MBA Vs PGCP program – What to choose?

The dilemma of choosing MBA vs PGCP remains a top question in the minds of the aspirants who want to take their career to the next level through the postgraduate management course. The confusion is because the candidates are unaware of the difference between MBA and PGCP.

MBA stands for Masters in Business Administration, while PGCP indicates Postgraduate Certification Program. Most candidates tend to consider the PGCP inferior to MBA due to the term ‘certification’. However, it’s imperative to understand and dispel some common myths around MBA vs Business certification courses.

Scroll down to discover more about the similarities and differences between MBA and PGCP to find the one that suits your dream.

How is a certificate program different from a graduate degree?

Higher education in management or certification in the same niche can make the candidates possess the desired position in the corporate world. Amidst the need to add an extra qualification to one’s resume, the real question is to choose the one that is suited for you – between MBA and PGCP. 

• Diploma or degree 

The major difference between the two courses is that MBA is a professional degree while PGCP is a certification course. Thus, MBA is not completely equal to PGCP. Nonetheless, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) accreditation improves the worth of the program.

• Comprehensive syllabus

In the MBA degree program, candidates will acquire more theoretical knowledge about management concepts and practices. One has to complete a comprehensive syllabus that covers various traditional concepts and modern subjects as part of their MBA study. On the other hand, the PGCP only deals with the core concepts that will expose students to practical training and insights into real business situations. In short, the certification course will be more practical and dynamic.

• Curriculum focus

Both MBA and PGCP courses have similar core subjects. Nonetheless, some people claim that MBA has a more focused curriculum than certification courses. The real scenario is MBA is specialised in theoretical and technical aspects of management while PGCP is about indication orientation and essential skills needed for present market requirements.

• Teaching methodology

A standard PGCP course offers more than classroom teaching. It gives utmost importance to case study pedagogy that will help you understand the application of implementing effective solutions to real-time problems. While the teaching methodology for MBA is generally more theoretical in nature.

You may also like to read the differences between MBA and PGDM.

Why choose an MBA?

Organizations’ and businesses’ needs are also changing in the ever-evolving world. Hence there is also increased demand for qualified managers, executives, functional leaders, and specialist executives. Below are some of the benefits of choosing an MBA.

• Better career opportunities

MBA graduates can access a more diverse and wide range of job opportunities in several fields and industries, including HR management, statistics, technology, finance, and other key areas. 

• Build a network of expert peers and leader

MBA candidates will get more exposure to connect with their network of peers through various events. They can also meet or connect with experienced individuals and leaders of leading multinational companies, facilitating the chance to build a successful network.

• Acquire transferable skills

Pursuing an MBA will cultivate critical skills, including collaboration, communication, adaptation, creativity, and emotional intelligence, to refine your ability. The course will hone your interpersonal and technical knowledge, making you stay ahead.

• Gain personal credibility

Earning an MBA indicates a deeper understanding of the business world. The program exhibits the impression of real-world challenges, enabling you to manage risks by making the best decisions.

• Obtain an international perspective

In the globalized business environment, acquiring an MBA degree is invaluable. It will help you gain confidence to face the world market’s complex nature, familiarizing you with your peers’ perspectives, expertise, and experience.

Why choose a PGCP program?

Management is a rewarding career path, and pursuing a PGCP program will be a strong foundation to boost your career in the desired field. Here are some reasons to pursue a PGCP course,

• Convenient and flexible

The course duration and timings per week of a PGCP course are flexible compared to full-time MBA courses. It also allows you to instantly access the resources per your preferred schedule and attend the course at your convenience. 

• Earning while learning

These certification courses are especially for those who want to learn and earn simultaneously. In most cases, learning as a working professional will help you to advance in your career, increase your abilities and move you forward to the next level.

• Application-based experiential learning

PGCP course is designed in a way to give the students experiential learning opportunities through a strong application-based approach. Such diverse integrated pedagogy will help them to gain the opportunity to be a part of the faster-growing industries with countless career opportunities.

• Diverse career scope

The program enables industry integration and cross-fertilisation of business deals, allowing the students to perform diligently in multiple domains, including international marketing, business finance, laws, policy framework, sales, operations, project management, and consulting. 

• Entrepreneurial skill development

As a course that is widely recognized across every industry, it will help the students to acquire IT-related skills in managing data in the face of complex workplace realities. Moreover, the skills obtained can be used to explore career options across the world.

Also read the PGCP vs MSc in Business Analytics.

Who should consider doing an MBA?

Several factors have to be taken into consideration if you are planning to pursue your higher education and an MBA. MBA course is a regular postgraduate program that trains candidates to establish their role in the field of management. However, the common question that comes to mind is will it be a good option for you and your career? The course is highly valued by students in both the Indian and international corporate world.

• It will help the students who want to communicate and interact with expert leaders in the field. It will help them to attain success through a robust professional network.
• The course will help the student to leverage their knowledge and skills creatively when they are in the middle of starting their business venture.
• It is suitable for aspirants who want to climb the corporate ladder with higher remuneration, sharpening their skill sets and transforming their career path.

Who should consider doing a PGCP program? 

Postgraduate Certification Program or PGCP is a professional course that teaches candidates about the practical aspects of business through state-of-the-art learning techniques like case studies and experiential learning. Many renowned institutes offer PGCP courses for those who are interested in pursuing a career in management.

• The course is apt for candidates from all disciplines and is designed to help them define their careers.
• As an interdisciplinary course, it combines various streams – management, accounting, and economics to meet the needs of the market.
• It helps the students who want to alight their skills with present industry demands.

Here are the PGCP Business Analytics course eligibility.

Career scope: MBA vs PGCP 

From the higher education perspective, having an MBA degree might put you ahead in the job market in the stage of application evaluation. However, not all career aspects get a certification course. Since both courses belong to the managerial stream, candidates will get more lucrative job opportunities in the modern era.

All said, the fact is most corporate sectors treat both MBA and PGCP courses equally. In a nutshell, the skill set and qualitative value of the professional experience play a critical role in the long-term career run.

Let us explore the career scope and salary structure of both MBA and PGCP below.

MBA helps you to lay a solid foundation for a new career, preparing yourself for better and higher-paying career opportunities.

Role	Description	Salary range (LPA)
HR Manager	To ensure the hiring and onboarding process goes smoothly for new employees and make sure to take care of the needs of existing ones.	INR 7-8
Business Analyst	To collect information from the past about the organization results and compare them with the future goals.	INR 6-7
Marketing Manager	To handle the marketing of a business’s products or services	INR 5-8
Investment Banker	To arrange, manage and execute all kinds of investment projects for the clients	INR 8-10

PGCP will help to gain a range of knowledge in various areas from marketing to customer service, allowing to go further in the career landscape in a shorter period.

Role	Description	Salary range (LPA)
Project Manager	To oversee and handle every project within an IT company.	INR 12-15
Tax Specialist	To ensure all sales, profit and taxes of property are well administered	INR 5-7
Consultant	To plan effective strategies to become more competitive in the corporate world	INR 9-12

Course duration: MBA vs PGCP

Understanding the course duration and curriculum will help you to plan, structure, set targets, and discover opportunities to align your goals for the current and prospects. For instance, if you are a working professional, you can opt for PGCP for flexible learning opportunities, while MBA is open for those who want to gain value through their higher education. Let us get right into the duration of both courses. 

Program	Duration
MBA	24 months (15 to 20 hours per week)
PGCP	6 months to 1 year

Course eligibility criteria: MBA vs PGCP

There is little to no difference in how the Indian job market treats individuals with either PGCP or MBA. Most of the time, the reputation of the course solely depends on the name and brand of the institution. The course eligibility of MBA and PGCP has subtle differences.

Here for an MBA degree and PGCP course, you must meet the following requirements –

Course	Academic Qualification	Professional Experience
MBA (Indian Students)	Graduates (10+2+3) in any discipline from recognized universities/ institutions, or an equivalent qualification as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) with a minimum of 50% of marks or equivalent grade.	One year of work experience in reputed organizations / work experience is desirable (depends of institutions)
MBA (International Students)	Graduates (10+2+3) in any discipline from recognized universities/ institutions, or an equivalent qualification as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) with a minimum of 50% of marks or equivalent grade. Candidates must have completed a graduation degree certificate of equivalence from the Association of Indian Universities required for students with foreign education to apply to any university in India.	One year of work experience in reputed organizations / work experience is desirable (depends of institutions)
PGCP programs	Graduates from recognized universities with minimum of 50% marks	Minimum 1 year of industry experience from reputed companies is desirable (depends on institutions)

Course fees: MBA vs PGCP

The fee for MBA is higher when compared with PGCP. The difference might be due to the financial aid and tuition fee between the programs. However, this is not an ironclad rule, since some institutions offer MBAs with low-cost factors, especially in government-approved universities. Here we have compiled the cost factor for both courses.

Course	Fees
MBA	INR 2,60,000 (INR 65,000 each semester)
PGCP	INR 80,000 – INR 1,50,000 (varies for program to program)

You may be interested to find out the differences between MBA in SCM and PGCP in Supply Chain Management.

In a nutshell  

Their capabilities and professional endeavors define an individual’s career path. The key takeaway for the ultimate guide is to visualize the career path, be it MBA or PGCP. In short, if you are from a different field and looking for a career change, then you can go for PGCP programs. 

On the other hand, if you wish to explore the in-depth details of how a business and an organization work or to want to enter the research field, then an MBA should be your go-to option.

And while you are contemplating choosing the one, be sure to enroll in the management courses (MBA and PGCP) provided by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) through Online Manipal. The course will help you to take your career forward by equipping you with essential industry skills. Focus on what you want, your career choice, and what is in demand in the industry and job market will help you to align your professional goals, bringing out the best in you at every step of your career.

Key takeaways:

• Aspirants who are interested in pursuing management courses have countless options. Hence learning the difference between MBA and PGCP is critical before making an informed decision.
• MBA is a degree course that can be offered by universities or colleges affiliated with universities, while autonomous institutions offer PCGP courses.
• Even though both management courses have some subtle differences, the career growth is almost similar, mostly based on the individual’s performance. No matter the course, to have a good start, one must go to the most reputed institute to pursue their dream.