One-Year MBA vs Two-Year MBA

One-Year MBA vs Two-Year MBA

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Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 19 Feb 2025, 04:06 PM IST

One-Year vs Two-Year MBA: MBA aspirants, who have a couple of years of work experience are often in the dilemma of whether to pursue an Executive MBA or two years regular MBA. There are various factors based on which you should take the final decision. Over the past decade, 1 year MBA programs have become popular. For those candidates who have more than 2 years of experience and their career is already in a good place, then in such case, an MBA degree can add to or polish their skills to do much better in the corporate sector. Read this article by Careers360 to know the difference between 1 year MBA and 2 year MBA.

One-Year MBA vs Two-Year MBA
One-Year MBA vs Two-Year MBA

One Year vs Two Year MBA

One year MBA is good for those who have a very clear mind on their career path. Apart from that, those candidates who are looking to join a family business and need a quick degree are also best suited for one year MBA. However, those candidates who have just completed their graduation and have doubts related to their career then they must go for two years MBA program.

The two-year MBA program offers extensive theoretical and practical knowledge to students. Despite this explanation, the MBA course duration is a question for many. In this article, we have tried to find out which one-year or two-year MBA, one should pursue.

Which is Better One Year MBA or Two Year MBA

One year MBA program is an intense experience, where all the learning activities are packed in a 10 to 12 months time frame. On the other hand, two year MBA program allows candidates to explore their MBA career paths through internships and other campus activities. Check out the following table to know the major difference between one year and two year MBA program.

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Criteria
One-year MBA
Two-year MBA
Academic Background
Since the one-year MBA program is intense and fast-paced, this is suited for those who have a strong quantitative background.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds can go for a two-year MBA program.
Work experience
Two to five years of experience need to pursue one year MBA program.
The average work experience to pursue a two-year MBA program is four to two to three years. It also varies from college to college.
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All about one year MBA vs two year MBA

1. Work Experience: The 2 year MBA programs in India do not require the applicants to have work experience and the selection process is primarily based on their academic and test scores. The one-year programmes, on the other hand, need applicants to have a minimum of two to three years of work experience and the MBA selection process takes into account the overall profile of the candidates, including the quality of work experience, demonstrated track record, and future potential.

2. Curriculum and Learning Experience: The shorter duration of the One year MBA means that it is more challenging with candidates having to handle a lot more in lesser time. This is where having prior work experience helps since having a basic understanding of organizations and professional work environments helps participants start at a higher base compared to freshers who have to start from scratch. The programmes are designed accordingly keeping this work experience in mind and fully leveraging it.

A two-year MBA, on the other hand, offers fresh graduates sufficient time to develop a thorough understanding of the business world along with a summer internship of two months to get the students acquainted with what comes next. So for students who are fresh out of college, a two-year MBA prepares them for the corporate world.

3. Peer Group: A class of the one year MBA in India typically comprises professionals coming with experience in diverse industries and roles. This significantly enhances the quality of learning experience within and beyond the classrooms since people can relate business concepts with their personal real-life experiences. Similarly, it provides a great opportunity for creating a network of friends, acquaintances, and allies across industries.

4. ROI & Opportunity Cost: For experienced professionals, the one-year PG programme offers a higher return on their investment as they have a significantly lower opportunity cost in terms of being away from work for just half the time of the two-year programs. For a lot of people, this is extremely important not just from a career perspective but also for personal reasons where a commitment of being away from school for two years is simply not feasible.

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5. Career Objectives: The choice of your decision also depends upon your career goals. For example, if you are looking for a significant change in your line of work or want to switch your industry, a two-year MBA with a summer internship may offer a better chance. Also, some industries and companies still prefer to recruit young graduates through their management trainee programmes and after evaluating candidates in their summer internship programs. On the other hand, if you love the field that you are in and want to fast-track your career in the shortest possible time, then a one-year MBA makes more sense.

In terms of job opportunities and employment outcomes, the two types of MBA programmes don’t have any difference whatsoever. The major criterion for choosing one over another is just the relevant experience possessed by the aspirant. The two-year traditional MBA is more popular with students who have lesser work experience due to the internship offered at the end of its first year and with people who are planning to significantly change their industry and functional area.

The one-year PG programme, however, is more suitable for professionals who possess significant work experience and are looking for accelerated growth in their careers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are the top five highest paying MBA jobs?
A:

The top five highest-paying MBA jobs are.

  • Financial Manager
  • Investment Banker
  • Information Technology (IT) Director
  • Chief Technology Officer
  • Investment Bank Manager
Q: Why is MBA so expensive?
A:

It depends on where a candidate is pursuing MBA. If a candidate is pursuing MBA from IIMs then they have to pay hefty fees and there are B-schools that offer MBAs at low costs.

Q: Why is MBA better than masters?
A:

MBA given better career flexibility, business ownership, management roles, practical and theoretical knowledge, and on the other masters gives degree and theoretical knowledge.  

Q: What can I do instead of MBA?
A:

Instead of MBA, candidates can pursue MSc in various specializations such as.

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Marketing
Q: Is CAT score card is valid for 2 years?
A:

No, CAT score card is valid for one year only.

Q: Is GMAT accepted in IIM?
A:

A total of 7 IIMs including Ahmedabad, Calcutta, and Bangalore accepts GMAT scorecard.

Q: Which is the easiest stream in MBA?
A:

As per MBA graduates, MBA in Finance and Banking is quiet easier than other MBA specializations.

Q: How fast one can complete MBA?
A:

Minimum duration of one year is needed to complete MBA.

Q: Can I do MBA in one year?
A:

Yes, there is one year MBA course. Many universities and institutes have designed this extensive course and offering to eligible candidates.

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Hello,

Here are some top MBA colleges in India with fees under Rs. 2 lakh and their exam/cutoff details:

  • SIMSREE, Mumbai – Fee around Rs. 1.3–1.4 lakh for 2 years. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA. Cutoff is very high, usually 99+ percentile in CAT/CMAT.

  • PUMBA (Dept. of Management Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University) – Fee around Rs. 1.2–1.3 lakh. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA. Cutoff approx. 75+ percentile in CAT, 90–95+ percentile in CMAT, high scores in MAH-CET.

  • TISS, Mumbai (MA HRM & other management-related programmes) – Fee around Rs. 1.7–1.9 lakh. Accepts CAT for some courses. Qualifying cutoff is around 60–70 percentile, but final selection cutoffs are higher.

These are the main government institutes where the full MBA/PG programme fee is within Rs. 2 lakh. Cutoffs vary slightly each year and by category, but SIMSREE and PUMBA generally need high scores, while TISS has its own process along with CAT shortlisting.

Hope it helps !