Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a specialised program that allows graduates to gain a better understanding of various business management functions. Promising career avenues, higher salaries, better networking opportunities and abundant professional exposure, an MBA course certainly has a lot to offer.
The demand for candidates with management degrees has risen significantly over the last few years. Accordingly, employers are constantly on the lookout for professionals who have the right set of skills to take over managerial positions in their organisations. An MBA degree from a reputed college/university has therefore become a popular career choice among graduates.
For pursuing an MBA degree course, applicants must have a minimum three-year Bachelor’s degree in any discipline or equivalent qualification with minimum 50 percent aggregate marks. Some colleges/universities allow admissions to even those applicants who are appearing for the final year degree exam.
Those who intend to enrol themselves in MBA (Executive) degree course must have a minimum three years of work experience as of the cut-off date, aside from minimum qualifications required for regular MBA degree course.
Applicants belonging to reserved categories can apply for such a course with a Bachelor’s degree with minimum 45 percent aggregate marks.
Based on their preferences and curricular peculiarities, universities and colleges across India follow different admission processes. While a sizeable chunk considers pass percentage in graduation as the only criterion, rest of them give due weightage to Common Entrance Test scores as well.
Common Entrance Tests – For those desirous of pursuing an MBA course, several Common Entrance Tests await their response, each of which has its select exam pattern. Despite that, almost all entrance tests have some sections in common, such as Analytical / Logical / Critical Reasoning, Language Comprehension / Verbal Skills, Quantitative / Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis / Interpretation and General Awareness.
Here are some colleges that accept scores of particular Common Entrance Tests:
Common Admission Test (CAT): Several IIM’s and 100 plus institutes nationwide think through MBA aspirants’ score that they manage to obtain in Common Admission Test (CAT); the prominent ones include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, FMS Delhi, IISc Bangalore, SP Jain Mumbai and the IITs.
Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT): AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) conducts CMAT, a comparatively newer addition to the list of MBA entrance exams, twice a year. Top public and private B-Schools that accept CMAT scores include ISM Dhanbad, SIMSREE Mumbai, NIT Durgapur, GLIM Chennai, GIM Goa, Jaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow and so on.
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): MBA aspirants can secure seats in more than 100 MBA institutes across India with their GMAT scores. GMAT accepting schools in India include IIM Ahmedabad, ISB Hyderabad & Mohali, IIM Bangalore, XLRI Jamshedpur, Dept. Of Management BITS Pilani, IIFT Delhi & Kolkata and several top B-Schools as well.
Management Aptitude Test (MAT): Conducted by All India Management Association (AIMA), MAT attracts the fancies of several MBA aspirants who can rest assured about getting admission in MBA schools, such as Alliance Bangalore, Amity Noida, IBMR Bangalore, EMPI New Delhi, NILM Delhi, SCMS Cochin, IRM Jaipur, and so on.
AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA): Conducted by Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), ATMA is a national entrance exam conducted four times a year. Top B-schools accepting ATMA score include SCMS Cochin, IMS Ghaziabad, MSM Meerut, International School of Business & Media, Pune, and Institute of Business Management and Research (IBMR IPS)
College Specific Exam Tests: Apart from ATMA, MAT, CAT, CMAT and GMAT, a range of other tests form the basis of admission process into some groups of MBA colleges and specific colleges.
Xavier Admission Test (XAT): Conducted by XLRI for admission into several MBA colleges countrywide, such as XLRI Jamshedpur, XIM Bhubaneswar, GIM, and so on, the national aptitude test i.e. Xavier Admission Test (XAT) helps several aspiring MBA students realise their dream of being MBA postgraduates.
Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP): Symbiosis conducts this management entrance exam every year for admission into MBA programs run by its affiliated institutes.
ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test (IBSAT): Acknowledged by ICFAI University and IBS Business School, the national level postgraduate MBA entrance examination score plays a vital role in helping students secure their seats in affiliated MBA institutes in India.
After qualifying various Common Entrance Tests, MBA applicants find Group Discussion (GD) as their next challenge that they need to face to prove some essential personality traits. At a GD, observers usually check traits, such as communication skills, awareness, group behaviour, flexibility, reasoning ability, initiative, confidence, leadership, creativity, and assertiveness.
Be it personal or a group interview, MBA aspirants need to bring their positive traits to the fore. While personal interview aims to explore the level of self-awareness, personal goals, and academic objectives of the applicant, the Group Interview focuses more on the analytical abilities of the candidate in question.
Some prominent types of MBA courses and specializations that attract the attention of students and working professionals include:
MBA in Marketing focuses on educating students about marketing, advertising, consumer behaviour and other fields.
Syllabus: MBA in Marketing syllabus typically includes Consumer Behaviour, Advertising Management, Business Marketing, Service Marketing and Sales Promotion Management.
Job Prospects: Key positions available for MBA degree holders include Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, Market Research Analyst, Media Planner and Head of Digital Marketing.
A graduate in any stream can pursue MBA in Finance, which further includes budgeting, costing, capital management, and International Finance as its core subjects.
Syllabus: MBA Finance students learn the essentials of Managerial Economics, Organizational Behaviour, Business Communication, Corporate Finance and Human Resource Management as part of core syllabus.
Job Prospects: MBA Finance candidates are suitable for various positions including Credit Risk Manager, Corporate Banker, Asset Manager, Private Equity Analyst, Hedge Fund Manager, Sales Executive, Trade Expert, and Treasury Manager.
MBA in Human Resources Management (HRM) is a preferential field of specialisation for those who want to develop a management career in HR and strategy.
Syllabus: The core subjects taught under this specialised course include labour markets, mergers, acquisitions, international leadership, and emerging economics.
Job Prospects: Various job roles available for an MBA in HR include HR Assistant, Payroll Specialist, Training Manager, Human Resources Manager, Labour Relations Manager, and HR Information Systems Manager.
An MBA degree in International Business prepares students to understand the organisational capabilities of international businesses and various management mantras that can be put into practice.
Syllabus: The major subjects covered under MBA in International Business (IB) syllabus include International Finance, International Logistics, International Marketing, Foreign Exchange Management and Export & Import Management.
Job Prospects: The job titles for MBA IB scholars include International Business Development Manager, Export Managers, Brand Manager, Management Consultant, Marketing Manager and Investment Banking Manager.
An MBA degree in IT allows students to get a hang of design, selection, planning, implementation, administration, and usage of emerging information technologies.
Syllabus: Some common subjects taught to MBA in IT students include IT Strategic Planning, E-Business, IT Project Management and Technology Enabled Business Model Innovation.
Job Prospects: An MBA (Information Technology) graduate has several career options to explore, such as IT Manager, IT Director, Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and so on.
An MBA degree in Supply Chain Management readies aspirants to grasp the essentials of warehousing, inventory management, and material transportation.
Syllabus: A typical MBA program in Supply Chain Management generally focuses on Business Processes and Functions, Role of Internet Technologies, Supply Chain Operations and Supply Chain Inventory Management.
Job Prospects: After getting their MBA degree in Supply Chain Management, graduates can become Strategic Sourcing Managers, Supply Chain Directors, Supply Chain Consultants, Inventory Managers, Supplier Quality Project Managers and Supplier Relationship Managers