Top 9 Online/Distance MBA Colleges in Karnataka – UPDATED!!

With India’s goal to become self-reliant and become a $5 trillion economy, the nation needs a good amount of capable working population to reach the goal. It is the preparedness of the population to lead and manage which will impact the business environment of the country and ultimately contribute to its GDP growth. To achieve this, businesses across all sectors need to hire well-trained management professionals. To that end, the Government of India has taken several initiatives to enhance the accessibility of higher education through online and distance education courses in order to transform capable individuals into proficient leaders.

Karnataka is home to some of the leading corporate houses in the country and prestigious universities. If you are an aspiring MBA candidate, read on to explore some of the best UGC-approved universities offering world-class online/distance MBA programmes in the state. The new National Education Policy has emphasised on enhancing the quality of online and distance programmes so that more students can benefit from this. This is one of the major reasons why India has witnessed a higher enrollment number for Online and Distance MBA degrees since 2020.

Why Go for an Online MBA?

Some of you must be facing the dilemma of whether an online MBA shall be beneficial for you or not. Let us quickly go through some ways in which an online MBA can help you:

• Enhanced networking opportunities at the global level
• Customise your degree as per your goal
• Online/distance MBA offers the same credibility as offline programmes
• Study while you work
• Advance your career without compromising other commitments

Top Online/ Distance MBA Colleges in Karnataka

Let’s discuss these colleges in detail:

1. Jain Deemed-to-be-University

Jain Deemed-to-be-University is counted among the top private universities in the country. It holds an exceptional history of excellence in academics. This university offers a conducive learning environment and is a prominent member of renowned associations like AIU, AUAP, and many others.

Jain (Deemed-to-be-University) offers MBA programmes in both distance and online modes with various specialisations. The best part is that this university gives you the option to combine two specialisations in one degree. The university is dedicated to providing 24/7 career support and a fast-track learning structure. In addition to this, the placement services of the university are outstanding, and thus, every year, reputed names like KPMG, EY, Flipkart, HDFC Bank, and others recruit Jain University students.

Specialisations: 

• Retail Banking Operations
• Banking and Finance
• Systems and Operations Management
• Logistics and Supply Chain
• Marketing and Human Resource Management
• Digital Marketing and E-commerce
• Data Science and Analytics
• Finance and Marketing
• Human Resource Management and Finance
• International Finance (Accredited by ACCA, UK)
• Information Technology Management
• General Management
• Marketing
• Strategic Finance (Accredited by CPA, US + CMA, US)
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Healthcare Management
• Project Management
• Entrepreneurship and Leadership
• Business Intelligence and Analytics (Accredited by IoA, UK)

2. Karnataka State Open University

Karnataka State Open University is the premier institution in the region committed to fulfil the national objectives of higher education. The aim of this university is to expand the scope of education to working professionals, households, people from backward regions and disadvantaged sections of society.

KSOU offers a wide range of courses at UG and PG levels. It has high-quality SLMs, and audio-video lectures and arranges radio talks for its distance learners. The admission to all its programmes is held twice a year in January and June. At KSOU, you not only get quality academics but are also facilitated with skill development programmes, training for competitive examinations, and campus recruitment drives.

Specialisations: 

• Finance
• Marketing
• Human Resource
• Operations
• Tourism
• Corporate Law
• IT
• Hospital and Health Care Management

3. University of Mysore

The University of Mysore is the first university in Karnataka and the sixth oldest in the country. The institution is highly reputed on a global scale, with enrolments of students from over 50 countries. In 2008, the university was recognised as the ‘Institution of Excellence.’ The diverse courses it offers are in accordance with the global academic structure and industry standards.

Changing with the needs of society and the economy, the university started delivering various online programmes to reach a larger section of students. All of its online courses are approved and recognised by the government. For those students aspiring for MBA programmes, the University of Mysore has the benefit of pursuing dual special programmes as well. Overall, a degree from such a reputable public institution is advantageous in all aspects.

Specialisations: 

• General Management
• HR Management
• Marketing Management
• Financial Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Operations Management

4. JSS Academy for Higher Education and Research

Formerly known as the JSS University, the JSS Academy for Higher Education and Research has focused on health services, teaching, and research. This institution is a part of the JSS Mahavidyapeetha, under which many educational institutions function. In the QS World University Rankings, the institution is ranked 65 in Southern Asia.

The deemed-to-be-university has around 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students pursuing varied programmes. Through its Center for Distance & Online Education, the institution started offering PG, UG, Diploma, and Certificate in online and distance mode. In the PG programme basket of its online learning arm, the institution offers MBA only in Hospital Administration.

Specialisations: 

• Hospital Administration

5. Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is a self-financing institution with a track record of high-class academics, infrastructure, and research contributions. In 2020, the institution was recognised as an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education. The expert faculty of MAHE caters to the needs of students from various fields of study, including Health Sciences, Engineering and Management, Communication, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, and others.

It delivers online programmes under the umbrella of Online Manipal, which brings together courses from different campuses of the Manipal Group. Furthermore, the Online MBA degree offered by MAHE is specifically designed for working professionals and has thirteen specialisation options to choose from.

Specialisations: 

• Finance
• Marketing
• Human Resource Management
• Analytics and Data Science
• Retail Management
• BFSI
• IT & FinTech
• International Business
• Information System Management
• Operations Management
• Project Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Total Quality Management

6. Kuvempu University

Named after the great Kannada writer Shri Kuvempu, Kuvempu University has acquired a status of quality education ever since its inception in 1987. The university has 35 postgraduate departments across different faculties like Arts, Commerce, Education, and Science & Technology.

With the aim to make education available for all, Kuvempu University offers online and distance education courses under the wings of the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE). The DDE has a total of 26 courses at UG, PG, and diploma levels. The Distance MBA programme at Kuvempu has a range of electives, such as Marketing Management, Financial Management, and Human Resource Management. Students can polish their expertise in their respective field.

Specialisations:

• The university does not offer any specialisations but includes elective courses to choose from in the third semester.

7. IGNOU (Regional Centre)

In the last 37 years, IGNOU has become a university with the largest number of enrollments. It has made education available to everyone in a very affordable range. Since the day of its inception, the University has emphasised a flexible and learner-centric approach. It has a broad network of 69 regional centres, over 2063 learner support centres and 25 overseas study centres. It offers a wide range of programmes from certificate courses, and diplomas, to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in diverse areas. Furthermore, it provides a 2-year distance MBA programme in various specialisations.

IGNOU is also the SWAYAM portal’s national coordinator for the MOOC courses. The University has a broad network of notable alumni and has always strengthened its alumni network. It also has a dedicated Campus Placement Cell which conducts off-campus and on-campus placement drives at its headquarters and regional centres.

Specialisations: 

• Finance Management
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing Management
• Operations Management
• Services Management

8. Xaviers Institute of Business Management Studies (Regional Centre)

Understanding the need for a flexible and convenient academic culture, the Xaviers Institute of Business Management Studies offers a distance education programme for working professionals. The distance learning programmes provide a comprehensive curriculum in the business management domain. The institution focuses on case-based learning and allows customising your programme.

Xavier’s online MBA is specifically designed for working professionals. It gives dual specialisation benefits and includes an industry-relevant curriculum with self-paced modules and online sessions.

9. Amity University, Bangalore

Amity University is highly recognised in the education sector as the leading institute spread across the country and even on international soil. Through its online education pursuit, the University aims to reach a wider population and make world-class education available to everyone. Amity University’s Bangalore campus has all the qualities that have made the institution stand out in the last two decades.

For all the Bangalore candidates who wish to extend their academic credentials and accelerate their career growth with an online MBA programme, Amity University provides a good opportunity for you. They focus on an industry-led curriculum and provide complete career guidance to remote learners. You can tailor its online MBA programme as per your desired specialisation.

Specialisations: 

• Digital Entrepreneurship
• HR Analytics
• Data Science
• Business Analytics
• International Finance
• Finance and Accounting Management
• Digital Marketing Management
• Hospitality Management
• Human Resource Management
• International Business Management
• Marketing and Sales Management
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Management
• Retail Management
• Production and Operations Management
• Entrepreneurship and Leadership Management
• Information Technology Management
• Insurance Management
• Global Finance Market

Eligibility for Online/Distance MBA Programmes

• Education:

  An applicant must have completed his/her undergraduate from a recognised university in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks. The minimum marks range may vary as per university.

• Entrance Exam:

  For online/distance MBA programmes, most of the colleges/universities do not have any entrance exam criteria. Some public institutions do consider CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT scores or conduct their separate entrance exams.

• Work Experience:

  In most of the online MBA programmes, having prior work experience is not necessary, but the courses designed specifically for working professionals require 3 to 5 years of industry experience.

• Age Limit:

  There is no upper age limit criteria to pursue an online/distance MBA in India.

Admission process for online/Distance MBA

• Registration:

  To begin the admission procedure, you must register online at the official website of the university. Then, proceed with filling out the personal details and other information asked by the institution.

• Document Submission:

  Once you have filled in the basic details, you are required to submit your documents, including past academic transcripts, school certificates, government-registered ID card, passport-size photograph, and entrance test score proof if asked by any institution.

• Fee payment:

  Later, to confirm your seat, pay the fee as defined by the university.

• Confirmation:

  Once you have completed all the steps, you will receive a final confirmation letter.

Takeaway

In Karnataka, there are many reputed educational institutions offering online/distance MBA courses with a variety of specialisations. As an aspiring candidate, it depends on your need and personal interest to choose the right institution. Do comprehensive research and make the best decision.