Symbiosis Distance (Online) MBA Admission Fees Eligibility 2024-2025

symbiosis distance learning mba
This article is about the Symbiosis Distance MBA / Online MBA program. In this article, we will discuss the distance MBA offered by SCDL, its specializations, eligibility criteria, fee structure, admission process, course structure, admission dates, and examination details.

Symbiosis (SCDL) is a leading distance learning autonomous institute in India located in Pune (Main Office), Bangalore, Nasik & Noida. The institute is known for its distance learning MBA (PGDBA) program.

Since the Symbiosis Centre For Distance Learning (SCDL) is not a university, it only offers diploma courses. The Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) offered by SCDL is considered to be equivalent to an MBA program and it is quite popular among working professionals.

Apart from its popular PGDBA (Distance Learning MBA) program, the institute also offers various Postgraduate Diploma & Certificate programs under the distance education mode.

Symbiosis Distance Learning MBA (Online)

Symbiosis is a top-notch distance education institute in India that started in 2001 and offers a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) which is specially designed for people who want to excel in their professional life.

It is a 2 years distance learning program that is divided into 4 semesters.

The curriculum of the course is designed by industry professionals and prominent academicians and it is based on real business case studies.

The details of the Distance Learning MBA program offered by SCDL are as follows.

Objectives of the Symbiosis Distance MBA Program

  • Develop Leadership Skills: Learn how to be a good leader through hands-on experience and classroom lessons. This will help you bring new ideas and growth to companies.
  • Make Work More Efficient: Learn how to spot problems in how work is done and make it better. This will help make better products and give better service to customers.
  • Get Better at Managing Money: Learn about finance so you can use money wisely in business and make more profit for the company.
  • Understand Business Better: Learn about different parts of business like finance, marketing, HR, and operations. This will help you make good decisions and solve real problems at work.
  • Think Strategically: Learn how to analyze complex business situations and devise effective plans to help companies succeed and last.
  • Think Globally: Learn about how business works in different countries and how to talk to people from different cultures. This will help you do well in international business.
  • Use Marketing Ideas: Learn about how customers think and how markets work. This will help you make good marketing plans to grow the business.
  • Manage People Well: Learn how to build and lead good teams. This will help create a work environment where people work well together and generate new ideas.

Who Can Join?: Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidate must be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university.
  • International/SAARC students having a graduation degree from a recognized/accredited University/ Institution can also apply.
  • Graduation Final year students who are awaiting their results can also apply. Although these students need to complete their bachelor's degree within the given time period of SCDL.

Duration of Symbiosis Distance MBA (PGDBA) Program

The total duration of the SCDL distance MBA (PGDBA) program is 2 years. Although the registration is valid for 4 academic years.

Symbiosis Distance MBA Specializations

There are a total of 4 semesters in the distance education MBA program offered by Symbiosis. The first two semesters focus on core modules. In the 3rd semester, students can choose their specialization. students can choose two electives, from the list of specializations.

There is a total of 6 specializations available to choose from. The names of the available specializations are as follows
  1. Finance
  2. Marketing
  3. Human Resource
  4. Management Accounting
  5. Operations
  6. Customer Relationship Management

Dual Specialization

Students can also opt for dual specialization to acquire multi-disciplinary skills. To be able to opt for dual specialization, the student needs to complete all the subjects in the first year (first 2 semesters)

Symbiosis Distance Learning MBA/PGDBA Course Structure

Semester 1
  • Principles and Practices of Management
  • Legal Aspects of Business
  • Management Accounting
  • Managerial Economics
  • Organizational Behaviour
  • Business Ethics and Value Systems
Semester 2 
  • Operations Management
  • Financial Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Marketing Management
  • Fundamentals of Business Analytics
  • Essentials of Research Methodology
Semester 3: Specialisation
  • Compulsory Subject 1
  • Compulsory Subject 2
  • Compulsory Subject 3
  • Compulsory Subject 4
  • Compulsory Subject 5 (choice of 1 elective)
Semester 4: Specialisation
  • Compulsory Subject 1
  • Compulsory Subject 2
  • Compulsory Subject 3
  • Compulsory Project Report
  • Compulsory Subject 4 (choice of 1 elective)
The third and fourth semesters will have the subjects based on the specialization selected by the student. If you want to know the complete course curriculum, check the SCDL prospectus.

Symbiosis Distance MBA (Online) Fee Structure

The total fee for the Symbiosis distance MBA / Online MBA program is INR 65,000/-. If someone makes the full fee payment in one installment, gets INR 5000 discount.

Below is the detailed fee structure of the Symbiosis Online MBA distance education program.

Application Form Fee:

For Indian Students: INR 1200
For International and SAARC Students: USD $100

Program Fee:

Students have two options to pay their fees. They can either pay the full fee in advance or they can opt for the installment mode of payment.

The fee structure of Symbiosis distance learning MBA (PGDBA) is as follows.

Fee
Category
Installment 1
Installment 2
One Time Payment Option
General
INR 60,000
N/A
Active Defence / Paramilitary / Police
INR 57,000
N/A
International
USD $1645
N/A
SAARC
USD $1300
N/A
Installment  Payment Option
General
INR 39,000
INR 26,000
Active Defence / Paramilitary / Police
INR 37,000
INR 25,000
International
USD $1100
USD $711
SAARC
USD $900
USD $600

Note: Easy EMI option available for 9 & 12 months. Monthly EMI from ₹6,000/- to ₹8,000/-.

Students are required to pay the examination fee extra as per their attempts.

The fee can be paid online or through a demand draft.

To make the payment using the demand draft, students need to make a demand draft in favor of "The Director, SCDL, Pune" payable at Pune.

How to apply: Admission Procedure

Step 1: Purchase Application Form

Purchase the prospectus and application form from SCDL Campuses, SCDL Associates, Selected  HDFC Banks, and through SCDL website for Rs 1200. You can also purchase the application from SCDL official website.

Step 2: Registration

Submit the form with the required document at SCDL Campuses and SCDL Information Centers. You can also courier the same to SCDL Pune Campus.

Here are the documents you need to include with the application form and send a courier.
  • 2 latest passport size photos.
  • Photo Identity Proof (PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, Election Voter ID Card or Aadhar Card)
  • Xerox copy of Bachelor's Degree Certificates ( All year mark sheets/ Provisional certificate must be attested by a notarized notary or class one Gazetted officer)
  • Class XII certificate ( attested by a notary or class one gazetted officer)
Step 3: Fee Payment

Submit Full Fee or First Installment Payment along with the Registration Form in the form of a Demand Draft (if you submitting the application by hand) or via payment gateway (online).

for more details refer SCDL website & prospectus.

Evaluation Methodology

  1. The students must submit an assignment on each course. The assignments usually comprise of objective-type questions. Each assignment counts for 30 marks.
  2. The examination carries 70 marks and it comprises of both objective type and subjective questions. The exams are organized at chosen exam centers across India.
  3. All PGDBA students must complete an assignment as well as a project on RMSQM (Research Methodology and Statistical Quantitative Methods. The assignment carries 30 marks and the project carries 70 marks.

Special Student Services at Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

  • Online Counselling: SCDL organizes online counseling sessions every now and then to help the students to clarify their doubts. 
  • E-Communication Centre: E-Communication Centre is the best way for the students to get answered to their queries. Within a span of 1 day, the students will receive the answers to the questions. Students need to send emails to the E-Communication center to get them answered.
  • Student Call Centres: Student Call Centre is a simple yet most practical idea.  It is a dedicated call center set up for students to get in touch with a counselor. The students will get the questions answered promptly on the telephone. The integrated voice response system ensures that the students are connected to their respective counselors. 
  • Walk-in Admissions: SCDL has got the most simplified admission procedure. The students need to walk-in SCDL centers with all the valid eligibility documents to get their admission. The admission process will be done in just 45 minutes and the student will get an admission confirmation letter immediately. 
Apart from the above services, SCDL also offers innovative student services like e-library, online live classes, message board, study material dispatch tracking, online faculty interaction, on-demand exam booking system, placement assistance, exam guidance, mentoring, etc.

Symbiosis Distance MBA (PGDBA) Sample Certificate

Below is a sample certificate that Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) provides to their students after completing the course.

SCDL PGDBA Sample Certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Do students required to appear in an entrance test to get admission to Symbiosis Distance Learning MBA?

Answer: No, There is no entrance test for admission in Symbiosis Online (Distance) MBA.

Question: Is Symbiosis Distance MBA (PGDBA) approved by the government?

Answer: Yes the SCDL distance PGDBA is approved by AICTE.

Question: Is PGDM or PGDBA is equavalant to MBA?

Answer: Syllabus wise both PGDM and MBA are almost the same. Both courses give you a similar kind of knowledge about business management. The major difference between the two is, a PGDM is a diploma course while MBA is a degree program. Both courses are equally accepted in the corporate world.

Question: Can I do a PHD after PGDM?

Answer: No, You can not do PhD after PGDM. You need an MBA degree to do your PhD.

Question: What if a student opts out of a course after 1 year?

Answer: A Diploma in Management is awarded to students who have completed the first year and are willing to opt out of the program. The student must have passed all the courses in the first 2 semesters and completed all the assignments. The student must send an application to the SCDL center that they are discontinuing the program and request for the Diploma certificate. However, SCDL will not issue any refund of the fees paid.

Question: When is the admission Open? What is the admission process?

Here is how to join SCDL's distance MBA program. They start taking students twice a year - once in July and once in January.

For the July batch, you can apply around May or June. If you want to join in January, you should apply in September.

Here's what you need to do:
  • Go to SCDL's website and find the "Apply Online" section.
  • Make a new account there.
  • Buy an application form online.
  • Fill in all your details on the form.
  • Upload some important documents they ask for.
  • Pay the full course fee online.
Question: Is there any scholarship available for the program?

No, there is no scholarship available for the program.