Top MBA programs in India that offer a unique specialization

Arun, Bharat and Nagesh are three friends who have known each other since childhood. They find themselves, once again, in the same boat – preparing for MBA entrance exams. Each of them has one of the top MBA programs in India in their mind.

Arun wants to put his degree in pharmacy to use. He is looking for an MBA degree which will naturally extend into a career in pharmaceutical management. He wants to target NMIMS. 

Bharat wants to expand the scale of his father’s premium leather goods business. He wants to sell his products overseas. He is keen on pursuing the new MBA program in ‘Luxury Management’ from SP Jain.

Nagesh is fond of the workings of factory floors. Ever since he came across ‘The Toyota Way’, he has been mesmerized by the fusion of engineering and management fields. His eyes are set on NITIE, Mumbai. 

1) Master in Global Luxury Management (MGLUXM), SP Jain

Assortment of logos of luxury brands used to talk about luxury management in SP Jain as one of the top MBA programs

Luxury Brands

SP Jain School of Global Management is one of the most iconic management training institutes in India. The new MBA specialization in luxury goods, MGLUXM, is out of the ordinary in many ways.

  1. It is a 12-month program.
  2. The students get to study in two locations, Mumbai and Milan.
  3. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to the study of luxury goods and services.

PRAQTISE Fact File: SP Jain usually prioritizes work experience while selecting students for the flagship MBA course. In the description of MGLUXM however, they have highlighted that it is particularly beneficial for ‘young graduates’ with a Bachelor’s degree.

2) MBA in Pharmaceutical Management, NMIMS

MBA in Pharmaceutical Management is a 2 year long, full time course, offered by NMIMS, Mumbai. The course concentrates on aspects specific to pharmaceuticals industry.  Elements of the course structure include the aspects of IPR, pharmaceutical marketing, procurement and supply chain. Field work is also an integral part of the program.

PRAQTISE Fact File: Studying a foreign language, either Mandarin or Spanish, is a compulsory part of the course.

As expected, the program attracts top pharmaceutical companies like Abbott, Pfizer, and Dr. Reddy’s to name a few.

3) Post Graduate Program in Public Policy & Management, IIM Bangalore

IIM Bangalore has another feather in its cap. The MBA in public policy course, PGPPPM, is unique in many ways.

Praqtise Fact File: Started in 2002, the course was initially meant for government candidates only. It opened to non-profit non-government applicants in 2008.

This course is a breath of fresh air for professionals having a significant amount of work experience. They have used the words ‘mid career’ while describing the types of government employees that they target. Similarly, they want non-government professionals with more than 5 years of experience in in public policy. Also, they are seeking candidates explicitly from the non-profit sector.

4) Post Graduate Program in Agribusiness Management, IIM Ahmedabad

The Agribusiness Management course in IIMA is one of the top MBA programs in India. The Institute prefers candidates who have graduated from agriculture related streams. Students from non-agricultural streams have to fill a separate form, justifying their interest in the course.

PRAQTISE Fact File: Some of the streams which are classified as agricultural sciences are:
a) Agricultural Biotechnology
b) Dairy Science/Technology
c) Home Science
d) Food Technology

The course attracts the likes of Monsanto, Du Pont, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Godrej Agrovet, Amul, ICICI Bank during placements.

5) Post Graduate Program in Advanced Construction Management, NICMAR

Campus of NICMAR in Pune used to talk about the construction management course as one of the top MBA programs in India

NICMAR, Pune Campus

The National Institute of Construction Management and Research offers PGP ACM. NICMAR was formed with the objective of promoting construction through research and education.

PRAQTISE Fact File: NICMAR has been classified as a ‘Scientific and Industrial Research Organization’ by Department of Science and Technology.

NICMAR is accessible to aspiring managers all over the country. It has campuses in Pune, Hyderabad, Goa, Indore and Delhi NCR.

6) MBA – Telecom Management, Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management (SITM)

Campus of SITM in Pune, which offers one of the top MBA programs in telecom management

SITM Campus, Pune

A 2-year long full time MBA program, MBA-Telecom Management by SITM offers 3 modes of specialization

  • System and Finance
  • Marketing and Finance
  • Analytics and Finance

SITM has associated with Cisco and IBM COE for academic programs.

PRAQTISE Fact File: 3 analytics certifications by IBM are offered as a part of the course for selected students. Alternate certifications are made available to the remaining students.

This top MBA program was intended to be another specialization course under Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research (SICSR). However, the management decided to create an institute for specialized study of telecom management.

7) PGDM Healthcare Management, WE School (Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research)

Welingkar’s, as it is more commonly known, is one of the most distinguished educational institutes in Mumbai. Over the years they have added a number of unique management courses.

The PGDM in Healthcare Management is one such program. The course aims to train students in management skills required for different sub-sectors in healthcare. Students have to choose one of two fields for specialization in the second year, either ‘Hospital Administration’ or ‘Pharmaceutical & Lifesciences Management’.

PRAQTISE Fact File: The course culminates with an ‘industry immersion project’ in the sixth semester. This is in addition to the summer internship experience.

8) Masters in Sports Management, International Institute of Sports Management (IISM)

IISM is another institute dedicated to the specialized study of a field, sports management.

MSM dedicates 2 years to the study of sports business.  This course makes it possible for a sports enthusiast to combine his passion and his profession. One of the highlights of the course curriculum is that it is very contemporary. It includes subjects like ‘Sports Analytics’ and ‘Digital Marketing in Sports’.

PRAQTISE Fact File: IISM offers sports management degrees for both bachelor’s and master’s levels.

9) National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE, Mumbai)

Logo of NITIE in article about the top MBA programs offering unique specializations in India.

Official logo of NITIE

NITIE’s flagship course PGDIE (Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering) has been around for more than 50 years. The Institute, one of the top b schools in India, accepts applications on the basis of the CAT percentile. It is one of the top MBA programs for engineers who wish to combine management and industrial engineering domains.

PRAQTISE Fact File: Designed with an industrial engineering perspective, the unique aspect this top MBA program is the 24-week long industry project. 

We can see the focus on operations, across industries and the references to continuous improvement. The course includes subjects like ‘Simulation, Modelling and Analysis’, and ‘Sustainable Development’. Also, the industry project has great potential of turning into a full time offer. A 6-month long interaction with a company is just the right amount of time to demonstrate your skills.

10) PGDM-Tourism & Travel, Indian Institute of Travel & Tourism Management (IITTM)

IITTM is not simply an academic institute but an organization under the Ministry of Tourism. Pursuing this course is an ideal way to build a career in the tourism industry.

The PGDM in Tourism & Travel curriculum is extensive, including topics like air fare calculation, event and hospitality management, sustainable tourism, EXIM policies and so on. The final semester involves study tours and on the job training. It is one of the top MBA programs in the country, especially because of the direct link to the Ministry.

PRAQTISE Fact File: IITTM offers two more courses related to tourism:
a) PGDM in Tourism & Cargo
b) PGDM in Tourism & Leisure

A Praqtical look: What you should remember while choosing any of these top MBA programs

It is important to have a defined interest in a field for pursuing any of the above top MBA programs. For example, a degree focused on telecom management will set you up primarily for the telecom sector. A more broad based degree, let’s say MBA Marketing, will provide more diverse job opportunities. 

Image sources:

  1. http://www.dmarge.com/2014/09/pronounce-luxury-brand-names-properly.html
  2. http://www.nicmar.ac.in/campus.php?Pid=6&Cid=21&Mid=2&S=2
  3. http://www.sitm.ac.in/