01
Management Core
Courses common to all students that develop a comprehensive understanding of the major functional areas of management and provide Total Business Orientation.
AICTE Approved · ISB&M Pune
Post Graduate Diploma in Management
A two-year, six-term programme built on a dual specialisation structure - functional depth in two areas, a broad business foundation, and learning that runs through cases, simulations, company projects, a summer internship and an independent dissertation.
- Six-Term Structure
- Company-Based Projects
- Case & Simulation Pedagogy
- Business Analytics Option
- Mandatory Dissertation
Programme Overview
ISB&M Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
The Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) at ISB&M, Pune is a two-year management programme delivered across six academic terms. The programme combines strong foundations in management with functional specialisation, experiential learning, industry exposure and research-oriented learning.
A distinctive feature of the programme is its Dual Specialisation structure. Students develop broad-based business understanding while simultaneously building depth in two functional areas. The curriculum integrates core management learning, specialisation courses, electives, company-oriented projects, case studies, simulations, a Summer Internship Programme and a Dissertation.
The programme is designed to develop well-rounded management professionals capable of operating confidently in a dynamic and globally competitive business environment.
Dual Specialisation
Depth in two functional domains rather than one — supporting interdisciplinary understanding and greater cross-functional mobility through a career.
Specialisations Offered
A dual specialisation model
Students combine functional depth with cross-functional understanding, aligning academic choices with their interests, capabilities and long-term career aspirations.
Programme Objectives
What the programme sets out to do
- Develop a business approach to management and enable students to understand organisations from an integrated perspective.
- Build an understanding of individual management functions and their interfaces with other major business functions.
- Provide strong functional foundations through dual specialisation.
- Enable students to combine their interests, capabilities and career opportunities while choosing areas of specialisation.
- Develop cross-functional understanding and prepare students for long-term career mobility.
- Build conceptual, analytical, managerial and decision-making capabilities.
- Provide exposure to contemporary business practices, emerging knowledge and industry requirements.
- Develop professionals with the capability to progress towards functional leadership, senior management and entrepreneurial responsibilities.
Programme Outcomes
What students can do on completion
- Understand the major functional areas of business and their interrelationships.
- Demonstrate strong conceptual and functional knowledge in their chosen areas of specialisation.
- Analyse business situations from a cross-functional perspective.
- Apply management concepts to practical business problems through cases, simulations, projects and industry exposure.
- Evaluate contemporary developments, business processes and emerging managerial practices.
- Demonstrate analytical and research capabilities through independent dissertation work.
- Work effectively in teams and communicate ideas in professional business environments.
- Demonstrate professionalism, responsibility, integrity and ethical behaviour.
- Adapt to changing business environments and pursue opportunities for functional leadership, cross-functional mobility and entrepreneurship.
Academic System
Six terms, continuously assessed
The PGDM follows a six-term academic structure spread over two years. The academic system combines classroom learning with application-oriented and experiential learning.
Courses are structured through a combination of lectures, cases, simulations, projects, assignments, quizzes, end module examinations and end-term examinations. The curriculum is periodically reviewed in keeping with contemporary and cutting-edge industry requirements.
In addition to regular courses, students participate in industry workshops, presentations and guest lectures. Student feedback on course content and delivery is obtained during and at the end of academic terms, enabling continuous improvement of the learning process.
Standard assessment framework
Programme Structure
Six components that make up the PGDM
Courses may also be organised into modules to enable focused and structured learning.
02
Specialisation Core
Courses designed to develop strong functional fundamentals and deeper competencies within the student's chosen specialisations.
03
Electives
Courses that allow students to exercise choice according to their interests, capabilities and career aspirations.
04
Contemporary / Modular Courses
Courses focusing on emerging business developments, business processes, current managerial issues and new knowledge.
05
Summer Internship Programme
An approximately 10-week industry internship undertaken after Term III.
06
Dissertation
An independent research-based project beginning in the second year and undertaken under faculty guidance.
Credit System
160 credits to complete the programme
Each credit represents 10 hours of classroom contact, equivalent to eight classroom sessions of 75 minutes each.
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| Core for All | 75 |
| Core for 1st Specialisation + Elective | 30 |
| Core for 2nd Specialisation + Elective | 30 |
| Other Electives | 15 |
| Summer Internship | 4 |
| Dissertation | 6 |
| Total Credits | 160 |
Differentiated credit framework
3
Three-credit courses
Fundamental and core knowledge; may be divided into two or three modules.
2
Two-credit courses
Knowledge and competencies considered essential within a business domain or functional area.
1
One-credit courses
Recent advances in business processes and practices, contemporary problems, emerging issues and new knowledge.
Core Courses
The foundation every student builds
Core courses establish the fundamental management knowledge required by every PGDM student. The programme contains two categories of core learning.
Core for All Students — 75 Credits
Providing Total Business Orientation and a comprehensive understanding of the major functional areas of management.
Specialisation Core Courses
Strong functional fundamentals in the student's two selected areas. Each specialisation requires 30 credits comprising prescribed specialisation core courses and electives.
Elective Courses
Room to shape your own path
Electives give students flexibility to customise part of their academic journey according to interests, capabilities and career aspirations.
Students complete electives within their specialisation requirements and also have 15 credits of Other Electives, providing opportunities to explore subjects beyond their primary functional areas.
Elective offerings are announced before the relevant academic term and may be subject to prerequisites, student aptitude, previous academic performance, faculty requirements and minimum class strength.
Audit courses
Students may additionally opt for up to two audit courses, subject to faculty approval. Audit courses are recorded on a pass/fail basis and are not included in CGPA calculation.
How Students Learn
Learning through analysis, participation and application
70/20/10
Learning Approach
A balanced learning environment integrating experiential and application-oriented learning; interaction, collaboration and engagement; and formal academic and conceptual inputs — reflected through cases, simulations, action-oriented projects, assignments and classroom learning.
Cases
Case Study Methodology
Students prepare cases before class; the session then focuses on discussion, analysis, alternative courses of action and application of management concepts. Cases are supplemented by simulations, assessments, projects and assignments.
Live
Company-Based Projects
Students work in teams on themes connected with real organisations, obtaining faculty approval for the theme, plan of action and company selected — moving beyond theory into actual business situations.
Summer Internship Programme
Approximately 10 weeks in industry, after Term III
The internship gives students direct exposure to professional work environments and lets them apply academic learning inside an organisation.
Evaluation is shared between academia and industry
Dissertation
Research-based learning, in the second year
Every PGDM student completes a mandatory dissertation: an intensive investigation of a management problem or subject, developing conceptual, analytical and research capabilities.
Students select a topic and work under a faculty guide. The dissertation incorporates research methodology, empirical data, analysis and findings — a structured experience of independent management research.
Career Opportunities
Functional depth, with room to move
The dual-specialisation structure is designed to give students functional depth while retaining the flexibility required for cross-functional career progression.
Depending on their chosen specialisations, interests and capabilities, students can build careers across Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management and Logistics & Supply Chain Management, with Business Analytics providing an additional data-oriented second-specialisation option.
The programme's long-term orientation extends beyond entry-level employment and seeks to prepare students for progressively broader responsibilities — functional leadership, cross-functional mobility, senior management and entrepreneurship.
Mentoring, counselling and placement support
ISB&M provides mentoring and career counselling to support academic and career planning, internship progress and professional development. The institute's placement support system guides students in securing suitable summer and final placement opportunities, subject to applicable academic and placement requirements.
Career progression
Functional leadership
Cross-functional mobility
Senior management
Entrepreneurship
Industry Orientation
A curriculum that answers to industry
Course content is periodically reviewed against cutting-edge industry requirements, and the credit structure deliberately carries contemporary business processes, current business problems and emerging knowledge.
Company-based and action-oriented projects
Cases and simulations based on managerial decision situations
Approximately 10 weeks of summer internship
Evaluation and feedback from industry mentors during the internship
Workshops, presentations and guest lectures
Contemporary one-credit courses on recent advances in business practice
Business Analytics as a second-specialisation option
Dissertation-based research and analytical learning
Distinctive Academic Features
What sets the ISB&M PGDM apart
Dual Specialisation
Depth across two functional domains, supporting interdisciplinary understanding and cross-functional mobility.
Guided Self-Study
A selective mechanism, subject to faculty approval, to strengthen core competencies and articulate ideas independently.
Mentoring & Career Counselling
Support for academic and career planning, internship progress, professional development and problem solving.
Continuous Curriculum Review
The curriculum is periodically reviewed to stay aligned with evolving and cutting-edge industry requirements.
Student Feedback System
Feedback on content, delivery and other academic parameters is collected during and at the end of each term.
Workshops & Guest Lectures
Formal courses are supplemented with workshops, presentations and guest lectures beyond conventional instruction.
Audit Courses
Up to two additional audit courses with faculty approval, for interdisciplinary and interest-driven learning.
Holistic Professional Development
Professionalism, ethical conduct, responsibility, communication, leadership and teamwork alongside knowledge.