Comparison Between MBA and MBE

An MBA is a post graduate degree in business communication. Irrespective of the industry or profession, an MBA degree can benefit those in positions in business and management, especially those in executive and managerial positions.

The MBE programme is an amalgamation of management, business and economic techniques. The Master of Business Economics provides a strong foundation in economic principles and meets the needs of decision-makers and advisors in business and related areas.

Both the courses are available through regular and distance mode.

MBA - Masters of Business Administration 

MBA stands for Masters of Business Administration. It is the most sought after degrees for business students in the world over. An MBA degree is vital for career advancement in the present-day competitive world.

It develops the knowledge and skills of a demanding job which requires, persistence, energy, and time-management skills to handle it. It inculcates the values of teamwork, leadership, and ability to motivate others.

MBA Eligibility Criteria

Atleast a 3 year bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline recognised by any Indian University / AICTE as eligible for post-graduate studies, and  final year  students of graduation can also apply.

The steps followed in the admission procedure are given below:

• Entrance Exam / The Written Test: Normally, MBA institutes in India have a written aptitude test. The most of the colleges conducts Common Admission Test -CAT, Management Aptitude Test -MAT, Karnataka Management Aptitude Test –KMAT, Joint Management Entrance Test –JMET.

• Application Essays and Reference Letters: The short listed candidates of the IIMs and some other leading management institutes are expected to write these essays. Group discussions and personal interviews (GD/PI) are also conducted to determine the Strengths and Weaknesses and communication skills of the candidates. Many B-schools offer admission on the basis of cumulative scores of the Entrance Exam, GD/PIs.

MBA Colleges

Some of the leading institutes in India offering MBA education include:

• Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad (IIM-A)
• Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore (IIM-B)
• Indian Institute of Management - Calcutta (IIM-C)
• Indian Institute of Management - Indore (IIM - I)
• Indian Institute of Management - Kozhikode (IIM - K)
• Indian Institute of Management - Lucknow (IIM-L)
• Xavier's Labour Relations Institute (XLRI)
• Faculty of Management Studies (FMS)
• Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)
• S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)
• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)
• Institute of Management Technology (IMT)
• Xavier Institute of Management (XIM)
  

Jobs After MBA

As indicated by numerous surveys, the financial remuneration for graduates from the leading MBA Schools in India is good, both in the short and long-term.

As per a National Salary Data, an Human Resources (HR) Manager’s salary ranges between Rs 197,764 to  Rs 1,085,612, for a Business Analyst, salary is between Rs 255,302 - Rs 929,102, per annum. For a  Marketing Manager salary is likely to be some where between Rs 226,513 - Rs 1,413,829 , and for  a Business Development Manager it is likely between Rs 215,897 - Rs 1,385,617 per annum.

Job designations that can be achieved after an MBA degree, depending on the specialization acquired. Following are a few examples of jobs as per specialization:

• Public Relations Director
• Sales Manager
• Market Research Analyst
• Finance/ Banking
• Chief Financial Officer
• Treasurer
• Financial Manager/Analyst
• Portfolio Manager
• Investment Banker
• Human Resources/Personnel Management
• Recruitment And Hiring Specialists
• Director Of Supply Chain Management
• Systems Engineer etc.
  

MBA Major Advantages

• It helps in development of  IT skills, such as, knowledge of statistical packages, spreadsheets, databases and programming languages.
• It develops problem solving skills in the person and the ability to overcome difficulties.
• It promotes  original and creative thought.
• It ingrains cross-cultural awareness as it usually involves working with people from many different nationalities and backgrounds.

MBE - Masters of Business Economics

This program is designed for existing and aspiring middle and upper managers. It develops problem-solving skills required to deal with the management challenges of business. The program produces professionals who are analytically strong and adaptable.

The course structure comprises of four semesters that are taught over a two year period. Some institutes madate students to undertake 8 to10 week summer training with a reputed business organization working on specific projects assigned by the organizations.

In some cases, students work in close cooperation with the industry and conduct conventions, seminars, lectures and training programmes.

MBE Eligibility Criteria

The Department of Business Economics, University of Delhi, for admission to its Masters Programme in Business Economics, requires the following:

• A bachelor's degree with Honours in Business Economics/ Commerce/ Business Studies/ Business Administration with a minimum overall aggregate of 50 percent. OR
• A bachelor's degree in Science/ Engineering/ Arts with a minimum overall aggregate of 55 percent.
• Candidate could be a final year student awaiting your results.
• The eligibility criteria vary as per the concerned institutes. Also, some institutes mandate summer training with a reputed business organization working on specific projects assigned by the organizations.

MBE Colleges

Of all the institutes that offer MBE course, few are as given below:

• Delhi University
• Symbiosis Center for Management, Pune
• Asia-Pacific Institute of Management Studies
• Bharathiar University
• Annamalai University – Directorate of distance Education
• Vinayak Missions - Directorate of distance Education
• Annamalai University- Directorate of distance Education
  

MBE Career Prospects

Graduates can expect to find employment as economic policy advisors, business analysts and consultants, resource economists, project analysts or industry economists in government and private sector organizations, teachers, and economic researchers.

An  MBE degree, opens up channels for jobs in reputed multi-national corporations. An MBE graduate can expect an average salary ranging between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.4 lakh per annum.

The companies that recruit MBE graduates range from banking and financial services, consultancy and other services, consumer goods and retail, media and advertising, apex organizations, and the like.

Organizations like the Indian Oil Corporation, LG Electronics, National Housing Bank, Prudential ICICI, SAIL, Citibank, Coca Cola, HDFC, American Express Bank, and CICI Bank, TCS, HTA, TERI, PWC and Ernst and Young, recruit MBE graduates.

MBE Major Advantages

• It provides a strong foundation in economic principles.
• The program does not presume prior knowledge or training in economics.
• It develops the economic skills and problem-solving skills.
• Students develop a critical ability in applying economics to practical situations.

A Comparison Between MBA and MBE

Category	Master Of Business Administration (MBA)	Master Of Business Economics (MBE)
Duration	Full time MBA is a two year program while Part-time MBA programs normally vary from two to three years in duration.	MBE is a two year program. There are no part time courses in this field. Some institutes, like Delhi University offers Dual specialization to its students.
Fees	A two year MBA program fees varies between 3.3 to 8 lakhs and it varies between institutes.	The annual fees for MBE program at Delhi University is Rs12,361/-  whereas at private institutes, the fees can be above 1.5 lakhs per annum.
Admission Criteria:	For an MBA course at least a 3 year bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline, recognized by any Indian University / AICTE as eligible, is necessary. In addition, qualification in Entrance exams like CAT and Group Discussions / Personal Interviews, as conducted by individual institutes, is also mandatory.	As a pre requisite to admission to MBE, a bachelor's degree with Honours in Business Economics/ Commerce/ Business Studies/ Business Administration with a minimum overall aggregate of 50 percent. OR a bachelor's degree in Science/ Engineering/ Arts with a minimum overall aggregate of 55 percent is the first requirement for admission to the two-year MBE programme. There after, it is a three-stage process- comprises of an All India entrance test, group discussion and personality and personal interview.
Specializations	Broadly, the specialization in MBA include Marketing, Human Resource, Finance, Sales, Media Management, Administrative Law Education, Systems Management, and Operations.	MBE offers specialization in quantitative techniques/ finance/ marketing/ HRA systems & operations/ regional and transport economics/ applied environmental economics.
Suitability	Irrespective of one’s industry or profession, an MBA degree is a beneficial opportunity for professionals outside the industry because the program helps inn the development of various skills that go beyond the realms of professional world.  An MBA not only imbibes skills of economics, operations, finance, marketing management, and accounting, it also inculcates the skills of leadership, teamwork, ethics, and communication that are so critical for effective management.	MBE is practical for people who have the potential and drive to lead, own, create and transform business enterprises.