Specializations in MBA: In this exclusive interview with Dr Manoj Kumar, Founding Director Online Education, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Bengaluru. In his interview he has shared details about the Specializations in MBA offered by the various colleges/ universities, which specialization is worth opting for in todays and future context and other relevant details that aspirants may find important while selecting a MBA specialization. Read the complete interview of Dr Manoj Kumar to know more about Specializations in MBA programmes.
Careers360. Do you think a General or Specialized MBA is more helpful?
Dr Manoj Kumar. I would say that it depends on an individual's career goals. For example a fresher who wants to get into a management position. It is good for them to do a General MBA. But for someone who is working in a particular industry it is good for them to choose a Specialized MBA in their respective or related fields.
Today the world is moving towards MBA and Stem specialization. Someone who is working in a particular industry but they want to switch to the Analytics field so they can choose MBA in Data Science or Business Analytics.
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Careers360. How should a student go about choosing an MBA Specialization?
Dr Manoj Kumar. Normally every college/ university offers different types of specializations. For example, MAHE is offering some niche specializations like Pharmaceutical Management.
Industry Perspective - When someone is trying to choose a specialization they should look at the university whether it's capable of delivering that MBA specialization. Whether they have a reputed school which is into that particular domain. MAHE has a Manipal college of Pharmaceutical Sciences, which delivers and adds value to the MBA in Pharmaceutical Management. So students while selecting a specialization should check whether that university has the resources to add value to the specialization you are opting.
Applicant perspective - Another important thing from an applicant's perspective is that they think whether the specialization they are selecting will help them in their career growth. For example, someone working in a pharmaceutical company can do an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management and it will be beneficial for them and so on. Similarly while selecting an MBA in Data Science the basic requirement is that applicants must have studied statistics and mathematics. So while selecting the MBA specialization students should also look at past academic background and what type of career they want in the future.
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Careers360. What makes Data Science such a popular specialization among students?
Dr Manoj Kumar. Nowadays data driven decisions are central to any business. Be it any industry, the data gives us a better insight about our business and our customers. So it is good for an industry to look at data, hence there is a huge requirement of Data Scientists. Hence every university is offering this course.
Someone who wants to learn both management and data science concepts can opt for an MBA in Data Science. Because of the industry requirement this is becoming a more popular course.
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Careers360. What are other courses and degrees in Data Science?
Dr Manoj Kumar. There are two kinds of programs offered in Data Science - Online Certifications and Online Degrees. But now the question arises is what is the immediate and future requirement of the student. If the students immediate requirement is to upskill their existing competencies then they can opt for the Online Certification program as it will meet their immediate goal.
But if their long term goal is to survive in this industry it is always good to do an Online degree in Data Science. Here they will be exposed to various aspects of Data Science. Hence upskilling will meet immediate requirements and Online degree will meet the future requirements.
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On Question asked by student community
Good morning. yes, you are eligible to apply for BSc Nursing at Manipal University, Karnataka, provided they meet the following criteria:
Eligibility Criteria for BSc Nursing at Manipal University
Educational Qualification: Completion of 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects.
Minimum Marks: At least 50% aggregate in PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology).
Recognized Board: NIOS is considered a recognized board, so your qualification is valid.
Entrance Exam: You may need to appear for the Manipal Entrance Test (MET) or other accepted exams like NEET, depending on the admission route2.
Additional Requirements
Documents: 12th marksheet, birth certificate, migration certificate, ID proof, and passport-size photos.
Attendance & Internal Assessment: Once admitted, students must maintain 80% attendance and meet internal assessment criteria to progress through the course.
Hey Malathi,
Thanks for reaching out!
Manipal University, Bengaluru offers strong placement for electronics and computer engineering (ECM/ECE) students.
Highest package: The 2025 batch saw the highest package reaching 52 LPA,
Average package: The average package ranges between 10-12 LPA.
Good placement rate: Around75- 80% of the ECE/ECM) students get placed each year.
Leading Recruiters: Top companies include Microsoft, Amazon,Intel,Nvidia,Dell, Infosys,TCS, Wipro, Goldman Sachs etc.
Diverse roles: Students are hired in core electronics, software development,data science and consulting roles.
It's a smart choice for strong career and quality education.
Explore more:
https://www.careers360.com/colleges/manipal-academy-of-higher-education-bengaluru-campus-bengaluru
Hey Amit :)
Thanks for reaching out! And, your MBA plan sounds great!
Going for an MBA is definitely a smart move to aim for a better package. However, remember that only adding an MBA degree, without much development in your skills and expertise won't give you a BIG jump in your payscale.
Here are few scenarios about your post-MBA salary:
• If you continue in the same role and same company - 12-15 LPA
• switch to managerial role in the same domain - 13-18 LPA
• moving to a new domain according to your MBA - 14-20 LPA
P.S. Select your MBA domain that is high in demand and pays well.plus,add more value to your resume by adding real projects,and other certifications while doing your MBA.Don't forget networking!use Alumni network from the University and build good connections.
All the best!
Explore more :
https://www.careers360.com/courses/mba-master-of-business-administration
The placement reality of the Online MBA from Manipal University Jaipur is fairly balanced. The university offers decent placement support through virtual drives, resume building, and career guidance. While some students have secured roles in reputed companies like TCS, Deloitte, and Accenture, the average salary ranges between 3 to 5 LPA, with a few getting higher packages.
However, as with most online programs, placements largely depend on the student’s prior experience, effort, and networking, so outcomes can vary.
Hi Mukta,
Both the VIT Vellore and Manipal University Jaipur are excellent in their own branches of CS AI/ML in VIT and CSE in MUJ. However, the difference does exist if we compare further.
You should now decide based on your own preferences, you should also look which one is closer to your home for better reachability.
ALL THE BEST !
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