Difference Between Distance MBA And Executive MBA

Some of the most common types of MBA programs include executive and distance MBA courses. These courses are designed for a specific target audience and offer career scope and facilities accordingly. The difference between an MBA and an executive MBA will be explained in detail below.

Meaning of an Executive MBA

An executive MBA program is a type of part-time degree program for professionals in the business field. Executive MBA is considerably most suitable for working professionals as it allows candidates to continue work and earn while gaining the degree. It is a professional degree that helps candidates develop business transformation skills, leadership skills and management tactics. Some of the business organisations also fund partial or complete expenses of the Executive MBA program for their employers.

Meaning of a Distance MBA

A distance MBA program is a postgraduate degree that allows candidates to learn at their own pace and encourages independent learning by eliminating physical attendance in the course. A distance MBA program focuses on minimal personal interaction and is more affordable than regular MBA programs. A distance MBA degree can be obtained through a part-time, full-time time or hybrid learning model. It is a flexible type of MBA that helps students with e-learning materials and faculty support.

What is the difference between an Executive MBA and a Distance MBA

Concept or focus

The purpose of an executive MBA is to offer higher education opportunities to individuals who already developed significant work experience in their respective fields. Executive MBA focuses on improving the leadership and strategic efficiency of individuals while continuing earning. On the other hand, a distance MBA degree is designed to allow students to get higher education without being part of the conventional education system or attending classes on campus. Distance MBA focuses on providing a cost-effective and flexible learning process among remote learners with equal value and acceptability.

Target Audience

The target audience for an executive MBA program is people with good job titles in management positions preferably senior management category. An executive MBA program targets people looking for higher education who have a minimum of work experience between 3 to 5 years. Whereas a distance MBA program targets people who just have completed their bachelor's degree and looking for a professional program in the management field. Distance MBA program is specially designed for students who are looking for a convenient and affordable education program that offers equally valuable degrees considering employment purposes and can be processed from anywhere anytime.

Schedule

The schedule of an executive MBA program is based on the University or college policies in which the candidate is enrolled. Generally, the schedule of an executive MBA course has four variants including a full-time program, part-time program, blended learning and on-campus visits. The minimum duration of an executive MBA program is 1.5 years - 2 years which includes 2 semesters each year. However, a distance MBA program is completely a digitalised course that can be done in a part-time or a full-time category. A distance MBA program is a 2-year long professional course that includes 4 semesters each year. Distance MBA courses can be completed through a 1-year program under special circumstances.

Focus

An executive MBA program focuses on subjects like corporate finance, operations management, entrepreneurship, Marketing Management, Accounting, etc. To develop the expertise of working professionals in specific Business areas and secure their future with strong career prospects. Students learn practically efficient skills in an executive MBA program to conduct business processes and decision-making. Additionally, a distance MBA program focuses on human resources, technology management, supply chain management, Corporate Law, digital marketing, business statistics, marketing management and many more. A distance MBA program provides basic skills of management among students such as management, self-discipline, problem-solving, teamwork, networking, etc.

Career scope

After completing an executive MBA degree, the top-tier leadership position of CFO, CEO or COO opens up for graduates. An executive MBA graduate can also become an industry Counselor and provide expert advice to client businesses and guide daily operations. A graduate with specialisation in an executive MBA program can also get jobs in specific areas like finance and HR accordingly. On the other hand, after completing a distance MBA degree, graduates can pursue leadership and management categories such as project manager, HR manager, operations manager, etc. A graduate in a distance MBA program can also become a Consultant for several organisations or can opt for entrepreneurship.

Eligibility criteria

The potential candidate eligible for an executive MBA degree should have completed a 3-year bachelor's Degree from a recognised board with at least 50% aggregate marks. The candidate also has a minimum offer of 2-5 years of experience preferably on a managerial level. To get admission to a well-recognised business school for an executive MBA the age limit of the candidate is at least 25 to 27 years. On the contrary, an individual who has completed a bachelor's degree with at least 45-50% marks from a well-accredited college without any work experience is eligible for a distance MBA program. However, there is no specific age limit for a distance MBA program but some colleges demand at least 21 years of age of the candidate.

Admission process

The admission process for executive MBA programs requires passing an entrance exam by the candidate such as executive assessment, GMAT, etc. The Academy profile and work experience of potential candidates should be impressive and have good potential. An English language test and personal interview are all important parts of the executive MBA program. Similarly, admission to a distance MBA program may require passing an entrance exam with a decent score. Additionally, some business schools also demand good scores on TOEFL and IELTS tests.

Conclusion

To conclude, the difference between distance MBA and executive MBA can be analysed through their concepts, target audience, different schedules, focus, career scope, eligibility criteria and admission process. Additionally, an executive MBA program is suitable for experienced working professionals and a distance MBA program is suitable for candidates without any work experience.