1. What are the various courses offered by B-schools?

B-schools usually offer five categories of programs -

• Post Graduate Programs - These could either be Diploma Courses (Example - Post Graduate Diploma in Management offered by the IIMs) or Degree Programs (Example - Master of Business Administration offered by FMS)
  
  
• Executive MBA Programs - Executive PGP is a uniquely designed programme for working executives/ entrepreneurs/ professionals who wish to go in for management education without disturbing their professional pursuits.
  
  
• Doctoral Programs - The Doctoral course in Management known as Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) enjoys a status equivalent to Ph.D.
  
  
• Management Development Programs - Many B-schools offer refresher courses for middle and top level management in the form of workshops, seminars etc. These are called the Management Development Programs usually attended by sponsored candidates and entrepreneurs.
  
  
• Distance Learning courses - These are correspondence courses offered by a few B-schools like IMT Ghaziabad, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) Pune, IGNOU etc.
  
  These days, several reputed institutes like XLRI, IIM-K, NMIMS etc. also offer Satellite based Distance Learning Courses.

Your focus should always be to aim for the best B-schools in the country without worrying whether it is a Diploma or a Degree. This is because the industry regards a course based on the learning and exposure it can give students and not by the name of the qualification you acquire.

The top management institutes offer either a Degree or a Diploma depending on their affiliation / non-affiliation to a University.

The IIMs, arguably the best management institutes in India offer a PGDBM - Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management.

While JBIMS is affiliated to Mumbai University and offers an MMS - Masters in Management Studies.

3.What is an Executive MBA?

Executive MBA or Executive PGP is a uniquely designed programme for working executives/ entrepreneurs/ professionals who wish to go in for management education without disturbing their professional pursuits. Institutes like XLRI, IIM-I, etc.offer such programs which give professionals an opportunity to earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management without interrupting their career.

On the other hand, institutes like ISB Hyderabad, MDI Gurgaon etc. offer one year residential preprograms which also fall in the same category.

Candidates applying for the Executive MBA are required to have a minimum of 4-5 years of post-degree, managerial/ entrepreneurial/ professional experience and are usually sponsored by their organizations.

These programs are different from Distance Learning Courses since they require the candidates to spend a stipulated time attending classes at the institute.

4. What is Fellow Program in Management?

Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) is a Doctoral course in Management which enjoys a status equivalent to Ph.D. It is usually of four-five years duration and aims to develop individuals into distinguished researchers, consultants, managers, and teachers in the field of management.

In addition to a Monthly stipend, all students admitted to the FPM receive a fellowship that covers all costs and living expenses.

5. What is a Distance Learning Program in Management?

As the name suggests, these are correspondence courses offered by a few B-schools like IMT Ghaziabad, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) Pune, IGNOU etc. Most students who opt for such courses are in professions or jobs which do not allow any break. The learning happens through books and notes sent through courier at regular periods. The student is then required to sit for semester tests at the centers decided by the institute.

These days, several reputed institutes like XLRI, IIM-K, NMIMS etc. also offer Satellite based Distance Learning Courses. The unique aspect of these programs is the instructor-student interaction which is made possible live via satellite.
The instructor is able to simultaneously reach out to multiple classrooms across the country using video, voice and data. The instructor and the students are able to interact with each other verbally, ask & answer questions and communicate privately via text messaging.

6. What is affiliation?

The dictionary meaning of the word 'Affiliation' is - 'A social or business relationship'. Based on this, the B-school programs fall in three categories -

• University Affiliated - Some B-schools have tie-ups with prominent universities of their states. According to this association, the curriculum & teaching methodology is decided by the University & the B-school runs the program using it's resources (infrastructure, faculty etc.). The University conducts the examinations & awards it's degree to successful students
  
  
• AICTE approved - The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) set up by the Ministry of HRD recognizes courses based on parameters like resource availability, program structure etc. Since AICTE is internationally acknowledged, courses approved by it also enjoy a similar status. It is important for students who later plan to pursue a Ph.D or any other degree abroad must ensure that the course they opt for is AICTE approved.
  
  
• Autonomous - These courses are not approved / affiliated with either the AICTE or any university