Stuck in a 9-5 job? Or just finished your graduation and don’t know what to do next. Don’t worry, we have the solution for you! Explore our curated list of top PG courses tailored to boost your career and unlock new opportunities. Say goodbye to uncertainty and hello to a brighter future!
We all know the necessity for acquiring higher education at the present age, where competition in employment is tough. Consequently, post graduate diploma courses have become one of the most sought professional courses that help candidates to upgrade their skills, gain specialized knowledge in a subject of their interest, and fast-track their career. Unlike other master’s degree programs, postgraduate diplomas are more inclined programs and are time-effective in the sense that a person can gain mastery in a certain area without taking all the time in the world to master his or her degree.
These are practical courses that provide a connection between the acquired information and its usage which makes it valuable in any organization or business. Regardless of the student’s interest in business management, information technology, healthcare, or arts, a postgraduate diploma will enable one to meet the market standards and gain enhanced credentials.
Furthermore, it has been opined that the post-graduate diploma courses have certain advantages which include easier affordability than full-fledged master’s programs. This makes them a considerable option for people who would like to enhance their learning and employment level without worrying much about the costs. In this ultimate guide, we will discuss about different post graduate diploma courses that can be pursued in various fields, the advantages of the course, a list of the institutes offering the course, and the job prospects that can be availed.
Let it start here and learn how that Postgraduate diploma can be the key to your new professional path and enrich your life.
What are Post Graduate Diploma courses?
A Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) is an academic postgraduate-level program aiming at offering further specialization in a specific area. Whereas a Master’s degree program takes two years, covers a wider area, and consists of lots of research, a Post Graduate Diploma is much more specific, takes one to two years, and stresses on the applied skills and practices seen in the field of study.
Key Characteristics of a Post Graduate Diploma Courses:
1. Structure and Duration:
- PG Diploma programs take a relatively shorter time to complete than a master’s degree for instance the postgraduate diploma can take between one to two academic years.
- This curriculum is taught in a compressed and very application-oriented manner where the objective is to endow the students with certain skills that can easily be brought to utilize at the workplace.
2. Curriculum:
- The subject matter in PGD programs is very rigorous and the program is designed to concentrate on a specific area.
- On the same note, different from generalized academic programs commonly known as master’s and doctorate, PGD courses are specialized to enable the users to have an in-depth understanding and mastery in specific fields of endeavor including business management, information technology, health services, engineering, and arts among others.
- Some of these programs include internships, projects, and cases that give an insight into the outside world experience.
3. Eligibility Criteria:
- The candidate must have an undergraduate degree to enter a PGD course.
- Certain programs may have prerequisite working experience mainly in business management or in the healthcare sector.
4. Industry Relevance:
- PGD programs are designed by taking input from the field and employers so that the curriculum becomes relevant in the current market.
- This alignment with industry needs makes PGD holders highly employable and often preferred by employers looking for candidates with specific skill sets.
5. Cost-Effectiveness:
- PGD programs are generally more affordable than Master’s degree programs, making them an attractive option for individuals seeking advanced education without the higher financial burden.
6. Career Advancement:
- Obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma can do a lot in improving one’s employment opportunities by training one in a specific skill set required for high-paying jobs.
- It is therefore not surprising that graduates come out of their desired post graduate diploma courses as competent to be leaders, for promotion to higher technical posts.
Therefore, Post Graduate Diploma courses are a practical and effective way through which the learners can enhance their careers through professional training. Course specialization always implies a better match between what is learned and what is applied in practice; PGD programs strengthen this alignment, making them a worth-to-have addition to many professionals’ credentials.
Popular Post Graduate Diploma Courses
Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) courses offer a wide array of options across various fields, catering to the diverse interests and career aspirations of students and professionals. Below are some of the most popular PGD courses categorized by discipline:
1) Business and Management:
a) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Management (PGDM):
It is a two-year program offered by almost all the top Management institutes in India. The program’s curriculum is designed to help students acquire the required skill set related to management which caters to the industry requirements. PGDM program provides comprehensive management education, covering areas such as finance, marketing, operations, and human resources. PGDM courses are said to be equivalent to an MBA and are equally recognized in the field of management.
Eligibility:
- Candidate must have a graduate degree with a minimum of 55% marks.
- To secure admission to PGDM the candidate has to appear in the entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, and NMAT.
Average Salary:
After completing a PGDM from a reputed Management institute one can expect a salary between 5 LPA to 15 LPA.
Top private institute for PGDM:
| Institute Name | Fees (in INR) |
| International Management Institute, New Delhi | 18 LPA |
| SP Jain (SPJIMR), Mumbai | 9.5 – 22 LPA |
| Amity University, Noida | 4.8 – 25 LPA |
| Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune | 15.9 – 22 LPA |
| LPU, Jalandhar | 1.5 – 9 LPA |
| Chandigarh University, Chandigarh | 3 – 6.5 LPA |
| XLRI, Jamshedpur | 35,000 – 27 LPA |
| MDI Gurgaon | 10 – 24 LPA |
| NMIMS, Mumbai | 6 – 24 LPA |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | 13 – 17 LPA |
Top government institute for PGDM:
| Institute Name | Fees (in INR) |
| IIM, Calcutta | 23 – 25 LPA |
| IIM, Bangalore | 12.5 – 24 LPA |
| IIM, Ahmedabad | 12 – 24 LPA |
| IIM, Indore | 17 – 35 LPA |
| IIM, Kozhikode | 12 – 20 LPA |
| IIM, Ranchi | 14 – 16 LPA |
| IIM, Rohtak | 9 – 33 LPA |
| IIT, Delhi | 10.5 LPA |
| IIM, Lucknow | 9.5 – 12 LPA |
| IIT, Kanpur | 2.8 – 13 LPA |
b) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Business Administration (PGDBA):
PGDBA is similar to PGDM but often with a broader focus on general business principles and practices. Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration or PGDBA is a 1-year diploma course that is further divided into 2 semesters and the course focuses on the management of business, its administration, its functioning, and marketing and finance.
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration also houses the following components for its students Marketing Management, Accounting for Managers, HR Management, International Business Environment, Business Policy and Environment, and Principles and Practices of Management.
Eligibility:
- Candidate must have a graduate degree with minimum 60% marks.
- Merit-based admissions are typically used to enroll students in the Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration program. There are, however, certain exceptions, such as colleges that require admission tests in order to admit students. CAT, XAT, and SNAP are a few of the most popular entrance tests administered.
Average Salary:
After completing a PGDBA from a reputed Management institute one can expect a salary between 10 LPA to 16 LPA.
Top Institute for Postgraduation Diploma in Business Administration:
| Institute Name | Fees (in INR) |
| Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur | 12,00,000 |
| Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore | 25,000 |
| Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda | 13,000 |
| GRG School of Management Studies | 40,000 |
| MITCON Institute of Management, Pune | 5,25,000 |
| Mahatma Gandhi University, Ri-Bhoi | 20,000 |
Also Read,
- Job Opportunities in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide for Immigrants
- The ultimate guide to becoming an AI prompt engineer
c) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM):
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management or PGDHRM is a 1-year postgraduate course that Focuses on developing expertise in managing human capital, including recruitment, training, employee relations, and organizational development. This program includes subjects like Strategic Management, Managerial Economics, Employee Legislation, Performance Management, Human Resource Development, etc.
Eligibility:
- Candidate must have a graduate degree with minimum 55% marks.
- To secure admission to PGDHRM the candidate has to appear in the entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, etc.
Average Salary:
You can expect a Salary package of about 5-15 LPA after completing PGDHRM from a reputed Management institute.
Top Institute for Postgraduation Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM):
| Institute Name | Fees (in INR) |
| Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur | INR 4.1 lakh |
| International Management Institute, New Delhi | INR 16.49 lakh |
| NIMS University, Jaipur | INR 7 lakh |
| Apeejay School of Management, New Delhi | INR 7.50 lakh |
| Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi | INR 9.75 lakh |
| Institute of Technology and Science, Ghaziabad | NA |
| Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | INR 4.64 lakh |
| International School of Informatics and Management, Jaipur | NA |
| Amity Global Business School, Noida | INR 6.32 lakh |
d) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Marketing Management (PGDMM):
The postgraduate diploma in marketing management is a 2-year program that concentrates on marketing strategies, consumer behavior, digital marketing, and brand management. It prepares students for roles such as marketing managers, brand managers, and digital marketing specialists.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The candidate needs to have earned at least 55% of their graduate degree.
- The candidate must show up for entrance tests such as CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, etc. in order to be admitted to PGDMM.
Average Salary:
After completing PGDMM from a reputable management college, you can anticipate a salary package of roughly 5–10 LPA.
Top Institute for Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management (PGDMM):
| Institute Name | City |
| IGNOU | New Delhi |
| Welingkar Online | Mumbai |
| MIT School of Distance Education | Pune |
| ISB&M | Bangalore |
| SIMS | Pune |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh |
2. Technology and IT
a) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Information Technology (PGDIT):
If you want to make a career in the Technical field then Post Graduate Diploma in Information technology might be the best option for you. PGDIT is a one-year postgraduate program that focuses on training students how to manage technology effectively. It provides students with advanced knowledge covering topics like software development, network management, and cybersecurity.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- Generally, admissions for PGDIT are done on a merit basis but some institutes do it based on the entrance exams like GATE, TANCET, etc.
Average Salary:
You can expect a good starting salary of about 5-7 LPA after completing the PGDIT from a reputed institute.
Top Institute for Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGDIT):
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
| Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai | INR 48,200 |
| Xavier Institue of Social Sciences, Ranchi | INR 10,00,000 |
| MICA, Ahmedabad | INR 21,00,000 |
| ITS, Ghaziabad | INR 3,50,000 |
| Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida | INR 12,00,000 |
| Jaipuria Institute of Business, Ghaziabad | INR 3,75,000 |
| International School of Informatics and Management, Jaipur | INR 32,000 |
| LPU, Jalandhar | INR 2,32,000 |
| Jagran Institute of Management Studies, Jaipur | INR 5,95,000 |
| Jain University, Bangalore | INR 9,90,000 |
b) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Data Science:
Data science is one of the most booming fields in today’s time. If you have an interest in analyzing data and finding hidden insights from it then Postgraduate Diploma is the course you should opt for. The duration of this course varies between 10 Months to 2 years. The course focuses on data analysis, machine learning, big data technologies, and statistical methods.
Eligibility criteria:
- PG Diploma in data science admissions are made based on merit, which is determined by a student’s graduation grade.
- The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline and some job experience to be admitted to this course.
Average Salary:-
After completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science one can anticipate a salary package of about 5-8 LPA.
Top institutes for Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science:
| Institute Name | Average fees |
| Indian Institute Of Technology Madras – [IITM], Chennai | 55,000 |
| Narsee Monjee Institute Of Management Studies – [Nmims Deemed To Be University], Mumbai | 1,60,000 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute Of Higher Education And Research (SRIHER), Chennai | 1,25,000 |
| Chandigarh University (CU) | 60,000 |
| Kalinga University, Raipur | 76,000 |
| NIMAS Kolkata | 1,49,000 |
| Kanya Mahavidyalaya – [KMV], Jalandhar | 1,00,000 |
c) Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Cyber Security:
This increased dependence on technology has also exposed organizations and individuals to high risks of cyberattacks. The Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security ensures that students acquire the adequate knowledge and skills required to deal with cyber attacks on information systems and networks. This specific program covers almost all the areas of cybersecurity such as threat assessment, vulnerability assessment, risk management, ethical hacking, and more enabling the graduates to work in various positions within this booming market.
Eligibility Criteria:
- A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or in any related field.
- Some programs may require prior work experience in IT or cybersecurity.
- The admission process may include an entrance exam or interview.
Average Salary:
After completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Cybersecurity from a reputable institute, you can anticipate a salary package of roughly 5–10 LPA.
Top institutes for Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security:
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
| K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research | INR 1,00,000 |
| Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies | INR 90,000 |
| Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | INR 85,000 |
| Institute of Information Security (IIS) | INR 30,000 – 50,000 |
| IIJT (Indian Institute of Job Training) | INR 25,000 – 40,000 |
| NetTech India | INR 20,000 – 35,000 |
These are some of the most common post graduate diploma courses, but there are tons of post graduate diploma courses in fields like Health and Medicine, Arts and Humanities, Science and Engineering, etc. We can’t discuss each course in detail, so we are listing down them to give you a brief idea.
3. Health and Medicine:
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Public Health
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Clinical Research
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Hospital Management
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Health Informatics
4. Arts and Humanities:
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Education (PGDE)
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Social Work
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Fine Arts
5. Science and Engineering
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Environmental Science
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Engineering Management
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Renewable Energy
- Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Biotechnology
How to Choose the Right Post Graduate Diploma Course?
Selecting the appropriate Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) program is essential for progressing in your career and reaching your career objectives. Clearly defining your interests and career goals is the first step. To determine the subject or specialization that best fits your objectives, consider your present abilities, professional background, and long-term objectives. For example, a PGD in Cyber Security or Data Science can be a good option if you have a strong interest in technology and experience in computer science. However, if you have a preference for managerial positions, a PGD in business administration or human resource management would be a better fit.
After deciding on your area of interest, look into the many courses and programs that PGD programs in that subject offer. Examine the curriculum to make sure it offers a balance between academic knowledge and practical skills, and that it covers pertinent themes. Verify whether the program offers projects, internships, or industry placements; they can improve your employability by giving you useful real-world experience. Furthermore, take into account the delivery method whether the course is given online, on campus, or in a hybrid format, and select the one that best suits your schedule and obligations.
Other important considerations are the institution’s reputation and accreditation. Make sure the program is approved by an official certifying authority, as this guarantees that the instruction offered satisfies quality requirements. To determine the possible value of the diploma, look into the reputation of the school, the experience of the teachers, and the success stories of its graduates. Speak with current or former students to get their opinions and experiences. Lastly, think about the financial factors, such as the cost of tuition, the availability of scholarships, and the possible return on investment in terms of prospects for income growth and professional progression. By carefully considering and analyzing these aspects, you can select the Post graduate Diploma course that will best support your professional objectives.
Conclusion,
Higher education has become more crucial than ever in today’s competitive job market, which is why Post graduate Diploma courses (PGD) are a popular option for professionals hoping to grow their careers and improve their skill sets. These courses provide a useful and quick substitute for standard master’s degree programs by offering specialized knowledge in particular subjects. Through a focus on industry-relevant training and applied skills, PGD programs help students acquire the knowledge and abilities necessary to succeed in their chosen fields of work.
Post graduate diplomas have major financial benefits in addition to being helpful for job growth. Since they are less expensive than fully accredited master’s programs, a wider spectrum of people can now afford further education. To further increase the appeal of these programs, professionals may balance their studies with job and personal obligations thanks to the flexibility of online and remote learning choices.
In the end, selecting the best Post Graduate Diploma course requires giving considerable thought to your interests, career ambitions, and the unique advantages of each program. You can acquire the specialized knowledge and qualifications required to succeed in the competitive job market of today by choosing a program that fits your goals and has strong industry ties. A postgraduate diploma can be the key to opening doors and accomplishing your career goals, regardless of whether you want to move into a new sector or develop in your current one.
I hope this article was helpful for you in understanding what Post Graduate Diploma courses are and their advantages over a full-fledged master’s degree. If you have any doubts regarding the post graduate diploma courses or want any extra information then feel free to drop your query in the comments below our team will try to resolve it as soon as possible. Good Luck with your professional journey ahead.