PGDM and executive PGDM are some of the most sought-after postgraduate programmes in India and the world. Students and working professionals pursue these programmes to enhance their business management skills and gain better career opportunities. While both courses are postgraduate programmes in business management, there are major differences between the two.
Most people tend to get confused between PGDM and executive PGDM. Both of these terms cannot be used interchangeably as they have substantial differences. If you also have questions about PGDM vs executive PGDM, this article will answer all your doubts.
Post Graduate Diploma in Management
A PGDM course full form is a postgraduate programme in management. People who have pursued an undergraduate degree from any stream are eligible to apply for the PGDM programme. Working professionals can also choose to pursue a PGDM programme. A PGDM programme has various specialisations like marketing, operations management, accounting, finance, etc. A student can choose their preferred specialisation as per their interests and skills.
The PGDM programme focuses on imparting basic and advanced management skills to students for a successful career in the business world. It is one of the top management programmes in the world. Depending on your preference, you can pursue a PGDM course in different modes, like online mode, distance learning mode, or traditional mode. The PGDM course has a duration of two years in most cases.
Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management
The executive PGDM course is specially designed for working professionals and executives who wish to improve their business management skills and gain better career opportunities. To get admission to the executive PGDM course, the candidate needs to have a minimum of work experience of about five years. People who have completed an undergraduate degree but have no work experience are not eligible to apply for the programme.
The executive PGDM course details include a course duration that is between 15 to 28 months, which is shorter than an average PGDM course. Moreover, the course curriculum is more practical based and is focused on imparting skills to enhance the skills and knowledge of working professionals so that they can assume senior-level positions in organisations. The executive PGDM can be studied in traditional or online classes. Some of the top PGDM colleges in India offer this degree.
PGDM vs Executive PGDM
Here are some of the top differences between PGDM and executive PGDM programmes.
| Basis of differences | PGDM | Executive PGDM |
| Name of the course | Post Graduate Diploma in Management | Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management |
| Approach of the course | Mostly practical based but has theoretical elements | Highly practical based |
| Duration of the course | Mostly 2 years | The duration can be between 15 to 18 months |
| Classes of the course | Classes take place throughout the academic year | Classes take place mostly during the weekends |
| Fee for the course | The fee is lower | The fee can be higher |
| Admission eligibility criteria | This course requires students to have an undergraduate degree with at least 50% aggregate marks and admission is given as per the scores of entrance exams like CAT, GMAT, etc. | This course requires students to have an undergraduate degree with at least 50% aggregate marks and a minimum work experience of five years. Some colleges might ask candidates to appear for an exam. |
| Suitable for | This course is suitable for people who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree for better career opportunities and pay scale. | The course is suitable for working professionals who wish to gain skills and knowledge to boost their career prospects. |
PGDM vs Executive PGDM – Which One to Choose?
The choice of the course depends on the preferences of an individual. If you have the required work experience and wish to pursue a course while working, executive PGDM might be the right choice for you. But if you have an undergraduate degree and are looking to pursue a postgraduate degree in management for better job opportunities and salary, then PGDM is the right course for you.
Due to the demanding course syllabus, the PGDM course also tends to be longer than an executive PGDM course. Thus, if you prefer a shorter course duration, executive PGDM might be the right choice for you.
The specialisations offered under a PGDM course can enable students to choose the field that interests them. Moreover, a PGDM course has a higher number of electives as compared to an executive PGDM course.
After understanding both courses’ differences, advantages, and suitability, you can pick the right option.
Conclusion
Both PGDM and executive PGDM are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of students in the field of business management. The suitability of both courses depends on the requirements of students as well as whether the student can fulfil the eligibility criteria for the executive PGDM. The choice also depends on the unique career expectations, requirements, and goals. After carefully considering all the factors, you can decide what is best for you.
If you are seeking the right institution to pursue PGDM, you can take help from Sunstone. Sunstone is one of the top higher education service providers in the country and works with top colleges and universities to provide special certifications, projects, and soft-skill training modules to enhance the employability of students. Moreover, you will also get placement assistance to land your dream job.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is PGDM?
PGDM is a postgraduate diploma programme in management. It focuses on helping students gain business management skills and knowledge to enhance their career prospects. Students with undergraduate degrees or working professionals can apply for admission to the PGDM course in India and abroad. It is one of the most popular postgraduate programmes in India.
- What is Executive PGDM?
Executive PGDM is also a postgraduate diploma programme in management. It is suitable for working professionals and executives who wish to enhance their business management knowledge and skills to get senior-level positions in their organisations. To apply for executive PGDM, candidates need to have an undergraduate degree in any stream and a work experience of more than five years.
- What is the difference between PGDM vs Executive PGDM?
One of the major differences between PGDM and executive PGDM is that PGDM is suitable for undergraduate students and working professionals, whereas executive PGDM is designed for working professionals with at least five years of work experience. The duration of a PGDM course is longer than an executive PGDM course. PGDM course classes take place throughout the academic year, but executive PGDM classes might take place only over the weekends.