 May 23

Ans. There are numerous top MBA programs around the world, and the program best suited for you depends on your personal and professional goals, as well as your budget and other factors. Some of the most highly ranked MBA programs include: Harvard Business School MBA program Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA program Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania MBA program Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University MBA program University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA program MIT Sloan School of Management MBA program Columbia Business School MBA program INSEAD MBA program (based in France, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi) London Business School MBA program Yale School of Management MBA program All the above MBA programs are consistently ranked among the top MBA programs in the world by various rankings organizations, such as the Financial Times, Forbes, and Businessweek.Read more
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Ques. How is NMIMS Mumbai for an MBA?

● Top Answer By Ankita Sinha on 31 May 22

Ans. NMIMS Mumbai offers a good MBA program. It has a brilliant faculty base. Most of the faculty members are well-experienced and cooperative. If you are interested, you can research under any professor of your choice. It follows the Harvard case studies. You can learn and participate in the case study competitions.  NMIMS Mumbai placements 2022 had an average CTC of INR 19.40 LPA. While the highest CTC offered by the institute was INR 24.84 LPA. Located in the finance capital of the country, it also offers good exposure to students. Read more
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