Pros and Cons of Distance MBA Program

Becoming an MBA graduate is a dream of many. If you are an MBA aspirant, doorways of options are open in front of you. You have to choose the best and discard the rest. Aspirants are often caught up on whether to go for a distance MBA program or do a full-time MBA.  

Those who opt for distance MBA tend to consider it as a replacement for a full-time MBA. It is not so. Before you make up your mind on the MBA Distance Education, we will provide you with the pros and cons of distance MBA program.   

Pros of Distance MBA Program
 

Flexibility: One of the greatest advantages of doing a distance MBA is that you will have a flexible study option. In addition to the original duration of the program, an extra 1 or 2 years are given to the students to achieve proper completion. As per your convenience, you can reschedule your classes. You will also be given the privilege to choose the date and time of the examinations. 

Affordable Fee: While the fees of the regular MBA program send shockwaves to most of the MBA aspirants, the distance MBA program will save you from the burden of high fees. Fees for distance MBA education varies from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. So, if you want to ease yourself from the burden of paying a hefty fee, you have an option in front of you- Distance MBA.

No Age Bar: Age can no longer stop you from pursuing what you like. These features turn out to be beneficial for MBA aspirants from all walks of life. If you are a senior citizen, it might be a little uncomfortable to sit with young students. If such apprehensions trouble you, doing distance MBA is the ideal option.

Lenient Selection Procedure: Compared to full-time MBA programs, the selection criterion of distance MBA programs is simpler. The basic requirement is that you should be a graduate in any discipline. Even though certain institutions conduct entrance exams for admission, they are not difficult to crack when compared to CAT, XAT or MBA entrance exams. Also, GD, PI or WAT are not included in the distance MBA program.

Study at your Convenience: This is undoubtedly the biggest advantage of pursuing distance MBA courses. You have the privilege to study at your convenience. You have the liberty to choose the module and schedule to study. This is a good program for people who are already working. You are eased from the burden of maintaining attendance percentage and pressure of attending classes.

Location: Another advantage of distance MBA is the freedom from sticking onto a particular location. You are not required to shift places or go to a particular place to study. Some institutes offer online video lectures, allowing students to interact with teachers and peers. If you are unable to attend any live lectures, institutes will provide you with offline lectures so that you can go through it at your convenience. Hence, the limitations of location will cease to bother you.

Cons of Distance MBA Program

No corporate recognition: A disadvantage for distance MBA is the absence of proper corporate recognition. Full-time MBA, PGDM, and Executive MBA students are given more preference among recruiters. But your performance can gain you a lot by applying management lessons learned while doing distance MBA. 

No Placement: This is one of the major disadvantages that you might suffer from pursuing a distance MBA program. You will not be offered any placement opportunities after completing the course. Placement opportunities are not offered to students for a variety of reasons. For starters, a majority of them are already working executives. Also, students might be scattered in different geographic locations. So, conducting a common placement process is not practical.

Lack of Specialization: There will not be much to choose from for your specialization. Distant MBA programs can only offer you the usual ones. Thus, distance MBA can only equip you with the basic knowledge of the core courses. If you want to dive deep into the discipline, a distance MBA program is not the best option for you.

Lack of Exposure: Near to zero exposure is another block in the distance MBA program. There is no chance for any industrial visit or internship. Apart from theoretical knowledge, in a distance MBA program, gaining practical knowledge is a difficult task. Hence, for the non- working students, it will be an extra burden.

Struggle to Ensure Work-study Balance: Another disadvantage that a working student will face is to create a balance between work and study. If you are working, you will have to seek out time to make room for your study. This drawback might lead you to extend the date of exams, mostly because of your professional priorities. It might harm your grade; your work might keep you busy from doing an in-depth study.

From these points, you may have got a clear idea about the pros and cons of distance MBA program. Now the choice is up to you. Be wise when you make a decision. Don't let yourself falter in the choices you make. Full time and distance MBAs have their pros and cons. But it all depends on how you carry on with it. Anyone can dream, but those who make the right decision at the right time meet with success. So, go forward and choose wisely.

Also Read:

Annamalai University - The Best University for Distance Education in Kuwait.
Top 10 Benefits of Pursuing an MBA from Annamalai University.