PGPM or Post Graduate Programme in Management is a management degree course offered by various business schools in India and across the world. The syllabus of a PGPM course has similar lines to that of an MBA course. Though the entire course duration for a PGPM course usually comes up to 2 years, however, it depends on the institutes from which one is pursuing. The course structure is divided equally into 6 semesters across 2 years.
PGPM is known by other names across the Top Management Schools in India such as PGP, EPGP, and PGPX. The basic eligibility criteria are similar to that of a Regular MBA, where students are required to complete their graduation with more than 50% aggregate score or equivalent CGPA from a recognised university. The average course fee ranges between INR 19,00,000 – 24,00,000 for 2 years.
After completing this course, applicants can pursue Jobs across various managerial positions in almost all sectors including MNCs, IT firms, the Finance sector, and consultancies with an average salary ranging between INR 10 LPA – 14 LPA which gradually increases with the candidate’s experience, updated skills and expertise.
2.1 Why PGPM
2.3 When to do PGPM
3.1 Full Time
3.2 Executive PGPM
4.1 Eligibility
4.2 Admissions 2024
4.3 Entrance Exams
4.4 Important Dates
4.5 How to Prepare for PGPM Entrance exams?
4.6 Tips for PGPM Entrance exams
4.7 How to get Admission in top B-School in India?
4.8 How to Apply?
5.1 PGPM vs PGDM
5.2 PGPM vs MBA
6.2 Finance
6.3 IT
6.4 HR
6.5 Marketing
6.6 Operations
7.1 PGPM IIM
7.4 ROI Comparison
PGPM: Course Highlights
| Course Duration | 2 years |
| Course Eligibility | Graduation across relevant discipline with 50% & above aggregate or equivalent CGPA |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exams |
| Entrance Exams | CAT, XAT, SNAP, MAT, NMAT |
| Course Fees (INR) | 19,00,000 – 24,00,000 |
| Average Salary (INR) | 31 LPA & above |
| Top Recruiters | Ey, JP Morgan, McKinsey & Co, Morgan Stanley, PWC, Deloitte |
PGPM course is a post graduate management degree course that can be pursued by students who have completed their graduation in any relevant subjects, preferably commerce or management. The course structure is similar to that of an MBA or PGDM degree.
The PGPM course includes training for the students through internships, research work, and live projects. It helps them to get greater access to the corporate world and gain a huge benefit of work-based learning, as compared to the other normal academic courses.
See Also: PGPM Admission Process
Why Pursue PGPM?
Students pursuing PGPM course will get benefited through various ways such as, the course will help them enhance their qualification, their capability, and their management skills. Some of the other crucial factors determining the importance of this course are listed below for your reference.
- Compact Course Duration: Most of the PGPM courses (except 2-year courses of IIM) can be completed in a year. After completing the course, a certificate will be provided equivalent to an MBA degree.
- Learning through Work: The PGPM course structure is such that it includes either a compulsory internship or a compulsory live project in an interval of every 3-4 months or sometimes even throughout the year. Such an abundance of internships and live projects are generally not available across any other management-oriented courses.
- Huge Job Opportunities: PGPM graduates have huge job opportunities across various sectors such as banking sectors, IT sector & FMCG companies.
- Higher Salary: The salary package for PGPM candidates generally ranges between INR 27 LPA – 31 LPA which is considerably higher than any other academic course. This is the main reason why candidates go for this PGPM program.
See Also:
Who Should Pursue PGPM?
PGPM is an ideal choice for those who want to gain extensive knowledge related to the field of management, business and administration in a brief span of time. Ideally PGPM courses can be pursued by anyone willing to make a career into the management field, however listed below are options for who all can pursue the course.
- Students who want to pursue a career in management can ppt for a PGPM Course.
- This course promises a high salary for individuals who can lead teams and manage them. Individuals with great leadership qualities should definitely opt for a PGPM course to build their career in managerial roles.
- It’s an excellent option for those students who want to switch their careers.
- It provides an opportunity for less experienced professionals to advance in their careers.
Check Out:
When to do PGPM?
PGPM course is done to upgrade the skills and meet the requirements of the industry by imparting practical approaches. The perfect time of doing a PGPM course depends on the individual.
- The PGPM course is highly beneficial for the working professionals who have 3-4 years of work experience.
- Due to the highly rewarding nature of PGPM courses, there is huge demand for it. This has led to high costs associated with the postgraduate degree. Students must be ready to cope with the burden of the finances.
Types of PGPM
Due to the gradual surge in the demands of PGPM courses from the IIMs, there are different options that are made available for the students to choose from the different types of PGPM courses offered.
Full Time
- The full time PGPM course is a 2 year program that is designed in a way to transform professionals with high potential into competent managers.
- It is a trademark course of IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), though nowadays many private and public colleges also provide PGPM courses. The course curriculum is almost similar to that of MBA course.
- PGPM Admissions are based on Entrance Exams conducted either at the national or university level. Top PGPM Entrance Exams: CAT, MAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, GMAT.
- Full time PGPM Specialization includes PGPM Marketing, PGPM Finance, PGPM in HR, and alike.
- In IIMs and most of the other institutes that offer 2 year PGPM courses, each year is further divided into three terms that also include compulsory internships, research work and live projects as a part of the course curriculum.
| IIM Bangalore PGPM Admissions 2024 | SPJIMR Mumbai PGPM Admissions 2024 | MDI Gurgaon PGPM Admissions 2024 |
Executive PGPM
- Executive PGPM program typically has significantly higher ROI due to the lower total opportunity cost.
- The candidates are admitted to the Executive PGPM program on the basis of academic record, work experience, and performance in the Personal Interview.
PGPM Admission Process
Admission to the PGPM course takes place on the basis of entrance exams conducted by national bodies, institutes, or a group of institutes. After qualifying for these exams, candidates are called for further rounds like written tests, group discussions, and personal interviews. Final admission is provided to students based on their performance in these rounds.
PGPM Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who are interested to pursue PGPM program must fulfill the following eligibility criteria that are listed below.
- Candidate’s must have completed a bachelor's degree from a recognized college/ university with a minimum percentage of 50% or equivalent CGPA.
- A valid score for accepted entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, SNAP and GMAT.
- Some colleges like IIM and MDI also consider the work experience of the candidates to grant admissions, hence having work experience can be called important criteria for PGPM admission.
Students in the last year of their graduation degree can also apply for the PGPM program if they are able to produce a certificate from their Principal or Head of the Department of Registrar certifying that the candidate is currently in the final year and has secured at least 50% marks or equivalent based on the previous semester or latest available grades or marks.
PGPM Admissions 2024
Most of the B-Schools accept admissions in PGPM courses on the basis of entrance exam scores.
- The eligibility criteria for PGPM courses is a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with 50% aggregate marks or CGPA
- The application process for CAT for the current session has already been conducted, and the result has been declared on
- The application process for PGPM courses from SPIJMR will commence from November 20, 2023 – February 12, 2024
- PGPM is a professional 2 years degree course in management stream, which is offered by top colleges such as IIM, MDI, FMS SPJIMR, Great Lakes-Chennai
- According to academics, candidates should choose the right B-School that can have an edge over the rest even after scoring 99% in CAT.
PGPM Entrance Exams
The following are the most popular and important management Entrance Exams in which a candidate must qualify in order to secure admission to PGPM course:
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CAT: The Common Admission Test or CAT is one of the most popular entrance exams for admission to postgraduate management courses in India. The computer-based exam is conducted every year by IIM, and the scores are officially used for granting admission to all the Postgraduate courses in all the IIMs of India.
Apart from IIM, almost all the top B-Schools in India accept CAT scores for granting admission to PGPM courses. The exam usually takes place in the month of November, and the results are available by the end of January. The application forms are usually available in the month of August, each year.
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CMAT: Common Management Aptitude Test or CMAT is a computer-based entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at the end of January each year. CMAT scores are accepted by almost all the colleges (except the IIMs) for admission to PGPM courses.
It is compulsory for all the AICTE-approved colleges (both government and private) to accept CMAT scores for admission to postgraduate management courses. The application process generally takes place in the month of October - November, and the results arrive in February.
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GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a global management entrance exam conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). This test score is accepted in more than 100 countries worldwide, including India.
Apart from IIMs, most of the private management colleges in India accept the GMAT test score for admission to PGPM courses. Nowadays, GRE, which is primarily for admission in MS and PhD courses in the US, is also accepted by many colleges in India for admission into management courses.
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XAT: Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is an online entrance exam conducted by XLRI. XAT scores are accepted by many reputed private colleges for admission into PGPM courses.
The application process generally takes place in November, exams are conducted in early January and the results are published either by the end of January or by early February each year.
Important Dates
| Entrance Exam | Registration Deadline | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| CAT | August 5 – September 21, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| CMAT | 2nd week of March 2024 Onwards | 1st week of May 2024 |
| NMAT | August 1 – October 12, 2023 | October 10 – December 19, 2023 |
| SNAP | August 23 – November 23, 2023 |
Test 1: December 10, 2023 Test 2: December 17, 2023 Test 3: December 22, 2023 |
| XAT | July 15 – November 30, 2023 | January 7, 2024 |
How to Prepare for PGPM Entrance exams?
The primary examination concerned for entrance to all PGPM courses is the Common Aptitude Test (CAT). However, most of the entrance tests follow similar patterns and mainly attempt to test the aptitude of the candidates. The following tips can be considered to enhance one’s performance:
- Focus on Strengthening your Basics: For an examination like CAT, one requires absolute conceptual clarity and a clear understanding of the basics. Candidates can attempt to identify their weaknesses and strengths, and work towards the same.
- Practice Managing your Time: Candidates can practise binding themselves with in a time frame and make sure they stick to the allotted time for each question while preparing. They can also work on accuracy on the attempted questions, instead of attempting all questions hurriedly. Keep practicing mock tests and solve previous year's papers.
- Organization of Work: There is no shortage of study material for a popular exam like CAT. Simultaneously, having multiple study resources can be confusing and stressful. Therefore, students are advised to research well about their choice of study material and stick to the same instead of trying to cover topics from everywhere.
- Comprehension: Candidates should primarily focus on the reading comprehension passages as a majority of questions will be from this topic. For a good attempt to score 95 percentile, candidates should attempt to answer 26+ questions.
Tips for PGPM Entrance exams
- Candidates can focus on building their vocabulary as well as maintain this practice every day by reading newspapers and blogs, and also writing something (even diaries and blogs) using the new words they learned every day.
- While solving those questions, candidates should always try to represent the given data and situations pictorially on a piece of paper, instead of just reading questions. This will enhance their understanding of the questions.
- For quantitative ability the candidates are generally advised to go through NCERT maths books and other good school level maths help books for Class 8, 9,10, 11, and 12.
- Practice at least one question paper every day and mark your progress.
- Also, practice the questions from the preparation books which are recommended by the industry experts and management study gurus.
How to get Admission in top B-Schools in India?
The crucial steps that can be followed in order to get to top B-Schools in India are listed below for your reference.
- Most of the PGPM colleges take admission solely on the basis of entrance exam scores.
- For getting admission to top IIMs, candidates will have to achieve a very high percentile in CAT entrance exam, which usually scores up to at least 98 percentile.
- Top B-Schools such as, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, call candidates with scores well above 99 percentile.
- Other reputed private colleges also prefer to have candidates with scores above the 95 percentile.
- Apart from entrance exam scores, candidates should also make sure that they have adequate writing abilities and enhanced communication skills.
- Try to build a strong resume describing each of your achievements in minute detail.
How to Apply
The Application process for PGPM courses in most of colleges is a four-step process, which can be described as follows:
- Fill out the Application Form of the College: The candidate who fulfills all the eligibility criteria for the course will need to apply to the college in which they want to take admission, either online or through the post, as per instructions from the selected college(s).
- Entrance Exam: Almost all the colleges accept admission to PGPM courses on the basis of entrance exam scores. So, the candidate is required to check which entrance exam is accepted by the college and make sure to appear and qualify for that exam in order to get admission in your selected college. Generally, IIMs take admission through CAT exam, while other colleges accept any one of CAT/CMAT/GMAT scores.
- Writing Ability Test (WAT): After clearing the cut off set by the PGPM college, you will be notified about the next rounds of admission, which is mostly Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). Some colleges (Other than IIMs) often take Group Discussion Round at first followed by WAT and PI. WAT usually tests a student's analytical ability skills and capability. The students who pass the exam are finally selected for the PI round.
- Personal Interview (PI): After WAT, this is the second most important step of PGPM admissions. Only the final shortlisted candidates are called for the PI round. In this round, a candidate's personality, academic background and working experience are assessed, and their managerial and leadership qualities are judged.
Course Comparison
There are various management courses that are available in India such as MBA, PGDM, Executive MBA, etc. that can be called almost similar to the PGPM course.
In the section below, we have described and compared these courses for your better understanding of the aim, purpose and outcome of each of the management courses.
PGPM vs PGDM
Many students get confused between PGPM and PGDM. Check the following table to know the common difference between them:
| Parameters | PGPM | PGDM |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Post Graduate Program in Management | Post Graduate Diploma in Management |
| Duration | 1-2 years | 2 years |
| Course Overview | This is usually a postgraduate level certification course (except 2 year course of IIM which grants a degree) in the field of management. | This is a postgraduate level diploma course in the field of management. |
| Course Objective | It is a course specifically designed for working professionals to train them for managerial and leadership positions, and to get a boost in their career. | This course is meant for students who are coming for higher studies in Management after completing their bachelor degrees. |
| Admission criteria | Entrance Based Admission | Entrance Based Admission |
| Average Course Fees | INR 15,00,000 – 20,00,000 | INR 12,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 19 LPA – 23 LPA | INR 17 LPA |
PGPM vs MBA
IIMs usually provide PGPM courses that are equivalent to MBA degrees. But the 1 year PGPM course that is offered by many top private B-Schools in India is different from MBA courses.
The table below shows some of the common differences between these courses:
| Parameters | PGPM | MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Post Graduate Program in Management | Master of Business Administration |
| Duration | 1-2 years | 2 years |
| Overview | This is usually a postgraduate level certification course (except 2 year course of IIM which can itself be converted into MBA) in the field of management. | This is a full time masters course in Business Administration. |
| Objective | It is a course specifically designed for working professionals to train them for managerial and leadership positions in different industry fields. | This course is meant for students who complete their bachelor degree, preferably a BBA, and move to higher studies to pursue a Masters course. |
| Admission Criteria | Entrance Based Admissions, and Cutoffs are generally lower as compared. | Entrance Based Admission, and Cutoffs are generally higher as compared. |
| Average Course Fees | INR 15,00,000 – 20,00,000 | INR 10,00,000 – 20,00,000 (usually less in government colleges like BHU) |
| Average Salary | INR 19 LPA – 23 LPA | INR 11 LPA – 14 LPA |
PGPM Specializations
There are no official PGPM specializations, but the 2 year PGPM courses offer the same syllabus in the first year, and then some elective specialization subjects in the second year.
The specialization generally ranges in the following fields:
General Management
This course generally presents an entire synopsis of the managerial roles and duties. This course lands jobs in many MNC's, Corporate sector, and IT sector companies.
Finance
The course gives an emphasis on financial management. The candidates are generally offered jobs in the banking sector or corporate houses.
IT
This course is specifically meant for IT sector candidates who want to get jobs in higher positions in IT sector companies. This course includes advanced IT topics like data mining, E-commerce and E-business, along with normal management topics. Check: PGPM IT
HR
The course is also known as PGP-HRM, this course is designed for HR professionals, and includes topics such as Compensation and Benefits, and Talent management, etc.
Marketing
The course gives a detailed insight into marketing skills. The candidates generally land a job in the corporate sector.
Operations
This course generally provides detailed insights in operations management. The course comes with job opportunities in the corporate sector, MNC's and IT sectors.
PGPM Top Colleges
Here we have provided the list of top management colleges that offer PGPM courses which were ranked under top 20 by India Today.
| College Name | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Package |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 11,50,000 | INR 20,36,562 |
| IIM Calcutta | INR 11,10,000 | INR 27,90,000 |
| IIM Indore | INR 8,05,000 | INR 20,79,000 |
| IIM Kozhikode | INR 9,50,000 | INR 23,08,000 |
| IIM Shillong | INR 11,50,000 | INR 18,76,000 |
| IIM Trichy | INR 9,15,000 | INR 14,91,000 |
PGPM Private Colleges
The Top Private Colleges offering PGPM Courses besides the IIMs in India are mentioned below along with their Annual Fees and Average Package.
| College Name | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Package |
|---|---|---|
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) | INR 11,75,000 | INR 26,36,000 |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) | INR 8,00,000 | INR 22,05,000 |
| Institute of Management Technology (IMT) | INR 1,00,000 | INR 13,70,000 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | INR 15,86,000 | INR 13,60,000 |
College Comparison
The following table compares PGPM from MDI-Gurgaon, PGPM from SPJIMR and PGPM from Great Lakes-Chennai in a detailed manner.
| Parameters | MDI Gurugram | SPJIMR Mumbai | Great Lakes, Chennai |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Overview | The two year full time PGPM course was started by the institute in 1994. The college provides 14 to 17 electives to its students for specialization. | One year courses specially designed for working professionals. The college mainly focuses on experiential learning | The flagship 1 year PGPM course is claimed to be equivalent to one year MBA. The college is known for providing guarantee of placement. |
| Rankings | NIRF - 12 India Today - 6 | NIRF - 16 India Today- 4 | NIRF - 18 India Today - 18 |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 8,00,000 | INR 11,75,000 | INR 15,86,000 |
| Average Placement Package (Salary) | INR 22 LPA | INR 26.36 LPA | INR 18.60 LPA |
| Top Recruiters | Airtel, Flipkart, ITC, Amazon | Accenture, Amazon, Citi Bank | Amazon, Cognizant, Dell, Deloitte, Decathlon |
ROI Comparison
Below we have formulated a table that shows ROI (Return on Investment) of some of the top private B-Schools offering PGPM course:
| College Name | Average Annual Fees | Average Placement Package (Annual Salary) | Calculated ROI* score | ROI rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDI Gurgaon | INR 8,00,000 | INR 22.05 LPA | 275.62 | 1 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | INR 11,75,000 | INR 26.36 LPA | 268.97 | 2 |
| Great Lakes Institute | INR 15,86,000 | INR 18.60 LPA | 85.75 | 3 |
*ROI = (Average placement package /Average Annual fees) x 100
PGPM Syllabus
The course curriculum and program structure of the PGPM course is unique and incorporates blended learning. Check: PGPM Syllabus
Other than theory classes, main focus is on internships and training, research work, fields trips, industry exposure, etc. that makes this course perfect for already working professionals
Though the syllabus varies from college to college, but a standard 2 year PGPM course is divided into six sessions, and follows the following course curriculum:
First year syllabus:
| Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Accounting | Corporate finance | Business Laws |
| Managing Organisation | Macroeconomics | Competition and strategy |
| Marketing Management | Managerial Communication | Indian economy and policy |
| Microeconomics | Managing people and performance in organisation | Management Accounting |
| Quantitative Methods 1 | Quantitative methods 2 | Information systems and analytics |
| Written Analysis and Communication | Research and marketing decisions | Operations management |
Second year syllabus :
The second year syllabus differs from college to college and depends on the electives available and selected by the candidate. Some of the common elective courses are:
| Elective Subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Econometrics | International Finance | Data Visualization For Managers |
| Data Mining for Business Decisions | Product and Brand Management | Strategic Sourcing Management |
| Corporate Governance | Customer Experience Planning and Execution | Foundations of Strategy Consulting |
| Performance Management | Information Technology Consulting | Private Equity and Venture Capital |
PGPM Jobs
After the completion of PGPM course, candidates can expect a salary hike of upto 30-40% salary hike on their current offer, as compared to their last job. This is not fixed, and it largely depends upon the college, placement offer, company credibility and the required skills & experience of the candidate.
Check the table below that shows common PGPM Jobs along with the salaries and compensation associated with the job post:
| Job Profile | Role | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Tech consultant | The managerial position in the IT sector. Tech consultants give advice to the company on various technical aspects. | 9.14 LPA |
| ITES | To look after the various IT enabled services of the company. | 8.68 LPA |
| Business Consultant | To advise a corporate firm on various aspects of business, including its expansion. | 9.86 LPA |
| Operations Manager | To manage the daily operations of a corporate house. | 10 LPA |
| Finance Manager | To manage the various financial aspects of an enterprise. | 13.33 LPA |
| Sales and Marketing Analyst | To analyse and work on development of sales and marketing strategies of a company. | 12 LPA |
Find out more: PGPM Jobs & Salary
Salary Trend Graph:
PGPM Scope
The demand for PGPM courses is growing day by day. The companies hiring the candidates offer salaries at par with the MBA candidates.
- As the PGPM candidates are expected to have greater work experience than other course candidates, the course is bound to get greater importance from the recruiters in future.
- The career options are huge for a PGPM candidate. The PGPM candidates are offered managerial jobs in almost every sector like corporate, MNC, IT and finance sector.
- The candidates can go on to have a doctoral degree such as PhD in Management Studies and PhD in Business Management, among others. There is a scope to pursue other certification courses as well which might help to increase their skills and management capabilities.
- Most of the candidates are hired as Analysts and Consultants, the positions which offer very high pay that ranges from INR 6-20 LPA.
PGPM: FAQs
Ques. What are the advantages of PGPM?
Ques. What are the disadvantages of doing PGPM?
Ques. Is the 1 year PGPM course of the Great Lakes Institute of Management really as good as claimed?
Ques. MBA or PGPM, Which is better?
Ques. Of MBA, PGPM, and PGDM, which one has greater value in the job market?
Ques. Does PGPM have the same value as an MBA degree?
Ques. PGPM or PGDM, Which is better?
Ques. Which is the top private college for studying PGPM courses?
Ques. Which entrance exam is accepted by Great Lakes for admission to PGPM courses?
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