There are several diploma, under graduate and post graduate programmes in management. But MBA which is the post graduate degree in management is considered as the prerequisite for top management positions in the corporate world. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Business Management (BBM), Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) are some of the under graduate courses. One should have 10+2 or equivalent qualification for applying for Bachelor courses. Normally Bachelors programmes are of 3 years duration, but it varies depending on the institutes. 

The basic qualification for MBA is a graduation in any discipline such as B.Com, BA., B.Sc., BE/ Btech etc. However, subjects such as commerce, economics and mathematics would prepare a candidate better for pursuing business studies.

There are full time and part time post graduate programmes in management, i.e full time/ part time MBA and PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management/ Business administration) programmes. For better career prospects, fresh graduates are required to enroll for 2 year full time programmes. Technically there is no difference between 2 year full time MBA and PGDM programmes. MBA programmes are awarded only by the universities or university affiliated colleges whereas PGDM programmes are honoured by independent colleges. 2 year full time PGDM programmes are considered equivalent to MBA. 1 year / part time PGDM programmes which are meant for working executives are not equivalent to MBA. But there are exception for some top B Schools where their 1 year programmes are considered equivalent to MBA. So students must be very careful while choosing the programmes. Doctoral degrees in business administration are generally only for those who wish to pursue the academic or research sides of the field.

Selection :
Reputed Business schools admit students on the basis of a 3 stage selection process that includes a written examination followed by a group discussion and personal interview. Generally written examination are of two to two and a half hour duration with multiple choice objective questions which covers various aspects of aptitude tests like Basic mathematics (Quantitative Analysis), English language (Verbal Analysis), Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, logic, general knowledge etc. Getting a good score in this written test is not enough to assure the seat. There will be group discussion (GD), team-building task and personal interviews (PI). Students are admitted, based on rank lists prepared on the performance in the written test, GD and PI. Some institutes consider the marks in the graduation level also. Extra curricular activities and qualifications like work experience will be an added advantage to the candidates but are not compulsory. 

Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by Indian Institute of Management (IIM); Management Aptitude Test (MAT) by All India Management Aptitude Testing Service (AIMATS) New Delhi; Xavier Admission Test (XAT) by Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur (XLRI); Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET) by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT); ATMA by  the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) are the major national level entrance examinations for admission to management courses. Even though these exams are conducted by the respective institute for their admission, its scores are widely accepted by many of the Indian Business Schools. MAT exams are conducted 4 times a year while all the others are held once in a year. Certain Business schools and universities conduct their own entrance test and some of these include National Management Aptitude Test (NMAT), Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test, Open Management Admission Test (OPENMAT) by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Written Admission Test (WAT), IBSAT, CEMAT etc. All these exams follow the same syllabus and students can write 2 or 3 of these, so that they can apply to multiple institutes.

Course Details:
The course help students to fine-tune their business analytical skills, understand the corporate world and perform to the expectations of the industry. Students are given solid foundation in the principles of Business management. Economics, organizational behavior, marketing, accounting, finance, strategy, operations management, international business, information technology management, supply chain management and project management are the subjects covered in the management courses. Theoretical aspects and practical issues of managing business are taught in the institutes. All the students are exposed to the practical scenarios through various methods of teaching. In the 1st year of the course, they are trained in all aspects of business like marketing, finance, human resource, operation management, production, systems etc. During the 2nd year, there will be elective areas and the students can specialize in any one of the field of management. The core subjects of specialisation in MBA include Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Production and Systems. Beside these, there are over 20 areas of specialisations one can choose from. Retail, Hotel, Tourism & Travel, Airport & Airlines, Hospital, Finance & Services, International Business, Construction, Banking & Insurance etc are some of them.

Personal skill:
Motivation and certain personal skills are needed for a successful career in this profession. Hectic work pressure will be there and one needs to be tactful when dealing with clients and should be patient and possess keen business expertise. Good communication skills, leadership quality, ability to motivate and work as part of a team, time management skills, ability to understand and solve problems are the needed attributes. Quick thinking and the ability to come up with new ideas are advantageous. Merely text book knowledge will not help a candidate even though it can help him easily make a way in this field. On the job, they have to ensure that they are in touch with the latest practices and their skills should be kept updated. They should be aware of the current global scenario, economics and industry trends.

Several universities abroad have tied up with many Indian business schools to offer their International MBA programmes. Students can enroll in these programmes, but there is a little chance for global exposure. Another option is the twinning programme. Here students can complete the 1st year of their course in India and can go outside to the university/ institute to complete their course. Or they can enroll in the abroad university for their studies. There is ample opportunity for pursuing courses in management abroad- UK universities offer MBA as a one year programme. But one must always be careful about the choice of the institute.