List of PGDM Specializations: Highest Paying Courses List, Subjects & Scope in 2024

Sakshi Chaudhary

Updated on - Aug 23, 2024

The PGDM specializations focus on providing conceptual knowledge about business practices used in different specializations and the latest trends associated with the domain. The PGDM course offers various specializations in domains like finance, marketing, business analytics, operations management, international business, etc. 

The PGDM specializations are offered by top B-schools in India such as MDI, FMS, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, etc. The average course fee depends on the specialization chosen by the student, which usually ranges between INR 3 LPA - INR 12 LPA. 

After completion of the course, students can work in various roles as per their domain expertise such as finance manager, business analyst, operations and supply chain manager, export-import analyst, etc.

Table of Content

• Top PGDM Specializations in India
• PGDM Dual Specialization
• PGDM Specializations in IIMs
• Top PGDM Specializations Career Opportunities

Top PGDM Specializations in India

The PGDM course is offered in various specializations with relevant industry-oriented curriculum. The table below contains the PGDM courses list along with their eligibility, top colleges offering PGDM courses in India, and their average fees:

PGDM in Business Analytics

The PGDM Business Analytics is one of the most pursued courses because different businesses constantly need to analyze consumer behavior patterns, and market trends, optimize operation processes, etc., leading to higher demand for skilled professionals. Below listed are some important points regarding PGDM Business Analytics:

• In order to pursue the course a minimum of 50-55% is required in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam scores of CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc.
• The graduates can work in various range of roles such as market trend analyst, research analyst, retail marketing analyst, etc
• As per BLS report the demand for management analysts is projected to increase by 11% between the year 2019-2029.
• The important subjects included in PGDM Business Analytics are database management, fundamentals of statistics, machine learning, SQL, etc.

PGDM in Finance

The PGDM Finance course offers vast growth opportunities to students in banking and financial services, financial institutions, government departments, etc. Below listed are some important pointers regarding PGDM in Finance:

• The eligibility for PGDM Finance includes a minimum of 50% in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam scores of CAT, XAT, MAT, etc.
• The demand for finance managers is expected to increase by 17% between the years 2021-31, as per the BLS report.
• The average salary of PGDM Finance graduates ranges between INR 10-20 LPA (Source: Glassdoor)
• The graduates can work in various range of roles such as financial analyst credit analyst, risk manager, etc

PGDM in Human Resource Management

PGDM HRM focuses on making students understand different HR strategies, labor laws, and compliances, HR Analytics, etc., with problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Below listed are important points regarding PGDM in HRM:

• In order to pursue PGDM HRM a minimum of 50% is required in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam score of CAT, GMAT, MAT, etc.
• A score of above 600 in GMAT is considered good for admission to PGDM in HRM course.
• The PGDM HRM offers various roles to graduates such as employee relations manager, talent specialist, compensation analyst, etc.
• As per the BLS report the demand for HR domain professionals is expected to grow by 7% between the year 2021-31.

PGDM in International Business

PGDM in International Business is one of the trending and emerging courses due to the increase in cross-border business expansion. The course provides knowledge about export and import management, foreign market analysis, international trade and finance, etc. Below listed are some important points regarding PGDM in International Business:

• To pursue a PGDM in International Business course a minimum of 50% is required in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam scores of CAT, GMAT, CMAT, etc.
• The average PGDM in International Business graduate entry-level salary is approximately INR 6 LPA (Source: Payscale)
• The graduates can work in various roles like global marketing manager, international trade analyst, global trade compliance officer, etc.

PGDM in Operations Management

PGDM in Operations Management focuses on making the student understand different strategies to efficiently manage processes involved in production, supply chain, quality management, etc. Below listed are some important points regarding PGDM in Operations Management.

• In order to pursue PGDM Operations Management a minimum of 50% is required in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam score of CAT, MAT, ATMA, XAT, CMAT, etc.
• The average PGDM Operations Management graduate entry-level salary is INR 7.2 LPA. (Source: Glassdoor)
• The graduates after completion of the course can work as project managers, quality assurance managers, process engineers, etc.
• The demand for operations managers in various industries is expected to grow by 9% by the year 2026.

PGDM in Marketing

The PGDM Marketing course focuses on making students understand marketing principles, branding strategies, application of promotional tools in marketing campaigns, and CRM strategies. Below listed are some important points regarding the PGDM Marketing course:

• The eligibility for PGDM Marketing includes a minimum of 50-55% in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam scores of CAT, GMAT, XAT, etc.
• The demand for skilled professionals in advertising, marketing, trade promotions, etc., is expected to grow by 10% between 2021-31.
• The course offers a range of job roles such as brand manager, marketing communications manager, business development manager, etc.
• The graduates after completion of the course can earn in a range of INR 10-20 LPA (Source: Ambition Box), depending on the experience.

PGDM in Supply Chain Management

The PGDM Supply Chain Management course aims to provide knowledge about understanding supply chain processes and their various aspects such as inventory management, transportation management, global supply chain, etc. Below listed are some important points regarding the PGDM Supply Chain Management course:

• The eligibility for PGDM Supply Chain Management includes a minimum of 50% in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam scores of CAT, CMAT, MAT, etc.
• The demand for supply chain and logistics graduates is increasing as the Indian logistics industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% between the years 2021-26.
• The course offers a range of job roles such as supply chain manager, supply chain analyst, warehouse manager, etc.
• The graduates after completion of the course can earn in a range of INR 4-15 LPA (Source: Ambition Box).

PGDM in Project Management

The PGDM Project Management is a comprehensive course that offers students an understanding of project planning and scheduling, risk management, quality management, etc. Below listed are some important points regarding the PGDM Project Management course:

• The eligibility for PGDM Supply Chain Management includes a minimum of 50% in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students.
• The graduates also need to clear entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc.
• The graduates can work in roles like project manager, portfolio manager, quality assurance executive, risk manager, etc., with an average entry-level salary of INR 8.75 LPA. (Source: Glassdoor)

PGDM in Information Technology

The PGDM Information Technology course includes the study of database management, business analysis, network management, and understanding the usage of emerging technologies. Below listed are some important points regarding the PGDM in Information Technology course:

• The students in order to enroll in the course need to clear a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50-55% marks for unreserved category and 45% for reserved category students, along with qualifying national level entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc.
• The IT sector is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.38% between the year 2023-28, leading to a higher demand for IT professionals. 
• The graduates can work as IT Consultants, IT Auditors, Business Analysts, IT Project Managers, etc., with an entry-level salary of INR 8.28 LPA, after five years of experience professionals can earn in the range of INR 12-30 LPA (Source: Glassdoor)

PGDM in Retail Management

The PGDM Retail Management course focuses on understanding functions of the retail industry such as retail store operations, merchandising, retail analytics, retail branding, etc. Below listed are some important points regarding the PGDM in Retail Management course:

• In order to enroll in PGDM Retail Management a minimum of 55% is required in a bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 50-45% for reserved category students, and relevant entrance exam score of CAT, MAT, GMAT, CMAT, etc.
• The course includes core subjects like consumer behavior, visual merchandising, international retailing, retail finance, etc.
• The graduates can work in a range of job roles like category manager, brand manager, merchandising manager, buyer, etc.
• The average salary of a PGDM in Retail Management graduate is in the range of INR 5-14 LPA (Source: Payscale)

PGDM in Entrepreneurship

The PGDM in Entrepreneurship course focuses on equipping students with skills to identify and evaluate business opportunities, create innovative solutions, and effectively manage entrepreneurial ventures. Below listed are a few important pointers regarding the course:

• The students need to clear a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55% marks for unreserved category and 45% for reserved category students, along with qualifying national level entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, CMAT, etc.
• The important subjects included in the course are business planning and strategy, global entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, etc.
• The graduates can work in various range of roles like Innovation Manager, Startup Manager, Venture Capital Analyst, etc.
• The average salary of a graduate ranges between INR 6-18 LPA (Source: Glassdoor).

PGDM in Healthcare Management

The PGDM in Healthcare Management course aims at understanding healthcare systems and their related aspects such as healthcare regulations, strategies to improve patient experience, recent innovations in healthcare, etc. Below listed are the important pointers regarding PGDM in Healthcare Management course:

• To pursue a PGDM in Healthcare Management course the unreserved category students need to secure a minimum of 50-55% marks in their bachelor's degree. There is a relaxation of 5% given to the OBC/ST/SC categories.
• The student also needs to qualify for entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, GMAT, etc.
• The global healthcare market is expanding and is expected to reach a CAGR of 13.5% by the year 2030, leading to more demand for experts in the domain.
• The average salary of graduates ranges between INR 5-20 LPA, depending on their experience and skill sets.

PGDM in Insurance Business Management

The PGDM in Insurance Business Management focuses on understanding insurance management principles and regulations. The course includes major topics like claims management, risk assessment, digital underwriting, etc.  Below listed are some important points regarding PGDM in Insurance Business Management course:

• The admission criteria to this course require students to have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 55% marks for unreserved category and 45-50 % for reserved category students, along with qualifying national level entrance exams such as CAT, CMAT, ATMA, etc.
• As per the report by Invest India, the Indian Insurance Market is projected to be the 6th largest market in the world by the year 2032.
• The graduates can work in different job roles like Actuary, Insurance Risk Manager, Claims Manager, Insurance Consultant, etc.
• The average entry-level salary of a PGDM Insurance Business Management graduate is INR 6.8 LPA (Source: Glassdoor).

PGDM in Energy Management

The PGDM in Energy Management course imparts knowledge about energy sources and technologies, energy economics, policies and regulations, energy management and conservation, etc. Below listed are some important pointers regarding the PGDM Energy Management course:

• The eligibility for PGDM Energy Management includes a minimum of 50% in bachelor’s degree for unreserved category students and 45% for reserved category students and relevant entrance exam scores of CAT, CMAT, XAT, etc.
• The course also includes elective subjects like energy project finance, smart grid and energy automation, energy data analytics, etc.
• The graduates after completion of the course can work in job roles like Energy Manager, Carbon Management Specialist, Energy Policy Analyst, etc.
• Top companies like National Grid, Shell, Enel Green Power, ONGC, etc., hire PGDM Energy Management graduates.

PGDM in Media and Communication

The PGDM in Media and Communication course focuses on the study of mass communication theories, legal frameworks in media practices, media management and marketing. Below listed are a few important pointers regarding the PGDM Media and Communication course:

• For admission to PGDM in Media and Communication course students need to have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks for unreserved category students and 45% marks for candidates belonging to reserved category.
• The students are also required to clear any one of the entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, MH-CET, GMAT, CMAT, etc.
• The media industry globally is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.80% by the year 2028 as per the Modar Intelligence Report.
• The average salary of a Media and Communication PGDM graduate is INR 5 LPA.

PGDM in Banking and Financial Services

PGDM in Banking and Financial Services course aims at a comprehensive understanding of banking and financial industry aspects such as functions, structure, financial products and services, etc. Below listed are a few important pointers regarding PGDM in Banking and Financial Services course:

• The applicants should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks for unreserved category students and 45% marks for reserved category students.
• The BFSI market globally is expected to expand by $164.08 billion by the year 2027, leading to an increase in demand for financial and banking experts.
• The graduates are offered various career options such as equity research analyst, mutual fund analyst, portfolio manager, etc.
• The average entry-level salary of a PGDM in Banking and Financial Services graduate is INR 6.50 LPA (Source: Ambition Box)

PGDM in Rural Management

PGDM in Rural Management course deals with the study of rural development, agriculture management, rural marketing, natural resource management, policies and regulations, etc. Below listed are key pointers regarding the PGDM in Rural Management course:

• The eligibility criteria for PGDM in Rural Management include that unreserved category students should have a minimum of 50% marks in their bachelor's degree and 45% marks for reserved category students.
• The candidate should also qualify for national-level entrance exams like MAT, CMAT, ATMA, CAT, etc.
• The graduates are hired by top private and public organizations like CARE India, the Ministry of Rural Development, ITC Limited, Amul, etc.
• The average entry-level salary of a graduate is INR 8.40 LPA.

PGDM in Sports Management

PGDM in Sports Management course aims at training students regarding the various aspects of sports management such as marketing and promotion, event management, finance and budgeting, law and governance, etc. Below listed are a few points regarding the PGDM Sports Management course:

• The eligibility requirements include a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks for unreserved category students and 45% marks for SC/ST/OBC category students.
• The candidate should also have a valid test score in any of the following exams: CAT, GMAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, KMAT, NMAT, PGCET, etc.
• As per the Expert Market Research, the Indian Sports and Fitness Industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% by the year 2028.
• The graduates can earn an entry-level salary of INR 6.50 LPA (Source: Ambition Box).
• The graduates are offered various job roles like sports marketing manager, sports business development manager, e-sports manager, sports compliance officer, etc.

What are the Benefits of PGDM Specializations?

PGDM specializations offer students with various benefits that help them in their career growth and upskilling their domain expertise. Below listed are a few benefits that students get from various PGDM courses:

• Students having knowledge in a specific domain gives them a competitive advantage and helps them to work in top organizations as per their specialization like BCG, IBM, Goldman Sachs, etc.
• PGDM specializations help students develop cross-functional skills as they learn the core business concepts and domain-specific knowledge about the latest trends and industry-relevant topics.
• The PGDM specialization such as International Business offers students global opportunities to learn about cross-cultural business practices.
• PGDM specializations are also beneficial for students who want to shift their career or job field into a new domain. The particular specialization helps the professional or student in transitioning their careers.

How to Choose the Right PGDM Specialization?

Students deciding to pursue a PGDM course, need to evaluate various factors like which specializations are in demand, the market demand, industry growth, etc. Below listed are points to be considered before selecting a PGDM specialization:

• Faculty Expertise: The student should research about faculty members' education, expertise in a particular domain, and experience before deciding on the PGDM specialization in a college.
• Alumni Network: The alumni network plays an important role before deciding PGDM specialization in understanding the alumni's career growth in the field and how the course has helped them in their professional journey.
• Internship and Placement Opportunities: The internship and placement opportunities may differ based on the specialization. Students should research about the top recruiters and job roles offered for the selected specialization.
• Industry Demand: The current statistics regarding a particular industry help the student to understand the demand for job roles for a particular specialization and the future growth rate.

PGDM Dual Specialization

The PGDM courses can be opted by students in a dual mode that is a combination of major and minor specializations. Colleges like Ramaiah Institute of Management, Silver Oak University, ISB & M, BIMTECH, etc., offer dual specialization in PGDM.

Below is a list of major and minor areas that can be opted as dual specializations in PGDM and can differ based on the college or university:

PGDM Specializations in IIMs

The IIM PGDM courses are well-suited for success in a variety of managerial positions across industries, and top businesses value their analytical thinking, leadership qualities, and problem-solving skills. The IIMs offer PGP courses in various specializations and the degree that is awarded after completion of the course is referred to as PGDM. Below is a list of various PGP/PGDM specializations in IIMs along with their average fees:

Top PGDM Specializations Career Opportunities

PGDM courses in India offer graduates good career opportunities in various industries like Banking and Finance, FMCG, Retail, IT and Technology, E-Commerce, etc. The graduates can earn in a range of INR 4-24 LPA (Source: Payscale), depending on their specialization, experience, and market demand. Below listed are the highest-paying PGDM specialization in India and the top recruiters for the courses:

Highest Paying PGDM Specializations

The demand for skilled professionals having expertise in finance, analytics, operations management, etc., is rising due to the growth of the economy and the integration of technology in different industries resulting in demand for managerial and leadership roles. The table below lists the highest-paying specialization in PGDM and their average and highest salaries:

[Source: Ambition Box]

Top Recruiters for PGDM Specializations

PGDM graduates are hired by top MNCs, government organizations, consultancies, entrepreneurial ventures, etc. Below listed are top recruiters for respective PGDM course specializations and their average salary:

Top PGDM [Post Graduate Diploma in Management] Colleges

IIT Kharagpur

Kharagpur,West Bengal

AMU

Aligarh,Uttar Pradesh

Bharathiar University

Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Andhra University

Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh

GNDU

Amritsar,Punjab

PSGCT

Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Pondicherry University

Pondicherry,Puducherry

Mumbai University

Mumbai,Maharashtra

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Top Management Entrance Exams

CAT

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

MAT

Exam Date: May 19, 2024

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

NMAT

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

GMAT

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

JEMAT

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

CMAT

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

IBSAT

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

IMUCET

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

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PGDM Fee Structure