Are you unable to select between MBA and PGDM courses in marketing? Both courses are ideal if you want to pursue a career in top managerial posts in the corporate environment. However, there is a difference between them too. This blog will help you discover the difference between MBA vs PGDM courses. In addition, here, you will learn how a management course can help you get to the topmost positions in the business world.

PGDM in marketing

PGDM is a diploma course. Interested candidates can pursue a PGDM in marketing after completion of their graduation. Graduation can be done from any stream, but you must pass it with more than 50% marks.
Apart from this, you must appear or pass CAT, XAT, or MAT to do PGDM in marketing from the top management institutions. Passing a national-level management entrance test can help you bring the class of top business schools in Delhi/NCR. PGDM courses are pursued by institutions accredited by AICTE.

MBA in marketing

An MBA in marketing can help you achieve a high managerial profile in top MNCs. You can pursue This post-graduate course after graduation from any stream. You must clear CAT, XAT, or MAT with a high rank. Further, you must always choose a UGC-granted business school to pursue an MBA in marketing stream.

Why pursue PGDM vs MBA in marketing?

Marketing jobs are evergreen. Be it any industry, there is a requirement for a marketing specialist always. And no one can do it better than a PGDM or MBA student. This is the main reason why the industry demands cream management students and the tough competition to get through the enrollment process in top management schools. Only management students are able to tackle real-world business situations.

Perks of getting a management degree or diploma

A management course can teach you different skills and can help you lead a bright career in managerial profiles. Management courses like an MBA or a PGDM can help you upskill in core and advanced business management as well as specialize in the trade of your choice. Apart from getting a dream role in a top MNC, you get to learn:

Soft skills
While doing a management program, you get to improve your communication skills and work on your problem-solving attitude. Soft skills aim to inculcate handling and managing human relations in an industrial environment that further help a manager to work well in his/her company.

Critical thinking ability
As a part of the business management curriculum, critical thinking aims to analyze and assess everyday situations in offices. It can help you in the simple evaluation of assumptions, arguments, concerns, and other day-to-day issues.

Specialization in Marketing
With a PGDM or an MBA, you can reroute your career toward consulting, finances, marketing, human resources, and operations. Pursuing a management degree or diploma in marketing opens the doors to golden career opportunities in top ventures.

Industrial networking
A management degree can help you connect with industry people during your course duration. For example, you can join seminars, conferences, or workshops in a popular B-school in Delhi/NCR. In addition, you can opt for an internship in a reputed company during your PGDM or MBA.

Difference between PGDM and MBA

Let’s understand the basic difference between PGDM vs MBA in marketing. It can help you know PGDM vs MBA which is best.

1. Course duration and type
Both PGDM and MBA courses are of 2 years. The course tenure can exceed up to 3 years for executive-level PGDM and MBA. PGDM is a diploma course after you complete graduation from any stream. Whereas an MBA is a post-graduation course that you can do after graduation. PGDM courses are affiliated with AICTE and MBA courses are accredited by UGC.

2. Learning method
You get to learn business skills practically while doing PGDM that are more industry-specific. Whereas, there is more theoretical learning experience in MBA courses. An MBA course happens to be recognized globally. It offers more structured learning procedures. PGDM focuses on application-based learning procedures and hands-on experience. Also, PGDM allows flexibility in the curriculum with changing industrial trends and patterns.

3. Business understanding
If we talk about business understanding, PGDM thrives on more industrial knowledge than MBA. And, an MBA course can help you build a broad business network. PGDM offers more industrial knowledge and can help you get top managerial posts in big ventures. You can learn more practical business skills in a PGDM program. Like, with a PGDM course, you can get networking opportunities with industry leaders.

4. Career opportunities
A wide array of career opportunities is offered by management courses. PGDM is ideal for roles that require practical skills. While the industries that need theoretical knowledge more, require MBA applicants. MBA candidates get formal industrial knowledge. However, as per surveys, PGDM courses are more in trend as they are more relevant to industrial norms and corporate working methodology.

If we bring into light the job opportunities for PGDM vs MBA in marketing, PGDM students can get brand marketing and digital marketing jobs. While talking about the latter, MBA candidates can become market research analysts.

5. Salary offered
According to surveys, the salary offered to PGDM students is more than that of the MBA students. For PGDM students, the average initial salary is around 10-12 LPA. The starting salary of MBA students goes for just 5-6 LPA.

Which is better?: MBA or PGDM

Well, it can be a long battle to prove the best between PGDM vs MBA in India. It is totally a matter of personal career goals whether you want to do a PGDM vs an MBA in marketing. Both of these courses seem to be similar but there is a world of difference between PGDM vs MBA. However, we suggest that if you want to gain a recognized academic qualification, an MBA will be a better option for you. In addition, if you want peak industry-oriented education to excel in the corporate world, PGDM is the best option for you.