Best Distance MBA Courses in India for Working Professionals

With the growing advent of digitization, distance courses particularly distance MBA courses are in vogue and have established themselves, perhaps if not more, but equally valuable to traditional MBA courses. More often than not they represent the most flexible and economic way to earn a degree. A distance MBA today is widely accepted across global economies and the degree holders are looked upon as talented individuals with the most in-demand skills.

Reports suggest that the enrolment rate in Distance MBA courses in India is among the top 10 in the world. Why? India has the largest youth population among which there is a large portion of students who take jobs after graduation. These students are inclined to opt for distance MBA courses the most. These are designed especially to suit the needs of working professionals. It gives them the chance to continue their job along with an academic degree added to their hat. Moreover, they also give the flexibility of time and space.

India has a good number of students who enrol in distance MBA courses hence more than 50 universities and institutes have started distance MBA programs or equivalent degrees. But picking the right fit for you can be tough in this crowded education marketplace. 

This article shortlists a few universities and specialized courses that are perfect for working professionals. This shortlisting is done on a dynamic research basis and not only the conventional way of comparing universities based on ranking rather this shortlisting is done on the bases of the following parameters: – 

1. Curriculum 
2. Flexibility 
3. Ranking and Accreditations 
4. Specializations 
5. Networking Potential 

NMIMS NGASCE

The first institute that ticks all the boxes is the NMIMS Global. The institute is well accredited and is recognized by top-ranking bodies in India as well as globally. 

The university is accredited by UGC and is awarded an A+ grade and a 3.59 CGPA by NAAC. The institute is also recognized globally by AACSB International. Apart from that, the UGC has trusted the institute in all aspects hence granting it Category 1 status i.e. Autonomy. This has allowed the institute to tweak the curriculum according to the new advancement and thus offer up-to-date education. 

In NMIMS Global, distance MBA (done in the ODL mode, also called NMIMS Global Distance MBA) the enrolled students get access to Alumni Portal along with Career Development Services. This is a 5 step model where the students are associated with an industry expert who prepares them for interviews. With these services, the students get the opportunity to connect with job recruiters and fellow students. 

The university offers 10 specializations including HR, Marketing, Banking, and Finance to name a few. 

Chandigarh University 

Another university that is among the top priorities of the students in Chandigarh University. It is a non-profit university that has been recognized by UGC-DEB and is the youngest university in Punjab that has received a NAAC A+ grade. Along with that, the university has associated itself with 250+ foreign universities and institutions from countries like the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Italy, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, etc. 

The university offers an inclusive and holistic atmosphere to the students to incorporate international students in their distance courses as well as on-campus. 

Chandigarh University offers 4 specializations in their distance MBA course including Finance, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, and International Business. 

Indira Gandhi National Open University

IGNOU, the world’s largest Open University, is also one of India’s most popular distance and distance education universities. IGNOU has over 200 degree, diploma, certificate, and doctoral programs to choose from. IGNOU has received honors of excellence from the Commonwealth of Learning as a world leader in remote education.

The University has built a name for itself in higher education, and continuing professional development to name a few fields. University collaborates with reputable public and private institutions to provide the finest academic curriculum for its students. 

The university offers 1 specialization in the field of distance MBA i.e. Banking and Finance. 

Welingkar Institute of Management 

Welingkar School of Distance Learning, often known as WeSchool, was founded in Matunga, Mumbai, in 1977. The institute is ranked among the top 50 business schools in the world by NIRF, and it is accredited by the AICTE. The college is an autonomous institute associated with the University of Mumbai and was founded under the patronage of the SP Mandali Trust. Welingkar’s Mumbai and Bangalore campuses provide MBA programs in a variety of formats, including on-campus and hybrid. The institution opened a second campus in Bangalore in 2008. In 2015, the institution won the AICTE award for “Best industry-linked management institute.” The institution has sought out foreign organizations and institutes for cooperation in the past, including Otto Friedrich Universidad and Stuttgart Media University, Jonkoping International Business School, and others.

Annamalai University 

S. R. M. Annamalai Chettiar created Annamalai University, which combines Sri Minakshi College, Sri Minakshi Tamil College, and Sri Minakshi Sanskrit College. According to the Annamalai University Act 1928, a “University” was founded on January 1, 1929, by combining the three institutions. In 2021, Annamalai University is granted the status of affiliating university, and colleges in Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, and Mayiladuthurai are affiliated with the university. Annamalai Institution is the country’s largest public residential university, obtaining an ‘A’ rating from NAAC in 2014.

Annamalai University is not only well known in India but has also collaborated with foreign universities in various countries such as – the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Along with that, the university is an integral part of The Indo-EU FUNC FOOD Project and 21st Century Indo-US Knowledge which are two worldwide projects. 

Annamalai University offers 8 specializations in their distance MBA courses, Marketing Management, International Business, Hotel Management, and Catering to name a few courses. 

These are a few universities that are the priority choices of students. There are, indeed, other universities that may meet these criteria such as Amity University, SP Jain Institute of management, etc. The selection of the university is also a subjective choice of the students which is fair enough but we recommend you to do your due diligence and consider the 5 parameters that are discussed above. 

Besides the aforementioned institutes offering some of the best part-time or distance MBA courses, there are other institutes that a student can look forward to based on their individual research. However, if particularly a student is looking for a distance MBA in India or distance MBA in the country, we strongly recommend factors like career advancement services, mentorship, and placement assistance when choosing an distance management program.