Gone are the days when an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) was considered the only management course that could lead to successful careers. Recent trends have shown that other postgraduate (PG) degrees like PGDM, PGPM, and MMS, among others, are increasingly being preferred by students after their undergraduation. PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) and MMS (Masters in Management Studies) are two such PG degrees that are gaining traction.
A PGDM and MMS course are both 2-year postgraduate management courses. PGDM and MMS courses are on the same line as MBA in the overall sense of being management-centred courses. However, the finer nuances become apparent when you see what the courses have to offer. And there are differences between the two in their curriculum, scope, exams, and eligibility criteria, among others. Let’s look more in-depth at the MMS vs PGDM differences and the MMS and PGDM course details.
What is PGDM?
A PGDM is a 2-year postgraduate course spread over six semesters. A PGDM course helps candidates learn about management in depth and gain a deeper and more practical understanding of subjects like finance, business management, business analytics, accounting, economics, human resources, marketing and others. A PGDM strikes a balance between theoretical subjects and the practical application of those subjects in industry-oriented scenarios. In PGDM, students get exposure to various group projects, workshops, industry internships, and other networking opportunities that help them gain the practical experience needed to join companies.
Students with a 10+2 qualification and a bachelor’s degree with minimum passing marks of 50% can pursue a PGDM. Students can enter PGDM after completing their graduation in any undergraduate field. However, it is most useful for commerce graduates. PGDM aspirants usually get selected based on merit or through entrance examinations. Each college has its own specific entrance examination. Some of the most popular entrance examinations for PGDM include the CAT, MAT, GMAT, XMAT, etc. for entry into leading business and management institutes.
What is MMS?
MMS is also a 2-year post-graduate course spread over six semesters. While PGDM is a mix of theory and practice, MMS is a purely theoretical course. Even though MMS is a management course and might have similar subjects overall, it has a different course structure and paper pattern than PGDM. The subjects taught in MMS also include human resources, finance management, managerial economics, and others. However, the subjects are taught from a purely managerial perspective, not an administrative one.
Students with a 10+2 qualification and a bachelor’s degree minimum score of 50% can pursue MMS. Students can enter MMS after completing their graduation in any undergraduate field. However, it is most useful for commerce graduates. MMS aspirants usually get selected based on merit. Only a few colleges have entrance examinations, like CAT, MAT, and XMAT, through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) for entry into MMS.
What is the difference between PGDM and MMS?
Parameter | PGDM | MMS |
Full form | Post Graduate Diploma in Management | Masters in Management Studies |
Course duration | PGDM is a 2-year course | MMS is also a 2-year course |
Course level | PGDM is a post-graduate level course | MMS is also a post-graduate level course |
Course type | PGDM is a course that focuses on a variety of subjects that touch the fields of finance, business management, accounting, marketing and others. The course focuses on developing the student’s managerial, communication, and leadership skills. | MMS is a course that focuses on subjects related to pure management. The course focuses on developing the student’s managerial and communication skills. |
Eligibility criteria | The PGDM eligibility criteria require that candidates must have passed their graduation with a minimum of 50% marks. | The MMS eligibility criteria require that candidates must have passed their graduation with a minimum of 50% marks. |
Admission criteria | Admission is based on merit +/ entrance examinations.
In a PGDM course, candidates have to go through a more thorough screening process, including group discussions, personal interviews, extempore, and aptitude tests.
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Admission is usually based on merit, and students generally get direct admission. Some universities require entrance examinations. In an MMS course, candidates get selected based on their graduation percentage and application form. However, some universities might have a personal interview or group discussion round. |
Entrance examinations | ● CAT (Common Admission Test)
● XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) ● NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test) ● CMAT (Common Management Entrance Test) ● MAT (Management Aptitude Test) ● SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) |
● CAT (Common Admission Test)
● XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) ● NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test) ● CMAT (Common Management Entrance Test)
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Subjects | ● Finance and Accounting
● Marketing and Consumer Behaviour ● Business Statistics ● Financial Reporting and Analysis ● Operations Management ● Risk analysis & Management ● International Business ● Organizational Behaviour |
● Managerial Economics
● Market Management ● Organizational Behaviour ● Human Resource Management ● Strategic Management ● International Business ● Operations Research ● Business Research Methods |
Specialisations | ● PGDM in Finance
● PGDM in Marketing ● PGDM in Operations Management ● PGDM in Information Technology ● PGDM in International Business ● PGDM in Operations and Supply Chain Logistics ● PGDM in Retail Management |
● MMS in Finance
● MMS in Marketing ● MMS in Finance ● MMS in Operations and Supply Chain Management ● MMS in Retail Management |
Average salary | The average annual salary for PGDM graduates ranges between ₹ 6,00,000 – ₹ 10,00,000 per annum.
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The average annual salary for MMS graduates ranges between ₹ 4,00,000 – ₹ 7,00,000 per annum.
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Which is better – PGDM or MMS?
PGDM and MMS both have a lot of scope in the job market. However, the initial annual salary packages for both differ. PGDM graduates are sometimes offered more than MMS graduates because the PGDM course equips students with more practical knowledge of management. The PGDM institutes are also top-tier colleges and have slightly better placement opportunities.
Moreover, candidates in PGDM are selected on the basis of a very thorough screening process. They also have to pay higher PGDM course fees as the PGDM institutes are quite premier. Even MMS graduates have equal opportunities in the job market and earn higher salary packages with age and experience.
To conclude:
Before choosing whether PGDM or MMS is correct for you, you need to check the curriculum, subjects, and specialisations beforehand and see what aligns with your interests and future goals. You should also see the projected market growth and job availability for each specialisation. You can network with former MMS and PGDM graduates, do online research, or get in touch with a qualified educational professional (like the ones at Sunstone) to learn more about the scope of PGDM, MMS, or any other professional courses.