Executive MBA: IIM Lucknow vs. NMIMS – A Comprehensive Review

In a world where “time is money” and career growth waits for no one, pursuing an executive MBA could be a game-changer. It not only allows you to balance time effectively but also helps you make smart investments for career advancement. And India’s top-ranked management institutes like IIM Lucknow and NMIMS are facilitating these courses. Curated especially for working professionals, an executive MBA is a gateway to thrive in this competitive job market.

However, with IIM Lucknow in your mind and NMIMS at the top of your list, which one is the right course? With this blog, we shall provide you with a detailed analysis of IIM Lucknow vs NMIMS online executive MBA courses. Check out the duration, curriculum, fees, eligibility, admission process, and more for the two best executive MBA colleges in India. Explore which one could be a better fit for your future career objectives.

IIM Lucknow vs NMIMS Executive MBA: Overview

IIM Lucknow executive MBA is also known as PGPWE (Post Graduate Programme for Working Professionals). The course lasts two years, following a term-based academic pattern. While the first year comprises four terms, you shall study only three terms in the second year. IIM Lucknow executive MBA is a robust programme for working professionals who want to broaden their insights, knowledge, and skills. Thus, the classes are conducted only on weekends, allowing you to balance your work and study.

The NMIMS executive MBA online is a two-year programme for working professionals as well. Comprising 8 terms, the course allows you to opt for your desired specialisation. NMIMS executive MBA is an online programme that includes on-campus immersions for networking and exposure purposes. Being part of this course, you would primarily be engaged through online learning while managing your full-time job.

Also Read: NMIMS Online MBA 2025: Fees, Admission, Eligibility, and more

Who Should Consider the IIM Lucknow Executive MBA

Although the course is open for all working professionals with a minimum of 3 years of work experience, here is who can benefit more from this course:

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  Managers with 5+ years of industry experience seeking transition to leadership roles.
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  Entrepreneurs looking for global exposure with international immersions.
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  Professionals seeking industry-aligned curriculum with real-world practical experience.

Also Read: Executive MBA From IIMs – Worth the Investment?

Who is the NMIMS Online Executive MBA Ideal For?

The NMIMS executive MBA online could be an ideal fit for working professionals who are:

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  Looking for an affordable executive MBA with high prestige and career services.
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  Seeking a more straightforward admission process than IIMs.
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  Mid-career professionals with 5–8 years of industry working experience.
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  Working executives want to give a head start to their careers for managerial roles.

IIM Lucknow vs NMIMS Executive MBA: Comparing the Features

We have done an unbiased comparison solely based on the features of the IIM Lucknow and the NMIMS online executive MBA courses. Explore the features to know which course suits your requirements better:

Duration

IIM Lucknow and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies both offer a two-year EMBA. While IIM Lucknow includes 7 terms, the NMIMS online executive MBA consists of 8 terms and shall be covered within two years. Moreover, the NMIMS executive MBA covers 4 terms each year, while the IIM Lucknow executive MBA for working professionals involves 4 terms in the first year and 3 in the last.

Curriculum: How Does the Programme Work

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  IIM Lucknow PGPWE course consists of a total of 7 terms. During which you shall attend the IIM Lucknow campus in Noida on weekends. You would be asked to reach the campus every Friday afternoon and shall leave on Sunday afternoons, every alternate weekend.
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  NMIMS executive MBA online allows you to learn at your own pace, from anywhere you want. Considering balanced work-study-life requirements for executives, the NMIMS online MBA for working professionals delivers course content through an online medium. Online live lectures, recorded lectures, e-books, and e-case studies are available 24*7 to access at your convenience.

Specialisations Offered

IIM Lucknow allows you to choose a total of seven electives during your sixth and seventh terms. Here are the available electives:

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  Decision Sciences
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  Strategy Management
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  Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources
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  General Management
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  Information Technology & Systems
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  Finance & Accounting
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  Marketing Management
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  Communication
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  Business Environment (Economics)
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  Operations Management

NMIMS online executive MBA offer five specialisations to choose from. Check out the names listed below:

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  Marketing Management
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  Leadership & Strategy
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  Operations & Supply Chain Management
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  Applied Finance
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  Digital Marketing

Global Exposure

At IIM Lucknow, you could engage in a two-week international immersion programme. IIM Lucknow executive MBA allows you to explore one of the pioneering business schools in Europe. Build cross-cultural experience, understand global management challenges, and gain insights into global business systems with this course.

On the other hand, the NMIMS online executive MBA allows you to visit the prestigious campus of NMIMS, Mumbai. It aims to help you expand your network and connect with global alumni and professionals. While the NMIMS executive MBA online emphasises global exposure, IIM Lucknow is a better fit due to international immersion.

Career Support & Placements

IIM Lucknow and NMIMS are two leading institutes for management education in India. They are known for their years of established legacy and career support services that they foster in their courses. Check out the career support services of IIM Lucknow vs NMIMS executive MBA programmes:

IIM Lucknow Executive MBA Placement:

IIM Lucknow provides full exposure to gain leadership skills and various career support services. However, the institute boasts no placement drives since the course is for working professionals who are currently employed:

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  International immersions
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  Live projects for hands-on experience
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  Engage in a leadership talk series
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  Be a part of a close-knit community

NMIMS Online Executive MBA Placements:

While NMIMS also do not boast about placements for executive programmes, it ensures access to placement opportunities for working professionals. Here are some of those services:

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  On-campus immersions for networking
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  Access to 500+ hiring partners
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  Capstone projects for practical exposure
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  May offer access to virtual or on-campus placement drives

Fee Structure

IIM Lucknow executive MBA fees are INR 11,00,000 for the session 2025–27. Apart from this, you need to pay INR 10,000 as a refundable caution fee, INR 5,000 as an alumni membership fee, and additional taxes as per the Government of India. Besides, international immersions require around INR 4.50 lakhs for accommodation, travelling, and other expenses that you need to deposit in two instalments (terms 4 & 5).

The NMIMS online executive MBA fees are INR 4,00,000 for the entire two-year course. It is a better fit as a budget-friendly course. Additionally, you need to pay INR 20,000 initially and INR 1,500 for registration.

Eligibility Criteria

Check out the IIM Lucknow executive MBA eligibility criteria to enrol in the programme:

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  You must be an executive with 10+2+3 or 4 years of study pattern.
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  Qualifying for any one of the GMAT, CAT, GATE, or IIM Lucknow PGPWE entrance exams is mandatory.
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  A minimum of 3 years of working experience is required post-graduation.

Take a look at the NMIMS executive MBA eligibility criteria:

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  10+2+3 in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent.
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  You must have 55% in your bachelor’s degree (5% relaxation is provided to SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates).
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  Having 3+ years of full-time working experience is mandatory.

Admission Process

NMIMS online executive MBA offers a significantly easier admission process than IIM Lucknow. Here it is:

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  IIM Lucknow executive MBA admissions involve four aspects of counselling. It includes submitting the scores of the GMAT/CAT/GATE/IIM Lucknow PGPWE entrance exam. Based on these scores, you would be shortlisted for a writing ability test, followed by a personal interview.
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  If you can fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria of the NMIMS executive MBA online, you can apply online to enrol. Based on your eligibility, you would be called for a personal interview. Once the results are announced for the interview process, you can pay the course fee and secure admission.

Which Executive MBA Should You Choose?

Here are the parameters that may help you choose the right course between IIM Lucknow vs NMIMS executive MBA. Explore at a glance:

The Final Words

Both IIM Lucknow and NMIMS offer robust executive MBA courses. While IIM Lucknow holds higher prestige, NMIMS is also widely recognised. Based on their academic excellence, both offer an executive MBA with different perspectives. Where IIM Lucknow executive MBA ensures international immersion, the NMIMS online executive MBA is a better approach for learners on a budget, with assistance in placements. It is recommended to choose the course wisely depending on your priorities. Both are excellent in their separate ways. Go for the one that fits your requirements better.