MBA Full Form: Courses List, Subjects, Exams & Top Colleges
MBA Full Form: Master of Business Administration
The MBA degree originated in the United States over 100 years ago and gradually became the most recognized qualification for developing business management and leadership skills. In India, MBA education started in the 1950s, led by institutions like XLRI Jamshedpur and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Over the years, MBA has become the most popular postgraduate programme for those aiming to build careers in management, corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, consulting, finance, marketing, operations and more.
Although the MBA long form is Master of Business Administration, students and professionals commonly use the short form MBA.
MBA Subjects & Specializations
MBA (Master of Business Administration) covers a wide range of subjects that equip students with management, analytical and leadership skills. Core subjects taught across most B-schools include:
Core MBA Subjects
Principles of Management
Business Strategy
Marketing Management
Human Resource Management
Financial Management
Managerial Economics
Accounting & Financial Reporting
Applied Statistics & Quantitative Techniques
Business Communication
Business Ethics & Corporate Governance
Business Law
Entrepreneurship
Supply Chain Management
Operations Management
These subjects are taught during the first year, after which students choose a specialization.
Popular MBA Specializations
Finance
Marketing
Human Resource Management (HRM)
Operations & Supply Chain
Information Systems / IT
International Business (IB)
Business Analytics / Data Analytics
Entrepreneurship
Strategic Management
Retail Management
Healthcare & Hospital Management
Agri-Business / Food & Agriculture Management
Sustainability & Environmental Management
What is MBA? (Meaning, Origin & Evolution)
MBA stands for Master of Business Administration. It is one of the most popular postgraduate qualifications globally, designed to develop management and leadership professionals.
Origin of MBA Programs
The first business school, The Wharton School, was established in 1881 in the USA.
Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth College) was founded in 1900.
Harvard Business School (HBS) began its MBA program in 1908, popularizing MBA globally.
MBA in India
MBA entered India in the 1950s.
XLRI Jamshedpur and IIMs (starting with IIM Ahmedabad & IIM Calcutta) pioneered management education in India.
Today, India has thousands of MBA/PGDM institutes, including IIMs, IITs, and leading private universities.
MBA Duration & Types of Programs
MBA programs vary based on duration, mode, and target audience:
1. Two-Year Full-Time MBA
The most common format in India.
Open to fresh graduates & professionals.
2. PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management)
Equivalent to MBA when approved by AICTE and AIU.
Offered by autonomous institutes like XLRI, MDI, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes.
3. One-Year Full-Time MBA
Designed for candidates with 2–7 years of work experience.
Popular in USA, Europe, Singapore; offered in India by ISB, IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX), IIM Bangalore (EPGP) and others.
4. Part-Time MBA (3-Year)
For working professionals; classes on evenings or weekends.
5. Distance MBA / Online MBA
Flexible, self-paced programs offered by IGNOU, NMIMS Online, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL), etc.
MBA in India: Degree vs Diploma
MBA Degree
Offered by:
Universities
University-affiliated colleges
Institutions empowered to award degrees
PGDM Diploma (MBA Equivalent)
Offered by:
Autonomous institutes (e.g., XLRI, MDI, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI)
Approved by AICTE
Award MBA equivalence by AIU
Both MBA and PGDM hold equal value for jobs, higher studies, and global recognition.
Why MBA?
An MBA equips students with:
Leadership and team management skills
Strategic and analytical thinking
Problem-solving and decision-making skills
Business communication & presentation skills
Industry exposure via internships, live projects, and case studies
MBA graduates can pursue careers in:
Consulting
Finance & Banking
Marketing & Sales
IT & Analytics
Operations & Supply Chain
HR & Talent Management
Entrepreneurship and Start-ups
What is an MBA Course & Curriculum?
An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a 2-year postgraduate program designed to develop managerial, leadership, analytical, and strategic decision-making skills. The curriculum is typically divided into three key components:
1️⃣ Core Curriculum (Foundation Courses)
These subjects build your base in all major areas of management. Core courses usually include:
Marketing Management
Human Resource Management
Operations Management
Business Economics
Financial Accounting & Management Accounting
Organizational Behaviour
Business Law & Corporate Governance
Corporate Finance
Quantitative Techniques
Strategic Management
Business Communication
Most B-schools also include:
Field Study / Case Analysis
Group Projects
Industry Interaction Sessions
2️⃣ Summer Internship / Industry Training
After the first year, students must complete a 6–10 week internship, where they gain real-world exposure in companies across sectors such as FMCG, IT, banking, e-commerce, and consulting.
3️⃣ Elective Courses (Specializations)
In the second year, students choose specializations based on interest and career goals. Popular MBA specializations include:
Marketing
Finance
Human Resources (HR)
Operations & Supply Chain
IT & Systems
Business Analytics
Entrepreneurship
Family Business Management
These electives help you build expertise in your chosen field.
How to Get Admission in an MBA Program?
Admission requirements differ for International MBA programs and Indian MBA programs.
1️⃣ Admission to International MBA Programs
Top global B-schools (USA, Europe, Canada, Singapore) require:
GMAT or GRE score
Academic transcripts
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Letters of Recommendation
Strong English proficiency: TOEFL / IELTS
Work experience (2+ years mandatory)
Resume & Essays
Interview
2️⃣ Admission to MBA Programs in India
Top Indian B-schools require scores from national-level entrance exams such as:
CAT (IIMs & top B-schools)
XAT (XLRI)
SNAP (Symbiosis)
CMAT
NMAT by GMAC
MAT, etc.
In India, some institutes describe MBA as:
MBA – Master of Business Administration
Masters in Business Administration (alternative naming)
Top 20 B-schools in India (NIRF MBA Ranking 2019)
Below is the list of top management institutes according to NIRF 2019 (Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India):
| Rank | Institute Name | City | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIM Bangalore | Bengaluru | 81.34 |
| 2 | IIM Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad | 80.61 |
| 3 | IIM Calcutta | Kolkata | 79.05 |
| 4 | IIM Lucknow | Lucknow | 67.29 |
| 5 | IIM Indore | Indore | 67.01 |
| 6 | IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | 66.64 |
| 7 | XLRI | Jamshedpur | 65.33 |
| 8 | IIM Kozhikode | Kozhikode | 64.82 |
| 9 | IIT Delhi | New Delhi | 62.89 |
| 10 | IIT Bombay | Mumbai | 62.74 |
| 11 | IIT Roorkee | Roorkee | 62.11 |
| 12 | MDI Gurugram | Gurugram | 61.89 |
| 13 | IIM Udaipur | Udaipur | 60.79 |
| 14 | IIM Trichy | Tiruchirappalli | 59.15 |
| 15 | IIT Madras | Chennai | 58.40 |
| 16 | SPJIMR | Mumbai | 55.67 |
| 17 | NIT Trichy | Tiruchirappalli | 55.57 |
| 18 | Great Lakes Chennai | Chennai | 55.09 |
| 19 | IIM Raipur | Raipur | 53.86 |
| 20 | SIBM Pune | Pune | 53.56 |
| 20 | NMIMS Mumbai | Mumbai | 53.56 |
Advantages of MBA
An MBA offers one of the highest financial returns among postgraduate programs. As per the GMAC Alumni Survey, MBA graduates earn a median cumulative salary of USD 2.5 million over 20 years, and most recover their MBA investment within 4 years of completing the course.
MBA or PGDM (MBA equivalent) is a short, high-value postgraduate program with excellent career prospects. The duration is 2 years for fresh graduates, and 1 to 1.5 years for candidates with 2+ years of work experience, making it a compact yet powerful qualification for career growth.
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